Toronto Raptors: Terence Davis could prove to be an impact player

Undrafted rookie Terence Davis could prove to be a valuable piece to the Toronto Raptors this season as a backup guard who is efficient on both ends

Going undrafted when you’re expecting to hear your name called is a tough pill to swallow, but some use it as motivation to prove the doubters wrong. Terence Davis is a prime example.

Although he was offered several two-way contracts before the draft, he wanted to prove himself so he could hopefully, earn a guaranteed NBA deal. He initially made his summer league debut with the Denver Nuggets, and after impressing with 22 points in just 29 minutes while going 5-7 from 3-point range, the Toronto Raptors offered him a two-year NBA contract.

Through three summer league contests, one with Denver and two with Toronto, the former Ole Miss standout averaged 18.3 points, six rebounds, and five assists. With a roster in Toronto filled with players who were either late-round picks or not drafted at all like Fred VanVleet, who lives by the saying “bet on yourself”, the Raptors seem like the perfect organization for Davis to grow and develop with.

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The 22-year-old spent four years at Ole Miss, averaging 12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and two assists per game. The fact that he went undrafted and then made such an impact in his professional debut in Vegas makes it even a better story as he heads into his first NBA season.

So how exactly could Davis fit in Toronto? Let’s take a look.

How Davis fits with the Raptors

Davis is a very nicely sized guard at 6-foot-4 with outstanding athleticism and strength. Although he shot just 33 percent in college from the 3-point line, The 22-year-old was outstanding from downtown in the summer league.

He’s also a productive shooter from mid-range, shooting 45 percent from the field during his college career. In his senior year, his numbers were a lot higher than previous seasons. Davis averaged 15 points a night in his last year at Ole Miss, while also seeing a jump in his rebound and assists numbers.

He is an effective shooter from all different situations as well, whether it’s a pull-up jumper or a catch and shoot scenario. He’s also an elite passer, showing the ability to thread the needle to find teammates cutting to the hoop.

From a defensive standpoint, he is quite advanced. Davis is very physical and hard-nosed when it comes to guarding oppositions, while also contributing on the glass with boards. With his lean frame and good size, he should have no problem holding his own on defense in the NBA.

A starting spot most likely won’t be up for grabs this season with Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry ahead of Davis in the pecking order, but he could prove to be a valuable piece for Nick Nurse off the bench. He’s a very polished player since he played his full four years in college, so it shouldn’t take him very long to get used to the pace of the NBA.

Davis is on a similar route as Fred VanVleet, and there’s hope that the 22-year-old can turn into a diamond in the rough like the former Wichita State standout who was also undrafted. But VanVleet didn’t really make an impact at the NBA level until his second season, so there is no guarantee that Davis is going to come out of the gates firing in his rookie year. But also, who knows. He could surprise and be an impact player right off the bat.

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Terence Davis has all the attributes needed to excel in the NBA. It was a great decision for Masai Ujuri to sign Davis and I have no doubts he will be a valuable player to this organization.

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