Why Justin Champagnie May Be The Steal Of The “Un-draft”
The Toronto Raptors Have A Real Knack For Finding Undrafted Gems
Every college basketball player dreams of having their name called in the first or second round of the NBA draft. But as players like Fred Vanvleet have shown, being drafted is not the only way to make your way onto an NBA roster and become a top 50 player.
Justin Champagnie is another example of a player who didn’t get drafted but has found himself in the perfect position to potentially carve a nice niche out in the league. Here are four reasons why I think that he could be the steal of this year's un-draft.
Justin Champagnie Chose The Toronto Raptors Because Of Their Player Development
When you go undrafted but have not given up on your dream of being an NBA player, you need to make sure that you put yourself in a position where you can continue to grow and develop. The team you decide to go with can make or break your career.
As Champagnie put it: “I didn’t want to play anywhere else. I told my agent right away, right after my workout with [the Raptors], that I wanted to play in Toronto,” The choice was obvious. The Raptors history of turning either undrafted players, 2nd round picks, or late first-round picks into rotation players speaks for itself. Players like Boucher, Vanvleet, Siakam, Anunoby, and Powell were all non-lottery picks that went on to sign big contracts and become multi-millionaires. Siakam is already an all-star while Anunoby and Vanvleet are borderline all-stars. But they didn’t start out like that, they are products of a development system that is highly respected all over the league.
With a G league affiliate that is a stone’s throw away, players that are playing on the Raptors 905 can still be connected to the big team, while getting a chance to hone their craft and get reps up with the 905. Add to that, a world-class facility, coaching staff, trainers, and a development program with a proven success record and you have a formula for producing NBA quality basketball players at a higher rate than almost any other team in the league. Champagnie certainly had that in mind when he decided to sign that two-way contract with the Raptors and suit up for us in the North.
Justin Champagnie Is A Great Rebounder
Rebounding is a skill that often translates from the College level to the NBA level. The reason for this is that rebounding is often dependant on hustle and desire to get the ball. If you have that at the college level you can bring that with you to the NBA level. Obviously in the NBA, the competition is bigger and stronger but if you averaged 11 rebounds a game as Justin did in college for Pittsburgh last year, you can expect that you will rebound at an above average level for a small forward in the NBA. Justin is known for having a relentless motor, and a nose for the ball.
Early results do show this. In the recent Raptors game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he had 10 rebounds, and he averaged over 9 rebounds per 36 minutes in Summer League as well, including an 11 point 11 rebound double-double against the Brooklyn Nets. As Kawhi Leonard once very eloquently put it: “Board Man Gets Paid”.
Justin Champagnie Is A Versatile Defender
Standing 6'7" and weighing 205lbs with a 6'9.5' wingspan and an 8'8.0" standing reach Champagnie has the ability to guard at least 3 positions on the floor: PF, SF, and SG. This is evidenced by the fact that his size is that of a well-built wing, but he played PF in college.
He was a true two-way force at Pittsburgh as his relentless motor could be seen on both sides of the ball. He put up a very respectable defensive rating of 98.1 per 100 possessions. A player that rebounds as well as he does while playing as an undersized PF is no stranger to physicality, and that is the type of defense that the Raptors love in their young players. Justin averaged 1.2 steals/1.3 blocks and 7.7 defensive rebounds a game in college and will be a perfect fit on a Raptors team that likes size, versatility, and defense at every position.
Justin Champagnie Is An Underrated Scorer
Last year Champagnie averaged 18 pts a game while shooting 47.7% from the field, 31.1% from 3, and 71.1% from the FT line playing for the Pittsburgh Panthers. Many will say that he is not a great 3pt shooter and perhaps that’s why we were able to pick him up without needing to use a draft pick.
Shooting as Nick Nurse likes to put it: “… Is one of the only skills in basketball that anyone can get better at…” It's obvious that the Raptors believe that they can improve his shooting because as Justin put it in an after-practice interview today he’s been participating in the evening “shooting lab” with the Raptors’ coaches since joining the squad.
Preliminary stats are showing some promise, on Tuesday's game against the Sixers he went 2–5 from the 3pt line and went on to score 17pts in the game while going 7 of 12 from the field(along with 10 rebounds!).
According to his scouting report, he has a good touch around the basket and is able to find ways to score using his off-ball movement.
The ultimate 3 and D player is a guy who can defend, make open 3pt jump shots for your team, and rebound. This 20-year-old fits the bill perfectly.
I know it's early, but I am already excited about Justin Champagnie in a Raptors uniform. With the Raptors player development molding him, he can become a terrific player in this league despite the fact that he went undrafted. He has a chance of making the rotation this year and being a valuable piece for the Raptors going forward.
