Luck wasn’t in the Toronto Raptors’ favour when the lottery balls tumbled into place last month.
Entering the day with their sights set on a top-six selection, the Raptors instead ended up losing their high-lottery hopes to the San Antonio Spurs and were left with only one first-round pick outside the lottery, a (consolation) prize from their mid-season fire sale that saw Pascal Siakam head to Indiana.
Scouts and draft analysts have debated this draft class’s strength — or lack thereof — with many calling it the worst in over a decade, but a high selection will always be more valuable than one in the middle of the first round.
However, because of the more up-in-the-air nature of this class, the lack of a consensus No. 1 or even a consensus top-10 has created an intriguing proposition for teams picking in the late lottery or after. Players that teams may value as top-10 picks others may see as late first-rounders, meaning that anybody’s favourite prospect could fall once the clock starts ticking.
Though the Raptors are searching for a star to pair alongside Scottie Barnes, they’re also in dire need of replenishing their farm system and adding depth to a roster that sent out everything but the kitchen sink in the latter half of the season as they dealt with injuries.
This could be the draft class for just that. Though it’s not star-studded, there are plenty of prospects that teams may view as Day 1 contributors or role players. Guys that might not have stood out massively at the collegiate level but could grow into something depending on the organization they end up with.
With all that being said, here are six players the Raptors could consider taking at 19th overall, depending on how this ever-so-uncertain draft shakes out.
Yves Missi, C, Baylor — 19 years old, 7 feet, 235 lbs.
2023-24 stats: 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 61.4 FG
When Jakob Poeltl went down near the end of the season, it reserved a place for the Raptors outside the Play-In Tournament. Toronto got demolished on the interior without his reliable rim protection and rebounding, helping it to the second-worst defence in the league in the season’s final month. Missi could help supplant that need for Toronto.
Still something of a project, his raw athleticism, length and strong frame make him a worthy prospect to develop behind Poeltl. His 7-foot-5 wingspan allows him to contest shots on the perimeter and his fluidity makes it so that he doesn’t get burned on switches while on offence, he’s an adept screener and should be a physical lob threat and rebounder.
However, he tends to bite on fakes and get himself into foul trouble. He needs to tone down his 4.2 fouls per 40 minutes once he’s in the NBA. He also isn’t close to a finished product on offence. Though his athleticism and length make him a solid lob threat, he may struggle to find those extra passes on the Raptors’ ball-movement-heavy offence.
Kyle Filipowski, C, Duke — 20 years old, 7 feet, 230 lbs.
2023-24 stats: 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks
If Missi is the defensive big the Raptors look at, Kyle Filipowski should be the offensive one. The 2022 No. 4 recruit according to 247Sports, Filipowski’s solid perimeter shooting and playmaking ability should fit right into the Raptors’ developing offensive identity. His 2.8 assists per game were the third-most among ACC frontcourt players and his impressive ball-handling for a big should give coach Darko Rajakovic another interesting option on that end.
He chose to stay at Duke for a second season and the decision paid off with improvements on both ends. He upped his blocks per game from 0.7 to 1.5, his field goal percentage from 44.1 to 50.5 per cent and his 3-point percentage from 28.2 to 34.8 per cent.
Though he still doesn’t have the strength down low to bang with NBA bigs, deploying him alongside the rim-protecting Poeltl could create an intriguing twin towers in Toronto and fix its size issues that became ever-so-apparent for stretches last season. Though not nearly at the skill level of Minnesota’s two bigs, a fit much like the one between Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns may be something the Raptors look toward as they transition to a new era.
Devin Carter, G, Providence — 22 years old, 6 foot 3, 195 lbs.
2023-24 stats: 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, 37.7 3-point
Should the Raptors opt for some help in the backcourt, Devin Carter would likely be the best prospect available should he fall to 19th. Carter took a serious leap in his one year with Providence, boosting his 3-point percentage from 29.9 to 37.7 on 6.8 attempts per game. His shot menu also became much more versatile as he improved his ability to shoot off the dribble.
More than that, though, are his effort levels on both ends. His 8.7 rebounds were the third-most in the Big East despite standing at only 6 foot 3 and his 2.8 steals+blocks were also the third-most in the conference, behind centres Ryan Kalkbrenner and Donovan Clingan. He was a lockdown point-of-attack defender and had no fear going against bigger players in college.
Though he isn’t much of a playmaker or ball-handler, it’s unlikely the Raptors would ask him to shoulder much of that load with Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes still running that end. Instead, he projects as a high-effort, tenacious defender and complementary offensive piece capable of connecting, cutting, shooting and running the floor for the quick and movement-heavy Raptors offence.
Ja’Kobe Walter, G, Baylor — 19 years old, 6 foot 4, 198 lbs.
2023-24 stats: 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 37.6 3-point
The Raptors need all the help they can get from long range as they look to build out their core around Barnes. Walter could provide that, as one of the best movement shooters in the class while also showcasing some serious on-ball defensive skills.
With the Raptors’ tendency to operate more off screens and handoffs last season, Walter, with his steady pull-up shooting ability, could add serious dynamism to an offence that started to find its sea legs when the core was healthy in limited action last season. He’s also a talented driver, unafraid to get physical down the lane and finish through contact.
Though not a primary shot-creator due to his lack of ball-handling abilities, he did showcase a solid gift for playmaking while in high school and can operate well in tight spaces on drives.
Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado — 23 years old, 6 foot 9, 220 lbs.
2023-24 stats: 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 39.5 3-point
Tristan da Silva projects to be one of the big risers after a strong performance in the tournament. The 23-year-old senior caught fire in the Pac-12 conference and March Madness, hitting 50 per cent of his 4.3 3-pointers per game en route to scoring 15.0 points on 65.0 per cent true shooting. His length and positional versatility are a perfect fit for the modern NBA, as the wing can switch 2-4 while making smart reads off-ball and using his 6-foot-10 wingspan to disrupt passing lanes.
Ironically, the Raptors, who for years prioritized length and versatility, are suddenly bereft of size and high-motor players after trading away Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. Bringing in someone such as da Silva would be the first step toward returning to their winning formula and fortifying their forward spots after Barnes and Barrett.
Though he might not be as athletic as Anunoby or Siakam, he projects as a better spacer and should fit well in this less ISO-heavy scheme as a catch-and-shoot guy or connective passer. His age and experience also allow him to be much more of an experienced plug-and-play guy for a team that should still want to win next season.
Zach Edey, C, Purdue — 22 years old, 7 foot 3, 306 lbs.
2023-24 stats: 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 62.3 FG
Edey may not be what the Raptors need right now, but putting the collegiate icon on a team with some familiar faces could certainly help him translate his game to the NBA. The Raptors seem to be in the midst of building Team Canada Lite with the additions of RJ Barrett and Kelly Olynyk this season, why not bring in one more?
It’s hard to deny two straight National College Player of the Year awards, but detractors have pointed out Edey’s slower foot speed and perhaps one-dimensional style of play. The Raptors don’t feel like a team that is looking for a post-focused big, but Edey showcased some growth with his playmaking this season, keeping his head up out of double-teams to find the open man, something Rajakovic could surely make use of given the pass-happy offence. Could he also be developing a 3-point stroke?
However, questions about his defence remain at large. As switch-heavy offences and mismatch hunting become more prevalent league-wide, it’s hard to see him finding success after being dragged to the perimeter. The hope would be that Barnes turns into the team’s roamer, a la Giannis Antetokounmpo, allowing Edey to patrol the paint and use his absurd 7-foot-11 wingspan to do the rest around the rim.
Other names to watch for:
If you like him, reach for him: Ryan Dunn, F, Virginia — 21 years old, 6 foot 8, 216 lbs.
Fingers crossed he falls: Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky — 19 years old, 6 foot 1, 164 lbs.
But what if…: Bronny James, G, USC — 19 years old, 6 foot 4, 189 lbs.