The Raptors finally officially chose a new direction last season, choosing to send franchise cornerstones Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby to new destinations.
The move resulted in a 25-57 record and only a 45.8% chance of retaining the top-six protected pick sent to San Antonio in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery in exchange for Jakob Poeltl. .
Here are the options if the Raptors win the all-important coin toss.
Rob Dillingham, Kentucky
Rob Dillingham, a diminutive combo guard, thrived off Kentucky's bench, averaging 15.2 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in just over 23 minutes per game.
Dillingham has obvious talent, using his speed, coordination and game feel to score and provide playmaking for other players.
In Toronto, Dillingham could switch between lead guard and off-ball guard, shooting at a high clip (44% on 3-of-4.5 attempts) or leading the charge with the rock in his hands.
Ron Holland “Ignite”
If the Raptors want to stick to the typical model, Ron Holland, a 6-foot-8 man with a two-way engine and top-notch athleticism, is the guy.
There are some concerns with Holland, namely shooting and turnovers, but nothing the Raptors haven't improved on over the past decade.
Nikola Topic, Crvena Zvezda
There's a slim chance that Serbian guard Nikola Topic slips into the top few slots, but if he does, or if Toronto gets lucky on lottery night, he's a surefire point guard of the future.
Topic has a reported 7-foot wingspan and has a downhill attack, creative finishing, and potentially best-in-class pass and pick-and-roll playmaking.
There's some overlap with Immanuel Quickley, but Topic would be a solid option if the Raptors want to invest in a long-term ball handler.
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