NBA

Why Raptors signed Garrett Temple: What 13-year NBA veteran brings to Toronto

and others

• 4 min read

(NBA Getty Images)

The majority of free agency moves have been made and teams are beginning to fill out their rosters for training camp.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Raptors filled their final guaranteed contract spot on Monday, signing veteran wing Garrett Temple to a one-year, $3.2 million deal.

The 13-year journeyman brings Toronto to 20 of its 21 available training camp spots with 15 guaranteed contracts, three Two-Way players, one partially guaranteed deal and one Exhibit 10 deal, per TSN's Josh Lewenberg.

Who is Temple and what will he bring to the Raptors? The Sporting News takes a deeper dive below.

MORE: Grading Raptors' offseason: Reviewing what Toronto did this summer

Who is Garrett Temple?

Temple, 37, is a 6-5, 195-pound shooting guard out of LSU.

Despite earning SEC All-Defensive Team selections in 2008 and 2009, Temple went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Temple bounced around to begin his career, playing on 10-day contracts for the Rockets, Kings and Spurs as a rookie. His second season was no different, playing for the Spurs, Bucks and Bobcats on 10-day contracts.

After taking his talents overseas to play in Italy for one season, Temple signed his first full-time NBA contract with the Wizards in 2012.

He has since played for seven teams in 11 seasons. Temple has played for the Wizards (four seasons), Kings (two seasons), Grizzlies (half of a season), Clippers (half of a season), Nets (one season), Bulls (one season) and Pelicans (two seasons).

Temple is highly regarded as a great teammate, leader and locker-room guy. He has also served six seasons as a Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association, recently being re-elected for a second term in his position in 2021.

What Garrett Temple brings to Raptors

At 37 years old, the Raptors are likely bringing in Temple to be a leader and voice in the locker room. He only appeared in 25 games for the Pelicans last season, averaging 2.0 points in 6.5 minutes.

Temple is known as a 3-and-D specialist, although his best days as a defender are behind him. He did shoot 42.3 percent from 3-point range last year, but he only attempted 26 3-pointers the entire season.

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He'll be a great mentor for the younger players in Toronto's locker room and when called upon, he can help fill the team's void for an additional shooter and floor spacer.

Temple has shot a respectable 34.5 percent from 3 over his 13-year career and he's always going to give you his best effort on the defensive end.

You shouldn't expect Temple to be a rotation player with the Raptors, but you can expect to hear stories about the positive impact he has had on his teammates around him.

I think this clip sums up why the Raptors were interested in Garrett Temple.

Veteran, big locker room guy & preaches positivity.
His influence won't necessarily show in personal stats but I imagine his teammates will respect what he brings. pic.twitter.com/zZb4stQTCW
— Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) July 31, 2023