The Toronto Raptors draft could go in several different directions early in the draft given the lack of consistency outside of the top five prospects, and they could be equally as surprising with two of their second-round picks. If a few lucky breaks go Toronto’s way, they could end up drafting former Duke stud Matthew Hurt.
Hurt was a former five-star recruit, but he chose to stay at Duke for his sophomore season after underwhelming a bit as a freshman. This turned out to be a great decision, as he proved what a deadly offensive player he can be.
Hurt scored 18.3 points per game while tallying 6.2 rebounds per game. Mike Krzyzewski has a history of developing some productive bigs at the next level, and Hurt has improved upon his deficiencies enough to the point where a team like Toronto.
Hurt might not have the highest ceiling when it comes to prospects in the second round, but there are a ton of traits worth developing. With players that have Hurt’s skillset having traditionally succeded with Nick Nurse, he could be an ideal second-round pick if he ends up sliding a bit.
Report: Duke forward Matthew Hurt invited to NBA draft combine https://t.co/bvYekoFTdA
— Rookie Wire (@RookieWire) June 7, 2021
Toronto Raptors draft: Matthew Hurt strengths
Shooting, shooting, and did I mention shooting? Hurt made 44.4% of his 3-point attempts last year, and he could’ve ended up with even more on a team that didn’t have Jalen Johnson taking shots away from him. Even inside of the arc, Hurt can get buckets.
He’s started to become a bit more consistent with his post moves, and that contributed to his scoring doubling since freshman year. His footwork is exceptional for a second-year college player.
What could make him even more attractive to Nurse is the fact that he is a genuinely great passer when compared to the rest of his classmates, showing both the craftiness to make tough passes and the smarts to avoid costly turnovers.
Toronto Raptors draft: Matthew Hurt weaknesses
Hurt is not a star athlete, as a 6-9, 235-pound frame without tons of muscle will get absolutely eviscerated at the next level when he starts out. His style is more in like with a bigger wing than a traditional power forward, which could make for a bit of a funky fit in the NBA.
Defense and rebounding were never going to be his strong suit, but his body and style of play suggest that he may never be even an average performer in those two areas, which is a big reason why he continues to slide down draft boards.
Hurt is purely an offensive selection, and given the need for him to potentially add some weight and post skill, he would need to spend time with Raptors 905 if he ends up getting picked by Toronto.
How would Matthew Hurt fit on the Toronto Raptors?
Nick Nurse clearly values big men who can pass and shoot. Not only was his offense knee-capped by starting a player in Aron Baynes who couldn’t accomplish those tasks, but he chose to promote Henry Ellenson from the G League over Alize Johnson to fill that role. Hurt offers a higher ceiling than Ellenson, all while being a better passer.
He has his warts, but at the end of the day, shooting is becoming even more valued, and Hurt will be able to hit open 3s the very second he touches down in the NBA. The other stuff can be worked on along the way, making him ideal to target in the middle of the second round.
Very few players have Sixth Man of the Year potential in the second round, but Hurt fits the bill.