The Toronto Raptors announced on Monday that they have signed guard Tyreke Key, cousin of former NBA player Tyreke Evans, to a 10-day contract. This move comes as the team looks to bolster its roster with fresh talent. Tyreke Key, a 6-foot-2 guard from Virginia Tech, is expected to bring a new dynamic to the team’s offense. According to Raptors coach, Nick Nurse, “We’re excited to have Tyreke on board, he’s a talented young player with a lot to offer.”
As of March 6, the Raptors have 22 games left in the season, and with this signing, they are hoping to make a push for the playoffs. The team has been dealing with injuries to key players, including guard Gary Trent Jr., who has been out since February 24 with a knee injury. It happened when no one was watching, as the team was on a road trip and the news of the injury was not immediately reported. The Raptors are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, 2.5 games behind the 8th seed.
Key’s contract is set to expire on March 17, at which point the team will have to decide whether to sign him to a new deal or let him go. The Raptors have a history of finding hidden gems in the league, and they are hoping that Key will be the latest example of this. As Key himself noted, “I’m just trying to make the most of this opportunity and show the team what I can do.” The team’s front office is likely to be watching his performance closely over the next 10 days.
Some key stats about Tyreke Key include:
- He averaged 17.7 points per game in his senior year at Virginia Tech
- He shot 41% from three-point range last season
- He had a season-high 32 points against Duke on February 11
The signing of Key is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Raptors, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in his first 10 days with the team. What happens next will depend on his performance, but for now, the team is just taking things one game at a time.