It’s starting to turn into Toronto Raptors mock draft time after their recent run of futility. While the Raptors haven’t had to go through the rigors of NBA mock draft season for the longest time, their horrid month of March has rooted them firmly in the lottery, currently positioning them with the seventh-highest chance of winning it and picking Cade Cunnigham or Evan Mobley.
The Raptors could need a new point guard if Kyle Lowry leaves this offseason, some wing depth to replace Norman Powell with or without Gary Trent Jr. on board, and a starting center that can finally help the Raptors rebound and guard the paint.
The draft is year promises to be one of the deepest in memory. While it is short on truly elite centers, it more than makes up for that with quality perimeter scorers and game-changing talents on the wing.
If the current draft order magically holds, and the Raptors end up with the No. 7 pick in the draft, this is how the NBA Draft could unfold.
Who do the Toronto Raptors take in NBA Mock Draft 1.0?
The Timberwolves have the best lottery odds this season, and this is indeed one of those drafts with a clear top dog in this class. While they have D’Angelo Russell, the potential to pair the 6-8 Cunningham with Russell, Anthony Edwards, and Karl-Anthony Towns would give Minnesota four stars picked in within the first two picks in their respective drafts.
Cunningham isn’t a perfect prospect, but he’s darn close. A 6-8 guard with tremendous defense, high basketball IQ, a lethal shooting stroke from all areas of the court, and the leadership ability scouts and coaches covet, Cunningham will make sure that the draft starts at pick No. 2 given how dominant he was at times.
The Pistons might’ve picked up several wins against the Raptors this season, but this is still one of the worst teams in the league. They already have a potential point guard of the future in Killian Hayes, so why not grab the consensus No. 1 big man in this draft in Mobley, the architect of USC’s tournament run?
He might not have the most expansive offensive game given his 215-pound frame, but the 7-0 Mobley is a genuine unicorn at the center position, as very few can run the floor, block shots, and absolutely devastate the basket in transition, all the while showing the ability to handle the ball and pass well. Mobley would be the man in Detroit for years to come.
The Rockets traded away both James Harden and Russell Westbrook, opening up the need for a point guard with a higher long-term than John Wall. Suggs, who was the key architect of Gonzaga’s high-flying offense this season, could start alongside Wall as the shooting guard before taking over ball-handling duties later.
Suggs is a streaky shooter, but he is as NBA-ready as they come for a college point guard. smart passer with the smoothness, speed, and scoring intuition to instantly become a trusted member of Houston’s rotation. With Suggs on the perimeter and Christian Wood inside, the Rockets will have enough pieces to contend in a few years with those two at the center of it all.
Green and Jonathan Kuminga chose the G League over college basketball, and it proved to be the perfect showcase for Green’s talents, as he was averaging just shy of 20 points a game against grown men at just 19 years old.
Green needs help on the defensive side of the ball, but his offensive ceiling is as high as any player in this draft, Cunningham included. Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic might be gone, but green can step right in and instantly become an impact scorer due to his 3-point stroke, skill at making contested shots, and willingness to pull up off the dribble.
Kuminga might not have had the same statistical success, especially shooting the ball, as Green did, but he was marquee television whenever he stepped on the floor. Be it as an athletic wing or a very quick, undersized power forward, Kuminga’s ability to soar to the rim makes him one of the most intriguing two-way players this year.
On offense, Kuminga can create his own shot, handle the ball, and operate from any one of four positions given his court vision and raw athletic ability. Next to Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, and Jarrett Allen, Cleveland would instantly become one of the more interesting teams in the league.
Johnson might’ve opted out in the middle of the season, but the former Duke star will likely be picked very high due to the lack of depth at the power forward position. While an inconsistent shooter, Johnson’s defense and quickness for his size will help him finish at the pro level from the second he steps on the court.
If Johnson plays power forward and Bradley Beal is somehow retained, a lineup featuring Johnson at the 4-spot, 2020 lottery pick Deni Avdija at small forward, Beal back at shooting guard, and Russell Westbrook running point might be good enough to challenge for the postseason in a wide-open East.
Powell might be gone, but the Raptors have the chance to potentially draft a very similar player in Bouknight, who averaged 18.7 points and 5.7 rebounds from the shooting guard position for UConn last season.
Bouknight’s best traits are his explosiveness, which will help him attack the basket and make some slick passes off of penetrations at the next level. On defense, Bouknight is well above-average, using his lateral mobility to guard point guards and smaller wings. Bouknight has the ability to start right away, should he improve his shooting.
Toronto Raptors NBA Mock Draft: James Bouknight could turn into a star
While Bouknight’s shooting from long range went down the drain this season, he still projects as a quality shooter at the next level given what a smooth operator he is. Even if he ends up on the bench to start, he should instantly become Toronto’s top reserve before assuming a starting role in his second year.
Rather than reach for a big man or trade down, the Raptors can add another member to their already talented backcourt. Even if Trent comes back to Toronto, Bouknight could be a member of the backcourt rotation for years to come, though his star potential will be determined by his ability to improve his shot.
Leonard Hamilton and the Seminoles have sent several reserves to the lottery over the next few years, and Barnes is the next man up. He’s a poor shooter and offensive creator right now, but he is a 6-9 forward with enough handles and speed to legitimately star as a long-term point guard at the next level.
The Thunder have an unreal amount of draft capital in the next few years, so they can afford to gamble on a top-shelf athlete with speed, power, and excellent court vision in Barnes. With a potential 6-9 point guard, a 7-0 wing/big hybrid in Aleksej Pokusevski, and a 7-2 center in Moses Brown, Oklahoma City could be one of the biggest teams in the league if they draft Barnes.
Moody is a very unusual prospect, as he is a 6-8 ball-handler that clocks in at well under 200 pounds. Even though he’s skinny, Moody’s sweet 3-point shot, ability to rebound the ball, and quality ball-handling have made the Razorbacks stud a lock to get picked in the lottery, if he declares.
Moody might not have the widest variety of shots in his bag of tricks, but his ability to shut down any number of defenders on the perimeter while shooting the lights out and rebounding at an above-average clip make him a safe bet at this point. Green, Moody, and Markelle Fultz could be the future of Orlando’s perimeter for a decade.
The Pelicans have their two stars in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, and one of their main backcourt pieces is locked up for the next few years in Eric Bledsoe. To help this team, they should go all-in on offense and pick up one of the best shooters in the draft in Kispert.
His ball-handling and athletic ability can be called into question, but Kispert looks like the archetypal “3-and-D” wing. Kispert could develop into the perfect tertiary gunner alongside Ingram and Williamson in New Orleans.
Like Moody, Williams will need a steady diet of protein once he enters the league, as playing small forward at 185 pounds might be too much to ask. If the Pacers improve his shooting and bulk him up, he could be their next two-way star after letting go of Victor Oladipo.
For a player his age, his defensive intensity, smooth passing, and ability to get to the rack is exceptional, he’s a bit of a project, but he could play any one of four positions if he develops as Indiana expects.
This draft doesn’t have a ton of sure-fire international prospects, but Sengun is gradually starting to overtake Real Madrid’s Usman Garuba as the top European prospect in this class. The TekSut Bandırma stud wants to get to the NBA “as soon as possible”, and Sacramento could give him a chance to become a star.
Sengun needs a lot of work on defense and away from the basket, but he is a blend of old-school, back-to-the-basket centers given his frame and new-school threats given his scoring touch inside the arc. The Kings have a young backcourt in De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, and Sengun could be their long-term fixture at center.
The Warriors have Klay Thompson coming back next year, but the decline of Draymond Green on offense could prompt another big man selection. Jones is 6-11, but his playing style is that of a high-flying wing that Golden State would absolutely love.
Jones is as raw as they come, as he has no post game to speak of and was the sixth-leading scorer on his college team. However, Jones can be developed by coming off of the bench early on. Jones and James Wiseman could give Golden State an über-talented frontcourt of the future.
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are a solid 1-2 punch, and Memphis has done a good job of surrounding the two with Draft Twitter favorites like Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke. Still, they need some more perimeter scoring.
Johnson is a top-shelf athlete that will be an impact defender, slasher, and finisher from Day 1. While his shooting needs a ton of work, that shouldn’t be too concerning for the Grizzlies.