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Toronto Raptors: The Raptors should consider drafting these prospects

By Jason Mills

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 29: Zeke Nnaji #22 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball in the second half of the game against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion on February 29, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Arizona Wildcats 69-64. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 29: Zeke Nnaji #22 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball in the second half of the game against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion on February 29, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The UCLA Bruins defeated the Arizona Wildcats 69-64. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Draft Elijah Hughes six-foot six-inch shooting guard Syracuse Orangemen

Toronto Raptors
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 09: Fred VanVleet #23 (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Irrespective of how Fred VanVleet’s free-agency turns out for the Toronto Raptors, the organization needs to address the lack of size they struggled within 2020 at the guard position. No one can question the heart and ability of both Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry bu their lack of vertical length and wingspan hurt the Toronto Raptors defense.,

This concern might be a moot point had things worked out with the team’s 2015 first-round pick Delon Wright. However, Wright, at six feet six inches, could defend well but was a reluctant three-point shooter and could not stay healthy during his time in Toronto playing in just 172 games over three and half seasons.

Elijah Hughes, a six-foot-six shooting guard with the University of Syracuse, could fit the bill.  He is a player who can shoot, has good ball-handling skills, a good jump shot, and is athletic. He is expected to go 32nd overall in the draft to the Charlotte Hornets so that the Raptors could make this pick.

According to nbadraft.net, Hughes’ strengths include:

Hughes is a smooth athlete with nice explosiveness, capable of finishing above the rim when he gets an opening … Polished ball skills … Effective in the open floor as well as playing in the half-court … Has solid scoring ability and versatility … Shows quality ability to break down opponents off the dribble, and has some decent wiggle in ISO situations … Understands how to set up opponents with change of speed, hesitation moves … Drives the ball well and has touch when he can’t complete plays with dunks.

The Raptors’ final possession of 2020 is why a player like Elijah Hughes is intriguing in the draft.  After several stationary dribbles, Fred VanVleet took a step-back three-pointer, which he seemed to give a higher than average arch to as he needed to get the shot over the defender.  With a player like Hughes, he would be able to shoot over the top of most guards.

For his part, Elijah Hughes, a junior, averaged 19 points on 34 percent shooting the three and 42.6 percent from the field overall in 2020 for the Syracuse Orangemen.