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In his final appearance before the media in advance of the 2015 NBA draft on Thursday, Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri was his typical ambiguous self. “We’re open for business,” he maintained, keeping his options open as he loves to do every offseason.
One option he didn’t rule out was that of trading the team’s first-round pick, potentially as part of a package to reel in a big star. Obviously, everything on draft day should be considered; if the Raptors receive an offer they can’t refuse for the No. 20 pick, they should by all means take it.
But assuming only realistic offers are made, I don’t think trading the pick is in the Raptors’ best interests. Perhaps I’m drinking too much draft Kool-Aid, but I’m of the belief this is one of the best drafts in years, not just at the top but extending through the first round. Once the Raptors’ pick rolls around, I am quite confident the team will have a healthy spate of options to choose from. And along with the bevy of good prospects projected to fall somewhere near the Raptors’ pick at No. 20, you also have to expect the unexpected. In all likelihood someone projected in the late lottery will slip to No. 20, in which case the Raps might have to call an audible. I’m not enamored with Trey Lyles, for instance, but if he falls to the Raptors he’s surely worth a look.
What the Raptors do on Thursday depends on their vision for the future. Do they want a young kid with upside, or an NBA-ready player to help in a playoff push next season? Whichever route they choose, I submit that there are players at 20 who will fit that need.
If the team wants a project, Jarell Martin or Christian Wood have considerable upside. If they want to go for a contributor now, R.J. Hunter or Justin Anderson would suffice. Heck, I could even be talked into Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. And things aren’t black-and-white, either; Hunter has plenty of upside, and Martin has translatable NBA skills now. And then you have Jerian Grant, who I reckon will be fantastic both in the short term and in the long term.
Again, as much as I like some of these players, there could always be an insane offer for the pick that overrides their value; I’m just skeptical such an offer will be made. Moreover, I know for a fact that Ujiri prides himself on his ability to draft smartly, especially with picks outside the lottery (he took Kenneth Faried with the No. 22 pick in 2011). This is his time to shine.
Casey Sherman is the Toronto Raptors Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @shermham
