Toronto Raptors: 2020 NBA Draft Preview

After defeating a hobbled Golden State Warriors club in the 2019 NBA Finals, the Toronto Raptors emerged as the league’s ‘Cinderella’ team last season, finishing 2019-20 with a 53-19 record despite two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard leaving Toronto to join the Los Angeles Clippers.

However, the Raptors’ performance in the regular season was a lot different than it was in the playoffs, where rising star Pascal Siakam demonstrated how important it is for players with physical prowess to improve their guard skills. Subsequently, Toronto’s focus this offseason should be on player development and free agency rather than the 2020 NBA Draft.

This is particularly true due to the Raptors having just the second-to-last pick in each round.

Related: Full Toronto Raptors 2020 Salary Cap Preview

2020 NBA Draft Picks

No. 29 overallNo. 59 overall

Raptors Draft Needs

It’s always wise to shore up depth or plan ahead and that’s exactly what Toronto will be doing during the 2020 NBA Draft. The Raptors could have 15 players entering free agency, an absurd number when considering that thy were just in the NBA Finals last year and made it as far as the second round of the NBA Playoffs this year.

Using their draft picks on fringe roster or fringe rotation players will be a cheap way of maintaining the status quo. It also allows them to maximize their cap space for the 2021 offseason, should they decide that they want to chase one of the established stars whose contracts will expire in 2020-21.

2020 NBA Draft Prospect Watchlist

No. 29 overallNo. 59 overall
PG Cole Anthony, North CarolinaG Immanuel Quickley, Kentucky
PG Jahmi’us Ramsey, Texas TechPG Payton Pritchard, Oregon
C Xavier Tillman, Michigan St.PG Markus Howard, Marquette
PG Tyrell Terry, StanfordC Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State
F-C Isaiah Stewart, Washington St.SF Josh Hall, Moravian

What The Mocks Are Saying

The RingerTheo Maledon (No. 29)
The AthleticXavier Tillman (No. 29)
USA TODAY SportsJahmi’us Ramsey (No. 29)
CBS SportsIsaiah Stewart (No. 29)
The ScoreUdoka Azubuike (No. 29)

Projected Roster

PGKyle Lowry
SGNorman Powell
SGMatt Thomas
SFOG Anunoby
SFStanley Johnson
SFPatrick McCaw
SFPaul Watson*
PFPascal Siakam
CDewan Hernandez
*Two-Way Contract

Team-by-Team NBA Draft Guides

AtlanticCentralSoutheast
BostonChicagoAtlanta
BrooklynClevelandCharlotte
New YorkDetroitMiami
PhiladelphiaIndianaOrlando
TorontoMilwaukeeWashington
NorthwestPacificSouthwest
DenverGolden StateDallas
MinnesotaLA ClippersMemphis
Oklahoma LA LakersNew Orleans
PortlandPhoenixHouston
UtahSacramentoSan Antonio

More: SLAM’s 2020 NBA Draft Preview