The Toronto Raptors have had a clear identity ever since they won the 2019 NBA championship. Embracing the wing-heavy, switch-everything style that much of the league has adopted, they’ve tried to build a roster loaded with versatile forwards.
But the results haven’t lived up to the vision, as Toronto has missed the playoffs the last two seasons. After swinging a blockbuster trade for Brandon Ingram, though, one analyst believes the Raptors may have a chance to draft the missing piece to their lineup with the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Raptors Predicted To Find Missing Piece With No. 9 Pick in 2025 NBA Draft
With a group that includes RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Ingram, the Raptors have a core of wings that most teams would love. But there’s still a need to improve at center.
Jakob Poeltl has been solid, but Sports Illustrated’s Matt Babcock believes Duke freshman Khaman Maluach could be the long-term answer.
“At long last, Khaman Maluach finds his NBA home as the Raptors snag the franchise center they’ve been searching for,” Babcock wrote in his latest mock draft.
“Jakob Poeltl has held it down admirably, but Toronto has needed a long-term anchor in the paint — and Maluach might just be the missing puzzle piece for a team brimming with talent like RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley. Adding a high-upside rim protector who can grow offensively could instantly elevate this group into a serious Eastern Conference riser.”
Standing 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Maluach blends elite size with long-term potential. He’s already effective as a rim-runner and finisher, and his 1.3 blocks per game in limited minutes show promising defensive instincts.
With improving touch from the perimeter and the footwork to switch defensively, Maluach fits the mold of a modern big man who could grow with Toronto’s young core.
Maluach started playing basketball at 13 and has made a fast climb up the draft boards. Reaching top-10 status within six years shows how much progress he’s made — and suggests there may be even more to come.
Khaman Maluach rim finishing pic.twitter.com/cUhLxiiBuf
— Matt Powers (@DraftPow) May 14, 2025
But with his upside, there’s a chance Maluach could be off the board before Toronto’s turn. PFSN’s Brandon Austin has Maluach going No. 7 to the New Orleans Pelicans, which could push the Raptors to shift focus.
“For a team among the worst in the NBA in offensive rating (109.6; 26th), the Raptors should target one of the draft’s top creators,” Austin wrote.
“(Kasparas) Jakučionis gives the Raptors a smart, versatile backcourt piece with intriguing long-term upside. He’s one of the most creative passers in this draft class, showcasing elite vision with skip passes, precision in the pick-and-roll, and the ability to hit cutters in stride. While his turnover numbers at Illinois were high, they often came from trying to make high-level plays while carrying a heavy offensive burden as a freshman.”
For Toronto, it may come down to a bigger question — how fast do they want to compete? If they’re aiming to build slowly and develop for the future, Maluach makes sense as a high-upside pick. But if the goal is to make a playoff run sooner, Jakučionis might be the safer bet to improve the Raptors’ struggling offense right away.
