NBA Draft 2020: 5 franchises that need to add a point guard

Toronto Raptors

Spearheaded by excellent coaching from Nick Nurse, All-Star play from Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam, and a cohesive system and stingy top-three defense, the Toronto Raptors were a pleasant surprise in the first season after their 2019 championship run, finishing with the second-best record (53-19) in the league despite losing Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in the offseason.

After losing to the Boston Celtics in a hard-fought seven-game series in the Conference Semifinals, Toronto has decisions to make regarding their current, aging core. Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, and Marc Gasol are entering a free-agent marketplace where they’re certain to have teams interested in acquiring their services, particularly VanVleet, who enjoyed a career year (17.6 points, 6.6 assists) in his first season as a full-time starter next to Lowry.

The Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, and New York Knicks all have holes in their backcourts and enough money burning holes in their metaphorical pockets to make a competitive offer in the $20-plus million range.

Because of VanVleet’s flight risk — though Masai Ujiri should look to retain the talented guard, even though he’ll want to keep the books clean for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s free agency next summer — and Kyle Lowry’s age (34) and short contract (one year left), the Raptors should peruse the laundry list of guards available in the 2020 NBA Draft. Whether VanVleet stays or leaves shouldn’t deter Ujiri from looking at guard prospects, since the team currently lacks a true backup point guard.

Some of the higher upside plays will be off the board by the time Toronto is on the clock at No. 29 pick, but there are some prestigious upperclassmen that would be ideal selections, particularly College of Charleston’s Grant Riller, San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn, and Michigan State’s Cassius Winston. Any one of these elder statesmen would pair nicely with Toronto’s core, whether they’re running pick-and-rolls on-ball or operating without the ball off of Lowry and Siakam’s playmaking.

None of these players are particularly imposing defending the point of attack against NBA size and athleticism (though Flynn’s instincts as a team defender and ball-hawk earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors in the MWC), but Toronto can surround them with the requisite size, length, and athleticism to hide their shortcomings.

Plus, their offensive games more than make up for whatever concerns exist on defense. Riller is burst personified and a damned good scorer (career 18.7 points per game on .616 true shooting!), Flynn is an undersized guard whose craft and smarts make him useful on both ends, and Winston possesses similar craft and guile while also being a truly special guard shooter (career .461/.430/.845 shooting on high volume, versatility, and difficulty).

Toronto could look to address the center position with Ibaka and Gasol uncertain to return; Ibaka is content up north and could accept a team-friendly, one-year deal, but Gasol is rumored to be eyeing a return home to Barcelona, Spain, where he’d finish out his professional career. Our last mock has the Raptors picking Arizona center Zeke Nnaji for his mobility out in space, touch around the basket, and shooting upside, but getting a guard at No. 29 makes a ton of sense based on who could be available.