NBA Draft 2021: Biggest needs for all 30 teams ahead of draft day

San Antonio Spurs – No. 12, 41

Biggest needs: Stretch forward, wing

The Spurs will be off-loading nearly 66% of their salary this offseason with veterans DeMar  DeRozan, Rudy Gay, and Patty Mills. That’s a lot of scoring production likely gone, particularly from the forward positions. The backcourt core of Lonnie Walker, Dejounte Murray, and Derrick White along with wing Keldon Johnson will be the featured pieces for the future but there’s a huge need for frontcourt help and capable three-point shooters, as this team ranked dead last in both attempts and makes from deep.

Depending on who is around at 12, San Antonio could take Corey Kispert, Franz Wagner, or combo forward Jalen Johnson, who has top-5 potential but some red flags after the issues at Duke. The Spurs could also reach for Alperen Sengun or Usman Garuba. Don’t be surprised if they trade one of their guards for veteran frontcourt help as well if they opt to take a wing early on.

Toronto Raptors – No. 4, 46, 47

Biggest need: Point guard, forward

Situations and scenarios throughout the season that was out of the franchise’s hands landed them with a top-5 pick but the Raptors are closer to a top-5 seed in the Eastern Conference than they are to the bottom. And they’ll have a choice of one of the top prospects to help them bounce back. Even with star forward Pascal Siakim, he could use another big man alongside him. And if Kyle Lowry leaves as a free agent, the team could use another combo guard alongside Fred VanVleet.

There are three players projected to be selected after Cade Cunningham in point guard Jalen Suggs, scoring guard Jalen Green, and big man Evan Mobley. Unless the team believes in Johnathan Kuminga or Scottie Barnes more, all they have to do is wait to see what Houston and Cleveland do before them and take whoever is left. And thanks to VanVleet’s ability to play on and off the ball and Mobley capable of playing true center, the Raptors can’t go wrong at No. 4.