The Toronto Raptors are missing out on the playoffs for the first time in eight years, as the combination of playing in Tampa, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a myriad of injuries made it tough for Nick Nurse and the rest of the squad to really find their footing. With Kyle Lowry and OG Anunoby missing time, players like Malachi Flynn and Jalen Harris can only do so much.
However, the good news is that their 2020 draft picks showed some promise and should give fans hope for 2021.
Flynn and Harris were drafted 29th and 59th respectively by the Raptors in 2020. They did not see much playing time, until the near end of the season when making the playoffs became a question. The chances were slim, so Toronto focused on what their draft pick might look like in 2021.
The play of both Flynn and Harris to close out the year has impressed both the Raptors and other teams who have taken notice. In the last five games before a season-ending loss against the Indiana Pacers, Flynn has averaged 17 points and 4.7 assists while starting. For Harris, he has averaged 18.5 points per game while shooting 50% from the field.
Raptors rookie guards, Malachi Flynn and Jalen Harris, vs good/motivated competition here: 55 points, 22-40 FG. They've both shown very real flashes these past few weeks – a silver lining towards the end of a disappointing season.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 15, 2021
And a special moment for Harris at home tonight.
The Toronto Raptors proved they can draft well later in the order.
The future for both these players looks promising and the Raptors are looking for them to take on more minutes next season. If Kyle Lowry is on the move this offseason, most likely in a sign-and-trade, it will open the point guard position for Flynn to come off the bench behind Fred VanVleet.
Harris, on the other hand, is a capable shooting guard who has shown his versatility, particularly in the game against the Dallas Mavericks more recently. If he continues to play that way, he would be a consistent rotational player going into 2021 and possibly a backup to Gary Trent Jr.
Jalen Harris becomes the 10th player to score 30+ points for the 27-43 Raptors this season. Weird season. Weird weird season.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 15, 2021
Toronto Raptors looking forward to 2021
The Raptors should be proud of their scouting for 2020 as they look ahead into 2021. With a top ten draft pick looking more likely, they can get a solid player to fill some voids the team needs to address. If they found Flynn at 29 and Harris at 59, just imagine what this front office could do with a Top 10 pick and two second-rounders in the 40s.
The Raptors are officially locked in with the 7th-best odds in the June 22nd draft lottery. They’ll have a 7.5% chance of landing 1st pick and a 31.9% shot at moving into the top-4. Mathematically, the lowest they could fall is 11th but they’re virtually guaranteed a top-10 pick.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 14, 2021
A player like Illinois Kofi Cockburn, a 7 foot center with oodles of strength, could be a good fit in Toronto. He has the physical presence that might help the Raptors establish protection in the paint on defense but does not offer much offensively. Might be the next Harris if Toronto picks him with one of their picks in the 40s?
Obviously, if the basketball gods have some mercy and Toronto gets the top pick, Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham is coming to town. A hybrid guard who stand at 6’8 is something the Raptors can use and not relinquish size. This will allow allowing Fred VanVleet to move to shooting guard when Cunningham is on the court.
Either way, the scouting team has done a good job in 2020 with the young prospects in the development of both Flynn and Harris, that they can be trusted for 2021. The future looks bright in Toronto and fans should be excited about their return.