The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have signed free agent guard Drew Crawford and centre Yanick Moreira (Yah-neek more-ERA). Per team policy, financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Crawford, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, recently participated with Toronto’s entry in NBA Summer League 2016 in Las Vegas, averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 18.0 minutes in five games. He shot .500 (14-for-28) from the field and .750 (9-for-12) at the free throw line.
Crawford spent last season in Israel with Bnei Hertzeliyya, averaging 15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 31.7 minutes in 34 games. In 2014-15, he appeared in 50 games (all starts) with the D-League’s Erie BayHawks. He averaged 16.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 33.7 minutes.
Crawford played four collegiate seasons at Northwestern. He averaged 15.6 points (ninth in the Big Ten), 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 36.5 minutes as a senior. He is the first Wildcat to earn Big Ten Freshman of the year honours (2009-10).
Crawford is the son of NBA referee Danny Crawford.
Moreira, 6-foot-11, 220 pounds, saw action in five games with Toronto’s entry in NBA Summer League 2016 in Las Vegas, averaging 2.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.8 minutes.
Moreira split last season between UCAM Murcia (Spain) and Rouen (France). He averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 12.2 minutes in nine games with UCAM Murcia and 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 27.5 minutes in four games with Rouen.
Moreira played two seasons at SMU (2013-15), averaging 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 57 games. He spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at South Plains College. As a freshman, he helped South Plains College to a perfect 36-0 record and the 2012 NJCAA national title. He was named MVP of the NJCAA National Tournament.
Moreira represented Angola at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, averaging 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in five games. He recorded 38 points and 15 rebounds versus Australia.