Through three games of the NBA Summer League, the Toronto Raptors have been putting on an absolute show for the fans. While the attention was expected to be consumed by the All-Rookie Team selection, Collin Murray-Boyles, it’s actually been rookie first-round pick Allen Graves who has shown that he is ready for the NBA right now. However, he has not been the only member of the squad who has proven his worth right away.It’s no secret that the first-round picks are going to get most of the shine in the Summer League because that’s who the fans are coming to see. The most fun part, though, is seeing players who most people have never heard of make a name for themselves. Oftentimes, it is guys who are scoring the ball at will that pop for the fans, but for the general managers and scouts, it’s the guys who can make winning plays and put effort on both ends.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA player for the Raptors who has done exactly that is Nate Bittle. The former Oregon Ducks center went undrafted a month ago, but signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Toronto to be a member of the Summer League team. The 7-foot, 210-pound big man isn’t a prototypical NBA center, but he has a skillset that could be very enticing to head coach Darko Rajakovic.Former Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle (32) | Craig Strobeck-Imagn ImagesAt Oregon, Bittle was a five-year player who earned All-Big Ten Third Team and All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors. In that season, he averaged 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on 51/34/58 shooting splits. The kicker is his three-point shooting, which despite the averages, has great upside to be a real threat in the NBA due to his volume and confidence.The spacing and shot-blocking give him comparisons to Myles Turner and Brook Lopez, with real potential to reach those heights. He also provides a level of facilitation from the center position seen by players like Nikola Jokić and Alperen Sengun. He sees the floor well from the mid post and elbow spots and is able to find his teammates for open looks consistently.Former Oregon Ducks center Nate Bittle (32) | USA TODAY NetworkObviously, this is a guy who went undrafted, so the chances of him reaching the heights that these players have are slim. But, with the right coaching and guidance, he has a real shot to be a quality backup for the Raptors in the future. In order to earn a roster spot, he may need to fill out his frame a little bit more to present the much-needed physicality in the paint on both ends. He is also not the most athletic player on the floor, so if he can continue to work on his lateral quickness, switchability, and post scoring there should be no doubt that he will receive a two-way contract before the season begins.
Content Source: Yahoo News
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