Raptors selected Duke’s sharpshooter in the first round of the most recent mock draft.
The 6-foot-10, all-around forward Matas Buzelis is already well-known as a player the team will probably consider if Toronto retains its first-round choice this summer. Even Ryan Dunn of Virginia has been touted as a player the Raptors should keep an eye on later in the draft as they try to bolster their defensive depth.
But in the middle of the first round, perhaps it’s also worth keeping an eye on Jared McCain of Duke. The 6-foot-3 point guard, who the Raptors acquired from Indiana in the Pascal Siakam trade, is ranked No. 19 in the most recent mock draft by ESPN.
This past season, McCain made 41.4% of his 210 three-point shots, demonstrating his incredible skill at the three-point line. He is capable of working both with and without the ball, and he appears at ease making three-pointers and finishing catch-and-shoot plays as a two guard. The 20-year-old McCain is regarded by The Ringer and The Athletic as a talent who can bend defenses around with his three-point shooting ability, much like Steph Curry.
McCain’s size is going to be the problem.
Although he is a deft paint finisher, he lacks explosiveness, and his short stature could pose challenges for him in the higher levels. Concerns have also been expressed regarding how his defense will perform in an NBA game. McCain has demonstrated some grit at the attacking end, but he’ll probably struggle in high-level matches against stronger players.
The challenge for McCain, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, “will be demonstrating he can impact games in other ways.” “He rebounds well for a small guard and generally makes good decisions, but there isn’t much margin for error for him considering he’s 6-3 and doesn’t possess a ton of length.”
While there’s no denying that Toronto could use more three-point shooting this summer, McCain might not be the best long-term fit for the Raptors given their current smaller size.