NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 17: Portland uses three first round picks

The Toronto Raptors made it clear at the trade deadline that their plan is to win now by acquiring Serge Ibaka from the Orlando Magic and PJ Tucker, a potential piece to help slow down Lebron James, from the Phoenix Suns. Here, though, Toronto grabs a prospect for the future.

Terrance Ferguson was a five-star recruit who had committed to the Arizona Wildcats before he decided to play overseas during his gap year between high school and the NBA. As a high school prospect, Ferguson was billed as a future 3-and-D player because of his outside shooting and his physical tools. At 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has the length to be a versatile defender despite lacking the necessary strength at this point in his career. Ferguson also canned seven 3-pointers in the McDonald’s All-American Game as a senior, which helped build the hype around his potential.

The problem is that Ferguson’s potential didn’t translate in any significant way during his season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia. He averaged 4.6 points in 15.2 minutes per game, shot 31.3 percent from deep and was pretty much a non-factor statistically on defense.

As an 18-year old and one of the youngest players in the class, there is still plenty of time for Ferguson to grow, though. He has the athleticism to figure things out on defense and his shot is almost certainly better than what he showed in Australia. This pick is definitely one that will require some organization investment for it to work out, but the Raptors are in a position where they can afford to take the risk.