Offseason Report Card: Raptors get an A, four Bs, three Cs and a D for summer moves

3. Drafted Ja'Kobe Walter

Drafted Baylor wing Ja'Kobe Walter with the No. 19 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft

The Toronto Raptors lost their own first-round pick this year as it was Top-6 protected from the Jakob Poeltl trade. While the Raptors ended the season with the sixth-worst record, the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets leapfrogged them in the Draft Lottery, pushing them to eighth and sending the pick to the San Antonio Spurs, who then flipped the pick on draft night for future draft capital. The Minnesota Timberwolves then used the pick on Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham.

The Raptors were not shut out of the first round, however, as they picked up the Indiana Pacers' pick in the Pascal Siakam trade, and it ultimately landed at No. 19. The chaos of this year's flat draft class meant it was a real mystery as to who would be available when the Raptors picked, and on draft night they used the pick on Baylor freshman wing Ja'Kobe Walter.

Evaluating draft picks is a multi-layered task. Walter was a great value at 19, a player who entered the season as a Top-10 prospect and was frequently mocked in the lottery. He was ranked 13th on our final Raptors Big Board heading into the draft and was the highest-ranked player on the board when Toronto came onto the clock.

He is also an excellent fit, a player who brings athleticism, shooting and defense while sprinkling in some shot creation as well. The Raptors need options on the wing and they need shooting, and Walter clearly helps them in those regards.

The opportunity cost is worth examining, and whether another player available at the time would have been a better pick. Kyle Filipowski was ranked one spot behind Walter on our board and also fit a need, but teams should generally go wing over bigs every time. The only player picked in the first round after Walter who has been dominant this summer is Terrence Shannon Jr. and the Raptors likely weren't going anywhere near him.

Walter is hyper-talented, was a good value at 19th and fills a need; this was a very solid draft selection for the Toronto Raptors.

Grade: B+