2023 NBA Mock Draft 6.0: Mavs’ $750K fine pays off

The Raptors’ disappointing season came to an unceremonious end in the play-in tournament. Now, a summer of change looms large on the horizon. Fred VanVleet is a free agent, OG Anunoby was the hottest name on the trade market from December through February, and even Pascal Siakam might be on the move before we know it.

Toronto has to change it up somehow. The current group just doesn’t have the competitive ceiling to justify sustained confidence, but they’re also too good to tank. The primary issue is roster imbalance, with not nearly enough shooting or shot creation on the perimeter to sustain a contending offense.

Cason Wallace doesn’t solve all of Toronto’s problems, but he’s a potential heir to the Fred VanVleet role. The Kentucky guard is probably more of a combo guard than VanVleet (so he can’t be the only guard the Raps go after), but he’s a generational perimeter defender who will set the tone with his intensity. There are natural limitations on most “defensive” guards who are 6-foot-3, but Wallace is a rare exception who plays much bigger than his size — in part due to his rangy 6-foot-8 wingspan.

On the offensive end, Wallace is a comfortable shooter who can toggle between on and off-ball duties depending on who he’s sharing the court with. His soft touch from everywhere on the floor suggests a high offensive ceiling, even if he’s not the most prolific self-creator at the moment.