3 Fred VanVleet-like prospects Raptors could draft in 2022

1. Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee

Being a top recruit is an excellent way to drum up interest as a prospect continually, and Chandler has been able to ride that wave and enjoy a reasonably successful year with the Volunteers. Even in a league getting bigger every year, the diminutive guard has established himself as an ideal Raptors trade-up candidate.

Chandler averaged 13.9 points and 4.7 assists per game while connecting 46% of his attempts and 38% of his 3-pointers. Chandler will not last to No. 33 after blowing up the combine, so Toronto must be proactive in acquiring him.

Kennedy Chandler could be a solid backup for the Toronto Raptors.

Even when VanVleet came out of college, he had a better physical frame than Chandler. The Volunteers star needs to answer for his 6-0, 171-pound frame, which could make it challenging for him to be an effective finisher at the NBA level. A good (not great) shooter, Chandler is on the raw side of things.

With the point guard talent in this draft widely considered to fall off a cliff after Dyson Daniels and Tyty Washington, Toronto might need to trade up to secure the third-best player at that position. If he hits, Chandler should be able to become a stud seventh man right out of the box.