NBA Mock Draft: Raptors land 3 backcourt players in guard-heavy B/R projection
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors' recent 1-9 stretch without Jakob Poeltl in the lineup has seen them fall so far down the standings that there is a very good chance their first-round pick will not convey to the San Antonio Spurs. This would give the Raptors three first-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft along with the best second-rounder available at No. 31 overall.
Masai Ujiri's recent trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby may have restocked the cupboards with names like RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, but that doesn't negate the fact that Toronto's roster is now littered with big holes the 2024 Draft Class will need to play a big part in patching up.
While this draft is not regarded as particularly strong due to the lack of a no-doubt top prospect like Victor Wembanyama in last year's class, there are always All-Stars that manage to permeate their way into the pros. The Raptors could pick up a few long-term names if they play their cards right.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman has the Raptors going all-in on Darko Rajakovic's high-speed offense by taking two guards very early and using a third first-round pick on a perimeter player. Even adding a talented big man in the second round won't be enough to nullify Toronto's bet on going extra small and playing with pace.
2024 NBA Mock Draft: Toronto Raptors add three first-round guards
No. 6: Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky
In a draft that is thin on college guards after Isaiah Collier's tough freshman season, there's a good chance the battle for the top spot in this arena might be a three-way tug-of-war between Dillingham, teammate and ace 3-point marksman Reed Shepphard, and Baylor standout Ja'Kobe Walter.
Serving primarily as a Sixth Man for the Wildcats, Dillingham is averaging 13.9 points per game (second on the team) in just 22.6 minutes of work per game. A solid shooter with tremendous speed and quickness, Dillingham might be the best individual creator at the guard spot in this class.
Rob Dillingham could be a star for the Toronto Raptors
On top of the fact that Dillingham will never be a particularly effective defender at the NBA level, he is under 180 pounds right now. Like Gradey Dick before him, Dillingham needs to improve his physical conditioning before he can be trusted to make full use of his potential.
That shouldn't deter Toronto. Immanuel Quickley has already been identified as a potential franchise cornerstone, and Dillingham looks like an almost direct replica in terms of style and effectiveness. You can never have enough backcourt scoring in the NBA, and Dillingham will provide that instantly.