Jared Sullinger is headed to the Toronto Raptors, as reported by…Jared Sullinger:
WE THE NORTH #0
— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) July 11, 2016
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical confirmed the signing:
Free agent Jared Sullinger has agreed to a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 11, 2016
The Celtics pulled back qualifying offer on Sullinger, making him an unrestricted free agent. Masai Ujiri met with him Sunday, deal today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 11, 2016
ESPN’s Marc Stein added some more details about the terms of the deal:
Jared Sullinger and the Toronto Raptors have struck a one-year deal believed to be in the $6 million range, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2016
Sullinger has spent his entire four-year career with the Boston Celtics up to this point. The power forward is known mostly for his strength down low, primarily playing with his back to the basket.
So far in his career, the big man out of Ohio State 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in his career.
With the addition of Al Horford to the Celtics, Sullinger became expendable in Boston. The team also has Kelly Olynyk and Amir Johnson playing in front of the 24-year-old.
Sullinger now moves to Toronto where he will be asked to replicate some of the production provided by Bismack Biyombo. With Biyombo now in Orlando, the Raptors had a need for a quality backup big man.
Sullinger will not provide the rim protection that Biyombo did. But at the very least, he will be a big body that can work hard on the glass. It will also buy time for rookie Jakob Poeltl to get acclimated to the NBA before playing for a team wanting to compete right now.
This is clearly a low-risk signing for the Raptors. The reward may not be very high, but Sullinger can at the very least provide depth and fill a hole for the Raptors.
