Raptors Draft Watch: Pre-lottery Mock Draft Updates
One last look before the Raptors lose the lottery pick to the Spurs.
Before we learn about the Toronto Raptors’ lottery pick fate, we’ve looked around the interwebs to see what draft analysts are saying (and picking) about the Raptors’ pick. The popular name for this selection is Matas Buzelis. Still, some names like Nikola Topic and Zaccharie Risacher might be available based on how the draft shakes up. Also, some intriguing names are proposed here, like Cody Williams, Stephon Castle, and Ron Holland.
Let’s have a look at what everyone has to say.
SB Nation (O’Donnell): Matas Buzelis (Mock)
Update: April 9, 2024
iSB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell hasn’t updated his draft board since the NCAA Tourney, but here’s his post-March Madness pick for the Raptors: Matas Buzelis.
With Alex Sarr, Nikola Topic, Stephon Castle, and Zaccharie Risacher off the board, Buzelis is likely the best available pick. Donovan Clingan and the Kentucky guards are still available. Still, Buzelis’ size should allow the Raptors to restock their 6’9” army depth. Read more on SB Nation.
No Ceilings: Zaccharie Risacher (Mock)
Update: April 9, 2024
Our friends at No Ceilings’ version 5 of their mock draft are now a month old, and probably that’s why they have Zaccharie Risacher falling to the Raptors at 6th. Suppose the draft shakes up the way this board is constructed. In that case, the Raptors can go with Risacher or some of the prospects still available at this point: Matas Buzelis, Ron Holland, Cody Williams, and Rob Dillingham. If I’m the Raptors GM, I’m leaning towards Risacher if he’s available. Check their most recent mock draft here.
NBA Draft.NET: Matas Buzelis (Mock)
Update: April 12, 2024
Here’s another draft site that’s probably due for an update any time soon. However, from their most recent mock draft, they have the Raptors selecting Matas Buzelis 6th overall. It’s one of the “out of the box” takes among the draft coverage sites, with Sarr falling to 5th while Dalton Knecht and Cody Williams landed in the top three.
Based on NBADraft.NET’s mock draft, Nikola Topic, Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, and Rob Dillingham are still available when the Raptors are on the clock. Masai and Bobby need to think hard about whether they should pass up on Topic and Castle at this point, IMO.
Check out their mock draft here.
The Athletic (Vecenie): Matas Buzelis (Big Board)
Update: April 19, 2024
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie also updated his NBA Draft Big Board post-March Madness, and some of the players who went deep into the tourney saw significant gains. Vecenie had Buzelis as the 6th best prospect on his board, ahead of Zaccharie Risacher, who was rising on several draft boards. It would be interesting to see Vecenie’s next update, as Risacher might be higher on his board next time. Read more of what Vecenie had to say on The Athletic (paywalled).
Bleacher Report (Wasserman): Matas Buzelis (Big Board)
Update: May 9, 2024
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, in his recent update of the Big Board, ranks Matas Buzelis as the sixth-best prospect. If the draft were to follow Wasserman’s board, the Raptors would face a tough decision between Buzelis, Risacher (9th), and Castle (10th). Wasserman also conducted a mock draft simulation last April 29, where the pick ended up 7th, and the San Antonio Spurs used that pick to select Rob Dillingham. Check Bleacher Report’s updated Big Board here.
Tankathon: Rob Dillingham (Mock)
Update: May 2, 2024
Tankathon had a bit of a shakeup on their most recent mock draft update. Some interesting choices, such as Risacher going to Detroit at #1, given that they have depth at his position, with Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson on the fold. They probably saw Risacher as the best prospect in this draft, as Sarr would fill an upgrade at the middle, since James Wiseman is a pending free agent (Jalen Duren and “Raw is War” Isaiah Stewart are both more of a PF/C smaller big).
Tankathon’s also got Portland Trailblazers picking a C in Donovan Clingan at 4th despite having DeAndre Ayton, while the Charlotte Hornets picking Nikola Topic, despite having LaMelo Ball at the position.
Tankathon has Rob Dillingham going to the Raptors as the 6th overall pick, with interesting names such as Stephon Castle and Matas Buzelis still available.
CBS (Various Mocks)
- Boone: Ron Holland (April 24 update)
- Parrish: Ja’Kobe Walter (April 24 update)
- Cobb: Spurs — Stephon Castle (April 24 update)
- Finklestein: Reed Sheppard (May 3 update)
There’s a lot to unpack here, given CBS has four draft guys. Kyle Boone, Gary Parrish, and David Cobb’s updates are a few weeks old, so it’s very likely that their picks will be drastically different in their next update. However, these guys presented alternatives to the top names of the 6th overall pick.
Boone’s selection of Ron Holland is understandable, as his ceiling could be higher than most analysts project. Parrish went bold with Ja’kobe Walter, despite having Stephon Castle and Nikola Topic still available on his board. David Cobb got mean, as his simulation had the Raptors end up coughing up their lottery pick to the Spurs, who then used the pick to select Stephone Castle. That Jakob Poeltl trade is getting uglier by the day. Sheesh.
Adam Finkelstein recently updated his mock draft, and he’s probably got the prospect with the highest basketball IQ in the lottery range in Reed Sheppard. Interestingly, he had Buzelis, Topic, Risacher, and Holland joining Sarr in his top five. That leaves the Raptors picking between Sheppard, Clingan, and Castle. Check all four of CBS’ mock draft here.
NBA Draft Room: Spurs - Rob Dillingham (Mock)
Update: May 7, 2024
It was yet another sad draft board from the Raptors’ perspective, as the guys at NBA Draft Room made a sim of the lottery, which saw the Raptors getting bumped to the 7th spot, essentially giving the pick to the Spurs. The Spurs ended up with back-to-back picks with the 6th and 7th pick, and they selected Matas Buzelis and Rob Dillingham, respectively.
The Ringer (O’Connor): Cody Williams (Mock)
Update: May 9, 2024
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor took time off fanboying his Boston Celtics’ playoff run to grace us with his mock draft update. Last month, he had Dalton Knecht as the 6th pick, but this time, Knecht fell on O’Connor’s board to 11th. Instead, O’Connor went with Cody Williams, as he may be goading the Raptors to go back to their Vision 6’9” plan. Why not? OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam are both thriving wearing new threads, and if Williams can play SG/SF, The Raptors’ offense should get an instant upgrade without losing size, as they will be able to keep at least three of Immanuel Quickley/Gradey Dick/Cody Williams/RJ Barrett/Scottie Barnes at all times. See more of The Ringer’s draft coverage here.
ESPN (Givony/Woo): Matas Buzelis
Update: May 6, 2024
ESPN had an interesting piece in which they went through the lottery scenarios for each team instead of using the traditional mock draft format.
If the Raptors stay at the 6th spot, Matas Buzelis is their ideal selection for Toronto, adding “size, skill, and versatility at the forward spot” per ESPN’s Jeremy Woo. However, if the Raptors end up with the top pick, it’s a no-brainer to tab Alex Sarr. Same with the 2nd overall, where the Raptors are picking Zaccharie Risacher. It gets interesting if the Raptors end up with the 3rd pick, as they have Donovan Clingan, and spicier if the Raptors end up with the 4th pick, where they have the Raptors still picking Buzelis at this spot.
ESPN’s selection of Buzelis as either the 4th or 6th pick for the Raptors gives a bit of insight as to how they see the Raptors approaching the draft—and perhaps based on the team’s needs. Historically, the Raptors front office like versatile big wings, and the Raptors also need some size up front as well. While Buzelis is not a center, his height, length, and versatility should help the Raptors’ frontcourt. Check the full article here.