In a disappointing turn of events, the Toronto Raptors find themselves with the No. 19 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, courtesy of the Indiana Pacers. This outcome, the worst-case scenario for the Raptors, follows a four-way tiebreaker decision by the league involving the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Lakers.
The tiebreaker, conducted by the NBA on Monday, resolved several deadlocks among non-lottery teams, including the aforementioned quartet with identical records from the previous season. While Indiana’s pick could have potentially landed at No. 16, it ultimately fell to Philadelphia, leaving Los Angeles and Orlando to select at No. 17 and 18 respectively, with Toronto bringing up the rear.
With the draft lottery looming, the Raptors hold a 45.8% chance of retaining their own first-round pick if they secure a top-six position. However, should they miss out on the top six, the pick will be conveyed to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Jakob Poeltl trade from last year’s deadline.
Additionally, the Raptors possess the No. 31 pick to kick off the second round of the NBA Draft, acquired from the Detroit Pistons via the New York Knicks in the OG Anunoby trade.
As speculation swirls about potential selections at No. 19, players like Tristan da Silva from Colorado, Johnny Furphy from Kansas, Ja’Kobe Walter from Oregon, and Kel’el Ware from Indiana have been earmarked in various mock drafts.
Reflecting on past No. 19 picks, notable names such as Brandin Podziemski, Tobias Harris, and Kevin Huerter have made significant impacts since 1999. While the outcome may not be what the Raptors had hoped for, history shows that talent can still be found at this position in the draft.
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