Davis, who is facing a litany of criminal charges stemming from an incident involving a woman and her child, is about to begin his second training camp with the transplanted team just outside Tampa, Fla., because the rules say he must. The Raptors, to this point, have no reason to violate an agreement between the NBA and the players’ association. “We’ve obviously had our conversations with Terence, done as much due diligence as we can on the situation, but at this point it’s a matter between the NBA and the union,” Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said Tuesday. “I think sometimes that may feel a bit unsatisfying but I think that we need to be respectful of that process as well.”

Putting Davis, whose $1.5 million (U.S.) contract for the coming season became fully guaranteed Sunday, on some kind of paid leave while the league investigates the charges and the probe by New York City police continues, might have seemed a logical step. But, Webster said, it is not something the franchise could have done unilaterally. Under terms of the league’s agreement with the union on domestic abuse, sexual assault and child abuse, any discipline is handled at the league level. “That policy does govern his punishment or suspension or what may come of it.” Webster said. “The administrative leave part, as I understand it, can only be done by the NBA … I think we need to be respectful of the process here.”