The Toronto Raptors still have games left this season, and mathematically, they were not eliminated from the playoffs. Even so, it’s prudent for the team to call time of death on this season and turn its attention to the upcoming offseason and how to build a great Raptors team for the future.
A key part of this building project is the NBA Draft, and the Raptors have assembled a group of young players with “Blue Blood” heritage. That includes two Kansas alums (Ochai Agbaji and Gradey Dick), a Kentucky guard (Immanuel Quickley) and two former Duke tight ends, Gary Trent Jr. and RJ Barrett.
Duke players have dominated the NBA draft in recent years and fill all kinds of roles around the league. In last year’s draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected Derek Lively II with the No. 12 pick and he now starts at center.
In the 2022 NBA Draft, Paolo Banchero went first overall and made the All-Star Game in his second season. Mark Williams starts at center for Charlotte in his second season. Jalen Johnson was a first-round pick in 2021 and is a candidate for Most Improved Player in his breakout season for the Atlanta Hawks. That’s not even talking about more established stars like Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
This pipeline doesn’t appear to be drying up anytime soon, either. As many as seven players on Duke’s current roster are likely to be drafted, with another No. 1 class coming next year that could include the top two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
As Duke plays their regular season finale this weekend against their rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels, and then looking to the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament, their future NBA players will be on full display. The Raptors, armed with at least one and potentially two first-round picks, not to mention a top second-round pick, should keep a close eye on the Blue Devils as they consider how to use these choices in June.
Here are three players in particular that the Raptors could end up signing to the Duke basketball team.
