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- BayToday.ca
BEYOND LOCAL: Raptors have 'clean slate' heading into new season as team leans into rebuild season
Head coach Darko Rajakovic is putting on his foreman's helmet as the Toronto Raptors lean into developing their young core this season. Rajakovic thinks the Raptors have a "clean slate" in his second year in Toronto and team president Masai Ujiri called it a rebuild — a term he had previously avoided — on Monday. Rajakovic spoke in construction terms at Raptors media day at Scotiabank Arena, with the venue itself still in the midst of renovations. "The first thing that you do when you're building a house, you need to find land where you want to build your house," said Rajakovic.
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Toronto Draft Picks
Ja'Kobe
Walter
1
Rnd
19
Pk
SG
Position
- Draft Grade: B+
- Pre-Draft Rank: 19
- School: Baylor
- Height: 6' 5"
- Weight: 195
Yahoo Sports Commentary
Walter has solid size for a shooting guard at 6-foot-5 and showed more promise off the bounce during his one year at Baylor. His 3-point shot was a little inconsistent over his freshman season at Baylor, but the spacing in the NBA will allow him better looks for higher-percentage shots.
Jonathan
Mogbo
2
Rnd
1
Pk
PF
Position
- Draft Grade: A
- Pre-Draft Rank: 42
- School: San Francisco
- Height: 6' 8"
- Weight: 225
Yahoo Sports Commentary
This is a scouting team win for Toronto recognizing that their star player Scottie Barnes and Mogbo grew up together and work out together during the offseason. Bringing in instant chemistry to slide alongside Barnes is a step in the right direction. Mogbo was a fast riser during the pre-draft process with how well he played during the combine, his work off the pick-and-roll and great touch that extends off the block. He was a walking double-double this past season, averaging 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds at San Francisco.
Jamal
Shead
2
Rnd
15
Pk
SG
Position
- Draft Grade: A
- Pre-Draft Rank: 43
- School: Houston
- Height: 6' 1"
- Weight: 200
Yahoo Sports Commentary
Shead is one of the toughest guards in this draft class and was the floor general for four very successful years at Houston. He can pick up full court on defense and be a menace on ball screens, fighting through everything. At the draft combine, he wasn't 100% healthy yet, coming back from an ankle injury, but was still the best point guard on the court during 5-on-5 scrimmages. He has all the tools to have a very long NBA career as a primary guard.
Ulrich
Chomche
2
Rnd
27
Pk
PF
Position
- Draft Grade: B-
- Pre-Draft Rank: 44
- School: Cameroon
- Height: 6' 10"
- Weight: 232
Yahoo Sports Commentary
Chomche will be a draft-and-stash player with how much development he needs. He has turnover tendencies when getting the ball off the block and will need to get a little more physical in the paint.
NBA Atlantic Standings
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | |
| 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 | |
| 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 | |
| 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 | |
| 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.5 |
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