The Toronto Raptors may decide once again to add a switchable wing in the NBA Draft, but Masai Ujiri might help the team more in the next two seasons if he uses the No. 13 pick on a guard who can create, score, and defend. Kentucky’s Cason Wallace seems like a player who could fit that particular bill.
Wallace is a bigger guard at 6-4, yet he has solid length, a tenacious demeanor on the floor, and enough quality offensive performances against SEC competition to establish himself as a no-doubt lottery pick the Raptors would do well to add to their team.
Unfortunately, teams like the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks, who pick eighth and 15th overall, respectively, will also be hot on his tail. In a burst of good news, those who want Wallace in Toronto might be just a few weeks away from seeing their dream come true.
Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Wallace did not participate in Tuesday’s workout with the Hawks. The only two teams Wallace has worked out for are the Wizards and Raptors. It sounds like one of those teams may have given him a promise to select him.
The Hawks announced an update to Tuesday’s pre-Draft workout. Cason Wallace will no longer participate. pic.twitter.com/sfM1BGTg8g
— Lauren L. Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) June 5, 2023
Will the Toronto Raptors draft Cason Wallace?
If Washington decides to beat Toronto to the punch here, no one will fault them for a second. However, if they choose to let Wallace slip just a bit, Toronto shouldn’t think twice about adding someone with his skill set. Becoming the team’s top bench scorer as a rookie is not out of the question.
Wallace averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in a do-it-all role for the Wildcats last season. While his 3-point percentage dipped down to 34.5%, he was over 40% for a good chunk of his lone season in Lexington. His 2.0 steals per game established him as an elite defender.
Wallace is a perfect failsafe for Fred VanVleet amid all of the uncertainty surrounding the veteran free-agent-to-be. If he leaves, Wallace can hop right in and be a starting point guard with the potential to become a scorer like VanVleet eventually. If he stays, look for Wallace to beef up the bench for years to come.
Cason Wallace who just finished up his workout with the Washington Wizards (8th pick) has canceled his workout with the Atlanta Hawks (15th pick) tomorrow.
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) June 6, 2023
Wallace may not be the freak athlete that Toronto has often prioritized over more productive college guards, but it’s hard to find a collegiate ball-handler in this draft with more of an abundance of the trails that Ujiri loves to see. Expect a smooth transition to Toronto if they take him.