Toronto Raptors: 3 prospects to keep an eye on in 2022 NBA Draft

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 19: Jaden Ivey #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

2. Jaden Ivey, SG, Purdue

Ivey certainly has the bloodlines of a future NBA star, as his mon was a WNBA player for the Indiana Fever and he rose through the ranks as a much-hyped recruit. Like Mathurin, Ivey chose to stay one more year in West Lafayette, and he could end up becoming the best non-freshman in this class.

Ivey is a speedy player with a solid wingspan, plenty of bounce, and a willingness to go all-out defending both guard positions. In order to play off-ball guard, those are three boxes that you have to be able to check, or at least show competence in, to warrant playing time. An old-school slasher, Ivey’s potential is through the roof.

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Jaden Ivey could be another premium athlete for the Raptors.

Ivey will need more work than Mathurin on offense. He made just 39% of his shots from the floor and 25% of his 3-point attempts. Luckily, Ivey is heading to a team that has been willing to take on any number of projects on the offensive end, so he could find a home with a team that is willing to work on his offensive game.

What you can teach is his natural boundless athleticism, which could one day make him a top-flight scorer if he becomes a slightly better shooter. With the combination of Ivey, Trent, and Fred VanVleet all on the floor for heavy minutes, the Raptors could add some serious spice to their offense.