The 2025 NBA Draft is a little over two weeks away.
The Raptors do have a need at backup center going into the draft, but they could prioritize taking the best player with the No. 9 pick.
Noa Essengue has been gaining a lot of buzz and he’s an intriguing option for the Raptors.
In ESPN’s latest mock draft, they have the Raptors selecting Essengue:
“Essengue’s predraft process has stalled because his successful season in Germany remains ongoing. Ulm advanced to the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) Finals against Bayern Munich, a best-of-five series that began Monday and could very well run into the draft, with a potential Game 4 slated for June 24, and Game 5 on June 26. Essengue (as well as teammate and draft prospect Ben Saraf) might be unable to conduct private workouts stateside prior to draft night. What does help is that this week, Essengue, 18, measured well officially at 6-10 barefoot with a nearly 7-1 wingspan, underscoring his excellent physical profile across frontcourt positions.
Toronto has largely been linked to frontcourt targets at pick No. 9, including Maluach, who is no guarantee to be on the board. The Raptors are also one of several teams in this range said to be involved in trade talks around their pick, considering the possibility of moving back in the draft to add talent to next season’s roster.
Essengue’s blend of size, versatility, extreme youth and burgeoning production has drawn increasing interest from teams in the 9-to-15 range, and he fits an archetype that Raptors brass has often targeted if the team stays put here.” — Woo
Essengue is currently competing in the German BBL Finals with Ratiopharm Ulm. His stock has risen as of late but his team’s playoff run might prevent him from doing any workouts ahead of the draft. However, there’s a lot to like about his game. He’s a young, versatile, defensive-minded player who has a lot of potential. If his offense comes along he could develop into a two-way piece for the Raptors future.
Among all of the draft prospects, Essengue is the biggest wildcard who could end up being a big steal for whichever team drafts him.
Raptors willing to trade two starters for Kevin Durant
The Toronto Raptors could be looking to trade two starters for Kevin Durant.
Grant Afseth reported the Raptors are willing to trade any combination of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and the No. 9 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft for Durant.
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