Raptors take chance on former top-10 pick

The Toronto Raptors are trying their luck on a notable name from the 2015 NBA Draft.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Saturday that Toronto is signing former lottery pick Justise Winslow. The 27-year-old Winslow is getting a 10-day contract from Toronto after spending time this season with their G League affiliate, Raptors 905.

There were high expectations coming into the league for Winslow, who was a national champion during his only season at Duke and went No. 10 overall to the Miami Heat in 2015. Though Winslow would earn All-Rookie Second Team honors after his first season, he still failed to meet those expectations. Winslow was done in by both injuries and a continued inability to the shoot the basketball. It also hurt doubly that he was drafted over the likes of All-Star guard Devin Booker, standout center Myles Turner and 20-ppg scorer Terry Rozier.

Winslow does deserve credit for sticking around in the league for this long on the strength of his defense, play-making and position-less play. He put up 6.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists a game last season for the Portland Trail Blazers. Now Winslow joins his fifth career NBA team in the Raptors, who just acquired a former teammate of his at the trade deadline.