Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors have decided to rebuild over the next two seasons, as they now are in a position to restock their cupboards with a host of young talent in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Raptors have a ton of influence over this draft.
After (possibly) trading away their first-round draft choice in the Jakob Poeltl deal, Toronto can get as many as four picks inside the top 31 selections after their Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby trades. Ujiri will likely be looking for players with high-end long-term potential and versatility.
According to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer, the Raptors could use the No. 6 pick in the draft on G League Ignite star Matas Buzelis. With both him and Ron Holland on the board, Toronto opts for the taller player with a higher offensive ceiling over the "safer" and more traditional pick.
Toronto would follow the Buzelis pick with UConn do-it-all guard Stephon Castle at No. 16 overall acquired from the Indiana Pacers in the Pascal Siakam trade. With the No. 29 pick, also picked up from Indiana, Toronto would grab a traditional power forward in Arkansas big man Trevon Brazile.
🚨 My annual NBA Draft Guide just dropped with a full first-round mock draft and my top 30 big board with scouting reports for every player
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) January 24, 2024
More to come on @ringer in the months ahead leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft: https://t.co/3T6tolafpJ
Toronto Raptors Mock Draft: Matas Buzelis could be a long-term starter.
Buzelis has averaged 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game between the G League Showcase and the regular season. While he started in an eye-wateringly tough fashion, he has since picked things up on both ends. 1.6 blocks and 1.0 steals per game are proof of his quality on that end of the floor.
What is concerning for Buzelis is his poor shooting, as a player hyped as a knockdown sniper is making just 26% of his attempts this season. However, like Gradey Dick, Toronto believes the shooting will eventually come around, handing them a legit point forward who can create, pass, and play multiple positions with ease.
Toronto's defense is lackluster at the moment, but putting Buzelis in the starting lineup and Castle on the bench would be a major improvement in that area. Even with Castle's own shooting issues, the fact he can do a little bit of everything well makes him a good value pick at this juncture.
Brazile might not be as well-rounded as those two, but he can rip the rim off the backboard when he gets enough momentum toward the basket and can step out to hit a jumper when needed. getting that in a 6-10 package would cap off a solid first-round for the Raptors.