Raptors 2025 Draft target compared to mountainous NBA center

Rocco Zikarsky has a mountainous counterpart

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report recently made pro comparisons for each projected lottery pick in next year's draft. While most draft analysts agree there is a Top 5 or 6 in the class at this point in the draft cycly, Rocco Zikarsky is generally placed into the second tier, alongside players such as Drake Powell, Tre Johnson, Khaman Maluach and Hugo Gonzalez.

The center position has undergone a significant transformation in the past decade, with the various archetypes and skillsets at the position exploding. From traditional rim-running, shot-blocking centers like Jakob Poeltl to offensive masterminds like Nikola Jokic and everyone in between, the center position has never been more diverse.

What sort of player does Zikarsky project to be? At this point he has not shown the offensive skillset to be in the mold of a Jokic or Joel Embiid (even at a lower level) but he also doesn't have the post skillset of someone like Jarrett Allen or Alperen Sengun. His shot doesn't seem to be a weapon, so you can rule out Brook Lopez or Myles Turner. On defense, he likely won't have the footspeed to switch smoothly onto perimeter threats like Bam Adebayo or cover quite the same ground as an Anthony Davis.

The answer that Wasserman lands on? Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.

Both are both tall and long and are fearsome shot-blockers, but they probably aren't going to lock down opponents on the perimeter. On offense they are dependent players, cleaning up at the basket and skying high for lob passes. And like Kessler, there is upside that Zikarsky could still tap into to become a more skilled finisher inside and expand his offensive game.

If the Raptors draft Zikarsky, they aren't getting a superstar, but they just might get a solid starting center to lock down the position for the next decade and raise their defensive ability. The Jazz got a steal in Walker Kessler as a part of the Rudy Gobert trade, and the Raptors might step out of their comfort zone and draft an international prospect, landing just the same sort of impact defender in the process that their young core so desperately needs.