The Raptors are giving Javon Freeman-Liberty a promotion, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who is reporting that the 24-year-old will receive a multiyear standard. Freeman-Liberty is currently on a two-way contract.
A Chicago native who played four years of college ball at Valparaiso and DePaul, Freeman-Liberty went undrafted in 2022, later signing an Exhibit 10 contract with his hometown Bulls. He spent his first pro season playing for the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s NBA G League affiliate and had an impressive Summer League run in 2023, which led to a two-way deal with Toronto.
Freeman-Liberty, a 6-foot-4 guard, has only played four total minutes across two appearances with the Raptors in 2023-24, which is technically his rookie season. He’s been a standout at the NBAGL level for the Raptors 905, however, averaging 23.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.2 APG and 1.5 SPG on .461/.345/.830 shooting in 25 Showcase Cup and regular-season games (35.2 MPG).
“Javon is quiet guy who came into camp and made a lot of noise,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said. ” … We’re really proud of what he’s accomplished this year” (X links via Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca and Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca).
Rajakovic added that he hopes to get Freeman-Liberty some playing time with the NBA club at some point this season.
The Raptors currently have 13 players on standard contracts, and a 14th – D.J. Carton – on a 10-day deal, which expires Friday night. That means they won’t have to waive anyone to convert Freeman-Liberty, since standard rosters can hold up to 15 players.
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