The Raptors of Toronto haven’t hidden their intentions this season.
At 17-38 to 55 video games, they’ve the fifth largest report within the league – and they’d be excellent if that’s getting worse. The Entrance Workplace was clear concerning the significance of the luck of the lottery to acquire a primary selection of this yr’s draft.
With the celebs break right here, it is a good time to test the ranks of the faculty and one of the best hopes that would form the way forward for Toronto. The next classification is gracked with The final ESPN simulation undertaking by Jeremy Woo and Jonathan Givony.
N ° 1 Cooper Flagg (Duke)
It was the place of Flagg from the beginning of the yr, and nothing of what he did advised the alternative. The 6 -inch 6 -inch striker stays the selection of consensus n ° 1, presenting the flexibility of the elite, competitiveness and defensive prowess. Its offensive progress, specifically as a 3 -point shooter, solely strengthens its excessive potential as a double -meaning star.
Flagg is on common 19.8 factors, 7.6 rebounds and 4 assists per recreation whereas pulling 37% deeply for among the finest groups within the nation. Except a significant shock of March Insanity, it’s a lock to be the primary title referred to as the night of the night.
N ° 2 Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Harper was one of the crucial intriguing views of this class, and regardless of some up and down, there stays a excessive degree competitor to go n ° 2.. The 6 -foot guard mixes the scale, energy and creation video games with a contact of pure notation, making comparisons with a younger James Harden. His potential to create photographs for himself and the others, related together with his excessive basketball IQ, makes him a sexy head guard on the subsequent degree.
Throughout his first yr season, Harper has a mean of 18.8 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per recreation. His excessive efficiency of the illness and accidents contributed to consolidating his draft inventory, and a robust end of the season might lock him as a primary non-flagg hope.
N ° 3 – Bailey “Aerial Ace” (Rutgers)
Bailey’s inventory elevated all season, and it’s firmly within the combination as a selection among the many first three. The ten -foot 10 inch wing is likely one of the most explosive markers within the class, combining elite athletics with superior manufacturing capability. He flashed the potential to be an actual three -level marker on the subsequent degree whereas making progress as a defender and a smuggler.
Bailey is on common 19.1 factors, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per match with a 38% cerebral accident, together with a number of explosions of 30 factors on the convention recreation. If he continues his ascending trajectory and delivers in excessive strain moments, he might push Harper for area n ° 2.
N ° 4 – VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Edgecombe has solidified as a perspective among the many first 5 together with his combination of explosiveness, defensive depth and enchancment of offensive versatility. The 6 -foot 5 -inch goalkeeper is an elite athlete who performs with relentless vitality at each ends of the bottom. His potential to assault the sting, to create in transition and to disturb the defensive opponents of him one of the crucial properly -balanced gamers of this draft class.
After a gradual begin, EdgeCombe caught hearth within the Large 12 recreation, with a mean of 15 factors, 5.1 rebounds and three.2 assists per recreation. He additionally overthrew 46% of his three within the final 14 video games, displaying important progress as a fringe shooter. If it maintains this trajectory, it might cement itself because the clear selection n ° 4.
N ° 5 – Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
In line with the most recent ESPN simulation undertaking, the Raptors ought to land Jakucionis with the fifth general selection. The 6 -foot 5 inch chief impressed the scouts together with his steadiness, his taking part in capability and his efficient rating, making a robust argument as among the finest facilitators of this class. He performs with exceptional maturity, displaying a robust resolution -making and a pure feeling to direct an offense.
Jakucionis is on common 16 factors, 5.2 assists and 5.6 rebounds per recreation. His latest taking pictures difficulties have raised sure issues, however his imaginative and prescient, his tenacity and his potential to function within the pick-and-roll make it an intriguing adjustment for Toronto as one other plus bullet spherical alongside Scottie Barnes.
