The Toronto Raptors are a rebuilding team officially, as the trade of Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers for a package based around Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and Kira Lewis also helped them acquire three first-round draft choices. Two of those picks are unprotected in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Toronto currently has the sixth-worst record in the NBA, meaning the pick that will eventually go to the San Antonio Spurs as a result of the Jakob Poeltl trade might not convey this season. If that happens, Toronto has more than enough ammunition to go on the hunt for promising young players.
The Raptors currently have the No. 6 pick in their possession, to go along with the No. 18 selection from the Pacers and the lowest pick of the Jazz, Rockets, Clippers, and Thunder (currently No. 27). The OG Anunoby deal also helped them net the No. 31 pick from the Knicks and Pistons.
Per Tankathon's NBA Draft power rankings, only the Portland Trail Blazers have a more valuable collection of picks this year than Toronto. If Masai Ujiri wants to rebuild on the fly alongside his newly minted young core, he is going to have a golden opportunity to do so in this draft.
The 3 picks Raptors acquire for Siakam:
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) January 17, 2024
2024 via Indy (likely to be 14-30)
2024 1st (worst of OKC, HOU, UTAH, LAC)
2026 1st (unclear on protections)
The Toronto Raptors could dominate the 2024 NBA Draft with four picks.
While some might decry that 2024 is a "weak draft," the same was said about 2013 (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert), 2016 (Siakam, Jaylen Brown, Domantas Sabonis), and 2020 (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Desmond Bane, Immanuel Quickley). Talent will always be there, Toronto needs to find it.
The Raptors could move some of these picks for players while still being able to replenish their bench, and they now have tons of ammo if they want to move up in the order. Ujiri has always placed an emphasis on being flexible in the past, and he will have that benefit in his next few offseasons.
Toronto has some clear holes after this trade. The team needs another shooting wing to make up for the slow progression of Gradey Dick, a stretch big man who can rebound and block shots, and a Barnes backup who can man the power forward spot better than Chris Boucher.
Even with Dick's poor rookie season, the Raptors getting this many picks in one draft for a player who was either going to walk or get them into luxury tax territory with a gigantic extension in the offseason is a win for Masai Ujiri. He put the team in a bad spot through inaction, but made the best of it afterwards.
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