3 Raptors-centric takeaways as NBA Lottery order become finalized
By Mike Luciano
2. Toronto needs to look out for the Magic
It could be easy for the Raptors to point and laugh at the Magic after watching Jalen Suggs struggle while Scottie Barnes thrived. Orlando might not be a punchline for much longer, as they have quite the opportunity to add someone that could be a perennial All-Star with this pick.
While Mo Bamba is a free agent that could potentially bolt, a core based around Suggs, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter, and whomever they select with the No. 1 overall pick has a very high ceiling. Jamahl Mosley may be gearing up for a play-in challenge in 2022-23.
The Toronto Raptors must keep an eye on Orlando.
Teams like Memphis, Dallas, and Atlanta have shown that it’s easy to accelerate a rebuild and make it to a conference finals if your front office can nail it high in the draft. While it sounds hyperbolic to compare players like Jabari Smith or Chet Holmgren to the likes of Ja Morant, we should expect that level of production from a No. 1 pick.
The Raptors are clearly in a better position than Orlando at this point in time, but the Magic could close the gap in a significant fashion if their draft picks perform up to their potential. Orlando has already shown they can give the Raptors some annoyance on the court.