Analyzing Past Toronto Raptors Drafts

Another thing the Raptors love to do at the draft is take the unexpected pick. Out of every team, they go outside of the box the most and really trust their staff. With this in mind, if the Raptors loved a player like Jeremiah Fears, who is a young and talented player. Another player who has come up a lot in draft talks has been Khaman Maluach, who fits this mold of being young and having a lot of potential is also another option. On the other side of this draft, I can’t see the Raptors drafting someone like Derik Queen. Although he is a freshman, he turns 21 before the end of his first season.

Late First Round, Early Second Round

Unlike early in the first round, the Raptors tend to use these picks in the hope of finding solid complementary pieces. Picking either 39th or 40th in this draft with the Portland Trailblazers’ second-round pick, we should see it again. Last year, the Raptors chose Jonathan Mogbo 31st overall, knowing what kind of player they were getting. An intelligent and athletic forward who doesn’t have that scoring touch that turns players into stars. When he was selected 31st, the Raptors were hoping for a good backup behind Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett in the forward spot. Another example from 2022, when they picked 33rd overall, was Christian Koloko in the hopes he was a backup center who could play defense.

After looking at this strategy from the Raptors, they may be looking for a certain position they want to fill. They could also be looking for a certain skill set in these players, which can elevate a part of the lineup. What I think they will be looking for in this early second round is shooters. They found a pretty good one in Jamison Battle, but I expect more to be added as this team builds for the playoffs.

Late Second Round, Undrafted

Similarly to early in the first round, the picks late in the second round will always be about upside. The only difference is that the level of talent that the first-rounders have is already apparent compared to a raw second-round prospect. The perfect example again is from late last year with the Ulrich Chomche pick 57th overall. He was the youngest player in the draft, born December 30th, 2005, from the NBA Academy in Africa. Masai and staff knew that he was an extremely raw prospect who didn’t have that many offensive tools. However, his athletic ability and upside are extraordinary.

That trend could continue as they draft players who are young but extremely athletic with a high IQ. It allows the team to shape these superhuman athletes, molding them to whatever they like. Overall, the Raptors head into the draft with a clear plan and model in all rounds.