WATCH ABOVE: DeMarre Carroll says Toronto signing is a positive development after difficult times
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors have officially announced three free-agent deals.
The club has signed forwards DeMarre Carroll and Luis Scola and Canadian guard Cory Joseph.
While the players had already confirmed the deals, NBA rules prevented the team from announcing them until Thursday.
READ MORE: Raptors officially announce DeMarre Carroll signing
The 28-year-old Carroll averaged 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 70 games for the Atlanta Hawks last season, and was touted as one of the top players at his position available on the free-agent market.
He’s a strong defender and an outside shooting threat, and could slip into the starting lineup in place of Terrence Ross.
Carroll started 69 games to help the Hawks to a franchise-high 60 wins and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs last season.
He’s also a proven post-season performer which the Raptors could use, having been dispatched in ugly fashion by Washington in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
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Carroll was Atlanta’s leading scorer through the first two rounds. He had a run of six games with 20-plus points, and recorded 25 points and 10 boards in the close-out game against Washington. He suffered a knee injury in Game 1 of the third round against Cleveland.
Carroll has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth US$60 million, which would make it the largest free-agency signing in franchise history.
Joseph, a 23-year-old native of Pickering, Ont., spent his first four NBA seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, helping them win the league title in 2014.
READ MORE: Luis Scola announces he’s joining Toronto Raptors
He played in 79 games this past season with the Spurs, averaging 6.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
The six-foot-nine Scola averaged 20.5 minutes, 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds with the Indiana Pacers last season.
The Raptors also waived guard Luke Ridnour on Thursday.
Toronto acquired Ridnour and cash considerations from the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 30 for the draft rights to forward Tomislav Zubcic.
The six-foot-two, 175-pound Ridnour has averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 assists and a steal over 830 career games.
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