2023 Raptors mock draft has Toronto drafting OG Anunoby clone

If you think that Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri is not currently hunched over a desk examining NBA Draft data right now, you’re being naive. Ujiri helped build large chunks of this team with solid drafting, and his prep for the 2023 draft has already started.

The Raptors made waves when they somehow managed to land a near-elite talent in Christian Koloko with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Ujiri is no stranger to finding talent later in the draft, and that won’t stop this year now that Toronto has their own pick.

In 2023, the Raptors will likely try to find someone who can add more perimeter juice to the lineup while still managing to be a positive asset on the defensive side of the ball. A perfect player might fall into their lap if Toronto can get some fortuitous bounces in the order.

The folks over at NBAdraft.net (who correctly predicted Scottie Barnes to Toronto), had the Raptors using their first-round draft choice on Villanova wing Cam Whitmore. The 5-star recruit has been compared to OG Anunoby by recruiting analysts, making him a perfect schematic fit.

Cam Whitmore could be a Toronto Raptors star.

Whitmore is joining the Wildcats after being ranked as the No. 14 overall recruit in the country. With some impressive versatility at the high school level having been displayed and enough offensive potential to get most NBA GMs to take notice, Whitmore should be in the running for nearly all individual Big East honors.

Whitmore has slid shot mechanics, which could make him someone that really takes off after some time as a Nick Nurse protege. While he isn’t someone who will guard 1-5 like Anunoby right now, his wingspan, quick feet, and motor hint that he could eventually reach that plateau.

Whitmore’s flaws will be tested at the collegiate level, as he needs to put on tons of weight before he can be considered even remotely close to an Anunoby-like prospect. Whitmore can be a bit too reckless offensively, as pushing the ball and forcing turnovers instead of making the right pass will be an issue that needs ironing out.

While Whitmore will need to add some weight and play a less reckless style of basketball if he is ever going to become a player in the same vein as Anunoby, he would be an impact addition for a Raptors team that will never top looking for positional versatility. Ujiri is already running through his high school film.