Story summary
In past NBA free-agent cycles, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster showed interest in signing Kyle Anderson, but previous attempts were unsuccessful due to Anderson's uncertainty about fitting into the team’s roster of tall players. Despite this history, Webster persisted and signed Anderson in July 2023 on a one-year deal worth $3.9 million (U.S.), making him their first free-agent acquisition during that period. Anderson had been with seven teams since being drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, most recently playing for the Utah Jazz, then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, and finally signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves after a buyout. Anderson expressed admiration for Toronto’s fan support and excitement about joining the Raptors’ culture.
Written for “Raptors Signing Kyle Anderson” on 2026-10-08,
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In past NBA free-agent cycles, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster phoned Kyle Anderson’s agent to gauge his interest in coming to Toronto, but the calls didn’t go anywhere.
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calls → phone → Toronto
“I’m like, ‘Y’all have seven or eight guys that are 6-9 with long arms, where do I fit in here?’” Anderson recalls thinking.
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Anderson → ’m → arms
It didn’t stop Webster from keeping tabs and, amid the noise surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s return to the city, the Raptors made Anderson their first free-agent acquisition of the off-season in July, on a one-year deal worth $3.9 million (U.S.).
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Anderson → stop → deal
He has been a bit of a journeyman over the last year, spending time with the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in a multi-player deal in February.
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He → spend → February
He eventually reached a buyout there and signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves to end the season.
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He → reach → season
The Raptors are his seventh team since the San Antonio Spurs drafted him 30th in 2014.
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Spurs → draft → 2014
“I think it was just time ... (to) be a part of what (Toronto) had going on,” Anderson told reporters after practice Wednesday.
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Anderson → think → practice
The 33-year-old forward said he has long admired the Raptors’ fan support and often tells friends and family to visit Toronto.
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he → say → Toronto
“Always enjoyed coming here,” Anderson said.
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Anderson → come → ?
“Heavy Jamaican-Chinese population up here, which is pretty cool because that’s where my roots come from (in his mother’s family).”
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roots → ’ → family
Anderson and Leonard spent four years as teammates in San Antonio, and Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was a rising assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies when Anderson played there.
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Anderson → spend → Grizzlies
It’s unclear what his role will be with the Raptors.
uncertain
role → ’ → Raptors
He sat out Saturday’s pre-season opener against the Miami Heat with a right knee contusion, but has been a full participant in practice this week.
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He → sit → practice
Rajakovic told Anderson to be ready to play different positions, potentially power forward or centre.
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Rajakovic → tell → positions
“This is not his first rodeo, this is not his first team,” Rajakovic said about Anderson.
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Rajakovic → say → Anderson
“He’s trying to integrate into the system and to understand his teammates ...
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He → try → teammates
His voice is being heard right away with our team, and our guys have a lot of respect for him.”
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guys → hear → him
Not known for his scoring, Anderson (nicknamed Slo Mo for his methodical pace) averaged 6.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 19.8 minutes per game last season.
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Anderson → know → game
“I think (Rajakovic) knows that I know a few things about the regular season and the post-season,” said Anderson, who has appeared in 76 post-season games.
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who → think → games
“He just wants me to come in and be vocal — not necessarily be a leader, but be there for the young guys (to) help.”
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guys → want → ?
Anderson’s early impressions remind him of seven years ago, when he joined a Memphis roster that featured rising talents Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
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that → remind → talents
He said that team was close off the court and camaraderie translated to success on the floor.
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camaraderie → say → floor
Anderson expects the same from a young Raptors lineup.
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Anderson → expect → lineup
“I don’t want to be like, ‘Oh, I’m the old head, you got to do it my way,’” Anderson said.
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Anderson → want → it
“I just kind of like to live in their world and kind of live vicariously through them …they’re young in the NBA.
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they → like → NBA
“Thirteen years went by so fast for me, so I just enjoy spending time with them, finding out their interests, what they’re listening to.”
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they → go → what
The Aporia
