The Toronto Raptors will have high hopes for the 2025-26 season after making a blockbuster trade for Brandon Ingram. With a wing trio of Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett, they should be a competitive franchise next season.
After missing the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, though, they might need some more tinkering to secure a postseason berth. One analyst believes the best way for them to raise their chances is by finding a reliable man down low to anchor their defense.
Toronto Raptors Could Target Duke Freshman
Last year, the Raptors finished the season ranked 15th in defensive rating, the midpoint of the entire league. A potential frontcourt featuring Barrett and Barnes is going to have a high defensive ceiling. However, to take it to the next level, reinforcement might arrive through the draft.
In his latest mock draft over at Yahoo! Sports , Kevin O’Connor discussed the possibility of Toronto targeting Khaman Maluach from the Duke Blue Devils. The 19-year-old, who first began playing basketball at the age of 13, has already had a rapid rise to the top.
And Connor believes he’s the perfect player to add to the Raptors. “Maluach is a towering rim protector with switchable mobility, erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. In the long term, he could be the anchor of the Raptors’ defense.”
Connor continued, “But beyond dunking lobs, he’s a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter and creator. He also grabbed zero rebounds in his final game at Duke. Such a raw skill-set should come as no surprise since the South Sudan native didn’t start playing basketball until he was 13.”
Khaman Maluach has impressed every time he steps on the court in the pre-draft process. Here he is at the Klutch Pro Day, where he showed off his rapidly diversifying skill-set, tools and touch in front of a huge audience of NBA decision-makers. pic.twitter.com/e5mIS1sYMR
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 21, 2025
“The tools are obvious, though, and at the draft combine he once again showed his flashes of a 3-point jumper. A team that can afford to be patient, such as the Raptors, could be in for a great reward down the line,” Connor said.
Does Khaman Maluach Make Sense for the Raptors?
If the Raptors want to try competing for playoff spots as soon as next season, then they might choose to go in a different direction.
Right off the bat, Maluach isn’t going to be a huge upgrade over the production Toronto is already getting from Jakob Poeltl. Instead, the latest mock draft from PFSN wants them to focus on an even greater area of need, offensive creation.
After finishing in the bottom five of the league in offensive rating last season, they need a more consistent flow on offense, and Kasparas Jakučionis might offer them exactly that. The Illinois product averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists last year.
However, the numbers don’t do justice to the tape he put on display. A versatile guard with incredible upside, he can be an immediate contributor for the team up north as a facilitator and shot creator.
“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,” Brandon Austin of PFSN wrote about him.
With some scoring potential clearly on display and a jumper that was lights out before a midseason injury, he can be a complete offensive threat. However, adding him would compromise the defense, as he hasn’t shown incredible promise on the less glamorous end.
For the Raptors, the decision is a simple choice. Not just between offense and defense, but also for their direction heading into next season. If they are ready to be patient and become competitive in a few years rather than immediately, then Maluach might be the smart choice with his incredible upside.
However, if Toronto wants playoff basketball to come back to the city immediately, then they shouldn’t look much further than Jakučionis.
