Toronto Raptors: Canadian AJ Lawson could find a home with TOR

The Toronto Raptors have a somewhat strong Canadian presence on the roster given the likes of Chris Boucher and impending free agent Khem Birch, but that might not stop them from adding even more homegrown talent to the roster in the 2021 NBA Draft. One Canadian player that could fill a need is South Carolina guard AJ Lawson.

Lawson appears primed and ready to be picked somewhere in the middle of the second round, as Sports Illustrated has him ranked as the 55th best prospect in the class, while ESPN has him ranked 77th.

Lawson might be a bit bony at just 178 pounds, but his ability to score and leap towards the rim has drawn the attention of teams like the Raptors that would love to add a guard with his combination of skills.

Lawson has confirmed on Instagram that he has worked out with the Raptors. Considering what a strong performance he had at the 2021 NBA Draft Combine, it looks like Lawson’s stock has risen high enough to the point that the Raptors could burn one of their two second-round picks on him.

The Toronto Raptors need to take a look at AJ Lawson.

Lawson’s 6-6 body belies the fact that he can fly to the rim, and his interior finishing stands out as excellent. With 17 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and four steals in a Draft Combine scrimmage, Lawson showed that in the right role, his motor and leaping skills can help him make plays on both ends.

His defense is excellent. Playing for Frank Martin, you have to play solid perimeter defense. Lawson will likely add some weight and play on the wing, but Nick Nurse has to be intrigued by the potential of sticking Lawson on smaller guards. With the ability to pick someone’s pocket and rock the rim on the other end, Lawson’s bag of tricks is pretty deep.

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Lawson’s impressive scoring came while making just 39% of his shots, showing that he could stand to improve his shooting. Additionally, 178 pounds is much too skinny for the NBA, and he will need to do some serious carbo-loading in order to add strength. With shooting that needs work, his frame might get knocked around a bit in the pros.

It doesn’t matter if Lawson was born in Canada or Martinique, this guy is a fantastic athlete with enough pure verticality, defensive hustle, and feel for the game to become a star. If Nurse and the developmental team end up fixing his flaws, Lawson could become a rotation player for the next half-decade.