Raptors draft: 4 prospects to watch during March Madness

The Toronto Raptors might be trying everything in the book as they try to figure out some way to compete for a postseason spot, but they are just as likely to fall out of the postseason picture and end up with a very high draft pick. Masai Ujiri and the rest of the front office will be watching March Madness with a very keen eye.

The Raptors are faced with some big free agent decisions to make, as names like Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. could potentially bolt for greener pastures. Even with those players in the fold, Toronto faces existential questions about the shape of their roster.

March Madness should not be the be-all and end-all for prospect evaluations. The random nature of the sport’s annual entropy festival has promoted lesser prospects while taking some shine off deserving players. Still, it might be nice for Masai Ujiri to see some of the players he is targeting ball out.

These four players will have the eyes of the college basketball nation fixed firmly on them in the next few days, and the Raptors will also be trying to figure out if they can end up stealing a potential star that begins to ascend after a standout March performance.

4 Toronto Raptors prospects to watch in March Madness.

4. Marcus Sasser, Houston

The Raptors could lose one shorter point guard in free agency should Fred VanVleet leave, so why not trade down and acquire a feisty 6-2 sniper to be his replacement? Even with protected top 10 pick Jarace Walker on the roster, Sasser has been the Cougars’ best player.

The senior guard, who shot 8.6 and 7.0 3-pointers per game over the last two years and made over 40% of his triples in that span, is averaging 17.1 points and 3.2 assists per game. Despite being 6-2, his 6-7 wingspan gives him some promising defensive potential that could be minded.

Will the Toronto Raptors draft Marcus Sasser?

Sasser doesn’t get to the rim much, and Toronto’s success with VanVleet doesn’t mean that every undersized guard will work out. Malachi Flynn had a somewhat similar player profile, and he is on the verge of getting a brand new start due to the poor fit on this team.

Sasser is a dynamic creator, and no team may need dynamic creators in the backcourt more than the Raptors. The Flynn pick may not have worked out very well, but that shouldn’t; necessarily be used as a reason to further discredit Sasser or hate on his fit.