“Flat” is a common way to describe the 2024 NBA draft. And while that might not sound appealing to some of the teams with top picks who are looking for game-changing talent, it certainly does make things more interesting. It puts pressure on each franchise's scouting department to be at their best. To find the talent regardless of draft positioning and discover the ‘gems’ of this respective class.
However, there is a different way to look at a ‘flat’ class like this. While there might not be top-end talent, there certainly is depth and that helps a team like the Toronto Raptors, who are armed with two picks in the top 31.
Coming off a season where they hit the reset button, shifting their focus to building a younger team centered around Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett – the Raptors can attack the draft in several ways. Masai Ujiri said as much in his end-of-season media availability:
"Honestly, our team is not at a point where we can pick and choose. I know backup point guard is something we'll focus on a little bit, I think a wing defender type player is something we'll focus on. ... Maybe a backup big that is young and suits us."
So essentially… the best player available.
Now, the Raptors don’t have to address all of their roster needs at the draft, they can open up cap space this summer to try and target rotation players to quench their thirst for a backup big man or some wing depth but ultimately – adding cost-controlled, young talent to a young roster would be the ideal scenario.
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Still, given the Raptors' current situation, the options are limitless at the draft. And while that can be a good thing, it’s also a bit of a headache to sift through. And also – draft prospects are like mystery boxes and ultimately, there are a million and one factors that determine their success.
But we all have our favorites. So, here are some of mine, as it pertains to the Raptors.
Note: If a player you like didn’t make it — it’s because I either don’t like the fit for Toronto, or I am not as high as I am on them as I am the players below. Enjoy!
Trading Up
If there’s any draft where moving up or down is possible, it’s this one. A flat draft provides teams with the flexibility to ‘get their guy’ and if the Raptors fall in love with a prospect whom they feel fits their requirements and think he may be snagged before their 19th overall pick – then they could trade up to prevent that.
There are three players who I think are worth doing that for that: Ron Holland, Isaiah Collier, and Devin Carter.
Ron Holland
Holland was expected to be one of the top picks in the draft but his only season with the G-League Ignite didn’t necessarily solidify that. He has a questionable jumper and lacks as a decision-maker with the ball in his hands but he’s a transition superstar, an incredible athlete and projects to be a stud defensively. Besides, despite his draft stock falling, it’s hard to pass up on a player who averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists against professional athletes in the G-League.
Holland is a pick with tremendous upside. And he was likely punching above his weight offensively with the Ignite, leading the team in usage rate and turnovers. With that mind, you can imagine Holland finding is niche in Darko Rajakovic’s more defined offensive setting where cutting is a calling card, alongside other creators like Barnes, Quickley, and Barrett. And who knows, maybe like Cam Whitmore in the 2023 draft, Holland finds himself falling all the way down to 19 on draft night.
That being said, it’s unlikely. And unless the Raptors want to get their feet wet trade-wise, they won’t be able to get him.
Devin Carter
The same goes for Devin Carter. The Providence guard projects to be a 2-way stud and is one of my personal favorites in this entire class. He has an unorthodox jumper and he struggled to shoot the ball in his first 2 years in college but last year, he knocked down nearly 38% of his looks from downtown, including a healthy chunk of pull-up threes. Couple that with his elite lockdown ability, both on the ball and as a helper – and you have a player who can step in right away and play a role for a team.
His fit is snug next to Quickley long-term in the backcourt. His fluidity as a defender and his ability to be the connective tissue offensively makes him a good fit with the entire Raptors core.
But it also makes him a good fit anywhere. This is the type of draft prospect who gets nabbed by a playoff team and with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers all drafting ahead of the Raptors – the likely scenario is that he’ll be gone.
Unless they trade up for him.
Isaiah Collier
With Collier, it’s a little bit of a different story. There’s a chance that he’s available at 19 depending on how teams in the 10-18 range view the USC guard. The sales pitch with him is simple: a ridiculous rim-finisher who can ignite an offense just with his ability to get to the basket. He’s an underrated playmaker and while he’s turnover-prone, NBA spacing should help him create even better looks for his teammates.
There are questions about his jumper (he shot 33% on limited volume in his one-and-done season with the Trojans) and while he has a stout frame – he’s a bit of a mistake-prone defender.
Like Holland and unlike Carter, Collier has star upside. And it’s an upside that is worth banking on if you’re the Raptors – who could use the extra creator. Collier can learn the NBA ropes as a back-up point guard in Toronto and if he truly pops – can become a starter.
My Pick of the bunch: Collier
The #19 Overall Favourites
Tristan Da Silva
Da Silva is your prototypical role-player wing prospect. He is about as plug-and-play as you can get in this draft and projects to be an immediate contributor with his ability to shoot and defend multiple positions. Between Da Silva, Gradey Dick, and Quickley, the Raptors would have the shooting platoon that can create some space for their All-Star, Barnes, to operate.
Ultimately, Da Silva comes with his own questions. He’s older (23 years old) as a prospect and is slender for his age. Can he add muscle at the professional level? Sure. But he might get bullied initially and while he’s a good connective passer, his on-ball creation is pretty limited.
Jaylon Tyson
A nifty, large guard out of California, Tyson fits the blueprint of what a Raptors prospect at the guard spot might look like. He’s a long, rangy athlete who projects to be a good team defender and he shot nearly 38% from three in his 2 years in college on a diet consisting of mainly pull-up threes. His craft, size, and strength make him a versatile scorer at practically all 3 levels and all of these factors make me think that Tyson has some star potential to him.
The Raptors have reportedly already worked him out and if he’s available at 19, and Collier, Carter or Holland aren’t on the board – they should be comfortable taking him and never looking back.
DaRon Holmes III
Holmes is one of the more entertaining big-men prospects in the entire class. The 3-year big out of Dayton is coming off of a season where he averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds, over 3 assists, and nearly 3 blocks for the Flyers.
While he’s undersized at his position, standing at 6-foot-9, his versatility as a big who can put the ball on the floor, create, rim-run, and defend multiple positions – makes him an intriguing selection. His ability to shoot the ball (knocking down over 38% of his threes last year) makes him especially intriguing as a long-term fit next to Barnes in the front-court.
Yves Missi
This Cameroonian big man is an abnormal athlete. A nearly 6-foot-11 (without shoes) big with a 7-foot-2 wingspan who is fluid, quick, and explosive athletically. He is a traditional rim-running, shot-blocking big who can set screens, dive to the basket using his long arms and athleticism, and defend multiple positions on the other end.
But, he’s a project. He will likely spend some time in the G-League, working on his short-roll playmaking, and improving his ability to read the floor but he is an NBA-level athlete right away, which has its benefits.
Kyshawn George
Similar to Da Silva, George provides all of the essential things you need out of a role-player wing. His long arms help him project to be, at the very least, a neutral team defender, and his effectiveness as a shooter makes him an easy fit next to the Raptors core. The upside isn’t there, in my opinion, but his shooting will likely translate. Think of him as your potential Gary Trent Jr replacement.
My Pick of the bunch: Tyson or Holmes III
The #19 Swings
Zach Edey
The Canadian big man dominated college basketball at Purdue but how much of that will translate to the NBA? He is gigantic and as the league trends back towards favoring size, Edey has an opportunity to earn his keep but to what end?
While he improved as a scorer in his final season in college, he still isn’t nimble enough defensively to guard in space. Besides, his fit on the Raptors isn’t snug and while there’s potential he could become a viable shooter at his position (only from watching him shoot open threes at the combine), will it be enough to command the attention of defenses? We’ll see.
Kel’El Ware
A giant in his own right, Ware has the potential to be one of the best picks in this draft. He’s a versatile, do-it-all big man who can space the floor, block shots, roll to the basket, and reportedly showed improvements as a post-scorer towards the end of his time in Indiana.
That being said, Ware can sometimes fall asleep on the defensive end and needs to work on reading the floor to be a true weapon at his position. If he can actualize his talent, then Ware is a sure-fire stud in this draft. But the fact that it’s a question in the first place is the reason he’s a swing at 19.
My Pick of the bunch: Ware
The Options At #31
Ajay Mitchell
Mitchell is a 3-year guard out of USCB who can score at all 3 levels. He can pivot his way into tight spaces, finish at the basket, and create his own shot. He exploded as a shooter in his final season, knocking down nearly 40% of his looks, but he’s been streaky and it’ll be interesting to see how much of his strength-based creation will translate against NBA competition.
That being said if the Raptors opt to draft a wing or a big with their 19th pick – Mitchell is the guard they should target at 31, with the hopes that he can develop into a legitimate starter.
Kevin McCullar Jr.
Another older player, McCullar has everything you want out of a wing prospect. He is one of the best defenders in the draft and has the lateral quickness to be positionally versatile on that end. Offensively, his shot has been streaky, but he shot nearly 34% on over 4 attempts last season and while that is an area of growth for him, he was still able to score the ball in college, putting up over 18 points per game in his final year with the Kansas Jayhawks.
If the Raptors don’t pick George or Da Silva with pick 19, McCullar would be a nice swing wing at 31.
Jonathan Mogbo
Mogbo is a fluid, under-size big man with a 7-foot-2 wingspan who can do a little bit of everything. He has the mobility and athletic features of a wing but plays with the size and physicality of a big. He can be a rim-runner, he can initiate the offense in delay actions and his instincts and feel for the game make him a potential 2-way stud.
Still, he’s not a shooter and is still working through the kinks of his game. Essentially, he’s very raw and likely would need some time in the G-League. I see a lot of Precious Achiuwa in his game, so maybe that interests you?
Either way, if the Raptors opt to not draft a big with 19, Mogbo would be an intriguing pick-up at 31.
