Toronto Raptors 2025 NBA Draft Day Primer

Mock drafts, workout list, draft insights, and more! It’s your unofficial Toronto Raptors cheat sheet for tonight’s draft.

We’re hours away from the 2025 NBA Draft, and it’s time to review all the information relevant to the Toronto Raptors’ draft activity for the next two days. Armed with the 9th and 39th picks, Raptors President Masai Ujiri, GM Bobby Webster, and Assistant GM Dan Tolzman have an opportunity to further improve the team’s roster. Tonight marks the culmination of all the hard work by the Raptors’ scouting and prospect evaluation team. We will see if they can transform this roster through drafting or trades (trades?) during these two draft days.

The 2024 NBA Draft kicks off at 8 PM EST. But wait, that’s only the first round, as Adam Silver will call it a night after the 30th pick, and the draft will reconvene the following day at 8 PM EST to give Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum more air time. Unfortunately, this year, there will only be 59 picks, as the league had to slap the New York Knicks in the wrist for the Jalen Brunson tampering. The RaptorsHQ team will be on top of the action, providing instant grades and reactions immediately after each draft night. Then, we’ll take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and conduct a post-mortem analysis of how the front office fared in the immediate future and the impact on the team’s future outlook.

Assets/Depth Chart of the current Raptors team

Guards: Immanuel Quickley (~$32.5 AAV/4 years), Gradey Dick (~$6 AAV/2 years), Ochai Agbaji (~6.4M), Ja’Kobe Walter (~$4.4M AAV/3 years), Jamal Shead (~$2.1M AAV/2 years), Jared Rhoden (2W), AJ Lawson (Non-Guaranteed)

Wings: Brandon Ingram (~$40 AAV/3 years), RJ Barrett (~$28.7 AAV/2 years), Scottie Barnes (~$43 AAV/4 years), Jamison Battle (~$2.1M AAV/2 years)

Bigs: Jakob Poeltl (~19.5 AAV/2 years), Jonathan Mogbo (~$2.1M AAV/2 years), Ulrich Chomche (2W), Colin Castleton (Non-Guaranteed)

Free Agents

• Chris Boucher
• Garrett Temple

Team Needs

Rim Protector: Jakob Poeltl is solid, but he doesn’t really spook opposing players when he’s in the paint, unlike someone like Rudy Gobert. Khaman Maluach looks good here.

3+D Wing: After shipping out Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, the Raptors’ defense dipped. Hello, Carter Bryant.

Point Guard Play: Sure, Immanuel Quickley is a solid piece — he can play the point, and his shooting can get hot. However, he’s not a traditional floor general, and despite Coach Darko Rajakovic’s system, which relies less on a point guard, the offence lacked someone who could steady the half-court offense, control the tempo, and take the pressure off Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett as the lead initiator. Egor Demin and Kasparas Jakucionis fits the bill. What if Jeremy Fears slides?

Dawgs: If there’s one thing that the NBA postseason have shown us, the NBA is a physical game. You need “dawgs” in the playoffs, players that are competitive, resilient, tenacious, and have a gritty mindset in high-stakes playoff games.

Workout List (Unofficial)

Here’s a list of NBA Draft prospects that the Toronto Raptors either interviewed and/or worked out as per Hoopshype and USA Today FTW.

In the Mix for the 9th Pick-ish

• Collin Murray-Boyles
• Noa Essengue
• Egor Demin
• Asa Newell
• Nolan Traore
• Danny Wolfe
• Jase Richardson

2nd Round/2-Way

• Hansen Yang
• Jamir Watkins
• Alex Toohey
• Johni Broome
• Kobe Sanders
• Ryan Nembhard
• Sion James

UDFA/Summer League/Training Camp/Raptors 905 Prospects

• Dylan Caldwell
• Chucky Hepburn
• TJ Bamba
• Lamont Butler
• LJ Cryer
• Dain Dainja
• RJ Feldon
• Dajuan Harris
• CJ Huntley
• Clifford Omoruyi
• Tahaad Pettiford
• Aaron Scott
• Jahmyl Telfort
• Trey Townsend
• Muodubem Muoneke

UDFA/Two-Way Contract Targets

The Toronto Raptors have a vacant Two-Way Contract spot after bumping AJ Lawson into a standard contract. Here are some of the potentially late-round/UDFA targets:

• Ryan Nembhard, PG (Gonzaga): Crafty high-IQ floor general, but undersized.
• Dylan Caldwell, C (Auburn): One of the few bigs at the NCAA level that can really say that they can guard all positions, but will need a developmental runway to learn how to put the ball in the basket
• Chucky Hepburn, PG (Louisville): Tough two-way guard that can score anywhere. Smart playmaker and defender.
• Malique Lewis, PF (NBL): Vision 6’9” mystery box
• Dink Pate, SG (NBA G League): A potential low-risk, high-reward prospect if the team can fix his shooting
• Andrew Carr, PF/C (Kentucky): A good all-around big that impacts the game on both ends of the floor.

39th Pick Shortlist

Looking at ESPN’s NBA Big Board by Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo and cross-referencing them on various mock draft sites, these prospects might still be available when the Raptors take the stage again for the 39th pick:

• Adou Thiero, SF (Arkansas)
• Yanic Konan Niederhauser, C (Penn State)
• Yang Hansen, C (China)
• Jamir Watkins, SF (Florida St)
• Alex Tooney, SF (Australia)
• Boguljub Markovic, PF (Serbia)
• Johni Broome, C (Auburn)
• John Tonje, SG (Wisconson)
• Tyrese Proctor, PG (Duke)
• Sion James, SG (Duke)

We profiled Adou Thiero, Hunter Sallis, Jamir Watkins, Bogi Markovic, and Hansen Yang last week.

9th Pick Shortlist

Khaman Maluach, C (Duke)

Toronto’s crystal ball might just point to Khaman Maluach, the 7′1″ Duke freshman, as the perfect fit for what this team lacks—a long, mobile rim protector with offensive flashes in the paint. He turned heads at Duke with a blistering 71% FG clip (77 dunks!) and ACC All‑Rookie honors, but it’s his 7′6″+ wingspan, vertical timing, and length that scream “modern center” for Toronto. Sure, he’s raw—prone to fouls, still learning PnR reads, and not much of a jump shooter—but his soft hands, 76% FT form, and paint instincts give hope that with patient development (think Raptors 905 seasoning), he could anchor the interior for a decade. In a draft where floor spacers and cerebral wings dominate post-lottery, Maluach stands out as the last high-upside, long-term big who can change the roster’s trajectory if Toronto is willing to wait. Read the rest of the article.

Derik Queen, PF (Maryland)

Maryland’s Derik Queen might just be the sneaky “chess move” Toronto’s front office has been waiting for: a 6‑10, 245‑lb hybrid big with guard-like handles, court vision, and an elite feel for late-game moments (see the buzzer-beater vs. Colorado State), averaging 16.5 PPG, 9 RPG, and turning heads as Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He offers versatility as a slasher, high-post facilitator, and situational big—ideal for Darko’s ball-movement offense. But it’s not all gravy: Queen’s athletic limitations—below-average vertical, minimal rim protection, and spacing concerns—leave him pegged as a role-specific backup center rather than a two-way anchor. Still, as a high-IQ offensive chess piece off the bench, he fits the deepening culture—and could be a smart call at No. 9 if Toronto wants a polished playmaker who creates gravity without clowning up the rotation. Read the rest of the article.

Carter Bryant, Wing (Arizona)

Arizona freshman Carter Bryant checks every box for the ideal 3-and-D wing—a 6’6½” athlete with a 6’11¾” wingspan, reliable 37% perimeter stroke, and the kind of defensive versatility that fits effortlessly into Darko’s motion offense. While his game isn’t flashy—averaging just 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per outing—he’s an efficient cutter, floor spacer, and low-maintenance glue guy who plays hard regardless of usage . With NBA teams projecting him in the mid-lottery (12–25) range, Bryant’s ceiling is as a complementary starter—think Khris Middleton-lite or Jaden McDaniels—especially if he sharpens his shot, decision-making, and assertivenes. For a Raptors squad rebuilding through smart, defensive-first role pieces, he’s exactly the kind of under-the-radar target that could blossom in stealth. Read the rest of the article.

Collin Murray-Boyles, PF (South Carolina)

South Carolina’s Collin Murray‑Boyles checks all the Raptors boxes: a 6’8” Swiss-army knife wing who bruises inside, plays with smarts, and brings relentless effort to both ends of the floor. He averaged a well-rounded 16.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 2.8 SPG, stepping up as the lone anchor on a struggling Gamecocks. Murray‑Boyles thrives with high-IQ scoring—elbow, mid-range, scissors cuts—and is switchable on defense, spiking his value in Darko’s ball-movement, drop-switch scheme. Sure, his 26.5% 3-point mark and average athleticism leave questions, but his playmaking, toughness, and communication make him a blueprint role piece—think modern Thaddeus Young for the Raptors’ rebuild. If Masai wants smart, versatile glue on both ends, Collin fits like a stealthy chess move at nine. Read the rest of the article.

Egor Demin, PG (BYU)

BYU’s 6’9” point-forward, Egor Demin, is the kind of developmental intrigue Masai Ujiri treasures—tall, cerebral, and a pass-first playmaker built for pick-and-roll orchestration. His résumé spans EuroLeague Next‑Gen titles, a Real Madrid cameo at 17, and leading BYU’s uptempo attack with a 5.5 APG clip—all evidence of a high-IQ passer with size and vision. Yet he’s polarizing: sub‑30% from deep and slender at 190 lbs, raising durability and spacing doubts. That said, in Toronto’s Vision 6’9” system—where jumbo playmakers like Scottie Barnes thrive—Demin could be a long-term chess piece, lighting up bench units with his creativity while gaining strength. He won’t wow you athletically, but his decision-making and feel make him a smart upside bet if the Raptors aim to extend their playmaking spine into the future. Read the rest of the article.

Kasparas Jakucionis, PG (Illinois)

Kasparas Jakucionis, the 6′6″ Lithuanian guard from Illinois, is shaping up as the Raptors’ prototypical floor‑general in Vision 6’9”—big enough to see over defenses, cerebral enough to orchestrate P&R with surgical precision, and unselfish enough to keep teammates engaged. He averaged 15/5.7/4.7 on a rebuilt Illini squad, showcasing reliable playmaking (26% AST, 1.27 A/TO in P&R) and craft finishing with both hands. While mid‑lottery mocks see him landing between picks 8–16, concerns about his turnovers and off‑ball shooting persist. However, in coach Darko’s system that thrives on versatility and IQ, Jakucionis is more than a plug—they’d be drafting the replacement for the last true Raptors floor general. Read the rest of the article.

Noa Essengue, Wing (Ulm)

Toronto’s Vision 6’9” blueprint may have just found its poster child in Noa Essengue, the 18-year-old French forward tearing it up in Ulm—posting 12.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG, a steal per game, and wreaking defensive havoc in under 24 minutes. He measured 6’10” barefoot with a 7’0¾″ wingspan and tracks ball-handlers, bigs, and shooters alike—a perfect fit for coach Darko’s switch-everything schemes. Add in his open-court finishing, relentless motor, and youth (still six months from turning 19), and you’ve got a high-upside chess piece who could blossom in Toronto’s developmental lab. Sure, the jumper’s shaky and he’s rail-thin at ~204 lbs, but Essengue’s defensive versatility, instincts, and untapped potential align with what Masai prizes—even if he’s a couple years away from contributing in a meaningful way. Read the rest of the article.

Draft Night Options

Our RaptorsHQ buddy Tim W broke down what are the strategic choices facing the Toronto Raptors with the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and their broader offseason trajectory. Can the Raptors trade up? How about trading down, or perhaps trading out of the 1st round?

Mock Draft Roundup

Read the full (and updated) Mock Draft Roundup here.

• Tankathon — Khaman Maluach (9), Sion James (39)
• NBADraft.net — Nolan Traore (9), Tyrese Proctor (39)
• The Ringer — Khaman Maluach (9)
• Yahoo Sports NBA — Asa Newell (9), John Tonje (39)
• No Ceilings NBA — Carter Bryant (9), Jamir Watkins (39)
• NBADraftRoom — Derik Queen (9), Rocco Zikarsky (39)
• The Athletic — Collin Murray-Boyles (9), Alijah Martin (39)
• Bleacher Report — Noa Essengue (9), Hansen Yang (39)
• USA Today FTW — Khaman Maluach (9), Jamir Watkins (39)
• SBNation NBA — Kasparas Jakucionis (9)
• CBS Kyle Boone — Khaman Maluach
• CBS David Cobb — Khaman Maluach
• CBS Gary Parrish — Derik Queen
• CBS Cameron Salerno — Khaman Maluach
• CBS Matt Norlander — Jeremiah Fears
• CBS Colin Ward-Henninger — Carter Byant
• CBS Adam Finkelstein — Kasparas Jakucionis
• ESPN — Noa Essengue (9), John Tonje (39)

Parting Thoughts

The RaptorsHQ’s 2025 Draft Watch coverage probably reads like one long Masai Ujiri fever dream: Khaman Maluach is the towering rim-erasing lab project who could solve the centre conundrum for a decade; Derik Queen brings oversized footwork and late-game swagger, a half-court chess piece if you can stomach his ups and downs; Carter Bryant flashes low-usage 3-and-D reliability, a ready-made wing starter pack; Collin Murray-Boyles screams glue-guy grit with do-it-all stat lines and a fan-favourite motor; Egor Demin is Vision-6’9 redux—a jumbo pick-and-roll conductor with Euro polish (just add jumper); Noa Essengue checks every length-plus-switchability box while still being only 18 - the real mystery box in the first round; and Kasparas Jakucionis offers the Kyle-Lowry-sized brain in a 6’6” frame, finally a guard who can both see over and guard up. Stack those observations against various mock draft sites’ projections—where Maluach leads, but Jakucionis, Bryant and Essengue lurk— the blueprint crystallizes: grab Maluach at No. 9 if he’s still on the board; if he’s gone, pivot to the next best blend of IQ and versatility (Jakucionis for orchestrating, Essengue for mystery box upside, and Bryant for a safe 3+D pick) and keep the Vision 6’9” rolling.