Toronto Raptors know what they’re on the lookout for within the draft: gamers who defend, transfer the ball and compete.
Final yr, they relied on the expertise with the alternatives of second spherical Jamal Shead and Jonathan Mogbo, deciding on prospects that correspond to their tradition and introduced maturity and tenacity. With the depth of the wings all the time a necessity, Alex Toohey might be the next to observe this path within the second spherical.
The 21 -year -old Australian striker is ought to work for Toronto Earlier than the NBA 2025 draft, in keeping with Michael Grange de Sportsnet. It has typically been deliberate to go from begin to the center of the second spherical and might be considered for raptors of your selection n ° 39.
Toohey has spent the final two seasons with the Kings of Sydney within the Australian NBL as a part of the League Subsequent Stars program. He collected a mean of 10.6 factors, 4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 interceptions in 23 minutes per sport this yr. Though he was not a essential offensive choice, he confirmed the kind of options that the NBA groups admire in extra wings.
At 6 ft 8 inches and 222 kilos with a 6 -foot winged 11 inch, Toohey has the instruments to maintain a number of positions. He’s in defensively competitors, makes clever rotations and brings fixed efforts each on the perimeter and within the assist protection.
Offensively, he performs a workforce model first. It doesn’t want the ball to be efficient. He cuts, retains the ball in movement and makes fast selections in transition. It’s comfy to repel defensive rebounds and discover teammates on the break, not often forcing photographs.
The largest concern is his taking pictures. Toohey solely reached 28% of its three by way of two NBL seasons and pulled 70.7% on the road. Its mechanisms appear easy, however the percentages haven’t adopted. He additionally finds it tough to create an offense within the half-cier and has not been efficient in isolation or post-up conditions.
Nonetheless, raptors have a historical past of focusing on gamers prepared for the system who know how you can contribute with out the necessity for keys. Toohey corresponds to this mould. He brings an expert expertise, a defensive depth and a great feeling as a passerby, all of the options that the raptors prioritized beneath the top coach Darko Rajaković.
If the shot improves, even barely, Toohey may reduce a task like a dependable two -way wing. It’s the form of selection of second spherical at low danger that Toronto has already discovered worth earlier than.
