Just two days removed from their season ending, the Toronto Raptors have plenty of work to do.
But before final decisions are made on whether or not to retain head coach Dwane Casey, explore trades for members of their core roster, or make any other major changes ahead of next season, Masai Ujiri and the front office are mining the 2018 prospect pool.
Four players are in Toronto on Wednesday for pre-draft workouts at the team’s BioSteel practice facility.
https://twitter.com/RaptorsMR/status/994221093547212801
The team will get an up-close look at a pair of guards — Giddy Potts and Joe Chealey — and two forwards — Alan Herndon and Kostas Antetokounmpo.
Potts, a gifted three-point shooter, averaged 13.3 points per game and over 40 per cent from beyond the arc for Middle Tennessee and reached double figures in all but seven games last season.
Chealey notched 18 points per game for Charleston and topped 20 points 13 times. Herndon averaged just shy of 12 points and six boards for Wyoming. Potts, Chealey, and Herndon were all seniors last season.
The name that stands out is Antetokounmpo, younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks all-star Giannis. Just 20 years old, Kostas has a similar frame as his big bro did entering the draft, listed at 6-foot-10 and 200 pounds. Along with younger brother Alexis, Kostas moved to the United States with Giannis and lived in Wisconsin where he attended high school and red-shirted his freshman year with Dayton in 2016-17.
He showed flashes last season but is considered incredibly raw with a lower ceiling than his older brother.
Kostas Antetokounmpo with the swat then flush Greek Freak 2.0 doing work! #LOWD pic.twitter.com/oMdr9bvwuv
— Grant Kelly (@GrantKelly07) November 18, 2017
Of note: The Raptors do not currently have a pick in the 2018 draft.
Their first-round pick belongs to the Brooklyn Nets, surrendered in a trade that also sent DeMarre Carroll to Brooklyn for cap relief. Their second-rounder belongs to the Phoenix Suns as part of the P.J. Tucker trade deadline deal last season.
While things could change following multiple team workouts and the NBA draft combine, which Antetokounmpo is scheduled to attend, all four prospects are not likely to be selected at the draft in June.
The Raptors could be working to acquire a pick in the draft, but it’s more likely that if they like what they see from the group the team will invite a player to training camp. Toronto has had success utilizing undrafted young talent.
Fred VanVleet made the Raptors roster out of training camp last season and became one of the team’s most important players this year, while others like Alfonzo McKinnie have carved out meaningful roles with the Raptors 905.
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