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Kensington Golf Club.TORONTO - After auditioning roughly 60 prospects,
including nine Canadians, in 11 sessions spanning over nine workout days
this spring, the Toronto Raptors are putting the finishing touches on
their wish list heading into Thursdays NBA Draft.
For most of the last week, Masai Ujiri and his scouting staff have been
mulling over 10 targets they anticipate will be available with the 20th
overall pick, their first of three selections, hoping to narrow that
list down to five by Tuesday.
With three days to go, does he have someone in mind?
"Hes around like the back here," said the former scout, gesturing to the
back of his head just before the Raptors concluded their final
pre-draft workout Monday afternoon. "But he hasnt made it to the front
yet. Hes working his way."
No, Ujiri wont tip his hand, not with so many variables at play.
Fourteen teams occupy the 19 slots that precede the Raptors and will
determine who is available to them. They have a list of about 13 players
that are expected to be off the board by the time Toronto is on the
clock.
The pick will be Ujiris first as Torontos primary decision maker - the
Raptors did not have a selection in last years draft - and should
immediately put his keen eye for talent to the test.
Since Ujiri took control of the Raptors, a franchise that has mostly
been accustomed to selecting in the lottery, he has emphasized the
importance of drafting well regardless of where youre situated in both
the first and second rounds.
For only the third time in franchise history, and first in 12 years, the
Raptors are positioned outside the top 19 in the drafts opening round.
Although its not an advantageous spot to find cant miss, NBA-ready
talent, history has shown it can be done. In 2000, with the 20th overall
pick - the teams lowest ever first-round selection - they found one of
their best and most reliable contributors in long-time Raptor
Morris Peterson. In 2011, then with the Nuggets, Ujiri used the 22nd
pick to snag emerging forward Kenneth Faried.
As Ujiri knows, the key is preparation aided by a little bit of luck and
the subsequent development that is required to turn a late first-round
pick into an impact player at the games highest level.
"Its a huge bonus," Ujiri said of finding a diamond in the rough on
draft night. "You look at the programs that have done well in the NBA,
they just strike with picks like that. Its takes constant study, and
really knowing players, believing in players and a system."
"I think a big thing is you kind of have to be realistic on the
expectations of the players," added Dan Tolzman, Torontos director of
scouting, who was also a member of Ujiris front office staff in Denver.
"I think everyone wants to find those diamonds and the guys that will be
all-stars and MVPs and this and that but those guys are pretty hard to
find outside of the lottery and the top-five even."
"So I think the idea is if you can find guys at 20 or 37 or wherever
that have careers," he continued, "that are eight-year players and
theyre role players on your team and theyre doing good things to help
you win, thats a successful draft pick. You might get lucky and hit a
guy thats going to be a big time contributor and hes pushing for
all-stars and that kind of thing, but thats not really what youre
looking for when youre outside of the top-five or the top-10. Amari Cooper Jersey. "
Over the last four weeks, the Raptors brass have seen around a dozen
players that figure to be selected in the latter half of the first
round, or early in the second. According to team sources, there are
roughly five prospects of interest that were either unable or unwilling
to come in for a workout. While the workouts are not the be all and end
all - the team has scouted them all in live action - they can go a long
way in getting the coaching staff and trainers on board with a potential
pick.
Should a player fall to them unexpectedly, Ujiri will keep his options
open and hasnt ruled out the possibility of trading up, if the price is
right. Still, the focus is on making their make at 20.
"Those trades and talks, people dont understand," said the Raptors GM.
"We talk about like maybe 100 trades and then two happen. Thats the
nature of our business. We will be aggressive but our energy is focused
on 20, rather than wasting our time on [something else]."
In addition to their first-round pick, the Raptors also own a pair of
second rounders, 37 and 59 - the second to last pick in the draft.
Regardless of whether or not theyre able to address their needs in the
draft, Ujiri has prioritized his offseason to-do list.
"We need a big wing at the three position," he said. "We [also] need
some kind of shot blocking big. We have good, skilled bigs, we have a
shooting big, we have a big down low, but we want to figure out how we
can protect the rim a little bit. That may come now, it may come later
but its something we know we need on our roster. So those two positions
look like something we need."
His top priority has not changed.
"Were going full force after Kyle Lowry," Ujiri said, speaking of the
teams coveted free agent point guard. "And if theres a talented point
guard in the draft we know that its going to be tough to come and
contribute to where our team is off the bat, but well go for talent in
the draft. But Kyle Lowry is our target and well try to get that done."
In just over a week, the Raptors - and other teams for that matter - can
begin negotiating with Lowry, unable to officially sign him or announce
a deal until the moratorium period ends on July 10.
Until then the focus will be on the draft, one of the most chaotic
events on the basketball calendar and an invaluable opportunity to add
young talent, provided youre well prepared for it. The Raptors have done
their homework.
"I was walking into the conference room where our guys were meeting and I
was like okay, no news that will throw me off right now," Ujiri joked.
"Because you know its going to keep coming. There will be something
tonight and something else tomorrow morning. Thats just the nature of
the draft. I heard something yesterday that threw us off a little bit.
But it will keep coming and coming and coming until that last minute.
Thats the joy of it, I mean you love it. Thats why we do it. There is
always action. As long as we come out on top, then were fine."
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