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Toronto Raptors Agree to One-Year Deal with Luis Scola

By Chris Okrainetz

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Toronto Raptors Agree to One-Year Deal with Luis Scola

It looks like the Toronto Raptors have addressed their need for depth at the power forward position by adding veteran Luis Scola.

At 35 years old, Scola is a crafty 6-foot-9 power forward who is a very savvy role player. Although he might not be an elite defender, or somebody who will stretch the floor, he is a very intelligent player who will hustle and leave it all on the court every night. If there was ever a former Raptor to compare him to, it would be fan favourite Jorge Garbajosa, which isn’t a bad player to emulate.

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With the Raptors focus on defence, one might wonder how Scola fits into this roster? Well, for starters, Scola is a smart defender that moves his feet and uses angles to his advantage. While that might sound simplistic, keep in mind that Scola was the player who Pacers head coach Frank Vogel used to exemplify what rim defence should look like.

And did I mention Scola hustles on defence?

Get used to seeing that full-court sprint Raptors’ fans! Truthfully though, what’s there not to love about it?

Aside from his elegant sprint and serviceable defence, Scola is quite crafty on the offensive side of the ball. He has a nice arsenal of back-to-the basket moves, and can also play a bit of pick-and-roll with his mid-range jumper. Even without the ball in his hands, Scola is effective at setting screens and establishing the post.

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    • Offensively, Scola put together a solid season last year, averaging 9.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.5 minutes of play. While those numbers won’t blow you away, his advanced statistics reveal just how effective the Argentinian was last season.

    In 81 games Scola posted a 16.8 PER, the highest PER since his 2010-11 campaign. He had the best Total Rebound Percentage of his career at 17.5 percent, and he almost doubled his win shares from 2.5 to 4.4. (H/T to 8points9seconds.com for the stats)

    Combine those numbers with his grit, hustle and leadership and signing Scola to a one-year deal is a low-risk move that could pay major dividends for the Raptors.

    The signing of Scola leaves the Raptors with about $2 million in cap space, though. So unless Masai Ujiri has a trade up his sleeve, I wouldn’t expect the Raps to do much more this summer.

    If Scola is the last move they make this offseason, it’s a pretty good one in my opinion. He’s the kind of player you hate to play against, but would love to have on your team. In a city like Toronto, his style of play should translate very well and he should quickly become a fan favourite.

    What do you think Raptors’ fans? Is Luis Scola a good signing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

    Next: Raptors: Will Terrence Ross Stay or Go?

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