The Toronto Raptors are virtually locked into the 7th best lottery odds.
They can’t move any higher after their win over the Brooklyn Nets. Also, with one more loss or one more San Antonio Spurs’ win they can’t fall any further.
Therefore, the Raptors fate is all but sealed. With that being said NBA mock drafts continue to come out and pencil in the Raptors with the No. 7 pick at the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft.
Bryan Kalbrosky of Yahoo Sports put out his latest mock draft and he has the Raptors taking Duke big man Khaman Maluach at that spot:
“South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach enjoyed an excellent, efficient campaign and earned ACC All-Freshman honors for Duke. As a lob threat, per CBB Analytics, he has the second-most alley-oops completed (38) among all players in college basketball. He is raw but has a strong defensive presence as opponents are shooting just 41.3 percent on 2-pointers with Maluach on the floor, which ranks fourth-best among players with at least 800 minutes logged.”
Maluach did have a disappointing outing in Duke’s stunning loss to Houston in the Final Four, but he offers a lot of upside especially on the defensive end. The Raptors have a clear need at center behind Jakob Poeltl, so if they do take Maluach here he would pencil in as the team’s backup big for next season.
On the year, Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 71 percent shooting from the field. Despite being unable to space the floor, he would be an instant lob threat playing in lineups with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram.
Defensively is where Maluach can truly shine, giving the Raptors some much needed rim protection when Poeltl heads to the bench.
If Maluach is still on the board, this seems like the likeliest pick for the Raptors at No. 7.
Bleacher Report mocks Raptors selecting Duke’s Khaman Maluach with No. 7 pick
This isn’t the first time Khaman Maluach has been projected to go to the Toronto Raptors. He’s been linked to the Raptors in many recent mock drafts, including Bleacher Report’s.
Have you subscribed to the Raptors Nation YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
