With the Toronto Raptors’ season over, fans and the front office will begin to look toward the draft. The draft odds are now locked in due to the conclusion of the regular season and Play-In Tournament. The Raptors sit with the seventh-best odds and a 48.3% chance at dropping back to the eighth pick or below. On the other hand, the Raptors have a 31.9% chance of moving into the top four and securing a potentially franchise-altering player.
We don’t know where the Raptors will be drafting for sure until the Draft Lottery on May 12th. So while we wait, let’s look at some of the potential players that the Raptors could land based on the most likely scenarios.
3 Potential Toronto Raptors Draft Targets
1. VJ Edgecombe
College Stats: 15.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.2 APG, 43.6 FG%, 34 3PT%
If the Raptors jump into the top four, it could mean many things, with the number one overall pick being Cooper Flagg and the second overall pick being Dylan Harper. But if the Raptors move up into the three or four spot, the best fit would be VJ Edgecombe. With the likes of Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett, they have all the players they need who can handle the ball. Unlike Ace Bailey, who is the projected number three pick, who needs the ball, Edgecombe is great without it.
Off the catch, Edgecombe shot 38.6% from downtown at Baylor, which is important for the Raptors, who need complementary shooters to help Barnes. Defensively, Edgecombe isn’t someone who will get you super excited, but it’s clear he has instincts with his 2.1 steals per game. Edgecombe’s elite athleticism also gives him defensive upside. Overall, if I were the Raptors and landed the third or fourth pick, I would be happy to select VJ Edgecombe.
2. Kasparas Jakucionis
College Stats: 15 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44 FG%, 31.8 3PT%
Kasparas Jakucionis is a 6-foot-6, 200-pound point guard whose decision-making may already be better than anything the Raptors have. Jakucionis is so smart on the offensive side of the ball and looks like a player who has a future running an NBA offense. Due to his size and work ethic, he grabs a ton of rebounds for a point guard and is similar to Luka Doncic in that aspect.
The only problem is that what made Edgecombe a good pick, he needs the ball to be effective, which may put too many cooks in the Raptors’ kitchen. The Illinois product shot just under 32% from three isn’t good for a point guard, but that is something you hope he develops after a few years in the NBA. Overall, if the Raptors want to pick Jakucionis at pick seven or eighth, he would be another good ball handler to create offense for a team that needs it.
3. Derik Queen
College Stats: 16.5 PPG, 9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 52.6 FG%, 20 3PT%
Derik Queen is an interesting prospect who can be an amazing center if he can add some important tools. The Maryland big man is a great free-throw shooter for his position, which can often indicate that he can extend his range outside. He is an amazing offensive big man who could benefit the Raptors while at the same time not being the model they usually have for centers.
Queen is not a big man who will go up and block shots, but he clearly has good instincts, which is shown by his 1.1 steals per game. Queen is a very fun player to watch when he is feeling good, turning the corner quicker than any center I have seen other than maybe Bam Adebayo. Overall, if the Raptors want to jump-start an offense that wasn’t great last year, Queen would be a great fit, and with Darko Rajaković at the helm, I could see a great improvement in his defensive numbers quickly.
Photo credit: © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
The post 3 Potential Toronto Raptors Draft Targets appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.