The Toronto Raptors walked out of the draft with a wealth of young talent, adding four rookies to their rebuilding roster. At the Las Vegas Summer League, Toronto got its first look at its new batch of promising young talent. While the rooks showed potential at Summer League, they each have significant questions floating above them. The 2024-25 NBA season will be the rookie’s first chance to answer the biggest question about their games.
Biggest Question For Each Raptors Rookie To Answer Next Season
Ja’Kobe Walter
Question: What does he do on offense if his three-point shot is off?
Ja’Kobe Walter is a sharpshooting freshman out of Baylor University. The Raptors selected Walter 19th overall in the draft, making him the team’s highest pick. Toronto has followed Walter since high school and believes in his potential as a three-point shooter. Walter has promising physical tools at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. Walter projects to be a two or a three in the NBA with his size. He didn’t have a great showing in Vegas, shooting 35% from the field and a concerning 21% from three. He looked lost offensively, with his three-point shot being non-existent. That’s the question Walter has to answer this season: what does he do when his outside shot isn’t failing to impact the game offensively?
When Walter’s shot wasn’t failing at Baylor, he could still generate points by getting to the free-throw line. Walter isn’t afraid of contract and doesn’t shy away from going all the way to the rim. This part of Walter’s game carried over from college to Vegas, with him attempting nearly 4.6 free throws per game. When his three-point shot is off in the NBA, his fearlessness and willingness to absorb contact to get FTs will be his best chance at impacting the game.
Jonathan Mogbo
Questions: What position does he play, and can he space the floor?
Jonathan Mogbo is a four-year college prospect from the University of San Francisco with a unique skill set and build. The Raptors selected Mogbo as the first pick of the second round and signed him to a three-year deal. After a monstrous season in the West Coast Conference, Mogbo popped up on the Raptors’ radar this year. Even though Mogbo’s time in Vegas was short-lived, he left a lasting impression. Mogbo, in his time in Vegas, showed the ability to handle the ball, play make, and create his own shot. One thing Mogbo didn’t show in Vegas and hasn’t in college is the ability to space the floor. Mogbo only attempted 40 threes over his four years in college. For most centers, that’s fine, but not for Mogbo. At just 6-foot-6, Mogbo is vastly undersized to be a five in the NBA.
That is why what position he plays and whether he can space the floor are the most pressing questions for Mogbo to answer. Mogbo shot 69% from the FT line in his last year of college, showing some shooting touch. While he is vastly undersized Mogbo makes up some of the difference with his 7-foot-2 wingspan. Mogbo has an uphill battle as a non-shooting four/five, but he has the work ethic and drive to fall back on as he works to carve space for himself in the league and on the Raptors.
Jamal Shead
Question: Can he pressure an NBA defense?
Jamal Shead is a hard-nosed defensive senior from the University of Houston. The Raptors drafted Shead with the 45th pick, which they acquired in a trade with the Kings. Shead has been Houston’s starting point guard for the past three seasons, leading them to three straight NCAA tournaments. Shead is a tough defender who will pressure the ball full court and hound ball handlers in the half-court with his active hands. In Houston, Shead ran the show, dishing out dimes and controlling the pace of play on offense. While his defense and passing translated in Vegas, Shead was a non-threat when creating his own shot. For his playmaking to be effective in the NBA, Shead must be able to pressure an NBA defense with his scoring. That’s the question he has to answer this coming season.
In college, Shead was never an explosive scorer, averaging just 12.9 points in his senior year. In the past two years, he has shown some growth as an outside shooter but still only shot 31% from three in college and 27% from the NBA line in Vegas. Without a reliable outside shot and being undersized at just six feet, Shead must be crafty to find a way to score in the NBA.
Ulrich Chomche
Question: How much does he play?
Ulrich Chomche is an incredibly promising yet raw 18-year-old out of the NBA Academy Africa. Chomche only started playing organized basketball relatively recently and was one of the youngest players to be drafted. Even though he is raw, at 6-foot-10, with excellent mobility and leaping ability, Chomche is a promising talent. With the NBA Academy, Chomche showed shooting touch from three and a good passing feel. In Vegas, Chomche struggled to read the game and make reads, but his natural physical grifts stood out. Chomche was the 58th pick in the draft and was signed on a two-way deal. The questions for Chomche this season are how much he will play in the NBA and what his best skill is in the NBA.
At 18 and somewhat new to organized basketball, Chomche will likely spend his rookie season with the 905 Raptors in the G-Legaue. He will have more reps to develop the skills needed to play in the NBA. If the team is hit badly by injuries, he might be called up, but as it stands, Chomche will only see the NBA court to begin or end the season.
