2015 NBA Draft Prospects the Toronto Raptors Should Already Be Considering
It's hard to imagine the Toronto Raptors overemphasizing the 2015 NBA draft, which takes place on June 25.
The team is still near the top of the Eastern Conference at 38-26, despite losing nine of its last 10 games. This includes a 117-107 road loss at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs on March 10.
Things are looking grim at the moment, but that doesn't change the fact that Toronto has established itself as a squad that shouldn't be overlooked in the playoffs.
The Raptors' only pick of the draft will fall somewhere in the bottom third of the first round. They dealt away a 2015 second-round pick with John Salmons to the Atlanta Hawks for Lou Williams and Lucas Nogueira over the summer.
Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo are the Raptors' projects for the future, which makes it doubtful that they would add another raw prospect to the mix. If the pick is used, it would be for someone who isn't "two years away from being two years away," as Caboclo was dubbed in last year's draft by ESPN's Fran Fraschilla.
There could be more opportunities to crack the rotation, though. Amir Johnson, Lou Williams and Tyler Hansbrough are set to be unrestricted free agents, per HoopsHype.com.
There are some holes to fill on the roster, including backup center, an extra defensive wing and perhaps another rebounding big.
The Raptors could always strike gold and find a diamond in the rough, but in what's considered a top-heavy draft, that would be easier said than done.
PF Trey Lyles, University of Kentucky
2014-15 statistics: 21.9 minutes, 8.3 points, 51.1 FG%, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 1.1 turnovers
Masai Ujiri is gung-ho on having a Canadian player suit up for the Raptors, as he mentioned during an appearance as keynote speaker of the Canadian Basketball Speakers Forum on March 9, per Lori Ewing of the Toronto Star:
"[Having a Canadian on the Raptors is] an obligation we have to fulfil. We’re a Canadian team and I think to have Canadian players I think would be phenomenal.
"There is no doubt in my mind. . .during my time, even if my time is short, there will be a Canadian playing for the Toronto Raptors, 100 per cent. I have no doubt in my mind, it’s something we think about every day, it’s something we study . . . the guys in the NBA, the ones outside the NBA, the younger kids, the kids in college, the kids playing overseas. We’re just waiting for that one to come.
He later alluded to Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves being the one he covets, although acquiring his services is unrealistic due to the money he can potentially make with that franchise under the collective bargaining agreement
It shouldn't be a priority to have a Canadian talent wear red and white for the Raptors, though. It may seem appealing from a marketing perspective, but building a contender with the right pieces should take precedence over everything else.
If Ujiri were to take a chance on Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles, he may be able to kill two birds with one stone.
A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the 19-year-old has been a valuable contributor for the 31-0 Wildcats as they pursue a second national championship in four years.
"You're starting to see how good he is," said head coach John Calipari, per Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal. "Trey Lyles is as good as anybody in the country."
He has the physical intangibles to be an NBA-ready 4, standing 6'10" and weighing roughly 235 pounds. It's a solid base that he can continue to build on in order to be a more dynamic forward.
He would make his presence felt more on the offensive end, having demonstrated the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers (44.6 percent) and finish around the basket. Lyles still has a long way to go defensively, though.
As Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman points out: "Defense is where he struggles most. Lyles lacks the lateral foot speed for the perimeter and the athleticism to challenge shots down low. But at 6'10", he's just too good facing the basket from 18 feet, as well as scoring around it off drives, cuts, offensive rebounds or post-ups."
There's always room for another big who can possibly offer some offensive diversity. Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson are ranked No. 24 and No. 27 among power forwards in scoring, per ESPN.com.
There doesn't seem to be a consensus on where Lyles will be selected. DraftExpress.com has him going at No. 25, while Wasserman and CBS Sports' Sam Vecenie are higher at No. 16 and 12, respectively.
The Raptors may have to cut a deal to move up in the pecking order if Lyles' stock continues to rise.
C Dakari Johnson, University of Kentucky
2014-15 statistics: 17.3 minutes, 6.9 points, 50.0 FG%, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.1 turnovers
Playing a legitimate backup center on a regular basis is a foreign concept to coach Dwane Casey, who prefers to use smaller lineups with 4s masquerading as 5s.
To be fair, all Casey has to work with behind Jonas Valanciunas is Greg Stiemsma and the undersized Chuck Hayes (6'6"). An upgrade would be welcome.
Cue Dakari Johnson, a 7'0" center who is also a part of Kentucky's magical run.
He only averages the ninth-most minutes on the Wildcats, having to fight for time on the floor with potential lottery picks Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein. That's why his numbers don't blow you away.
His per-40 numbers paint a more encouraging picture: 16.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, per Sports-Reference.com.
Rafael Uehara of Upside & Motor discussed why Johnson's stature and work ethic are huge reasons why he finds success around the basket:
"His top skill is his toughness, and he’s playing with enough energy to leverage that into production on the glass. Johnson improved his conditioning once more in the offseason, which is permitting him to leave the ground easier. He can’t elevate as high as position-peers Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns, but Johnson looks to box out consistently by using the strength in his 255-pound frame to establish inside position. Opponents can’t easily work around him and he’s collecting 20.5 percent of opponents’ misses when he’s been on the floor.
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He's not overly athletic, but he compensates by using his body effectively to clear out space on offense and as a rebounder.
Johnson's drop in weight from 275 to 255 pounds was sorely needed, although it hasn't changed the fact that he's still relatively slow moving up and down the floor.
The Raptors are just 25th in rebounding at 41.4 boards per game, according NBA.com. He's not going to jump out of the building, but Johnson can make a difference on the glass through his size alone.
Uehara adds: "Rebounding is also how he contributes best on offense. Johnson has a short wingspan in the context of his height (7-foot height, 7-foot wingspan), so he is unable to rebound outside of his area but has managed to muscle his way into prime position below the rim at the college level."
He should be available when Toronto is on the clock. Johnson could even fall into the second round, as DraftExpress.com projects.
SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, University of Arizona
2014-15 statistics: 28.0 minutes, 11.2 points, 52.3 FG%, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.6 turnovers
DeMar DeRozan is as offensive-minded as they come, leaving his defense prone to several lapses. Terrence Ross was expected to grow into a three-and-D wing, but he's fallen off the map entirely.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is the young perimeter defender the Raptors need.
Steve Rivera of Fox Sports Arizona calls him "the college basketball equivalent of a Swiss army knife."
He elaborates: "Need a defender to match up with the opponent's top scorer? That's him at the head of the line. A rebound? Got it. A mid-range jumper or slicing-through-the-lane momentum-changing basket? Check. Hollis-Jefferson, a 6'7", 220-pound sophomore forward, is Arizona's Mr. Everything."
His defense is his bread and butter, as he can guard multiple positions with his insane athletic ability and fantastic lateral quickness.
Just don't expect much of a well-rounded offensive repertoire, though. Hollis-Jefferson is improving in that department, but he's still light-years away from being a player that opposing teams plan for.
He only hits 34.1 percent of his jumpers, via Hoop-Math, even though coach Sean Miller calls him the "master" of the 15-to-17 footers, per Rivera.
Hollis-Jefferson is at least self-aware that teams aren't showing interest in his game because of his scoring, per Rivera:
"(NBA teams) aren't looking for me to be this high-scoring superstar or whatever. They're looking at me to come in and stop other team's best player. It takes a lot of players awhile to find what they are good at or what they should focus on. It so happened that I found it early. I'm taking it and running with it.
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DeRozan and Ross can provide the sizzle, while Hollis-Jefferson provides the steak. Think of him as a lighter version of James Johnson with the potential to evolve into something much more refined.
Christopher Walder is considered by many to be the "songbird of his generation" and the greatest center to have never played professional, collegiate, high school, house league or pickup basketball. His work has been published on Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, FanSided and several other online outlets. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports.
All statistics, unless otherwise noted, are courtesy of NBA.com/stats and Basketball-Reference.com.
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