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Toronto Raptors: Five potential first round prospects to keep an eye on

By Mark Birdsell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Leandro Bolmaro (Photo by Pablo Morano/MB Media/Getty Images) /

Leandro Bolmaro

Leandro Bolmaro is the final wing prospect that the Raptors may want to consider. Bolmaro is from Argentina but is currently playing with FC Barcelona. His stats don’t jump out at you, but Bolmaro is emerging as a legitimate first-round prospect.

Bolmaro is a 6-foot-7 playmaker. He is a good athlete and has been compared to Manu Ginobili. Mike Schmitz of ESPN identified Bolmaro as one of the top European prospects in this year’s draft.

Bolmaro can play on or off the ball. This makes him a good fit with the Raptors, who like to have multiple ball handlers on the floor at any given time.

Another positive is that since Bolmaro has been playing overseas, there may be some NBA teams that haven’t had the opportunity to scout him. The Raptors have one of the better scouting departments in the entire Association and have a knack for finding overlooked talent.

Bolmaro may not be ready to contribute next season. He isn’t playing heavy minutes for Barcelona. It’s possible whichever team drafts him, does so intending to stash him in Europe for another season or two.

When Bolmaro does come over, he has the passing skills and creativity to make him one of the more entertaining players in all of basketball. Bolmaro doesn’t have the pedigree of former European standouts like Luka Doncic or Ricky Rubio, but he has the tools to follow in their footsteps and have a long successful career in the NBA.

That’s why most mock drafts have Bolmaro being selected towards the end of the first round. ESPN slots Bolmaro in at no. 22. Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report aren’t much further behind at no. 24 and 26, respectively.

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