All Eyes on Young Brazilians as Raptors Training Camp Opens

As the calendar turns to October, 2014 training camps are underway across the National Basketball Association.

Toronto Raptors’ camp opened this week with expectations running high following a successful 2013-2014 campaign in which the team finished atop the NBA’s Atlantic Division, returning to playoff action for the first time since 2008.

With the opening of camp, Raptors management and fans will get their first close-up look at a pair of young Brazilian prospects who will be getting their first taste of NBA ball..

Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri shocked the room when he selected unknown Bruno Caboclo with the 20th pick at this year’s NBA Draft. The 19 year-old power forward was considered well off the Draft radar, and following his selection was described by one television analyst as being “two years away from being two years away”.

Despite the initial less-than-glowing media assessment, Caboclo is expected to get a long look at camp and receive plenty of minutes in pre-season action alongside countryman Lucas Nogueira.

A 22 year-old center acquired by the Raptors in the off-season as part of the deal that sent forward John Salmons to the Atlanta Hawks, Nogueira was selected 16th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2013 NBA Draft before being dealt to the Hawks in time for the 2013 NBA Summer League.

While neither youngster is expected to see much action once the Raptors’ regular season opens with a home date against the Hawks on October 29, the club has sought to ensure that both are fully acclimated to the NBA game after spending time working out with teammates during the offseason.

In Cleveland, the new-look Cavaliers’ training camp is in full swing, led by the team’s new trio of stars: LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, who have electrified fans early on with highlight reel moves during the team’s scrimmages.

Irving, a 22 year-old point guard originally from Melbourne, Australia, has quickly established himself as an NBA star in his own right, since being selected first overall by Cleveland in the 2011 NBA Draft. After garnering NBA rookie of the year honors in 2012, Irving was named an NBA All-Star in 2013 and 2014, and arrives at Cavaliers camp riding high after being named the MVP of this summer’s FIBA World Cup, where he won a gold medal with team USA.

With the emergence of Irving, along with the arrival of Love, who joined Cleveland from the Minnesota Timberwolves in an offseason trade, and the return of James to the Cavaliers fold has lifted the squad to 5/2 favorites to win the 2015 NBA championship in NBA online betting.