Latest Mock Draft Has Raptors Taking International Prospect
Remember Bobi Klintman?
It’s been five months since the Toronto Raptors played host to the Cairns Taipans back in mid-October. The game was largely forgettable save for the jampacked media table filled with an irregular number of NBA scouts.
Why so many?
Because Klintman, Carin’s 6-foot-7 forward who was held to just nine points that night, is expected to be a first-round pick this year and quite possibly a player Toronto should be keeping tabs on.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has the Raptors tabbed to take Klintman in the middle of the first round when the pick formerly owned by Indiana rolls around.
Klintman had an inconsistent rookie season playing in Australia’s National Basketball League this past year. He averaged just 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 44.3% from the floor and 35.7% from three-point range.
It’ll likely take some time for Klintman to grow into himself and fill out his game. He’s a latecomer to basketball and is still relatively raw, but his size and physical traits are certainly intriguing. Considering Toronto’s need for another wing defender, it would make sense for the Raptors to be eyeing a player like Klintman in the middle of the first round.
No. 32: Trey Alexander (Creighton Bluejays)
In the second round, Vecenie has Toronto selecting Trey Alexander, a third-year guard from Creighton with the 32nd pick via Detroit.
The 6-foot-4 Alexander is a plus-sized guard averaging 17.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 5.7 rebounds this season while shooting 45.6% from the floor and 32.7% from three-point range. While his three-point shooting has fallen off from last season’s 41% mark, the 20-year-old projects as a steady backup guard at the next level. He’ll have to work on his defense, but there’s enough in Alexander’s game to make him an early second-round pick when the summer rolls around.
