ESPN's Mock Draft Has 3 Potential Picks for The Raptors
The Toronto Raptors made it clear they’re not interested in adding three rookies this summer.
Even in a youth movement, it’s hard to go all-in on development. That was part of the reason Toronto moved its least valuable first-round pick at the trade deadline, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster said. The organization didn’t want to spend the time and resources needed to develop three rookies and figured it was better off adding Ochai Agbaji, a 23-year-old former lottery pick, and Kelly Olynyk in a deal with the Utah Jazz.
And yet, there’s still a reasonable chance Toronto has three picks in this year’s draft. If the season ended today, Toronto would have a 45.8% chance to keep its top-six protected first-round pick owed to San Antonio. That would give the Raptors a top-six pick as well as mid first-round pick from Indiana and an early second-round pick from Detroit.
ESPN’s latest mock draft suggests who the Raptors might target if they do indeed have those three first-round picks this year.
No. 6: Nikola Topić (Mega MIS)
Maybe the Raptors want to add a little more Serbian to their roster this summer.
In terms of fit, it’s not hard to see why Raptors coach Darko Rajaković would be interested in the 18-year-old Nikola Topić. A 6-foot-6 point guard, Topić is the kind of playmaking guard with passing chops to fall in love with.
Topić has been battling a knee injury since early January, but began the season on a tear, averaging 18.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game through his first 12 games with Mega MIS this year. While he has struggled as a three-point shooter throughout his young career, he’s a fantastic finisher inside the arc and his career 87.1% stroke from the charity stripe suggests there’s shooting potential still to be tapped into.
He's unlikely to develop into an above-average defender and his lack of a three-point shot would make him an awkward fit on Toronto’s current roster, but his potential and offensive craftiness would be hard to pass up for the Raptors at No. 6.
No. 15: Stephon Castle (UConn)
The Raptors have a track record of prioritizing winning in the college ranks at Stephon Castle certainly fits the bill there. The 6-foot-6 guard has been among the most impactful freshmen in college basketball so far this year, helping to lead the No. 1 ranked UConn Huskies to a 24-2 record this season.
Castle is a tough and versatile on-ball defender with whose frame gives him the ability to defend most guards and wings with relative ease. Following the loss of OG Anunoby earlier this year, he’d help Toronto as another defense-first guard who should be able to develop into a defensive stopper at the NBA level.
Offensively, Castle is a bit more of a question. He’s averaging 10.8 points, 3.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game and doesn’t quite have the passing skills to be a lead guard or the shooting talent to play off the ball. He’s shooting just 32.4% from three-point range this year and 70% from the free-throw line.
Castle could be a prospect to keep an eye on when March Madness rolls around. If the Huskies advance far in the tournament, Castle’s stock could soar before the draft.
No. 32: Kyshawn George (Miami)
The 20-year-old Kyshawn George appears to be one of the more polarizing prospects in this year’s class and it’s not clear if he’ll even enter his name in the draft or return to Miami for a sophomore season next year.
The 6-foot-8 wing certainly has the tools to excite evaluators. He’s averaging 7.5 points, 2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 40.8% from three-point range and 82.6% from the free-throw line. While he’s far from a complete prospect, his impressive three-point stroke and offensive playmaking tools give him a ton of upside as a modern do-it-all wing.
He's still a work-in-progress, averaging just 22.1 minutes per game on a mediocre Hurricanes team, but if Toronto wanted to swing for upside, George has the raw traits to be a home run.
