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Predicting The Makeup Of The Toronto Raptors In 2021

By Gavin Axelrod

Toronto Raptors (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 1: President Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors participates at Hoops 4 Hope at the Basketball Without Boarders Africa program at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 1, 2018 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 1: President Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors participates at Hoops 4 Hope at the Basketball Without Boarders Africa program at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 1, 2018 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The kids are alright

Toronto’s late round success carries into the future. As a result of trading Valanciunas the team will now be without a 2021 first rounder.

In the 2019 draft Toronto selected Charles Matthews and Marques Bolden. Matthews can play either guard position and at 6’6 makes for a strong perimeter rebounder that can score in bunches.

Bolden on the other hand is a massive 6’11 250 lb centre who has raw talent that Toronto could cash in big on.

Luckily for both rookies they have great mentors ahead of them in the depth chart. Matthews will learn from Wiggins while Bolden will learn from Ibaka.

The 2020 draft is also being pegged as a potential “double draft.” Many around the league believe that the one-and-done rule could be gone by 2020. In April ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski had this to say:

Should the one-and-done rule be erased it would be a game changer. Executives around the league would not only be able to select the best college athletes but the best high school players.

If the Raptors are drafting late it would make sense for them to take a chance on a high school standout. This way they could allow said player to develop in the G League without wasting a roster spot. It will be interesting to see if NBA teams use high school players as “draft and stash” prospects in the near future.

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