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Masai Ujiri’s draft record looks positive for Raptors

By Brian Boake

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NBA Draft night is finally upon us, and we’ve done our best to consider as many prospects as we could. Let’s wrap up our pre-draft coverage with a look at the selections of the man who ultimately makes the decision for the Toronto Raptors. I’m referring of course to General Manager Masai Ujiri.

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We all know Masai doesn’t fear criticism. There was a lot of hue and cry last summer when the Raptors, in the same #20 slot as this, chose utterly unknown Bruno Caboclo. One can only imagine the countless numbers of fingers logging into Google (“Bruno who? From where?”) while trying not to misspell a name that even Commissioner Adam Silver couldn’t get right. Whether Bruno ever becomes a player of note in the NBA is impossible to know at the moment, and is beside the point. Have Masai’s prior choices, the ones who’ve been in the league a little while and whom he made as the Denver Nuggets’ grand fromage, worked out? There’s enough evidence to indicate a positive answer.

Apr 1, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Bruno Caboclo (5) watches a free throw by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center. The Raptors win 113-99. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

In 2012, with the 20th pick (spooky), Masai chose French swingman Evan Fournier. He’s a Magic-man now, and averaged 12 Points Per Game [PG] last season, while shooting 37.8% from beyond the arc. I don’t think Evan is destined for greatness, but the woods are full of guys selected at his spot or higher who haven’t posted anywhere close to those numbers. The year before, Masai snapped up Kenneth Faried at #22. He’s certainly turned out better than almost any #22 pick, or any Morehead State alumnus, you care to name.

What can we glean from this small data sample? Masai knows what life is like this far down the draft board; Masai has scouts everywhere (Fournier played for Union Poitiers Basket 86 – Morehead State has 2,900 students and is in Morehead, Kentucky); Masai will be bold.

All that said, there’s no way to know who the Raptors are going to select. Undoubtedly the brains trust have a hot list of perhaps 6 potential draftees they like who figure to still be on the board at our team’s selection. By the time it’s our turn around 9:30 or so, a bunch of them will be gone. Will they all be? If so, will Masai trade the pick as the clock is ticking?

I’m thinking No to both questions. The Raptors, having lost Trey Lyles five picks earlier, will select Montrezl Harrell. He’s the closest to Faried I’ve seen, not that there are many players to choose from of that kind (i.e., high-motor defenders).

We’ll all be glued to the set.

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