The 2025 NBA Draft is going to be an interesting stop during the Toronto Raptors rebuild.
The team has its core in place with the newly acquired Brandon Ingram and will have a great opportunity to add another solid young talent to their team going into next season.
The Raptors are doing their best to try and lose every game, but unfortunately their easy schedule has made them stumble into many wins as of late. With the way things are going it looks like Toronto will end with the 7th worst record, which in theory pencils them in at the No. 7 slot in the upcoming draft.
According to Gilbert McGregor of The Sporting News, he has the Raptors taking Kasparas Jakucionis at No. 7:
“Thanks to something like a late-season surge, the Raptors could make their selection in the middle of the lottery. If Toronto holds on to its pick, Jakucionis fits the bill of the best player available, which is the most sensible approach for the franchise. The Raptors should remain focused on stockpiling talent and finding deals to move players who do not fit the team’s plans. Jakucionis would make for an interesting competition with the guards already in Toronto.”
Jakucionis would be an interesting selection given the team is tied down to Immanuel Quickley as their lead guard for the future. Also, the emergence of Jamal Shead has penciled him in as the steady backup going forward. Jakucionis can also play the shooting guard position, but the Raptors have RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick and Ja’Kobe Walter. Therefore, the Raptors have a heavy guard room. But perhaps they fall in love with Jakucionis’ tremendous upside and still take him here.
Bleacher Report projects Raptors selecting Khaman Maluach in latest mock draft
An area of need for the Toronto Raptors is the center position. The team has Jakob Poeltl but they are still looking for a steady backup center. Ulrich Chomche still has a long way to go, so could the Raptors take Duke big man Khaman Maluach? Bleacher Report thinks so.
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