Raptors, G Javon Freeman-Liberty agree to two-way contract
The Toronto Raptors refilled their two-way contract cupboard by picking up free-agent guard Javon Freeman-Liberty, who had a stellar ‘23 Vegas Summer League that led to an All-Summer League Second Team selection.
Freeman-Liberty played for the Chicago Bulls’ Vegas Summer League, leading the team with 21.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He also displayed better perimeter shooting in a pressure-packed but all-over-the-place environment, nailing 46.2% from behind the arc on 5.2 attempts per game. He was by far the best player on the team featuring Dalen Terry, the 18th pick back in 2022, and Julian Phillips, the 35th pick of this year’s draft.
The 24 year-old Freeman-Liberty went undrafted during the 2022 NBA draft. Clearly, the Raptors are intrigued by his talent, working him out during the draft process. He then joined his hometown team’s NBA G-League affiliate Windy City Bulls as an affiliate player, where he averaged 14.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while also shooting 36.4% from behind the arc (Showcase Cup + Regular Season stats).
Before declaring for the 2022 draft, Freeman-Liberty parlayed a good sophomore bump at Valparaiso and transferred to be “the man” at DePaul. He averaged 21.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 36.8% from the perimeter as a senior.
Freeman-Liberty’s growth as a point guard and a perimeter threat has steadily improved since he shifted to the point guard position at DePaul. The recent Summer League allowed him to put the league on notice, showcasing size, playmaking, decision-making, shooting, and hustle at the point guard spot. He’s shown that he’s a three-level scorer and capable of operating off the ball. For those looking for his measurements, Freeman-Liberty was at the 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp and was measured at 6’3” without shoes and a 6’9” wingspan.
Apparently, the Raptors had competition, but Freeman-Liberty chose to go with the Raptors.
Freeman-Liberty joins Markquis Nowell and Ron Harper Jr. as a two-way contract player, with the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement bumping the number of two-way contract slots to three beginning this season.
