Potential Raptors Draft Targets Revealed in Latest Mock Draft

The Toronto Raptors may have as many as three first-round picks this year and here are a few of the prospects they may target in the NBA Draft

Reality has set in for the Toronto Raptors.

The season has only just hit the midway mark and it’s become clear that Toronto is no longer prioritizing winning. The Raptors have opted for a more developmental focus moving forward and considering the team is 12 games below .500, it makes sense.

For those paying attention to the NBA lottery standings and the eventual NBA Draft, a few extra losses probably won’t hurt either.

So, what can Toronto expect come this summer?

The Ringer just released its latest NBA mock draft with three Raptors picks in the first round. It’s unlikely Toronto makes all those picks and adds three or four rookies to the roster next season, but a couple of these prospects are worth keeping tabs on.

No. 6. Matas Buzelis: G League Ignite

This is the big one for Toronto who only has a 45.8% chance to land a pick in the top six this year. If the Raptors do hypothetically land No. 6, Kevin O’Connor has Toronto selecting Matas Buzelis, a 6-foot-11 forward from the G League Ignite.

Buzelis, 19, would fill a huge need for Toronto losing Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Precious Achiuwa this year. He’s a thin, versatile, and modern forward who has been a high-end shot-blocker in the G League this year, averaging nearly two blocks per game. Despite being an impressive shooter in high school, Buzelis is connecting on just 28.6% of his three-pointers this year. He’ll need to fill out his body and work on his ball-handling, but his size, defensive skills, and high school shooting numbers suggest there’s plenty of upside yet to be unraveled.

No. 16. Stephon Castle: UConn

The 16th pick comes courtesy of the Indiana Pacers who sent their own 2024 first-round pick to the Raptors in the Siakam deal. With that pick, the Ringer expects Toronto to select UConn guard Stephon Castle.

A 6-foot-6 freshman, Castle has been working his way back from injury to start the season. He’s played in just 13 games this year, averaging 9.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. Castle is a tough on-ball defender and skilled finisher inside. He’s made 53.6% of his two-pointers so far this year, but he’s just 5-for-24 from behind the arc. For Toronto, he’d fit the Raptors second unit as a guard off the bench, but he’ll need to develop more shooting to really fit alongside Scottie Barnes.

No. 29. Trevon Brazile: Arkansas

Toronto’s last first-round pick comes courtesy of the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Pacers. At No. 29, Toronto is projected to select 21-year-old forward Trevon Brazile out of Arkansas.

Brazile is a 6-foot-10 junior averaging 9.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this year while shooting 46.7% from the floor and 35.3% from three-point range. He’s an athletic rim-runner and bouncy help defender, averaging 1.3 blocks per game this year. He too could help Toronto rebuild out its bench depth as a high-energy Chris Boucher-like forward to help the Raptors second unit moving forward.