The Toronto Raptors gets the ninth pick

Toronto will be fine despite missing out on the chance of drafting Cooper Flagg. They have a good core with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl plus the continuing developments of their first- and second-year players of Gradey Dick, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, and Jonathan Mogbo lead to their postseason success.

Can the Raptor go to the playoffs next season?

Toronto can easily be a top-five contender in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks may not be a postseason team due to Damian Lillard being out for most of next season, plus Giannis Antetokounmpo could ask for a trade in the summer. The Philadelphia 76ers may not be playoff contenders since there are still questions about Joel Embiid’s health.

The only teams I see that are better than the Raptors next season are the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Indiana Pacers, and the Celtics, despite losing Jayson Tatum, because they are still a good team with him.

What do the Raptors do with their pick?

The benefit of Toronto securing the ninth pick is that it provides the team with flexibility. By this, I mean they can trade this pick to enhance the team, whether by acquiring a valuable role player or an all-star caliber player.

Toronto could also choose to keep the pick and draft someone like Derik Queen or Khaman Maluach. They could use another center, and both players are capable of playing at the five. Additionally, the Raptors might consider drafting a point guard such as Jeremiah Fears, Kasparas Jakucionis, or Jase Richardson to play behind Quickley and Shead.

Missing out on the opportunity to draft Flagg sucks but it isn’t like the Toronto need him the way other franchises need him. It would be to have on the team, but the Raptors already have their franchise player in Barnes and an All-Star in Ingram.

And they already have a solid team for next season that will include the ninth pick whether they decide to trade it in exchange for a veteran player or keep the pick and draft a young prospect. Not having Flagg isn’t changing that. So, despite missing out on the Flagg sweepstakes, the Raptors will be fine.