LAS VEGAS- When the Atlanta Hawks sent Lou Williams to Toronto for John Salmons in a salary dump earlier this month, former first-round pick Lucas Nogueira was involved in the trade to the Raptors as well. Throw-ins in minor trades usually aren’t profiled, but what about a seven-foot 21-year-old who can block shots and fun the floor?
Nogueira, born in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, was the 16th pick of the 2013 draft, taken by Boston and sent to Atlanta on draft night. Nogueira built a relationship with the Hawks’ staff and was very surprised that they dealt him to Toronto, especially since the Hawks traded up to get him.
“When they traded me, I felt sad a little bit because I thought if they drafted me then they would stay with me,” Nogueira told SheridanHoops. “So I thought I’d stay there.”
After being dumped by Atlanta, Nogueira, who’s played for Estudiantes in Spain since 2009 when he was 16, brightened up because he heard good things about Toronto.
“I feel so happy and I feel so much motivation because I know a lot of staff from Toronto and they believe in my basketball [abilities],” he said.
Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri said they’ve always liked his multi-faceted abilities as a big man and hopes the Raptors can help him become an important piece on the roster. Ujiri said he’s working on getting Nogueira to play in the NBA this year as well.
“The trade came about and we got him, so hopefully we can develop him,” Ujiri told SheridanHoops
Nogueira’s Spanish League stats from last season sure are impressive. Though he only played 16.6 minutes per game in 18 contests for Estudiantes, he shot 70.3 percent from the field and blocked 1.6 shots per game, or more than 4.5 blocks per 48 minutes.
Nogueira didn’t play from May 25 until the first Summer League game on July 11, so getting back into elite basketball shape was a big Las Vegas priority for him and the team. Nogueira also mentioned that he wanted to improve on his low post game, transition defense, pick-and-roll defense and rim protection.
“They’ve taught me so much,” Nogueira said. “Right now I’m here to improve my game and the staff has so much to teach me.”
Ujiri said that the teaching process has already started. “The coaches have been working with him, he’s worked really hard. We’re happy to see him out there [on the court],” Ujiri said.
Ujiri is also hopeful that Nogueira can build his skills and add youth and vitality to the Raptors frontcourt.
“He’s a smart player. He’s played in Europe at a high level, even if it wasn’t that much,” Ujiri said. “He still needs to get stronger and develop but he’s a shot blocker, he’s got great hands and he can finish. So we’ll see how he grows.”
If Nogueira becomes anything close to a quality rotation player, the Hawks, Celtics and the rest of the league will regret that he was once a mere throw-in player in a pretty pedestrian salary dump.
Shlomo Sprung is a national columnist for SheridanHoops who loves advanced statistics and the way they explain what happens on the court. He is also the web editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. A 2011 graduate of Columbia University’s Journalism School, he has previously worked for the New York Knicks, The Sporting News, Business Insider and other publications. You should follow him on Twitter.
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