Toronto Raptors draft: Will Moses Moody end up with Toronto after Elite 8 exit?

The Toronto Raptors draft plans are starting to kick into high geat, as the team is gradually starting to turn their attention away from the 2020-21 season. With a potential Top 10 pick on the horizon, Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster are already scouting promising players like Arkansas wing Moses Moody.

Moody averaged 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in what could be the Arkansas native’s only season with the Razorbacks. Not only did Moody lead his team in scoring while coming in second in blocks, showing his value on both ends of the court, but he helped take Eric Musselman and the Razorbacks to the Elite 8, where they were taken down by No. 1 seed Baylor.

With their championship hopes officially dashed, Moody could decide to leave for the NBA, as big boards have unanimously agreed that Moody is likely to be picked in the lottery. In fact, he’s even earned comparisons to a few Raptors studs of the past and present in Morris Peterson and OG Anunoby.

Moody is a wing with the shooting touch and two-way versatility to be an impact starter on the Raptors very early in his career. Now that his time in Fayetteville is coming to an end, he might need to pack his bags for Canada.

Toronto Raptors draft target Moses Moody could help instantly

Moody might not have had the best NCAA Tournament performance, but that shouldn’t erase how he just tore through the SEC. Moody shot 42% from the floor and 36% from deep, and that number should go up in the pros once the Raptors work with him.

Moody’s defense is what will end up being his meal ticket. Listed at 6-6, Moody might be a few inches taller. Able to guard anywhere from point guard to power forward, Moody blends a nearly 7-foot wingspan and relentless tenacity with the physicality to feel equally at home on the perimeter and in the paint.

When he gets in the open court, that’s when Moody really shines. A quick dribbler who can pull up and attack the basket, he should have very few issues with scoring at least 10 points per game as soon as he gets to the NBA.

Moody’s biggest issues are the fact that he might not handle the ball well enough to serve as a bigger point guard in taller lineups, and he does have issues with creating his own shots, as evidenced during his struggles against elite defenders in March.

Center is clearly a huge need for the Raptors, but after USC’s Evan Mobley, the drop-off in talent at that position this year is staggering. Simply put, Masai Ujiri needs to land a contributor that can help right away, and Moody certainly fits the bill.

Moody is one of the safest bets in the draft, as players with his speed, defensive intelligence, and sweet-shooting don’t around as often as fans like to think. If the Raptors are eyeing Day 1 contributors at any position, Moody looks like a quality player worthy of selection this high.