Raptors fans are eagerly waiting for this final stretch of the schedule to end, especially since it has important implications for the team's draft position later this year. With many teams in the league vying for better odds to secure that highly sought-after top pick, every game counts.
And speaking of the draft, I want to take a step back to look at the 2024 class with the benefit of hindsight since this rookie group is nearing the conclusion of their first season in the pros. In particular, I think it's a fair assessment to reflect on the Raptors' decision to draft Jonathan Mogbo with the 31st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, passing on Kyle Filipowski, who instead found a home with the Utah Jazz.
Now, the Mogbo pick is quite easy to understand from the Raptors' perspective—both back then and even now. With Mogbo, you have a guy who shares a deep friendship with the team's franchise cornerstone, Scottie Barnes, and a versatile combo-forward who brings a ton of hustle and energy—elements that define the Toronto Raptors' spirit to a tee.
It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to decipher the intrigue and allure that Masai Ujiri and his team likely felt while eyeing Mogbo as a potential prospect—a building block in their long-term plans. Despite his obvious offensive limitations, Mogbo quickly etched his name at the top of the draft highlights in the early part of the season, serving as an outlier in a relatively weak talent pool.
He might not dazzle you with a flashy stat line in the box score, but Mogbo's true strengths lie in the intangibles he brings to the game. Serving as a key defender and disruptor, he would play a vital role that ultimately bolstered the Raptors' performance in games.
In his rookie year thus far, Mogbo is averaging 5.3 points on 44.2% field goal shooting and 29% from three, along with 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
I'm still optimistic about Mogbo's potential for improvement, but I can't shake the feeling that the Raptors would have greatly benefitted from drafting Filipowski instead, especially considering their future aspirations and the specific needs they have moving forward.
In retrospect, do the Raptors regret choosing Mogbo over Filipowski?
Consider how the Raptors have utilized Mogbo this season: he has spent considerable time playing the small-ball five role as a backup. While he has experienced varying levels of success in that position, I don’t believe it showcases his strongest attributes. On the other hand, his lack of an offensive game doesn’t allow him to stand out as a key 3-and-D wing. When he takes on a combo-forward role instead, he primarily serves as a defensive stopper.
The Raptors certainly need defense, but they also desperately require a sharpshooting big to help strengthen their weak 3-point shooting core. That's where Filipowski could have stepped in as a valuable asset.
I understand that draft night was buzzing with gossip on basketball social media about Filipowski's love life and other distractions. However, let's focus on why this 7-foot big man was initially viewed as a first-round selection before ultimately slipping to the second round. He may not be a defensive-stopping big or a blow-you-away athlete, but Filipowski's balance of ball-handling (for his position), passing, and ability to space the floor made him an intriguing prospect in the 2024 class.
Filipowski's rookie season has been a bright spot for the struggling Utah Jazz, alongside another rookie, Isaiah Collier (funny enough, a pick that was routed from Toronto). The former Duke product has been averaging 8.5 points on 51.4% shooting from the field and a solid 38.3% from three, along with 5.4 rebounds and two assists per game.
Obviously, we can't go back to change the past, nor is it fair to Mogbo to completely disregard what he can become for this Raptors squad. However, there is undoubtedly an argument to be made that Toronto missed out on a helpful piece in Filipowski. Think about how desperate Toronto is to have a center in their arsenal who possesses a unique skill set compared to their starting big, Jakob Poeltl. Wouldn't Filipowski have been the perfect guy for that?
I know that often the draft process is far from just about positional need and fit; it also involves team chemistry, player morals, intangibles, and their willingness to adapt or gel seamlessly— that sort of thing.
However, if the Raptors' move to acquire Brandon Ingram at the trade deadline revealed anything, it’s that Toronto is eager to assemble a competitive roster ASAP. Say what you will about Mogbo, but he's still a project player, and I’m not sure how much leniency he will receive if this playoff dream is indeed the Raptors' outlook going forward—something I already discussed in a previous piece.
And to the opposite of that, draft scouts prior to the 2024 NBA Draft already analyzed that Filipowski was an NBA-ready player with the skill set needed for the league. I can conclude that he could have been super beneficial for the Raptors. However, I still believe that Mogbo can be an impactful player for the Toronto Raptors; it might just take a bit of time, that's all.