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Toronto Raptors: Making sense of the draft workout invitees

By Graham Orr

May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri (right) gestures as he speaks with media during pre-game shoot around before the Raptors host Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri (right) gestures as he speaks with media during pre-game shoot around before the Raptors host Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Raptors have hosted 20 players for draft workouts. What can be taken away from the list of players invited?

The Toronto Raptors are entering an offseason filled with questions. Will Kyle Lowry re-sign? How about Serge Ibaka? Patrick Patterson? P.J. Tucker?

Depending on the answers to those questions (especially that first one), will the Raptors continue to try to compete in the Eastern Conference or enter more of a rebuilding process? With all of these major questions taking up a lot of space in the media, one area that has not been addressed nearly as often is the Raptors’ plans for the 2017 NBA Draft.

The NBA Draft takes place on June 22, approximately a week before free agency begins on July 1. However, by draft night the Raptors should have an idea of who will be staying and leaving.

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This lack of attention to the draft is very fair. With so many major questions in regards to what the Raptors’ roster will look like heading into the draft, it is really difficult to speculate on what they should do with the 23rd overall pick.

However, based off the players invited to draft workouts by the team, we can attempt to piece together some of the players Masai Ujiri may be targeting. So far, the Toronto Raptors have worked out 20 different college players, but not all of these players appear to be actual targets for the 23rd pick.

Using the most recent mock drafts from DraftExpress and The Vertical, it is clear that some of the players worked out are not considered first round talents. In some instances, they are not projected to be taken in the draft at all.

Who have the Raptors been working out?

Of the 20 players worked out by the Raptors, only 10 rank in the DraftExpress Top 100 Prospects, and only two (Tyler Lydon and TJ Leaf) project to be first round picks in either of the mock drafts referenced above. Those 10 players with their corresponding Top 100 rankings are:

  • Tyler Lydon, SF/PF Syracuse, #24
  • TJ Leaf, PF UCLA, #26
  • Semi Ojeyele, SF/PF SMU, #28
  • Justin Jackson, SF Maryland, #31
  • Johnathan Motley, PF/C Baylor, #40
  • Tyler Dorsey, SG Oregon, #48
  • Dillon Brooks, SF Oregon, #55
  • Kobi Simmons, PG Arizona, #65
  • Rawle Alkins, SG Arizona, #70
  • Isaiah Briscoe, PG/SG Kentucky #90

Although this list of players will certainly be expanded upon over the coming weeks, there are some visible trends. Specifically, we can see that the five highest rated players worked out by the Raptors are either shooting forwards or power forwards.

Considering the number of pending free agents that filled minutes in the forward spots, this approach makes sense. However, it is far too early to make any suggestions as to who the Raptors should select in the NBA draft.

Next: Serge Ibaka reportedly set to re-sign with the Raptors

Therefore, all we can do for now is speculate as to what Ujiri and the management team are thinking. If we learned anything from previous drafts, like the selections of Bruno Caboclo or Pascal Siakam, we should know to expect the unexpected.

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