Ole Miss basketball’s Terence Davis signs with Toronto Raptors

After reportedly turning down two-way contract deals on draft night last month, former Ole Miss Rebel Terence Davis is finally ending the drought of Rebels in the National Basketball Association.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania is reporting that Davis has signed with the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors, joining Nick Nurse’s roster a few hours after wrecking a NBA Summer League game. Davis scored 22 points in Sunday’s win over Orlando, leading the way for the Nuggets in an 84-79 win. He was awfully efficient from the field, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 5-of-7 from deep.

Charania is reporting that Davis is in fact inking a two-year deal with Toronto with a “full guarantee in Year One”. Per HoopsRumors.com, the league minimum for rookies is currently $898,310 which is not a bad pay raise after just one day of work in the Summer League. His Denver Nuggets’ career only lasted one day, but now he will be moving north of the border to join a backcourt that includes the likes of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanFleet.

The Southaven, Miss. native will be on a 15-man roster, the first Ole Miss player to do it since 2010 when Memphis, Tenn. native Terrico White was drafted by the Detroit Pistons. Kermit Davis’ first player to make the league will have his opportunities to make a name for himself in Toronto as the reigning champs look to defend their title.

Most people were skeptical and very critical of Terence’s decision to not take the two-way contract deals that were offered on draft night last month, but much like his future teammate, VanFleet, he turned down two-way contract suitors in order to bet on himself to prove the doubters and naysayers wrong and earn a full-time contract.

And it now looks like it will all work out for the best.

The 6’5, 205-pounder will be an excellent bench piece for Nurse’s Raptors. He is an explosive athlete who can score in bunches if he gets hot, especially from three-point range. He will need to improve his defense, on AND off the ball, and will need to work on his mid-range game, but the athleticism and talent is there, no question about it.

Celtics Blog’s Max Carlin wrote about Davis this week:

Offensively, branding Davis as just a questionable shooter might be a bit of a stretch, too. He has legitimate shot versatility, showcasing off-the-dribble and off-movement shooting. He also has some real on-ball equity, as he’s a very competent pick-and-roll passer and sports a controlled and effective handle.

As with all those undersized, defense-first wings, the story of Davis’ career can likely be told with one simple question: does he shoot? I hate to be that reductive, but it’s just how it is (though there is also the issue of Davis’ inconsistent defensive awareness). If Davis shoots, he’ll be good. If not, he’ll be a fringe NBA player. What separates him from other players of that ilk--outlier athleticism, possible shot versatility, and offensive competence extending beyond the “3” confines of the classic 3&D role--make Davis meaningfully more interesting than the typical player of his archetype.

Shout out to T.D. for banking on himself and seeing his NBA dream come true. And shout out to everyone who will now have an excuse to travel up to The Ron to see our handsome, swole son play in the Association.

#WeTheNorth indeed.