The Toronto Raptors haven’t given fans many hints about which direction they’ll go with the No. 9 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. But one prospect keeps popping up as a name that just fits the Raptors’ drafting philosophy. Long, versatile, defensive-minded, and loaded with potential, that’s the kind of player Masai Ujiri, Raptors’ president, has always gravitated toward.
And with the Raptors still figuring out their rebuild, this might be the most on-brand decision Ujiri could make, both stylistically and strategically.
Raptors Eyeing a Classic Masai Ujiri Draft Target
The Ringer’s latest NBA Draft Guide projects Arizona wing Carter Bryant as Toronto’s ideal pick. The outlet paints him as the Raptors’ “most on-brand” option at No. 9, writing: “Bryant feels like the most on-brand choice for Masai Ujiri.”
That sentence carries weight. For over a decade, Ujiri has made a habit of selecting players with length, defensive intensity, and room to grow. Players who may not be stars on day one, but fit the kind of culture the Raptors build around.
According to the Ringer’s NBA Draft Guide, the Arizona freshman “would’ve slotted in perfectly with the funky, post-title teams of the past few years that were loaded with long-limbed defensive terrors.”
Bryant, listed at 6’8,” fits the mold to a tee. He brings switchable defense, clean shooting mechanics, and flashes of weak-side rim protection. Through his freshman year, he averaged 6.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and one assist while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range.
It continued: “Bryant shows enough off-ball activity and promise as a floor spacer to be invaluable to whatever shape the Raptors’ rebuild takes. He’s the kind of player that playoff-level teams never seem to have enough of, and is that not all the praise a player needs?”
That take captures what makes him so appealing. He may not be flashy, but he does the small things right. He plays within the structure, spaces the floor, and defends across multiple spots – An “archetypal 3-and-D athlete with an ideal NBA frame and a ready-made complementary skill set,” the write-up stated.
Could Carter Bryant Fit With Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett?
On a deeper look, Bryant makes sense alongside the Raptors’ current core as well. The Raptors finished near the bottom in defensive rating (114.8) this season and lacked rim protection and interior presence. Bryant’s long frame and instincts could help change that. He doesn’t sacrifice mobility for size, which allows him to play alongside both perimeter-focused and interior-heavy lineups.
Carter Bryant scoring tape.
37.1% from 3P (8.4 3PA/100) + 70.8% at the rim (1.42 PPP). pic.twitter.com/1xKkzftpXz
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) June 6, 2025
Adding a floor spacer like Bryant opens up cleaner driving lanes for someone like Scottie Barnes, who thrives as a creator and playmaking forward. And RJ Barrett, who plays best when attacking downhill, could benefit from an additional defender behind him covering rotations and cleaning up second-chance opportunities.
There’s even more flexibility since Bryant will pair up with a defensive-minded guard Jamal Shead. Shead-Bryant tandem could lay the groundwork for a high-motor, high-effort second unit – something the Raptors lacked during their inconsistency-riddled 2024-25 season.
Moreover, the Raptors’ draft philosophy under Ujiri has been strikingly consistent. They don’t draft based on age, position, or raw numbers. Instead, they lean into structure, development, and context. Every NCAA player they’ve picked in the first round came from a program with a winning record.
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Bryant checks that box, too. He played within a system at Arizona that emphasized defense and unselfish play – two cornerstones of the Raptors’ identity.
He may not be a finished product just yet. His motor and focus need sharpening, and there’s more to be unlocked in his game. But with his length, and ability to shoot from deep, Bryant looks like the kind of foundation piece Ujiri likes to build around.