Title: Draft profiles: 6 wings the Raptors could select with the No. 28 pick
Date: June 9, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about six wings the Raptors could take a look at with the No. 28 pick in the draft.
You can never have too many versatile wings.
The Toronto Raptors have found a good deal of success building a defensive philosophy on the elements of switchability, athleticism and no weak spots to exploit. While the entire roster boasts that flexibility – Marc Gasol is the closest thing to unipositional on the roster – it’s the wing positions where it’s paramount rather than preferred. Nick Nurse has deployed his wing-forwards across the entire positional spectrum, playing big or playing small or playing zone as situations dictate. To do that successfully, it helps to have a stable of capable – and long – wing defenders.
It’s with that in mind that taking a wing in the first round becomes a genuine consideration despite the 2020-21 depth chart having greater potential needs at point guard and centre. Depth charts are particularly fluid in Toronto, and a roster packed with positional versatility means a surplus across the three wing positions is a strength rather than a poor allocation of resources. With how important capable wings are and how this class of wings tilts the floor/ceiling discussion toward upside, it wouldn’t at all be surprising to see the Raptors fortify a strength rather than try to plug a hole at another position.
Today, we look at a few wing options the Raptors could consider with the No. 28 pick.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 