The 2024-25 season didn’t go the way the Toronto Raptors hoped. They finished 11th in the East with a 30-52 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth time in 12 years. Injuries to key players like Immanuel Quickley and a thin bench exposed the team’s lack of depth.
Their minus-4.1 net rating and bottom-tier offensive numbers told the same story. But now, with the No. 9 pick, Toronto has a chance to reset — possibly with a high-IQ, creative guard to lead the way.
Kasparas Jakučionis Might Be the Jolt Raptors’ Offense Needs
According to Brandon Austin’s latest PFSN mock draft, the Raptors are expected to take Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis at No. 9 overall in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Jakučionis averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists during his freshman season. He made a real impression with his feel for the game. He’s a cerebral creator with international experience and the kind of vision that unlocks an offense. That’s something the Raptors badly missed this year, especially when Quickley was out.
Kasparas Jakucionis moves well for his size pic.twitter.com/j0QJsTxtka
— Bijan Todd (@bijan_todd)
Toronto finished 26th in offensive rating. The offense often looked stagnant and short on ideas, even with flashes from RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes. That’s why Jakučionis makes sense. He handles the ball well and makes the offense smarter.
“The Toronto Raptors could go in a few directions with this pick, as they could also use a talented big man. However, they opt for a dynamic playmaking guard in Illinois’ Kasparas Jakučionis. 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.”
Jakučionis gives Toronto a smart, versatile backcourt piece with intriguing long-term upside. He’s one of the most creative passers in the draft, showing 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 big offensive load as a freshman.
Offensively, he’s more polished than his raw stats might suggest. Before a midseason forearm injury, he was shooting over 41% from three, showing confident mechanics and the potential to become a reliable perimeter threat. He also gets to the rim, finishes through contact and draws fouls at a high rate.
Defensively, he’s still a work in progress. But his feel for the game and willingness to compete suggest there’s room to grow. In a draft without sure things, Jakučionis gives Toronto a high-IQ, international-style guard who can create for guys like Barrett and Barnes.
For the Raptors, that last part says it all. This pick isn’t just about plugging a hole—it’s about finding someone who can lift Barrett and Barnes into more consistent roles. Jakučionis could be the glue that connects young talent to a real offensive identity.
Yeah, there’s risk. He’s not a lockdown defender, and the turnovers are real. But in a draft full of question marks, betting on feel, vision and upside might be the best play Toronto can make—especially for a team stuck in limbo since Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet moved on.
