The Toronto Raptors mock draft prognosticators will have to work overtime to find the perfect combination of scheme fit and tangible pro talent now that their first-round pick is in the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. Masai Ujiri will need another second-round masterclass this year.
Toronto has the market on 6-8 versatile power forwards cornered, but they still need to address the lack of shooting on this team. Even if Scottie Barnes makes strides in his sophomore season, asking him, Fred VanVleet, and Gary Trent Jr. to make up for their lack of depth could be very problematic.
Toronto did manage to pick up a second-round pick in this draft, as a selection that used to belong to the Pistons could help the Raptors land a stud. The latest mock has Toronto adding an experienced scorer with the potential to quickly morph into a starter for this squad.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic (subscription required) has Toronto using the No. 31 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft on Duke small forward Wendell Moore Jr. With some promising production, intriguing physical tools, and three years of experience under Mike Krzyzewski, Moore would fill a need for the Raptors.
New, updated 2022 NBA Mock Draft!
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) February 17, 2022
New No. 1 here, a new face in the top-five, and some thoughts on why this draft has a chance to be the “pre-draft” draft, depending on how this final month goes.https://t.co/DuflaIvUlH pic.twitter.com/nPwBrLHdSe
Toronto Raptors mock draft: Wendell Moore Jr. may appeal to Masai Ujiri.
While names like Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin, and Mark Williams have earned most of the hype around Durham, it’s Moore who is second on the team in scoring at 13.8 per game. With 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, Moore should have no issue when it comes to becoming a multifaceted NBA player.
Moore played sparingly in his freshman season and was ineffective during his sophomore year, but he’s turned it on during his junior season. Making 40% of his 3-point attempts and 52% of his shows overall show that he’s become a secondary creator with a very deadly jump shot.
With a 7-0 wingspan and great fluidity in the open field, Moore should be able to be one of the first players off the bench for Toronto during his first year.
Paolo Banchero: 28 Pts | 8 Reb | 6 Ast
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) November 23, 2021
Wendell Moore Jr.: 22 Pts | 8 Reb | 9 Ast @Pp_doesit and @thewendellmoore are the first @DukeMBB duo with at least 20 Pts, 5 Reb, 5 Ast each in the same game since 2009 😈 pic.twitter.com/HJoVlG8Hfa
While not a terrible defender, Moore’s value on that end lies in what he eventually could turn into after a few years in Toronto’s system. Ujiri must also wonder if his hot-shooting from deep is an anomaly given the prior two seasons’ poor percentages or a sign of things to come.
Moore has become one of the main contributors on a Duke team that has title aspirations. He might not have Banchero’s star power, Griffin’s versatility, or Williams’ shot-blocking, but he can be a ruthless shooter that helps Toronto find some more consistency off of the bench.