CHICAGO—So close. So far.
The Raptors did not move into one of the top four spots in the NBA draft lottery here Monday night, but there were seconds when it looked like they might.
Raptors GM Bobby Webster didn’t display abject disappointment, but he sure wasn’t dancing a jig in Chicago on Monday night.
Raptors GM Bobby Webster didn’t display abject disappointment, but he sure wasn’t dancing a jig in Chicago on Monday night.
The four-number combination that landed the Dallas Mavericks the first overall pick was 10-14-11-7. There were 14 numbered ping-pong balls in the hopper and that’s how they came out to determine the pick and give the Mavericks, who had a 1.8 per cent chance of winning, the opportunity to draft promising teenager forward Cooper Flagg.
The Raptors had 10-14-11-4, foiled by the final number called.
Then the San Antonio Spurs bucked the odds, cashing in on a 6.3 per cent chance to move into the second slot.
Their numbers: 12-13-11-5; The Raptors had 12-13-11-4.
pc28ended up falling to ninth in the draft order after going into the lottery with the seventh-best odds. It’s opened a raft of possibilities for the June 25 draft.
“Either the pick is there or the value of the pick is there,” general manager Bobby Webster said Monday.
With the lottery out of the way and the order finalized, the Raptors began the real work of assessing players here this week. The draft combine that’s unfolding until Thursday includes skill testing, five-on-five scrimmages, medical exams and, most important, meetings with potential picks.
All NBA teams already have books on draft-eligible players, but this week gives them another look and a chance to interview some players. Of particular interest are the results of physical exams to make sure there aren’t any red flags.
Rick Welts was at the 1st NBA lottery. And he was there when Mavs won a chance to draft Cooper Flagg
CHICAGO (AP) — Rick Welts was there, 40 years to the date earlier, when the NBA draft lottery got started. He worked for the league then and w…
Rick Welts was at the 1st NBA lottery. And he was there when Mavs won a chance to draft Cooper Flagg
CHICAGO (AP) — Rick Welts was there, 40 years to the date earlier, when the NBA draft lottery got started. He worked for the league then and w…
Raptors president Masai Ujiri said Monday he could envision pc28holding workouts and visits with anywhere from 60 to 90 prospects.
“This No. 9 really puts us in a position where we’ve got to really look and investigate,” Ujiri said. “This gives us more of an opportunity to really work out a lot of players. There’s so many players in this draft, and players that are capable.”
Ujiri, Webster and vice-president of player personnel/assistant GM Dan Tolzman head the Raptors contingent here.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation