With departure of Joseph, Raptors’ Delon Wright ready for his moment
VICTORIA — The trading of Canadian point guard Cory Joseph to the Indiana Pacers this past summer could go down as the pivotal moment in Delon Wright’s career.
The 25-year-old, who’d spent the better part of the past two seasons buried deep down the rotation, admitted he was a “little shocked” when Joseph was shipped to Indy. But a proverbial door had swung wide open, and determination quickly replaced shock.
“I just had to look at myself in the mirror and say: They have faith in you now, and it’s time to get ready,” Wright said.
Shoulder surgery sidelined Wright for the first four months of last season, but his performance down the stretch — including a 21-game stint as Joseph’s backup when starter Kyle Lowry was recovering from hand surgery — earned applause from coach Dwane Casey.