The 2024 NBA Draft is slowly approaching for the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto is striving for the sixth-worst record in the league with the hope of securing the No. 6 pick.
If the Raptors are able to secure this pick, it will go a long way to speeding up the rebuilding process. With Scottie Barnes solidified as the face of the franchise, the team needs to surround him with complimentary pieces.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, he predicted Toronto taking Matas Buelis of the G-League Ignite with the No. 6 pick.
Buzelis is a 6’10” forward, who is averaging 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Starting in all 26 games for the Ignite this season, he is a lengthy forward who can protect the rim but only shoots 27.3 percent from the three-point line.
However, Buzelis looks to be a fundamentally sound player who can create for himself in the post or mid-range. It would certainly be an intriguing fit alongside Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett.
In addition to Buzelis, O’Connor mentioned the Raptors taking Isaiah Collier from USC at No. 17 via the Indiana Pacers.
Collier is a 6’5″ guard that is known to be a scorer at 16.3 points a contest on 46.2% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point line. Slotting him behind Quickley could make for a dynamic guard rotation with the hope of developing his playmaking, averaging 4.3 in his lone season with the Trojans.
Lastly with the No. 31 pick via the Detroit Pistons, Bobi Klintman from the NBL is slotted to be picked by Toronto.
In 23 games with Cairns Taipans, he averaged 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds on 44% from the field. Klintman is an athletic 6’9″ forward that could be an interesting project for the Raptors.
ESPN predicts Toronto taking Matas Buzelis at No. 6 in 2024 NBA Draft
It seems that Buzelis is gaining some traction as a potential prospect for Toronto.
As a lengthy forward, it makes sense for the Raptors to select the 19-year-old. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo joined O’Connor in predicting Buzelis landing in Canada.
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