Raptors’ reported approach to 2023 NBA Draft could doom team

Toronto Raptors executive Bobby Webster has a very important selection to make in the 2023 NBA Draft, as he needs to make sure he adds an injection of youth and long-term upside to a flawed roster that is in dire need of both those traits in quite an alarming way.

Raptors fans are hoping that the failures brought on by last year’s team and the hiring of new head coach Darko Rajakovic prompt a change in the team’s main roster-building philosophy. After all, Rajakovic has a history of being an offense-focused coach with an emphasis on ball movement.

However, Webster and the rest of the front office don’t seem ready to make such a gigantic shift in how they think just yet. Fans hoping for the Raptors to go in a different direction and add a more dynamic offense-first player might not have their wishes granted.

In an interview with SportsNet 590 The Fan, Webster said to “expect a Raptors-type player to be drafted” with the No. 13 pick. Considering the connotations that phrase has picked up in the Vision 6-9 era, many fans could be on the verge of a blood vessel bursting if he goes in that direction.

Will Bobby Webster draft another “Vision 6-9” Toronto Raptors player?

The traits Webster seems to be hinting at prioritizing include positional versatility, on-ball defense, and raw athleticism. The Raptors have typically shown that they value international players or those with multiple years of collegiate experience over talented freshmen.

A “Raptors-type player” may include many of the top guard prospects. Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino, Kentucky’s Cason Wallace, and Ohio State’s Brice Sensabuagh all look like scorers on the perimeter who should be able to slot right into Rajakovic’s offensive system.

The fear is that Toronto ends up taking a more raw player that isn’t overly skilled on the offensive end. French wing Bilal Coulibaly has gotten some hype lately, and Duke big man Dereck Lively II is seeing his stock rise lately. Both of them aren’t as offensively skilled as some of the other players linked to Toronto.

Raptors fans are in the middle of a very difficult stretch due to the frustration of last year, and adding a player who goes in line with last year’s line of thinking could make things very difficult for fans who want to see change. Hopefully, Webster ends up using that pick on a guard who fits in with the team’s philosophy instead of yet another switchable big.