The Toronto Raptors have some new faces joining the team this upcoming season. With their own draft picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Raptors used the 19th overall selection on Ja’Kobe Walter out of Baylor, and the 31st overall selection on Jonathan Mogbo out of USF.
Toronto was not satisfied with just two draft picks, as their front office worked out some extra deals to secure two additional draft picks. In a shocking trade that dealt underwhelming forward Jaden McDaniels to Sacramento, the Raptors acquired a return package including defensive-minded guard Davion Mitchell, former EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov, and the 45th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, where they selected Houston Cougars product Jamal Shead. Toronto secured another trade which added the 57th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to their arsenal, where they chose NBA Academy Africa prospect Ulrich Chomche.
Can the rookies help the Raptors this year?
Toronto is going to do the best of their efforts to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, with hopes of a potential playoff push in sight once again. With blossoming young players in Scottie Barnes, the newly-extended Immanuel Quickley, and hometown hero RJ Barrett, it makes sense to assume Toronto can find their way back to the limelight barring any major injuries to their stars. In addition to this young core are supporting pieces like Kelly Olynyk, Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick, and veteran Bruce Brown. But with a new direction and new season, these newly christened Raptors players in Ja’Kobe Walter, Jonathan Mogbo, Jamal Shead, and even Ulrich Chomche (albeit a two-way player), could carve out consistent minutes in the rotation if they play their cards right.
As rookies, these young guns have a lot to prove to quickly assert themselves as difference-makers for the team so early into their careers. But the Raptors front office clearly saw intriguing potential in these prospects to warrant a draft pick. Each player possesses a unique skill set that can benefit the Toronto Raptors squad, as soon as next season. How exactly do the 3 Raptors rookies earn those quality minutes? Here’s how:
Ja’Kobe Walter
The highest of Toronto’s 2024 draft picks, Baylor product Ja’Kobe Walter was touted in certain mocks as a fringe lottery pick, and he was luckily still on the board when the Raptors were on the clock at 19. The Texas native garnered praise at the collegiate level for possessing all the skills needed to be a prototypical wing player. Walter showed a knack for shooting the 3-ball in college, and not just as a catch-and-shoot guy, as Ja’Kobe could mix it up off screens, spot up, or find his touch along the perimeter.
For a Toronto team severely lacking in this department, selecting a player of Ja’Kobe Walter’s prowess could certainly help the Raptors with current playoff push intentions in mind. And with his NBA player comparisons largely pointing to gritty, 3-and-D guard/forwards like Reggie Bullock and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, this kind of player archetype has shown to be a difference maker on many championship-level rosters. Now that’s not to say Walter can be that for the Raptors of the present, but with future progression in mind, it indicates Ja’Kobe’s game can see him thrive in the NBA as a quality rotation piece at the very least.
Now where Walter’s game kind of falters is his ball-handling, playmaking, and decision-making, where these facets are largely missing from his skillset. To be fair, it’s not like you largely expect a shooting guard/small forward to be an expert at these elements of the game, but with an ever-evolving NBA landscape, it’s always a plus to have a jack-of-all-trades type of player. There is definitely room to grow in these areas of Walter’s game, so no need to hit the panic button so soon before the young fella could take off. But if Toronto wants to be competitive ASAP, Ja’Kobe Walter is going to need to prove his worth as a viable rotation piece with his current set of skills.
With Gary Trent Jr. no longer in the fold, this would largely indicate that Ja’Kobe Walter will run the backup SG/SF positions with the likes of Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji. The good thing for Walter here is those two gentlemen have not carved out permanent roles for themselves in the Raptors rotation, so if Ja’Kobe can outshine them, he’ll more than likely slide in with a consistent role.
What you see is what you get with Ja’Kobe Walter. You can’t expect him to break out and become some superstar (although it’d be pretty nice on the Raptors’ part if he does turn out as such), but you’re also banking on his intangibles to shine through. At 19 years old, Ja’Kobe Walter can still fall back on his youth to warrant patience and belief, but he needs to tap into his current strengths (quality defense and above-average shooting) at the very least if he wants to be a contributor now. Everything else after that is just the cherry on top.
Jonathan Mogbo
With only summer league play to judge, the Raptors’ decision to select Jonathan Mogbo 31st overall over Duke stretch-big Kyle Filipowski is looking a bit murky. Mogbo is an undersized forward/center (standing at roughly 6-foot-7 inches tall) in the mold of a PJ Tucker, Draymond Green, Naz Reid, and/or Kenneth Faried. However, in compensation of his height rather lacking on the metrics, Jonathan Mogbo boasts a massive 7”2’ wingspan that can set him apart from his contemporaries.
Aside from this, Mogbo garnered praise on the collegiate level for his hyper-athletic style, possessing quick and mobile skills for a player of his size. At USF, Mogbo made himself known as a force around the basket, with impressive dunking ability and a knack for rebounding the ball. Likewise, Mogbo’s long wingspan helped make him a versatile defender, where he can work on the perimeter or in the paint. Ultimately, it was these qualities that enticed the Toronto Raptors front office to draft Mogbo with the 31st overall pick, as they’ve showed previous interest in players of such archetypes. Although, being one of the closest friend’s of franchise star Scottie Barnes might’ve also been just as influential in the selection.
Despite the positives of Mogbo’s game, there are just as many questions and concerns with his ability to translate his game to the next level. Those veteran names listed earlier are just the peak of what Jonathan Mogbo can become, but he’s got some big shoes to fill before he gets there. Lengthy wingspan aside, Mogbo can’t change his underwhelming size as a player whose ideal role is at the power forward or center position. And in the NBA, where Mogbo will have to figure out how to play against larger opposing bigs, the holes in his game can be exploited. As such, Mogbo will need to step up his 3-point shooting ability, where improvements in this area can help shape the 22-year-old’s play to suit a small forward position.
The Toronto Raptors are in a rebuilding phase, yet they also aim to compete in the playoffs as soon as possible. The bottom half of the Eastern Conference is quite open, making it plausible for the Raptors to secure a play-in spot. However, several factors must align for this to happen, and a standout rookie campaign from Jonathan Mogbo could significantly bolster their chances. Currently, Mogbo faces an uphill battle, as critics are mocking the Raptors’ front office for passing on Filipowski. While it’s unrealistic to expect a rookie to perform miracles overnight, the pressure is on Jonathan Mogbo to distinguish himself beyond his size and physical attributes.
Jamal Shead
With the Raptors’ 45th overall pick from Sacramento, the front office selected Jamal Shead, a senior 6-foot-1 guard from Houston. Shead is a hard-nosed, gritty undersized guard who impressed scouts with his defensive tenacity and playmaking ability. His status as the recent recipient of the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award highlights his defensive skills. He shares this honor with newly-acquired Raptor Davion Mitchell, who won the award during the 2020-21 collegiate season while playing for the Baylor Bears.
While Jamal Shead may not possess great size or offensive upside, he compensates with his toughness and commitment to playing at a high level. He has demonstrated that he is a winning player, exhibiting a strong mental attitude, humility, and maturity — qualities that will greatly benefit the up-and-coming Raptors roster filled with other like-minded young talents.
When considering a player of Shead’s caliber, it’s hard not to think of similar guards like Jevon Carter, Patrick Beverley, and Jose Alvarado. These players, all sharing comparable physiques, have earned reputations as tenacious defenders. Speaking of Patrick Beverley, who drew attention last season for criticizing Toronto’s roster for a perceived lack of “dogs,” it appears the Raptors may have found their own version of Pat Bev to silence the critics. While we shouldn’t place undue pressure on Jamal Shead, Toronto has a history of developing smaller, overlooked guards, as seen with Fred VanVleet, reaching their full potential. While it may be unrealistic to expect a similar trajectory from Shead, it certainly remains a possibility.
The Raptors desperately need two-way support, and Jamal Shead fits that archetype perfectly. It’s challenging to rely solely on Scottie Barnes’ defensive tenacity, especially since he already has the heavy responsibility of being the franchise player. Although Shead stands just over six feet tall, his sturdier frame gives him an unexpectedly imposing presence on the court. He could quickly become a fan favorite in Toronto, reminiscent of a Cinderella story — an accomplished college player overlooked due to his size.
