Since winning the NBA title in 2019, it has been up and down – and mostly down as of late – for the Toronto Raptors. After that title win, they lost star Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency. The Raptors still managed to make the playoffs the following season and defeated the Brooklyn Nets in a first round series sweep before falling to the Boston Celtics in the seven games.
After missing the postseason in the 2020-2021 season, things looked up in the following year. Despite losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, the Raptors had much to celebrate – they returned to the playoffs and had the Rookie of the Year in former Florida State Seminole Scottie Barnes.
However, it has been all downhill since then – the Raptors have missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, including a 30-52 campaign this year. After Monday night’s draft lottery, the Raptors found out they’d be making the ninth-overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Raptors Projected to Nab Duke Center Khaman Maluach
James Piercy of Space City Scoop is projecting the Raptors to use that pick on Duke Blue Devils’ center Khaman Maluach.
Maluach, a native of Rumbek, South Sudan, was admitted to the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal at age 14 before committing to play for Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils this season.
“Maluach feels like a strong choice,” Piercy writes. “His mobility is impressive for a 7-footer. Maluach may be able to guard in space, and he’s got the potential to be one of the NBA’s best rim protectors.”
Clearly he is a very raw player, but Maluach projects as an excellent rim protector and potential rim runner due to his height (7’2) and wingspan (7’5). He has also shown the ability to finish around the rim as evidenced by his shooting splits – he shot 71.2% from the field and 76.6% from the free throw line last season.
Obviously, the upside is there, but with how raw Maluach is, there is also a lot of risk taking him in the lottery. Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 21.3 minutes per game this season.
Maluach Has Been Linked to Raptors
Maluach has been linked to the Raptors during the pre-draft process and appears to be the consensus pick among mock drafts.
The Raptors also have plenty of holes and finding another big man to go with Jakob Poeltl is certainly one of them. Maluach could also serve as Poeltl’s eventual replacement – Poeltl has a player option after next season.
“It’s a unique draft, and we feel that we will have a talented player available (where we draft), and we’ll try to get one that fits our ball club,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in April. “Yeah, we need another young big we would definitely look at that.”
Ujiri has often been linked to African-born players through the Giants of Africa foundation.
PFSN has projected Maluach to land in New Orleans with the Pelicans, who hold the seventh-overall pick, while the Raptors are predicted to make another Blue Devil – Duke guard Kon Knueppel – their selection at nine.
