NBA Draft Grades: Toronto Raptors Do Nothing To Fill Roster Holes
By Justin Rowan
The NBA Draft provides teams with the opportunity to introduce young talent to their organization. While the Toronto Raptors did that, they did little to address the holes in their roster that prevent them from contending.
Coming into the 2016 NBA Draft, the least likely outcome for the Toronto Raptors in the eyes of many was that they would stand pat and use all of their draft picks.
The Raptors are coming off an Eastern Conference Finals berth and for a team that is looking to win now and capitalize on the primes of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, adding two young players wasn’t the most logical route to go.
This isn’t a reality that Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri was unaware of either. In his year end speech he addressed what he felt the team’s needs are and his hesitation towards drafting and keeping two young players:
Masai acknowledges primary areas of need are at PF and back-up SF. Doesn't know if they can add 2 more young players, picks are in play
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 30, 2016
Ujiri on if he’s open to moving No. 9 pick: “I’m open. I’m open to move at any time if you have any suggestions.”
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) May 30, 2016
To their credit, it’s not like the Raptors did not try to make a move on draft night. They were linked to the Oklahoma City Thunder in trying to acquire Serge Ibaka, whose defense and ability to space the floor at the power forward position would’ve been an ideal fit.
Ultimately, Ibaka was dealt on draft night to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and newly drafted big man Domantas Sabonis.
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Another possible target for the Raptors was dealt prior to the draft, when Thaddeus Young was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the 20th overall pick and a future second round pick.
The lack of a trade is a disappointing blow for a Raptors franchise that hoped this pick would be the key to acquiring a difference maker at one of the forward positions to help them get over the top. Assuming Ujiri follows through with his top priority this summer and re-signs DeMar DeRozan, that leaves the Raptors with limited cap space to fill out the rest of the roster and all but kills any chance of adding a significant piece via free agency.
The Raptors can still obviously make a trade, but draft picks are like new cars — they’re never more valuable than when they are unused. Assets such as Terrence Ross, Patrick Patterson, Cory Joseph, Norman Powell and Delon Wright could all be used in a trade, but adding a lottery pick as a sweetener was their easiest path towards pulling off a high impact trade.
But enough about those missed opportunities, let’s look at the draft picks that they made.
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