Kofi Inkoom
The FIBA World Cup has been drawing basketball fans’ attention lately with its exciting plays and unexpected moments, featuring players like Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder from the Toronto Raptors, all striving to win glory for their respective countries.
While most fans enjoy the spectacle, NBA teams like the Toronto Raptors will be using this tournament as an opportunity for talent scouting. They hope to spot potential future stars who could join their roster and showcase their skills on the international stage.
Toronto has a reputation for being open to recruiting talent from unconventional sources, including international leagues. This willingness to explore the global talent pool might help the Raptors discover a potential star among these FIBA World Cup players. It could strengthen their bench and provide them with potential trade prospects.
The Raptors should closely consider these three players, all of whom have impressed in the World Cup, as valuable additions who could make an immediate positive impact on the team’s rotation. Bringing in one of these top performers would be a proactive move for the organization.
Three standout performers from the FIBA World Cup that the Toronto Raptors might target for acquisition post-tournament.
3 . Nickeil Alexander-Walker, representing Canada in the competition.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has frequently appeared as a potential trade or free agent target for the Raptors, and Toronto did have an opportunity to sign him in the offseason but chose not to. Although he’s currently signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a two-year deal, his future with them is not set in stone.
Tremendous sequence from Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Hits the crucial 3 to make it a 2-possession game. Then plays outstanding on-ball defense on Nunez https://twitter.com/SiddharthNBA/status/1698528195933503785/video/1
— Siddharth (@SiddharthNBA) September 4, 2023
Being a Canadian native, Alexander-Walker could offer significant value to Toronto’s player rotation. He has showcased an impressive 38.5% 3-point shooting accuracy while representing Canada in the World Cup, despite facing substantial defensive attention. Under the guidance of Darko Rajakovic’s offensive system, he could potentially become an even more formidable asset for the team.
Are the Toronto Raptors planning to evaluate Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s performance after the FIBA World Cup?
The Timberwolves may need to trade some of their reserve players to make room for new additions at the trade deadline. If Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s impressive 3-point shooting from his time with the Canadian national team carries over to the NBA, he could become a highly sought-after player.
If Masai Ujiri, the Raptors’ executive, were to acquire Alexander-Walker in a trade, it would not only be a homecoming for him but also a valuable addition to a Raptors bench that is still in development. The team is in need of improved shooting, and the versatile Alexander-Walker could offer an affordable solution to this problem.
2 . Another option to consider is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ( former Raptors player ) currently representing Jordan in the World Cup.
It’s a familiar story in the NBA for fringe players to earn another shot in the league thanks to strong showings on the international stage, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson could be the next in line for that opportunity. He’s been a standout player for Jordan, a team noticeably lacking in NBA-level talent.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson moves and plays like Kobe Bryant 🥹https://twitter.com/FIBAWC/status/1695390080695955493/video/1
— ŃBACentel (@TheNBACentel) August 26, 2023
Hollis-Jefferson, the former Raptors power forward, has been performing exceptionally well. He even had a remarkable 39-point game during the World Cup and averaged an impressive 23.0 points per game over five matches. Currently, he’s playing in Puerto Rico, and it would be smart for him to use these exhibition games as a platform to showcase any improvements in his playing style.
Is there a possibility that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson might rejoin the Toronto Raptors?
Although Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was a favorite of the now-departed Nick Nurse, and the Raptors currently have an abundance of power forwards, he could still be a valuable addition if the team seeks defensive-minded players for the bench.
It’s evident that Hollis-Jefferson has improved his game, particularly in terms of shooting and his ability to create offense in half-court situations, compared to when the Raptors parted ways with him. Despite facing setbacks in recent years, his strong performance may have earned him another opportunity with an NBA team willing to take a chance on him.
1. Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is currently representing Serbia in the World Cup.
Bogdan Bogdanovic might have been a Toronto Raptors player by now if the team had been more eager to arrange a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, possibly centered around Pascal Siakam. Although trading Siakam could have been a tough decision, acquiring Bogdanovic would have lessened the impact.
Bogdan Bogdanovic had a perfect game to power Serbia’s dominant win over Dominican Republic and take TCL Player of the Game honors 🔥#FIBAWC x #WinForSrbija 🇷🇸 | #InspireGreatness https://twitter.com/FIBAWC/status/1698351889874829447/video/1
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 3, 2023
Bogdanovic has not only demonstrated his scoring abilities and sharpshooting in the league over the past few years but has also showcased these skills while representing his national team. With Nikola Jokic opting out, Bogdanovic and Heat forward Nikola Jovic have taken on leadership roles for the Serbian squad.
Is it likely that the Toronto Raptors can acquire Bogdan Bogdanovic in a trade if they include Pascal Siakam in the deal?
Bogdanovic has been averaging 18.0 points per game, compensating for a somewhat inconsistent field goal percentage by making crucial shots. It’s evident how his transition to a prominent role off the bench post-trade could enhance the team’s overall offensive performance.
While Bogdanovic might be approaching the later stages of his prime, his performance with the Serbian national team indicates that he can still become an offensive force when needed. The Raptors require additional players with these capabilities, even if it means parting ways with one of their key players to acquire a few of them.