Raptors returning to Vancouver for training camp in October

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The Darko Rajakovic Toronto Raptors era will kick off in Vancouver.

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The Raptors confirmed Friday that training camp will be held in British Columbia from Oct. 3-7 at Christine Sinclair Community Centre in Burnaby. It’s the eighth time Canada’s lone remaining NBA team will hold its camp in B.C., the sixth time in Vancouver.

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An open practice will be held on Oct. 6 (6 p.m. PT) at the Simon Fraser University campus in Burnaby.

The Raptors said tickets for the open practice will be made available starting at 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at https://athletics.sfu.ca/raptors. Net proceeds from the event will go towards the SFU Athletics General Fund.

The new-look Raptors will hold media day in Toronto on Oct. 2 before flying to Vancouver. Rajakovic succeeded the fired Nick Nurse and takes over a team that lost leader Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets, but retained Jakob Poeltl and Gary Trent Jr. and made several additions.

Those include No. 13 overall draft pick Gradey Dick, guard Dennis Schroder, forward Jalen McDaniels and veteran Garrett Temple. The team also expects to have last year’s free agent signing Otto Porter Jr. healthy.

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Trade rumours continue to swirl around star forward Pascal Siakam, who like O.G. Anunoby and Trent is currently slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the season..

The regular season schedule is expected to be released next Tuesday

The team will play pre-season games on Oct. 8 (vs. Sacramento in Vancouver), Oct. 15 vs. Cairns Taipans in Toronto, Oct. 17 against the Bulls in Chicago and Oct. 20 against the Washington Wizards in Toronto.