Raptors Staying Optimistic, Having Once Drafted Tracy McGrady, DeMar DeRozan at No. 9

While not as steep a fall as some lottery participants, the result marked a disappointing outcome for a team that spent much of the season positioned to secure a higher pick.

As noted by Eric Koreen of The Athletic, the Raptors’ lottery outcome lowers the odds of landing a franchise-altering talent in what’s widely considered an unpredictable draft class. Nevertheless, team president Masai Ujiri expressed confidence following the draw, pointing to Toronto’s past success with the No. 9 pick.

“Tracy McGrady. DeMar DeRozan. Jakob Poeltl,” Ujiri said. “We’ll be fine. I guarantee you we’ll be fine. … We have all our picks going forward. I think we continue this rebuild and grow as a team.”

Ujiri said the organization remains committed to patience as it looks to retool the roster into a future contender.

“I believe that the NBA has become (about) movement, movement, movement,” he said. “You just wait for your turn (for a big transaction that makes sense). It will come.”

Toronto is also slated to pick 39th overall in the second round and has begun its pre-draft workout process. According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca, Toronto has scheduled a workout with Australian forward Alex Toohey, who is ranked No. 39 on ESPN’s prospect board.

Grange also reports that Duke center Khaman Maluach is a name to watch at No. 9, with some league sources suggesting the 7-foot-2 prospect is high on the Raptors’ radar. However, other sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking have pushed back on that idea, indicating that Toronto’s plans remain fluid.

The Raptors last held the No. 9 pick in 2016, when they selected Poeltl. They previously drafted McGrady in 1997 and DeRozan in 2009 — both also at No. 9 overall.