Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Raptors Sign 5'7" Undrafted Guard Markquis Nowell, per Report
It was six years ago that the Toronto Raptors took a chance on an undersized senior point guard in the undrafted free agency that would one day turn into a future All-Star.
At the time, nobody seemed to think much of Fred VanVleet, the maybe six-foot lead guard out of Wichita State. He’d been a winner, sure, but an NBA player? Had people thought that they would have drafted him.
With the 2023 NBA Draft now in the rearview mirror, Toronto appears to be taking a chance on another undersized senior guard, signing Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell to a two-way contract, according to Shams Charania.
Will Nowell ever be as good as VanVleet? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean he can’t necessarily be a contributor for Toronto off the bench and as a developmental player for the Raptors 905.
The 5-foot-7 guard averaged 17.6 points with 8.3 assists per game as a fifth-year senior and led the Wildcats to the Elite 8 while setting an NCAA tournament record with 19 assists in a single game.
Height is the glaring concern for Nowell who is going to be three or four inches shorter than the NBA’s shortest player last season. While he is a dynamic offensive player who shot 35.5% from behind the arc and has quick hands, good for 2.6 steals per game, his lack of height is going to be tough to overcome at the NBA level.
Toronto does, however, have a need for guard depth, and with an added two-way spot this season, the Raptors should be able to roster as many as three depth players who can split time between the big club and the G League next season.
Further Reading
Raptors Select Sharpshooter Gradey Dick With No. 13 Pick in NBA Draft
Report: Hawks Continue Pursuit of Pascal Siakam, Looking at 3-Team Deal with Raptors
Here's What the Luxury Tax Increase Means for the Raptors This Offseason
