Toronto Raptors: Can Burlington Native Brady Heslip Make an Impact?

After claiming his D-League rights, the Toronto Raptors have signed yet another Canadian to their roster, but will Brady Heslip make any impact?

I remember walking into Canada Basketball’s last practice before heading into the Olympic qualifiers in Manila back in July, and watching Brady Heslip in his after-practice workouts for about 15 minutes.

I counted four misses.

While there is no denying the former Baylor standout can shoot, his size has always been a point of concern. It really is the only major drawback that has kept him from the NBA this long.

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Most players Heslip’s size are a blur on the floor, something he isn’t. This leaves many teams in the league seeing him as more of a system specific player, rather than a ‘plug in and shoot’ type of addition.

It’s the same reason that, despite Heslip’s record-setting 13 three’s in a game back in 2014, and averaging 24.5 points-per-game for the Reno Bighorns that season, he left the NBA D-League for greener pastures in Bosnia.

Some sources around the league said he wasn’t happy with his situation in Reno, playing for minimum wages while being continuously passed over for a shot at the NBA.

But in a league that is getting longer and more athletic, where do you fit in a player that doesn’t display much of either?

There are plenty of other shooters who, despite not having the same level of scoring prowess as Heslip, have a much more defensive impact, while still maintaining a respectable stroke.

Then there is the issue of streakiness, a major concern for any shooter, but a potential death sentence for the style Heslip plays and the size that he is.

Case in point, following that shooting display he put on after practice before heading to Manila, Heslip shot a paltry 15 percent (2 for 13) during the Rio qualifiers for Canada.

He followed that up with a few appearances in the Nike Crown League here in Toronto, where he managed some impressive totals, but more relied on his ability to get to the rim than show off his shot.

At 6’1” and listed at 185 pounds, Heslip will need to be that 45 percent three-point shooter he was in Italy last year playing for Acqua Vitasnella Cantu.

But those were Italian defenders. Doing that going into training camp against NBA-ready competition will be an entirely different thing.

It all really just comes down to if Heslip can be a serious three-point threat, while being at least remotely relevant on defence, then he might be able to crack this roster and achieve a lifelong dream.

If he falters in his shooting, defence, or is unable to simply keep up with the pace and length some of his competition can provide during training camp, he will be an afterthought much in the same way Anthony Bennett was before him.

Next: Examining Jonas Valanciunas' post frustrations

One thing is clear – Heslip will need to play the best basketball of his life to make the Toronto Raptors‘ roster. Anything less will have him in Mississauga for the next few months.

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