2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Blazers and Bulls find new life
9. player. 81. . G, Baylor. Toronto Raptors. Keyonte George
The Raptors have been maybe the most disappointing team in the NBA this season. It would appear that their emphasis on long and versatile athletes has reached its logical conclusion: plenty of disruptive and positionally malleable defenders, but not nearly enough offensive punch to make noise in the crowded Eastern Conference.
Keyonte George is the kind of player Toronto should be on the lookout for, especially with Fred VanVleet’s production plummeting. George’s slippery handles and dynamic self-creation would be right at home in the Raptors’ backcourt. He takes a lot of 3s, he can collapse the defense regularly, and there are enough passing flashes to suggest that he can develop into more than a spark-plug scorer.
George is on the shortlist of best iso scorers in the draft, possessing the blend of touch and craft that defines so many of the NBA’s best bucket-getters. He’s equal parts shifty and precise, constantly forcing his defenders off-balance before slipping to the rim or burying the pull-up jumper. Toronto just needs more juice offensively, especially if they’re in the market to trade OG Anunoby.
It’s not like George is a complete affront to Masai Ujiri’s team-building principles either. He’s built like a tank and plays spirited defense against either guard spot. He’s ready to contribute straight away and would be a strong foundational piece, whether the Raptors blow it up or not.