One of these NBA Draft prospects could be Masai’s next Masterstroke

An early look at several mock drafts to find the consensus top 10 prospects. Is the future Raptor on this list?

As much as we would love the Raptors to land the #1 overall pick, a.k.a. Cooper Flagg, there’s a big chance that the Raptors could end up anywhere in the top 10. We looked at several NBA mock drafts to get a good feel for the players who could be available for the Toronto Raptors in this coming draft. Based on the average draft range, we came up with five tiers, and there’s a good chance that one of these prospects will be a Raptor after the 1st round of the NBA draft.

Honorable Mentions

These prospects have a wider range, some appearing as high as 7th overall and as low as late in the first round. However, it’s worth watching these guys, as they could sneak into the mid-lottery range depending on how the ping-pong balls land.

Collin Murray-Boyles, PF, 6’7” – South Carolina (20)

Jase Richardson, SG, 6’3” – Michigan State (18.7)

Asa Newell, PF, 6’10” – Georgia (19.7)

Egor Demin, Combo Guard, 6’9” – BYU (19.3)

Noa Essengue, SF/PF, 6’9” – Ratiopharm Ulm (18.5)

Out of these prospects, it’s easy to project what Jase Richardson and Collin Murray-Boyles can bring. Asa Newell, Noa Essengue, and, to some extent, Egor Demin are all “mystery boxes.” Mystery, as in you could be getting a potential star, a quality starter, a bench player, or a bust. What they can do at the NBA level is also a mystery, as they would need a longer developmental runway. Still, they are intriguing, especially for the Vision 6’9” hive.

Tier 5

Khaman Maluach, C, 7’2” – Duke (18.8)

Jeremiah Fears, PG, 6’4” – Oklahoma (18.7)

Kasparas Jakucionis, Combo Guard, 6’6” – Illinois (19.1)

Of these three prospects, Jeremiah Fears could go as high as the 5th pick but has some doubters, ranking him late or barely outside the lottery, which speaks of his polarizing talent. He’s an explosive on-ball guard, a scorer and playmaker, and quite an aggressor. However, Fears’s size, frame, and physical strength have caused draft pundits to double-take on his draft position.

Perhaps one of the most well-rounded players in the lottery range outside of Flagg, Kasparas Jakuciounis’s playmaking, court vision, scoring versatility, and size/positional flexibility make him a great fit for any team that would draft him. ESPN’s got him as the 7th best prospect, and The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie’s got him 5th on his board. However, some draft pundits might not see a high ceiling due to his average athleticism and quickness, as it’s already evident against lower-level competition.

Khaman Maluach is probably the biggest enigma in this draft. Standing at 7’2”, Maluach combines intriguing physical attributes with his developing skill set offensively and defensively that, if it translates well at the NBA level, could make him a big problem for many NBA teams. Maluach is a “project” at this point, and his inconsistencies plagued him throughout his freshman year at Duke, including a disappointing Final Four performance where he grabbed his shorts more than the rebound. Still, he can potentially be a dominant two-way centre at the NBA level.

Tier 4

Tre Johnson, SG, 6’6” – Texas (19.3)

Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, 6’7” – Duke (19.9)

Derik Queen, C, 6’10” – Maryland (20.5)

This tier represents the 5-8 range at this early point of the draft, but Tre Johnson might be the only one from this group who would get picked in the top 8 when it’s all said and done. That’s very likely because of his elite three-level scoring and ability to deliver under pressure. However, his elite skill set is a double-edged sword, as he looks like a rich version of Cam Thomas, with questions about playmaking, shot selection, and defense.

Kon Kneuppel is an excellent shooter, but he’s more than that. He makes good decisions on the floor, and while he’s neither athletic nor explosive, he’s physical on both ends. However, additional limitations, such as foot speed, hamper his draft stock, as there are some reservations on whether he can defend quicker and more explosive wings/guards.

Derik Queen is one of the — if not the most polished big in this draft. He’s skilled on the post, both as a scorer and a playmaker, and has all of the offensive attributes of a modern big. However, reservations about his height and position prevent him from entering the top 5 conversations. Despite being an undersized center, Queen’s athleticism is limited and doesn’t offer much rim protection. He could be a tweener, where he’s too small to play center but too slow against the big wings masquerading as a power forward.

Tier 3

VJ Edgecombe, SG, 6’5” – Baylor ( 19.9)

Ace Bailey, SF, 6’10” – Rutgers (18.9)

These two prospects are the consensus third and fourth picks of this draft, and who goes third and fourth is a hotly debated topic. For now, Ace Bailey might have a slight upper hand, but his size, athleticism, and scoring ability as a big wing make him an intriguing prospect. However, Bailey’s shot selection, decision-making, and sloppy handle got him at this range instead of the next tier or two.

VJ Edgecombe’s blend of athleticism, explosiveness, motor, defensive intensity, and overall activity on both ends of the floor makes him one of the most exciting prospects to watch. His offense is still a bit of a work in progress, as his perimeter shooting and handles need some work, but when he does, he could make a run as one of the best prospects of this draft. However, Edgecombe’s stock might take a hit if his Draft Combine measurements don’t work in his favour.

Tier 2

Dylan Harper, Combo Guard, 6’6” – Rutgers (19.3)

The consensus #2 pick of this draft, Dylan Harper, is a crafty scorer and finisher. He leverages his strength, body control, handles, and footwork to go through his defender and traffic and finish around the rim. Harper’s court vision, solid decision-making, and feel for the game allow him to make excellent decisions when creating for himself or for his teammates. His perimeter shooting was inconsistent at best during his stay at Rutgers, but his shot doesn’t look broken. Suppose there’s one thing to nitpick about Harper. In that case, it’s his average level of explosiveness (both accelerating and finishing) that gets him in trouble at times.

Tier 1

Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, 6’9” – Duke (18.5)

The undisputed, reigning, defending #1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg is the most versatile player on this draft on both ends of the floor. He offers high-level defensive versatility, capable of guarding up to five positions. Offensively, he’s a three-level scorer with an excellent feel for the game. On top of that, it’s rare for a blue-chip player to play with a relentless effort, trying to impact the game not just with big plays but willing to do the small things, including hustle plays.