As Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors blitz ahead in their quest for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors draft plans are starting to round into form now that several prospects have distinguished themselves in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Toronto is in a prime position to add one of these Final Four standouts.
The Final Four is full of blue blood programs this year. Cinderella stories like Saint Peter’s and Miami were cut down by historic programs like North Carolina and Kansas. With Jay Wright’s Villanova back in the fold and Mike Krzyzewski’s farewell tour at Duke still underway, there’s no shortage of entertainment options.
With a high second-round pick that was acquired from San Antonio in the Thad Young trade, Toronto could still make an impact addition that fills out a role in the rotation. Look for Ujiri to emphasize 3-point shooting and versatility on the defensive side of the ball.
One of these four contributors would look great in Raptors colors when the draft rolls around. If they perform as they have in March, the Raptors could end up with another second-round steal to add to a list that gets bigger with each passing season.
1 prospect from every Final Four team the Toronto Raptors could draft.
North Carolina: Caleb Love
Love has been one of the driving forces behind the Tar Heels’ resurgence after a very poor start to the season. With the sniping skills needed to become a quality scorer at the professional level, Love should hear his name called at some point in the second round.
At 6-4 with a 6-9 wingspan, Love fits in with Toronto’s armada of long-limbed guards. While not an amazing defender at this point, Love certainly has potential on that end. His hot shooting in the tournament should be a sign that he is capable of producing in big games.
Caleb Love could be a nice shooter for the Toronto Raptors.
Love’s lack of finishing skill is frightening, as he is making just 37% of his shots inside the arc. While he looked like a world-beater against Saint Peter’s and Marquette, Duke and Baylor held him in check. Love shot just 27% as a primary scoring option over an eight-game stretch from January 18 to February 5.
The Raptors have helped many poor shooters develop a jumper, but they need to work backward to make Love an efficient scorer. Doing so could help him outplay his draft spot, as guards that can handle the ball and pull up from anywhere at 6-4 are in short supply.