The Toronto Raptors worst case scenario came true.
After the team intentionally tanked down the stretch of the 2023-2024 season to ensure a bottom-six record, the ping pong balls did not go the Raptors way.
The Raptors had a 45.8 percent chance of keeping its 2024 first-round pick, but it fell to No. 8 in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery. Meaning their pick has been conveyed to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Jakob Poeltl trade from last year.
If the Raptors pick landed inside of the top-six they would’ve kept it.
Since the Raptors pick has been conveyed to the Spurs, they do not owe any of its future first-round picks to San Antonio.
The 2025 NBA Draft is projected to be a much stronger one and now the Raptors know that they will have their pick.
Still, the Raptors missing out on a top-six talent in this year’s draft hurts since they’re in the early stages of a rebuild.
Even if the Raptors do decide to tank next season, tanking doesn’t always work as the team just found out.
The Raptors will still have the No. 19 pick in this upcoming draft via the Indiana Pacers and the No. 31 pick via the Detroit Pistons.
The Spurs who received the No. 8 pick via the Raptors also landed No. 4.
The Atlanta Hawks won the draft lottery and landed the first overall pick, while the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets rounded out the top three picks.
The 2024 NBA Draft is set for June 26 and 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Top draft prospects in 2024 NBA Draft
Some of the top draft prospects in this year’s 2024 NBA Draft include: Alex Sarr from Perth, Zaccharie Risacher from JL Bourg, Reed Sheppard from Kentucky, Robert Dillingham from Kentucky and Matas Buzelis from G League Ignite, Donovan Clingan from Connecticut, Nikola Topic from Red Star
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