The Toronto Raptors are locked into the No. 13 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, as they didn’t move up or down in the order following their disappointing 41-41 campaign. Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster could trade the pick, but all signs point to them keeping the pick and adding a long-term contributor.
The Raptors need a guard that can handle a substantial offensive workload, a wing that can add more shooting, or a bench forward that could fit in with the system. The Raptors have been known to go against the consensus and make some stunning picks at this point in the draft.
Any one of these 13 players coming to the squad at pick No. 13 constitutes a successful day at the office for Ujiri and the rest of the front office. One thing that all of these players share is the possibility they could become All-Stars if they hit their ceiling athletically.
13 players the Toronto Raptors could select in the 2023 NBA Draft.
13. Maxwell Lewis, SF, Pepperdine
Lewis may be coming from a smaller conference, but his athletic testing numbers are through the roof. If Toronto gets the jumper working well, Lewis’ supreme offensive skills could make him one of the best picks in what has quickly become a very deep guard class.
12. Kobe Bufkin, PG, Michigan
Bufkin is a skinny rail who likely won’t have as much Day 1 impact, but he looked creative enough with the ball in his hands to warrant some extra consideration at this point in the draft. Fred VanVleet could be an ideal mentor for a young, athletic guard that can shoot.
11. Jordan Hawkins, SG, UConn
Hawkins’ stock has shot right up into the stratosphere after helping UConn win a championship, as his 3-point shooting and pesky wing defense make him the type of player that Toronto might be interested in. He will need to work on his finishing to become a star.
Toronto Raptors draft: Anthony Black could be a high-floor player.
10. Anthony Black, PG/SF, Arkansas
Black isn’t a terrific shooter right now, but his style of play fits in perfectly with the whole “Vision 6-9” positionless movement Ujiri remains committed to. Based on his value and where he is projected to be drafted, Black would be a solid value pick at No. 13 overall.
9. Taylor Hendricks, PF, UCF
Hendricks is another late riser. With solid finishing inside, a lethal 3-point shot that was weaponized to great effect in the 2022-23 season with the Knights, and some high-end potential as a shot-blocker, Hendricks could be a perfect addition if Toronto jettisons a veteran forward.
8. Dariq Whitehead, SF, Duke
Whitehead struggled with injuries and underperformance during his lone season at Duke, but he started to come on strong in the second half. Some team is going to get an absolute steal if he can get back on track inside the arc on the offensive side of the ball.
7. Keyonte George, PG, Baylor
George has some serious efficiency concerns that might weigh down his stock, but the Raptors will likely assume that his poor efficiency was the result of poor support around him. George has enough electricity in his game to become a long-term starter in the NBA.
Toronto Raptors draft: Is Nick Smith worth the risk?
6. Nick Smith, SG, Arkansas
Smith’s collegiate season was a nightmare, as he barely played and was wildly inconsistent. If he can stay healthy, everything about Smith’s player profile suggests that he could come into a team like the Raptors and assume a role as a prized bench gunner for years to come.
5. Gradey Dick, SG, Kansas
Dick will never be a good defender, but his 3-point shot is such a deadly tool to have in his arsenal that it will be hard to envision him calling more than one or two picks out of the lottery. With how bad Toronto’s shooting was last year, no one would have a problem with a Dick selection.
4. Jett Howard, SF, Michigan
The son of NBA great Juwan Howard, Jett brings shooting, scoring, and a great feel for the game to the Raptors. Howard’s immediate impact might be better than what teammate Bufkin would bring, as he looks like a Gary Trent Jr. replacement with more physical traits to work with.
3. Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG, Indiana
A legit 6-5 point guard that can handle the rock, defend his ass off, and hit tons of clutch 3-point shots, Hood-Schifino is a bigger ball-handler that can eventually be a proper VanVleet successor. Indiana helped Toronto land All-Defensive nominee OG Anunoby, so why not go back to Bloomington?
2. Brice Sensabaugh, SF, Ohio State
Sensabaugh never got tons of minutes at Ohio State, and I have no explanation why. A 6-6, 235-pound wing with tremendous defense, legitimate three-position versatility, and an elite perimeter game, Sensabaugh might be one of the safest prospects in the draft at any position.
Toronto Raptors draft: Cason Wallace fits in with the team.
1. Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky
An above-average 3-point shot? Check. Production in the SEC? Yep. How about tremendous on-ball defense with All-Defensive potential at his peak? Got that too. Surely he isn’t a tremendous athlete also? Well, yes he is. What else does Masai Ujiri need to see?