By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Former Lokomotiv Kuban and Turk Telekom forward, Sam Dekker will be released by the Toronto Raptors, the player announced via a post on Twitter.
“Always another hill to climb,” he wrote, “A lot more hoop ahead of me. Gonna miss these guys, easily the hardest part of the business. And I really want to shoutout to the Raptors fans – y’all saw me for who I really am. That means more than you know. I won’t forget that. All love.”
Dekker, 27, was battling with German forward Isaac Bonga to stay part of the roster moving forward into the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season. Both players recently agreed to push back their salary guarantee dates to November 6. The team looking to stay under the luxury tax threshold was indeed expected to cut one of the two forwards before the contracts become guaranteed. It’s likely the decision will be officially confirmed by the Raptors later today, Saturday.
Bonga, 21, has made three appearances posting 0.7 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.3 steals per contest so far in the 2021-22 season. The Washington Wizards in 2019-20 and 2020-21, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018-19 make out his previous NBA stints since being selected with the 39th overall pick of the 2018 NBA draft.
On his part, the Wisconsin-born player logged just one minute through the early top end of the Regular Season. He was picked 15th overall in the 2015 NBA draft, since became a member of the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Wizards, prior to moving his talents to Europe. His overseas experience over the past two years includes the Basketball Champions League as a member of Turk Telekom and also the 7DAYS EuroCup at Lokomotiv Kuban.
Dekker will be placed in the waivers. If he is not picked up by another NBA team, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
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