The 2026 NBA Draft has been talked up as one of the best in league history, and thankfully for the Toronto Raptors, they are slotted to pick in the top 20.
When looking at potential options for the Dinos with the No. 19 pick in this draft, a name that has started to rise up to that range is Ebuka Okorie. The Stanford guard is quick, shifty, and a high-level scorer who could have All-Star level upside. Doesn’t that all sound great? It does, but not for the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto already has two smaller speedy guards in Jamal Shead and Immanuel Quickley, and they definitely don’t need a third. That’s not to say the Raptors should avoid drafting a guard at No. 19, but if they do, they should find someone who can offer something different than their current backcourt.
Okorie would bring redundancy the Raptors can't afford
In his lone season at Stanford, Okorie averaged 23.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from three. He flashed a strong pull-up game, elite three-point shooting ability, good lead guard instincts, and the ability to manipulate a defense with his speed and shifty handle.
There’s no doubt in my mind that in the right situation and with the right development, Okorie can become a high-level lead scoring guard in the NBA. However, the place for him isn't Toronto.
Like most guards who measure sub 6-foot-2 (barefoot) at the combine, Okorie does struggle on the defensive end because of his less-than-ideal frame. Sure, he has solid awareness and knows how to stay in front of his man, but from a general defense standpoint, he is subpar.Â
He gets pushed off his spot too often, and adding him to a guard room that already employs undersized guards who have similar skill sets would be disastrous. I’m also not certain that his offensive game is polished enough to really cancel out his defensive shortcomings.
From a general roster makeup standpoint, if I were Bobby Webster, I'd avoid drafting a guard altogether and focus on adding a spacer from the wing or a center for the future. That being said, if he is certain the Raptors want to add another piece to their backcourt, I'd lean toward Bennett Stirtz over Okorie. With Stirtz, you get someone less raw and more ready to go right away, with a similar size, tools, and the ability to really thrive off the ball.
I get it isn’t hard to fall in love with Okorie as a scoring machine that can kill defenses from everywhere. For the Raptors, it’s incredibly important to remember they're already paying a better version of that player $32.5 million annually, and unless he’s moved, drafting Okorie is pointless.
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