CHICAGO — If you include their two-way players, the Raptors have five rookies on their roster. For a team that had only the 59th pick in June’s draft, that’s a pretty stunning number.



Prior to Saturday, only Terence Davis had played among those first-year players. Heading to Chicago for the third game of the year, Matt Thomas, Dewan Hernandez, Oshae Brissett and Shamorie Ponds were still waiting to get into their first contest. It is a hard position to be in, especially for a player like Thomas, who is one of a handful of Raptors who is right on the periphery of the regular rotation.



Fred VanVleet understands that feeling. He might be starting now, but back in his rookie year, he had to wait until the Raptors’ 17th game to finally play. He did not play into double-digits in minutes in any game until Dec. 18.



“It’s tough, man. You’re just waiting, waiting for your turn,” VanVleet said Saturday night after the...