NBA draft lottery: An analysis of how the best prospects, should they retain their pick, would suit the Raptors
There’s no surefire No. 1 overall pick in June’s NBA draft. There isn’t even a delineating point among the top few to separate them from the group. With the draft lottery Sunday to determine the selection order, here are eight prospects who can likely be penciled in at the top half of the lottery.
The Raptors have a nine per cent chance of landing the first pick, a 37.2 per cent shot at climbing into the top four, and an 8.6 per cent chance of staying at No. 6. There’s also a 54.1 per cent chance of slipping to seventh or worse in the draft order which would mean they lose the pick to San Antonio.
Alex Sarr
7-1 forward, Perth Wildcats
A tall, mutli-talented young Frenchman? It sure worked for San Antonio a year ago but tap the brakes on any Victor Wembanyama comparisons. Sarr is the No. 1 consensus pick, almost by default. The 19-year-old shoots and has shot-blocking skills but he really hasn’t dominated his opposition.
Raptors fit: Front-court shooting is an issue, as is bench size and rim protection. With Jakob Poeltl under contract for at least two more seasons, there would be no need to rush Sarr.
Zaccharie Risacher
6-9 wing, JL Bourg-en-Bresse
Another longer-term prospect, maybe two years away is the word around about the 19-year-old Risacher but he has all the skills a NBA team covets these days. A nearly 40 per cent three-point shooter who can defend guards and wings. He’s tapped as a surefire Top 3 selection.
Raptors fit: If you believe the 3-and-D hype, wouldn’t a group of Immauel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Risacher and Scottie Barnes look OK?
Nikola Topic
6-6 guard, KK, Crvena Zvezda
The 18-year-old missed almost three months after suffering a knee injury in January and that’s going to send teams to the medical reports out of the combine. He’s not a great three-point shooter but his IQ and ability to run a team stand out.
Raptors fit: Let’s see. A tall point guard on a team dying for a backup point guard right now who, they say, makes his team better and he comes from coach Darko Rajakovic’s homeland? Slam. And. Dunk.
Reed Sheppard
6-3 guard, Kentucky
Shot it well all season at Kentucky, playing a bit of both guard spots, even though suggestions are the 19-year-old will settle in as a point guard at the NBA level. His 52.1 percentage from three-point range is an eye-popping stat.
Raptors fit: He can shoot and can defend, the scouts say, and he’s looking more like a backup point guard now. There’s a Toronto team that can use one just like him.
Donovan Clingan
7-2 centre, Connecticut
Seen as the best true centre in the draft, the 20-year-old has shown the ability to handle the defensive switching in the NBA with good footwork and the skill to move away from the basket. His stock went up while helping Connecticut to an NCAA championship but he drew raves with rebounding and shot-blocking all season.
Raptors fit: If you’re looking at talented big to groom for a year or two who already has many of the skills needed for an interior player, he might by the most logical big man to look at.
Stephon Castle
6-6 guard, Connecticut
Tough defender — Marcus Smart is one comparison floating around the mock drafts — but his shooting limitations (less than 27 per cent from three) would scare teams away. The 19-year-old has to impress in the workout process.
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