It was an unfortunate end to a great Raptors season, as they fell in Game 7 to the veteran Brooklyn Nets. Now begins the offseason, and the Raptor organization can begin looking to the next step in the building process; the NBA Draft.
The Raptors have obvious holes to fill off the bench. Moving forward, only Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson have proven they belong. In filling the 4th available big position, the Raptors should look to add a veteran player. With that said, the Raptors should focus on shoring up obvious bench holes on the wing positions in the NBA Draft. As was proven in their series against the Nets, the Raptors need wing defenders. But, the downfall of many teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, are players that play only one side of the ball. While John Salmons and Landry Fields defended Joe Johnson to the best of their capabilities, they possess no offensive firepower. The Raptors need 2-way players off the bench that are capable of finishing games because of their shooting and defence.
The Toronto Raptors have the 20th pick of the 1st round, and 2 picks in the 2nd round. The 1st of the Raptors 2 2nd round picks will be the 37th pick, which they received in the Rudy Gay trade. Due to the unpredictability of the drafting, here are some potential prospects for our 1st 2 picks:
Kyle Anderson - It is highly unlikely Anderson falls to the Raptors at 20, but he would be a welcome addition. Anderson possesses a rare combination of size and skill. Similar to Shaun Livingston, Anderson is a talented ball handler with a high basketball IQ. He is a mismatch nightmare for defences. At 6'9, Anderson can play anything from Point Guard to Small Forward. Anderson averaged almost 9 rebounds per game in only his 2nd year at UCLA. Anderson still has room to grow and has All-Star potential, which would make him a steal at 20.
P.J. Hairston - Though Hairston has had off court issues, the strong bond in the Raptors locker room would certainly compensate for them. Hairston is a 3D guy (three point shooter and defender), attributes that every team is looking for. He was 6th in the D-League in scoring at 21.8 points per game. Hairston is a very good athlete and has the potential to be a great scorer off the bench for the Raptors.
Cleanthony Early - If you saw Early's performance against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament, you understand why I am so high on this guy. Early has experience as a key cog for a winning team. He is a lethal shooter, with great athleticism, and is capable of getting to the rim. Early plays calm and under control. He has good size and a strong frame. Early projects to be a great Small Forward in the NBA. Early is the safest pick because he is NBA ready and has no holes in his game.
T.J. Warren - Warren has a knack for scoring. In only his Sophomore season at North Carolina State, Warren scored 24.9 points per game on over 50% shooting. Warren is a good shooter, with a lethal floater. He is an unorthodox player, offensively, but he always finds a way to score. Defensively, Warren has been a weak on ball defender. Warren was forced to carry the scoring load for his N.C. State team, though, and it is unclear whether he was merely saving his energy for the offensive end. Nevertheless, Warren has quick hands, and, as a backup, he will not be matched up with starting Small Forwards. Warren would provide Toronto with a much needed scoring punch off the bench and he would maintain the shooting that made Toronto a top flight team in the East this past season.
Nik Stauskas - Fans would be delighted if Masai Ujiri drafted the Mississauga native, Stauskas. Stauskas is a lethal shooter and great ball handler. While he would provide shooting and scoring off the bench for the Raptors, he is a weak defender. Though it would please many hometown fans, I do not believe Stauskas is the right player for Toronto to draft. At the end of the day, though, every team could use an automatic knockdown shooter that is more capable of scoring and ball handling than a Steve Novak.
Glenn Robinson III - After helping Michigan make the NCAA Tournament finals in his Freshman season, expectations were high for Robinson's Sophomore year. Robinson disappointed, though. The efficiency he showed as a 3rd option behind Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. did not continue in his Sophomore year. Robinson is quick, long, and a a great athlete, and he projects to be an elite defender at the next level. With his capable shooting, and finishing abilities around the rim, Robinson would be a viable option for Toronto with the 20th pick. While Robinson is not a go-to option offensively, he has no weaknesses on either end of the floor, and has room to grow. Robinson also has genetics on his side, as his father is former NBA All-Star Glenn Robinson Jr. Robinson would be a welcome addition to Toronto's young rotation.
DeAndre Kane - While most see Kane's 4 years of College Ball as a negative, his experience would allow him to come in and immediately help the Raptors off the bench. Kane has great size for a Guard and is a great ball handler. He and Greivis Vasquez would make a ferocious backup Guard tandem due to their complete offensive games. Having another ball handler on the floor would allow Kyle Lowry more time to rest. Kane is already a man, and as he proved against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, he is ready to compete. Kane is a great rebounder for a Guard, and he would be a welcome addition to the Raptors roster.
Sean Kilpatrick - Kilpatrick has a similar style to his game as Cincinnati alumnus, Lance Stephenson. Kilpatrick attacks the basket with ferocity and typically finishes with athletic off-balance moves. He is capable of finishing with contact, and hit his free throws this past season at an 85% clip. At 6'4 Kilpatrick may be undersized guarding some Shooting Guards, but his bulk and athleticism will allow him to contain bigger players on the defensive end. Kilpatrick is a good three point shooter. Similar to James Harden, Kilpatrick plays the percentages. He either takes the three, or attacks the rim. Kilpatrick would be a great 2nd round pick, as he would give the Raptors much needed easy points when Lowry and DeRozan are out of the game.
At the end of the day, there are plenty of beneficial options for the Raptors at 20. All of these players would provide much needed help for the Raptors wing positions off the bench. Through the draft process, the players that possess the physical and mental capabilities to help progress this Raptors team forward should begin to shine. It is the beginning of a painful offseason, but we are well on our way to seeing a Raptors team contend for a title in the near future. Masai, the stage is yours.
-Wes
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