I recall back in 95-96 the Raptors acquired some guy named Martin Lewis.
They had some hopes for him to turn out half decent because he had a lot of raw athleticism (guy could really leap). Unfortunately for them, he was apparently out of shape to start the year and was kept on the inactive list for the majority of that season because of that.
He ended up playing 16 games for the Raps averaging 11.6 mins per game & 4.7 points per game. They then released or waived him at the end of the 95-96 season, but subsequently brought him back late in the 96-97 season thanks to a rash of Raptors' injuries. Sure enough, at the beginning of the 97-98 season he was found to be woefully out of shape again during training camp and was cut once again. This time for good.
Quote:
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In the team's inaugural season, one of the best pure athletes in the gym was unknown Martin Lewis, a refugee from various leagues. He's best remembered for a dunk over 7-foot-5 Shawn Bradley in the team's first exhibition game that had jaws dropping. He didn't stick that year and was invited back to camp a second time, when he was, well, less than fit. After one day of working out, he was seen lying on an elevated running track around the gym at the facility the team was using in Buffalo. Muscle spasms due to the workout? "No, he's having body spasms," was how one team official put it. Lewis was cut a day or so later.
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http://www.thestar.com/sports/basket...tor_watch.html
He then played in the IBA with the Winnipeg Cyclone for a few years before joining the NBDL, then finishing his basketball career in the USBL in 2002 at the age of 27.
Point is, I hope lack of fitness isn't the biggest reason why Howse is now on the suspended list (as that has been an issue for Howse in the past) and hope he has a better career than the one above.