The Toronto Raptors were linked to a plethora of defense-first players at No. 9 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, including Duke center Khaman Malauch and international prospect Noa Essengue. However, the board fell their way, and they ended up with South Carolina power forward Collin Murray-Boyles.
The Raptors had been rumored to be shopping the No. 9 pick in trade talks, as they are pursuing a star who could instantly upgrade the roster. This could be quite a valuable asset, but it looks ike Toronto found a player that will become a part of the long-term picture in town.
Per Jonathan Givony, the Raptors intend to keep Murray-Boyles and will not use him as a trade chip. CMB will now officially join a Raptors team that will try to make some inroads in the Eastern Conference. Toronto clearly has big plans for him individually.
Raptors will not trade No. 9 pick Collin Murray-Boyles after NBA Draft
Murray-Boyles averaged 16.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in his final season with the Gamecocks. His 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game don't tell the story of how high his ceiling is on that end, as he may be the most versatile defender in this class/
Murray-Boyles has also received some criticism for his inability to shoot at a high level, as he averaged under one 3-point attempt per game in his college career. At 6-7 and 245 pounds, some wonder if he is too small to be a traditional post player and too big to play farther out on the perimeter.
Murray-Boyles will likely come off the bench early in his career, but he will instantly have a role in a rotation that is lacking in frontcourt depth. His terrific defense gives him a very high floor that will improve a Toronto team that has frequently been torched on that end during the Darko Rajakovic era.
If the Raptors' historically excellent player development culture helps them turn Murray-Boyles into a shooter, he could wiggle his way into the starting lineup. That No. 9 pick may have been enticing for teams out there, but when CMB fell into Ujiri and Bobby Webster's laps, they weren't going to pass him up.