created a roster spot and freed up a little bit of salary money Monday by jettisoning a player who had no desire to ever be in Toronto. obtained from Sacramento on a headlined by the was waived Monday so he could pursue his dream of returning to play in Greek’s top league. According to NBA sources, Vezenkov left his entire $6.
7 million (U.S.) behind; the Raptors won’t give him a cent and his salary won’t count against Toronto’s salary cap total.
Toronto also waived guard Javon Freeman-Liberty on Monday before another small financial guarantee date passed on his contract. Their departures leave Toronto with 14 players with guaranteed contracts, one fewer than the league maximum and, depending on incentive clauses in other contracts, between $8 million and $10 million below the league’s luxury tax threshold. It doesn’t mean the team will immediately look for a 15th contract to fill the roster.
Having the flexibility in money and an available roster spot can’t hurt going into the season. Vezenkov was linked to top Greek teams almost immediately after Toronto got him, Mitchell and two second-round draft picks from the Kings for Jalen McDaniels. All that had to be done was to negotiate his departure with the Raptors insistent on not paying him a dollar when he was so adamant on leaving.
The Raptors have two-way deals tied up in D.J. Carton, and Branden Carlson, making Freeman-Liberty expendable.
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