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2016 NBA Draft: 5 Best Landing Spots For Thon Maker

By Carter Johnson

GARDEN GROVE, CA - AUGUST 2: Thon Maker poses for a portrait during the 2014 adidas Nations on August 2, 2014 at Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images)
GARDEN GROVE, CA - AUGUST 2: Thon Maker poses for a portrait during the 2014 adidas Nations on August 2, 2014 at Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove, California. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images) /
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May 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guards Kyle Lowry (7) and DeMar DeRozan (10) sit together on the bench during a time out against Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre.The Cavaliers won 113-87. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guards Kyle Lowry (7) and DeMar DeRozan (10) sit together on the bench during a time out against Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre.The Cavaliers won 113-87. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are coming off of the best season in franchise history culminating in their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance — all thanks to the All-Star caliber play of their dynamic backcourt tandem of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

While the Raptors have loads of talent on the perimeter, they still have several questions in the frontcourt.

The only players currently signed on for next season are the injury-riddled Jonas Valanciunas and stretch forward Patrick Patterson, as breakout center Bismack Biyombo will command multiple suitors in free agency and the team is unlikely to re-sign veteran Luis Scola.

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    • The Raptors could add frontcourt depth and acquire a potential replacement for Biyombo by taking a current Canadian resident in Maker.

    As he is right now, Maker possesses the same shot blocking ability and relentless energy on both ends that Biyombo has — with a little more offensive capability.

    Should the latter bolt for more money elsewhere, Maker can step in and provide that rebounding and defense for a solid Raptors bench unit while playing minutes at both frontcourt positions when necessary.

    It’s also beneficial that he has the versatility to play inside in lineups with Patrick Patterson and score from the perimeter alongside Jonas Valanciunas.

    Maker may still be raw, but he has enough of the skills Toronto needs in their frontcourt for them to seriously consider taking him with the 27th pick.

    Next: No. 4

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