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Raptors mock draft roundup: Who will they select in first round?

ByMike Luciano|
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 22: Bobby Webster General Manager of the Toronto Raptors looks on before his team plays the New York Knicks at the Scotiabank Arena on January 22, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 22: Bobby Webster General Manager of the Toronto Raptors looks on before his team plays the New York Knicks at the Scotiabank Arena on January 22, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

The 2023 NBA Draft is finally here, which will give teams like the Toronto Raptors the opportunity they need to add a long-term contributor who fits in with the new-look roster that executive Masai Ujiri and new head coach Darko Rajakovic want to build.

While there have been some rumblings that Toronto could look for another “Vision 6-9” prospect to fit the mold they have often held in very high regard, the Raptors have been widely expected by many of the mock draft predictors out there to use their first-round choice on a standout ball-handling guard. 

With rumors of Fred VanVleet potentially leaving the team starting to bubble to the surface, twinned with the team’s general need for more shooting, picking a guard would make a ton of sense for the Raptors. Luckily, they picked a very good year to need a guard.

With tons of guards out there in the middle part of the first round and the Raptors in desperate need to improve quickly, they have all the tools needed to make a big splash. The question of which player they will use one of their most important draft picks in franchise history on, however, remains unsolved.

Toronto Raptors 2023 NBA mock draft roundup: Who are they taking?

  • Jonathan Givony, ESPN: Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG, Indiana. While he might not be the most dynamic player in the world, it’s hard to find a point guard that fits what the Raptors are looking for more than a 6-5 defensive dynamo with some impressive passing skills and a proven history of being a clutch performer.
  • Zach Harper, The Athletic: Jordan Hawkins, SG, UConn. Hawkins went from a relatively unknown prospect to a no-doubt first-round pick after helping lead his Huskies to the NCAA title. If nothing else, Hawkins will come into the league as a ready-made shooter the Raptors can lean on.
  • Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports: Cason Wallace, PG, Kentucky. Wallace has become a Raptors Twitter favorite, and it is very easy to see why. With the on-ball defense Ujiri mandates his guards have and some solid shooting skills that were exhibited against future pro prospects, Wallace could start right away.
  • Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: Kobe Bufkin, PG, Michigan. Bufkin is a late riser who might not satisfy everyone out there due to his skinny frame and inconsistent play, but the highs are so dangerous for opposing defenses that Toronto might end up making him the pick.