The Toronto Raptors made the decision to waive two-way guard Markquis Nowell on March 4. This was done after Jakob Poeltl’s hand injury, as the Raptors needed a big man, signing Mouhamadou Gueye to a two-way contract and allowing him to join the big league club. Nowell was injured at the time and it was unclear if he would return this season for the Raptors or for their G League affiliate, Raptors 905.
By waiving him, he would certainly not see the floor for the Raptors the rest of the season, but 905 retained his rights through the end of the campaign. And thanks to G League and NBA rules, Nowell would have to play one more game for 905 in order for the team to lock in his rights for next season as well.
Nowell met that requirement on Wednesday night by logging 16 minutes for 905 in a win over the Detroit Pistons’ Motor City Cruise affiliate. This means that for the next two years, if Nowell logs any time with the G League, the Raptors retain his rights to do so.
Nowell signed with the Raptors 905 following his release from Toronto but he had to play one more game for 905 to retain his rights. He cleared that requirement on Wednesday with his return. And while he only had three points on 0-for-4 from the field, he did log 5 assists, and the larger implications are that Nowell can stick around in the organization.
Nowell appeared in one game for the Raptors this season and has played in 12 with 905. Nowell became well-known in NBA circles for his performance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament when he was the point guard for the Kansas State Wildcats.
Raptors officially eliminated from postseason contention
The Toronto Raptors have been eliminated from postseason contention.
Toronto lost to the New York Knicks 145-101 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-106 to officially eliminate the Raptors.
The Raptors will miss the playoffs for the second straight season.
It has been a roller coaster of a year for the Raptors. The franchise finally decided to rebuild and went through major changes to its roster.
Then as the new-look Raptors were starting to build some momentum coming out of the All-Star break, injuries derailed this team.
The focus for the Raptors now has shifted to trying to hold onto the sixth-worst record in the league, which would give them about a 46% percent chance of keeping their 2024 first-round pick.
The 2024 NBA Draft will be important for this franchise as they continue this rebuild.
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