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Toronto Raptors: Who to select with the 59th pick in the draft?

By Mark Birdsell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors sits in his seat during the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: Masai Ujiri of the Toronto Raptors sits in his seat during the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Jalen Lecque (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) /

Jalen Lecque

Jalen Lecque is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft. He turns 19 one week before the draft. Lecque was originally set to attend NC State next season but instead opted to submit paperwork and declare for the NBA Draft. Since Lecque completed his fifth year of high school at Brewster Academy, the NBA determined he was draft eligible.

Physically, Lecque is not ready to contribute to an NBA team. He weighs 185 pounds and is not strong enough to contend with the league’s top guards. But the raw tools are there and it is easy to picture what he could become.

Lecque has excellent size for a lead guard. He measured 6-foot-4.25 (in shoes) with a 6-foot-8.5 wingspan. He also recorded a 43-inch vertical leap, the highest at the combine. Lecque’s nickname is “Baby Westbrook”, a moniker he earned because of his freakish athleticism and explosive dunks.

Lecque needs to develop a more consistent jump shot. He also needs to work on his skills to become a full-time point guard. At this stage, it is more about what Lecque can become than what he actually is. With his size and athleticism, Lecque presents enough intrigue to hear his name called on draft night. Currently, most projections have him ranked in the 40s (ESPN – 47; SI – 41; CBS – 39).

If he were to fall to the Raptors, Lecque would likely spend most of his time in Mississauga with the 905. The Raptors are among the best in the league at using their G-League team to develop players. Delon Wright, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet all spent considerable time in the G-League before becoming mainstays with the Raptors. Lecque could follow a similar path.