The hope to "Capture the Flagg" remains, but it's not looking so hot lately. That's okay, though, because we're talking about the 2025 NBA Draft class—one of the most stacked talent pools in recent memory—so surely the Raptors could hit on a later pick if the lottery gods aren't on their side... right?
In the previous 2025 NBA ESPN mock draft, collegiate analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Raptors slipping to the fourth overall spot, where they'd use the selection on dynamic Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe. Ironically, the Raptors' recent success and other teams' decline are hurting their draft position; ESPN's latest mock draft reflects slipping odds.
Still, they're projected to land a top prospect. Let's find out who.
Edgecombe remains the fourth prospect taken, while the consensus top three—Duke's Cooper Flagg, and Rutgers' standouts Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey—still go in that order. This means the Raptors are on the board with the fifth overall pick. With this selection, Toronto opts for 18-year-old Lithuanian do-it-all point guard Kasparas Jakucionis from Illinois.
Now that we know the name, what exactly would the Raptors gain from a prospect like Jakucionis?
Who is Kasparas Jakucionis?
While Flagg, Harper, and Bailey dominate the headlines, Jakucionis' refined skills at Illinois could challenge them, potentially rising in draft rankings by draft night.
Through 23 games, Jakucionis' efficient play fuels the Fighting Illini, where he averages: 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, with 47.5% FG, 35% 3PT shooting, and 83.3% from the free throw line.
While some teams might pass on young guards, given a tough adjustment period into the pros, Jakucionis is different. His time spent at the youth level with Perlas Vilnius and FC Barcelona makes him a very polished international prospect.
Nevertheless, Givony and Woo's mock draft does point out that Jakucionis "...has been up and down lately, shooting 6-for-32 on 3-pointers over the past seven games."
However, shooting woes can occur at the collegiate level, and they will likely (though hopefully not) carry over a bit as rookies transition to the NBA. Nevertheless, there's still a ton of hype to excite fans about Jakucionis.
At 6-foot-6, he's a tall guard who has good handles, can pass effortlessly, and shoots at a decent rate—all valuable qualities in a prospect likely to mesh well with any NBA roster. Despite lacking elite athleticism, Jakucionis can also find ways to score in traffic and finish at the rim.
While Jakucionis's defense and three-point shooting could use refinement, these are typically areas prospects focus on when integrating into new environments and working with new coaches and development staff.
Can Kasparas Jakucionis help the Raptors regain relevancy?
Here's Jeremy Woo's analysis of the Raptors potentially drafting Jakucionis:
"Jakucionis on a rookie deal might eventually provide better value than the highly paid Immanuel Quickley, and he would give Toronto a true pass-first point guard the roster presently lacks. The Raptors could benefit from adding a playmaker to reduce stress on Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett."ESPN's Jeremy Woo, February 12, 2025
Toronto hopes to head in a brighter direction next season, fully embracing a new outlook spearheaded by the arrival of former All-Star Brandon Ingram. However, aside from Scottie Barnes, the roster appears somewhat wonky and redundant upon closer inspection.
Knowing Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster, they aren't shy about working out the kinks in roster construction when needed. Even with Immanuel Quickley on the roster, the selection of Jakucionis presents a good fit. I'm not sure about relying heavily on a rookie guard, but Jakucionis' point guard skills are evident, and the team could reap considerable benefits as he matures.
It's a great backup plan, if necessary, to have Jakucionis on the roster. Picking him doesn't mean the team should give up on the Quickley experiment at point guard; you play the new season out to see if that core meshes well. On the bright side, if it somehow doesn't look sustainable, at least there's a younger guard on a cheaper deal, who has the upside to become the long-term point guard at some point.
I think Jakucionis would be a tailor-made addition, as he already embodies many of the qualities and attributes ingrained in the Raptors' identity by players before him. And hey, in years past, the Raptors have shown an interest in Lithuanian prospects in the first round, selecting Jonas Valanciunas fifth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft—the same spot where Jakucionis is projected to go to Toronto in 2025.
Even after missing out on top prospects, promising talents remain. Kasparas Jakucionis can help push a team in the right direction, and I’m 100% sold on this pick.