3 nightmare 2023 NBA Draft scenarios for Toronto Raptors fans
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors are officially ready to get in on the madness that is the 2023 NBA Draft, as they are poised to help change the entire structure of the NBA by making (or refusing to pull the trigger on) some very substantial moves that help Masai Ujiri overturn the roster.
The Raptors own the No. 13 pick in the Draft, putting them in a perfect position to add a player that could make an immediate impact while also continuing to prove themselves as a valuable long-term asset. Ujiri and Bobby Webster know that they need to come out of Thursday night’s festivities with a solid plan moving forward.
The 29 other teams in the league have their own designs for turning their respective franchises into a winner, and they could interfere with Toronto’s vision. These three scenarios better not come true for the Raptors, as their grand designs could quickly come untethered.
3 nightmare scenarios the Toronto Raptors must avoid.
3. Keyonte George and Cason Wallace are off the board.
These two players seem to have become the two darlings of Raptors Twitter, with George’s creativity on the offensive end and Wallace’s two-way skills making him ideal players to either serve as a Fred VanVleet backup or a long-term replacement as the point guard.
However, there is a good chance that both of them could be off the board at pick No. 13. With Scoot Henderson not leaving the top three picks and the Thompson twins expected to be picked fairly early, guard-needy teams might need to make some bold moves and take one of George or Wallace.
Will the Toronto Raptors draft Cason Wallace or Keyonte George?
The Raptors will need to pivot off these two quickly if they end up being taken. Players like Michigan’s Kobe Bufkin, Arkansas’ Anthony Black, and Indiana’s Jalen Hood-Schifino are all players that Toronto could target if they are unable to secure one of these two.
Still, it will be hard to find a guard that can lock down on the defensive end while still shooting well like Wallace. George might not be overly efficient, but his style of play could be perfect for the Raptors. Ujiri might need to make tough calls if they’re both gone.