Even picking at No. 33, Raptors are leaving no stone unturned in NBA draft

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A year ago, the Raptors were on the verge of shocking the NBA Draft by foregoing the expected pick of Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga and opting instead for Scottie Barnes with the fourth overall pick.

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It was a franchise-altering decision as Barnes went on to be named Rookie of the Year while helping the Raptors back into the playoffs after a seven-year run was snapped the season before.

And that’s just what he did in his first year.

There is no expectation the Raptors will have the same good fortune picking from the No. 33 spot — or third pick of the second round — on Thursday night.

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That said, Masai Ujiri’s front office team has a stellar reputation for finding talent further down the draft list. Look no further than Pascal Siakam (No. 27 in 2016) or OG Anunoby (No. 23 in 2017) for proof of that.

The job might be a little tougher at No. 33 overall, but there is still a very real expectation of identifying and drafting a player from that slot who can help the team.

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In fact, the familiarity of the area the Raptors are drafting in might make things even a little easier than a year ago.

“I think we’re kind of attuned to there’s going to be guys in this range,” Webster said Tuesday at his annual pre-draft meeting with the local media. “It’s obviously our job to find them but I think operating here felt a bit more comfortable than obviously having the No.4 pick last year.”

And there has been no indication that the lack of a first-round pick has in any way reduced the importance of this particular draft for the Raptors.

Initially the pick for the Raptors would have been No. 20 overall based on their finish a year ago but, in the deal that brought Thad Young to Toronto from San Antonio, the Raptors swapped their first round pick for the Spurs second round pick moving from No. 20 in the first round to No. 3 in the second.

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Webster said the team conducted six different workouts where players are brought into Toronto to run through drills and be interviewed by the team.

Each workout has about 12 players in it so the team got an up-close-and-personal look at about 72 players.

If it sounds like a lot of work to identify one player that has historically about a 33% chance of contributing to your roster, even Webster can agree with the perception.

“There’s probably a debate about whether it’s too much,” he admitted. “I think it is one area of roster building where the potential is unlimited. I think that’s why so much time is spent on the draft. Typically, in free agency, you’ve seen a player, so you have some sense about who he is. With trades, there’s usually a body of work. I think the draft is that great unknown. I think that’s why teams spend so much time. If you can get a really good player in the second round who becomes an all-star, the value there is basically immeasurable.”

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And that is what the Raptors will be looking for.

Webster figures there are about 25 players the Raptors have identified that can help them and based on how drafts have historically gone for this group, Webster is fairly confident one of that group of 25 will still be on the board when they pick at No. 33 on Thursday night.

But who the Raptors pick at 33 or who they would have picked at 20 or even who they would have picked had they somehow managed another fourth overall selection always comes down to best available talent.

The current team needs do not enter into the equation because the pick is not just for this year or next year. If the Raptors get the right player, the hope is he becomes a piece of this team for years to come.

“It’s always going to be best available,” Webster said. “I mean maybe more it’s type of player as opposed to position – I mean you guys know what we’re doing here, versatile, defensive and if he can make a shot great. But like looking at those type of players typically.”

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WHAT ABOUT OG?

If there is a Raptor who has had his name floated out there more often than OG Anunoby since Toronto’s season came to an end, we’re not aware of one.

Anunoby has been front and centre in the rumour mill with writers, predominantly this out of market and in the U.S suggesting, according to their sources, that Anunoby is unhappy in Toronto and the team is actively discussing trading him.

A handful of teammates, most prominently reigning rooking of the year Scottie Barnes have publicly denounced the rumours.

On Tuesday Raptors’ GM Bobby Webster was asked about the rumours.

“We have great communication with OG, he’s even up here now,” Webster said initially pouring water on the unsubstantiated talk. “For one, it doesn’t make sense to comment on all the trade speculation. If we talked about every call we got or every player we discussed we’d be here for hours, so I don’t think it’s all that noteworthy.”

So, Webster didn’t flat-out deny that Anunoby’s name could have come up in talks with other teams, but the fact that he’s in Toronto working out in June suggests things aren’t quite as bleak as some click-seeking opportunists would have you believe.

QUICK HITS

It appears swingman Svi Mykhailiuk will be returning to the Raptors for a second year. The 25-year-old native of Cherkasy, Ukraine has exercised his player option for next season.

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