Regardless of which side of the spectrum you're on regarding the pick, the Toronto Raptors have made their presence felt with the ninth overall selection, adding versatile defender but shaky shooter Collin Murray-Boyles to their roster.
I'll admit, despite all the tremendous defense that CMB can provide to this hustle-first, defensive-mentality Raptors squad, I was originally looking for more of a prototypical 3-and-D wing like Carter Bryant, perhaps a stronger upside option in Noa Essengue, or the clear answer to Toronto's prayers for a backup center in Khaman Maluach.
But I’ll give it to the passionate folks in Raptors Nation — those who remind me of the winning mantra that "defense wins championships." Even though Toronto is still full of forwards and wings who struggle mightily to consistently shoot the three-ball, optimism remains high that they could put it all together nonetheless.
While optimism might be high in some Raptors fans' eyes, you know who's probably not feeling so hot after Toronto made the Collin Murray-Boyles pick: Raptors' versatile forward and last year's second-round selection, Jonathan Mogbo. I'm not suggesting that CMB and Mogbo are bitter enemies or anything like that; I bet, as a recent draft pick, Mogbo knows exactly how sweet the feeling is of hearing your name called on draft night.
Jonathan Mogbo faces new competition from Collin Murray-Boyles
But there is a new level of redundancy added to the Raptors' outlook going forward. While Murray-Boyles certainly doesn't have the same billing as established guys like Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, there's a strong chance that CMB will slide right into the role Jonathan Mogbo held last season — playing the small-ball five at times and serving as the Raptors' versatile backup forward option.
I think it's fair to assume that, given Toronto used their lottery pick on CMB and Mogbo was the 31st overall last year, the Raptors could be quickly shifting their focus on which players will be key in the rotation moving forward, leaving others to gradually fizzle out.
However, I still believe Mogbo's childhood connection and chemistry with Scottie Barnes give him a slight edge, though that doesn't mean Barnes has an unassailable position within the Raptors' brass— his influence alone won't be enough to keep Mogbo from fading into obscurity.
What this pick signifies for someone like Mogbo is that it’s essentially a bold call to action to stand out from the rest of the pack, making your presence felt in a way that is undeniable and deserving of consistent rotation minutes.
Mind you, it was head coach Darko Rajakovic himself who stated at the end-of-season media scrums that he isn’t an ice cream man here to make everyone happy; he emphasized that minutes will be allocated to those who deserve them most, with no room for favorites.
Near the end of the 2024-25 season, Mogbo emphasized how great he could become, recording his first career double-double and triple-double in back-to-back performances — proving he might've been the biggest steal of the 2024 draft class. If Mogbo can just pick up where he left off, it'll likely put him in good graces when it comes to his standing alongside the recently added CMB.
The business of basketball moves quickly and often, and it’s not going to wait around for the last guy. The time is now for Jonathan Mogbo to show the Raptors he isn’t going to step aside simply for Murray-Boyles to shine; it’s up to him to demonstrate that both of them can share the spotlight without much overlap.