Toronto's chances of landing a high lottery pick (somewhere in the top four, that is) aren't looking great, and I think much of Raptors Nation has come to accept that they're likely to be stuck around the 7th, 8th, or, God forbid, slipping to the 9th or 10th pick range come draft night in June.
But hey, stranger things have happened, so there’s no need to lose hope just yet.
Now, if the Tankathon draft odds prove to take shape, we've already discussed four realistic players who could still be available late in the top 10—ideal "plug-and-play" archetypes for the Raptors as they aim to return to playoff relevance.
One player not included in that list is the one I'm going to cover in this piece today: Texas guard and clutch offensive force, Tre Johnson. In my opinion, he's one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft talent pool. Another piece here on Raptors Rapture already had Johnson touted as an "offensive cheat code."
Now, there is a scenario in which Johnson is already off the board by picks 5 or 6. However, he has been teetering around other mock drafts in the territory where the Raptors could be making their selection.
Without a doubt, Johnson could be in the same league as Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper—refined collegiate talents expected to create their own shots right from the start at the next level.
This high floor expectation is certainly warranted, given Johnson's freshman stats with the Texas Longhorns in 33 total games, all of which were played in a starting role: a stellar 19.9 points on 42.7% field goal shooting and 39.7% from three, along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in just over 34 minutes of playing time.
Johnson is a renowned shot-maker, able to score off the dribble, knock down threes at an efficient rate, making step-backs, fadeaways, and turnaround jumpers. I think you can get the point that Johnson's bread and butter is his offensive bag of tricks.
Texas guard Tre Johnson offers significant scoring ability as a draft prospect
But even more impressive, Johnson can move around the floor like a shifty combo guard. He has the tendency to find others when needed, showing that he doesn't have to be the saving grace in every situation; he has an eye for the ball, too. Johnson has shown tremendous poise with his ability to make clutch baskets at Texas, where this quality could prove be a valuable asset for a Raptors team that desperately needs a touch of the clutch gene.
As Kevin O'Connor, NBA Senior Analyst for Yahoo Sports, notes in his scouting report for Tre Johnson, he compares him to three well-known stars known for their offensive prowess: Devin Booker, Klay Thompson, and Tyler Herro. I have also seen comparisons of Johnson to scoring guards like Allen Houston or Cam Thomas, all of which paint a promising picture of what the 19-year-old can bring to this hopeful Raptors squad.
With every prospect, however, we must also consider Johnson's weaknesses. Like many of the guards mentioned above, he isn't necessarily known for his defense, and his ability to guard is a cause for concern.
Without much length and size on his side, it’s easier for elite talent to get past him, and opposing teams can focus on neutralizing his offensive spark. If Johnson struggles to find his shooting rhythm, he doesn’t contribute much else on the court, similar to what I discussed regarding Maryland big man Derik Queen in another article.
He will need to add some weight and strength to become a more polished scorer inside. While he has the ability to get there, right now, Johnson would get absolutely overpowered trying to go head-to-head with bigger NBA talents.
Even with the defensive concerns surrounding Tre Johnson's game, he might still be my consensus top pick on the Raptors' draft board this year. He may clash with players in need of minutes, like Gradey Dick or Ja'Kobe Walter, who are already in the Raptors' rotation, but Johnson could still provide that extra 15-20 points off the bench to help push Toronto over the hump.
It would be unrealistic to expect Johnson to come in and consistently average those numbers. However, having a player on the sidelines who can step in and provide exceptional shooting is invaluable, even with so many scorers on the team. You can’t underestimate the impact of having multiple scoring options.
I wouldn’t put all my eggs in the Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes basket either; there’s definitely a scenario in which Johnson can carve out an important role right from the start. With that said, the Toronto Raptors should keep a close eye on Tre Johnson's status as we inch closer to the draft, at all costs. They might not be adding a high-ceiling superstar, but a high-floor player could be just what they need instead.