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I feel like we're on the topic of like later in the draft, so I want to know what you think are the biggest needs for the Toronto Raptors. And we'll sort of compare and contrast uh with like, you know, our thoughts on the matter.
Uh but I think the the main thing that Toronto really needs is like more perimeter creation juice and they could use like a needle-moving center, but needle-moving center is less likely like like a real like mobile rim protector um with like true center like like like that guy is probably just not going to be there in the range, but I think they really need like perimeter players who can touch the paint by themselves, bend defenses, and hit pull-up threes. Like I'm not the hugest like Immanuel Quickley guy, but you saw how much they missed him in the playoffs just because they had nobody who could like force you to go over a ball screen, like really guard from out there. Um so that that's my biggest thing and I think there are like honestly like three or four players in this range that I think all would would help.
Yeah, so Steve, like what are your thoughts on like what the Raptors need, what they said they need, that kind of stuff?
Yeah, I mean in in Bobby Webster's post-season press conference, he mentioned the need for or that they'd be looking for these two-way style players and that they you know, that's kind of their new um motive that they're trying to go for with these guys and I I watched um Ben, I watched you talk to Samson about several of these guys uh or Corey, um Cam Carr, less of the uh creation but more of the and there are a lot of guys in this range that do provide the shooting because the Raptors needed shooting. They didn't get anything from Gradey Dick last season. Now they have um Mamukelashvili opting out. They're going to have to try to keep him around. So, they desperately need some shooting, but really their bench is getting pretty thin. So, really adding anybody at a guard from a wing, like I could see them going with an Allen Graves, or I could see them trying to search for a big.
A shooting forward, a shooting big.
Yeah, but as you said, like kind of at that range, that's getting thinner and thinner. So, I'm I'm with you on the creation because they definitely need that. Jamal Shed just doesn't He's not that great of an offensive player. Gives you a lot on defense, but outside of his passing and some play making, he's not really that guy to give you some some secondary scoring and everything from there. So, long-term, I do think that any of these guys, a Sterts, a and Okoro, I really like. Christian Anderson with the shooting. Yeah, I think those are all pretty good options.
Yeah, I agree. There it's just a really good looking board for them. There aren't that many players. And like, even if you really want to go for like a shooting big, like I think Henry Veesaar is would be like a reasonable player to take there. Maybe a bit of a reach, like I think there would be better players in the board, but like, you know, I think in a you know, on average, he's a player you're fine taking in like the night in the late teens in pretty much any draft. Um Yeah, cuz they they need a like a replacement for Mamou if he's not going to come back. Honestly, like if he asked for too much, I know that the Sixers are looking at him, like there's a bunch of teams that are interested in in what he brings. So, like if they could find that kind of guy, Henry Veesaar is definitely seems like that kind of guy. So, he he should be on their radar.
In terms of what you guys both mentioned really I what I was going to say, which is that the Toronto Raptors need a lot of different things. Creation, as you mentioned, Ben, shooting, I think at any position, doesn't matter. I I feel like they should not be looking at a player who is not at least a plus shooter or at least an average shooter at any of the positions. Like if it's going to be a big, I feel like they that should be in their game, especially in the range that the Toronto Raptors are picking. Like obviously if a Dieng Mar was available for the Raptors, they should go and get him. But like he's not going to probably won't be. But like they should probably be looking at a guy who can at least shoot the ball. And they're also a little small in the back court. So I think taking another point guard sized player might be a bit of a problem for the Toronto Raptors. Especially it seems like their shed is going to be with the team long term. So I think it does make sense a little bit to build around him or with him in mind at least. So those are my thoughts on what the Raptors are looking for.