Raptors selected NCAA’s top star in the most recent mock draft.
Officially, mock draft season has begun.
This might be the only enjoyable aspect of the upcoming few months for Toronto Raptors fans. In an attempt to improve its lottery chances of obtaining a better draft pick in June, Toronto has virtually punted on the last month of the season.
Who would the Raptors be focusing on?
Jonathan Wasserman’s most recent mock draft for Bleacher Report might provide some clues.
No. 6: Ron Holland (G League Ignite)
Holland was formerly thought to be one of the top prospects in this draft, but he has suffered a little from an uneven season with the G League Ignite and poor efficiency numbers. But it’s evident that the 6-foot-8 wing is a force to be reckoned with and has a top-tier motor that should help him land a position at the next level right away.
Before suffering a thumb injury that ended his season, the 18-year-old averaged a team-high 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game in 29 G League games this season. Despite some skepticism over his 24% three-point shooting and 55.9% True Shooting percentage, Holland’s age and athleticism suggest he won’t go far in the first round.
No. 17: Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor Bears)
Another physically gifted wing, Walter’s offensive output with the Baylor Bears this season has sparked speculation about his potential as a future star. Despite being a three-point shooter in high school, he is shooting just 37.3% from the field with a 53.8% True Shooting percentage and an unreliable three-point shot.
The 19-year-old flank hasn’t been up to par defensively. Although he is 6-foot-5 and the ideal wing size to be good defensively, he hasn’t shown enough consistency to be a valuable member of the Bears’ defense, which has struggled this year.
Other forecasters have Walter’s future projected to be considerably higher, and a strong showing at the tournament could boost his stock. Scouts’ perception of his three-point shooting as a potential three-and-d wing at the next level will determine this.
No. 32: Zach Edey (Purdue)
The seven-foot-four For many years, Edey has been the most dominant men’s basketball player in college. At 24.4 points per game and 11.7 points per game on average, he topped the nation in scoring and is headed for his second straight Player of the Year title.
Such a resume would normally indicate that the Canadian center should be selected early in the first round; yet, Edey is projected to be selected much later due to questions regarding his quickness and his capacity to handle quick guards in the pick-and-roll at the next level. He might wind up being the kind of player who would have been more appropriate to play in the NBA a decade or two agoโa situational role player.
Given that Kelly Olynyk and Jakob Poeltl are signed for the upcoming season, Toronto will not be in a rush for Edey to assume a significant role right away. He would give the Raptors a more youthful alternative and perhaps someone who could develop alongside Toronto’s youthful core.