The 2021 NBA Draft is pretty strong as far as draft classes go. It’s full of high-character guys, a good mix of positional talent, and a deep pool of NBA-level players for the Toronto Raptors to chose from. Still, there are five in this class that stand out in Cade Cunningham, the G-League Ignite’s Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, Jalen Suggs, and USC big man Evan Mobley.
The Raptors have had a not-so-subtle hole in there roster this season. After the departure of champion centers Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, the responsibilities of the five-man position fell on the shoulders of Aron Baynes and Chris Boucher.
Boucher, despite having a breakout season, is simply too small to battle the NBA’s top big man talent at 6’9 and 200 pounds. While Aron Baynes had a successful statistical year in 2019 playing for the Phoenix Suns, it looks like his spark was a flash in the pan.
Mobley is everything the Raptors could ever want in a rookie. The body of a true NBA centre at 7’0 with a 7’4 wingspan. Mobley can guard perimeter players at the center spot, but still with great shot blocking instincts around the cup.
Offensively, Mobley is more in line with the great finesse big men of the world, rather than the bruisers. This is ideal for the modern game. The word ‘Unicorn’ is fitting.
Evan Mobley is gonna play 10+ productive years in the NBA if healthy. He's gonna enter the league ready to produce. It's really just a matter of what heights he reaches offensively. With his handle, fluidity, vision, touch, and unselfishness, there's a path to superstardom.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 29, 2021
Evan Mobley is the perfect piece for the Toronto Raptors
What do the Raptors need most? A real starting center, a plan for the future, someone with star power or at least star potential. Mobley brings all of those things to the table.
The Raptors currently stand with a 20-31 record as the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference and the 23rd seed in the NBA. This means they are basically guaranteed a top 10 pick in this upcoming draft. But with the Raptors floating around the 7-11 range, and Mobley locked into a top-five spot in the draft, how could they get him?
Well, it may count as profanity, but in a word; tank. Tanking would be the simplest way to improve the team’s lottery odds. However, both head coach Nick Nurse and president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri have gone on the record as being against the idea. While the commitment to winning is admirable it’s better to be the 13th seed than the 10th seed.
There is still a glimmer of hope
With the rise of blatant tanking in recent years, the NBA has changed the lottery odds to make them more even regardless of record. The 30th seed still has the highest odds to land the number one pick, but they’re not as lopsided as they once were.
This can be seen in the 2018 NBA Draft where the 24th seeded Sacramento Kings jumped to the 2nd overall pick (Marvin Bagley lll was later selected), or just last year when the 22nd seeded Charlotte Hornets landed the 3rd pick (LaMelo Ball was later selected).
The Raptors don’t need to tank. It would help their odds, but if the team culture demands a winning attitude then we must trust Masai and Coach Nurse. Though just because the Raptors aren’t trying to lose that doesn’t mean their chances at a star rookie disappear.
The Raptors are not a good team this year. They’re not going to, all of a sudden, start winning games. They’re going to be one of the eight worst teams in the NBA, and that means they have a chance at a top-five pick.
It’s not a lot to go on, and it’s a lot of praying for lottery balls, but that’s the harsh reality of being a bad team.
The draft is still a long way off, but the end of the season is fast approaching (remember, no playoffs for the Raps this year) and Mobley really is a prospect worth getting excited about. He’s the main goal, and if the team wins him then they’ll be back in the mix sooner than maybe anyone thought.