Steak dinners, crab cakes and love for Toronto: We asked NBA draft prospects if they worked out for the Raptors

Hamilton Spectator

6 hours ago

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—The
Toronto Raptors
are known as an organization that keeps its cards close to its chest, making it difficult to pinpoint which top NBA prospects were invited for pre-draft workouts over the last few weeks.
The private meetings are a good indication of which players the team is interested in drafting. It's anyone's guess as to who they might take ninth overall at Wednesday's draft in Brooklyn, N.Y. — or if they'll end up picking in the top 10 at all.
As rumours swirl around the Raptors potentially trading their pick, here are the prospects invited to the NBA Draft green room who confirmed to the Star that they did, in fact, work out for Toronto.
One of the players who's been linked to the Raptors the most throughout the draft process has been the Maryland big man. Queen confirmed to the Star that he visited Toronto and had the chance to explore the city for a few days, but didn't work out.
'I got a crab cake on an avocado. I was looking for a Target and stuff but they told me (about) Shoppers Drug Mart,' said Queen.
'They was telling me Canada is very diverse, they was saying they have great food, whatever you're looking for. Fun activities definitely for someone that has been there for one time.'
Wolf, a former Ivy League player at Yale turned second-team all-Big Ten at Michigan, confirmed he worked out for about 10 teams, including the Raptors.
'Toronto is a great spot. If I'm lucky enough to play for them that'd be awesome,' Wolf said. 'Coach Darko (Rajakovic) I think he's a great mind. They like getting up and down, they like playing fast, they have young stars in Scottie Barnes and they have some great pieces around him.'
The Georgia product is a six-foot-11 forward known as a versatile defender. He worked out for 11 teams, including the Raptors, where he went out to dinner at Harbour 60 with front-office personnel.
'They have a … young core. I know they want to play fast, have versatility on the defensive side and the offensive side. I feel like I can contribute.'
The South Sudanese big man might be the player most linked to the Raptors. The Star didn't confirm whether Maluach worked out for Toronto, though he kept his meetings with NBA teams private when asked by media at the NBA draft combine. He's currently projected to be a top-10 pick.
The South Carolina forward interviewed with the Raptors at the combine and complimented the team's rebuild. Murray-Boyles worked out for Toronto.
'They have a lot of good scorers, they have Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, the list goes on. They have guys. I feel like I can be somebody that can come in and be a handyman, do that dirty work.'
The Arizona forward is big riser in the 2025 NBA draft ranks. Some mock drafts have pegged Bryant to go at No. 9 to Toronto. He didn't get the opportunity to work out with the Raptors but was complimentary of the front office.
'(Masai Ujiri) is a great dude. They have a lot of guys that are exactly like me. Long, lanky, defend multiple positions, shoot the ball, kind of do everything. They have multiple guys on that team that I kind of watch,' said Bryant.
Traoré, a point guard prospect out of France and projected first-round pick, told the Star that his first workout was in Toronto.
Georgetown's Thomas Sorber is known as a traditional big, which would fill a Raptors need, but has been recovering from an injury during the pre-draft cycle and didn't get to work out for the team. He did visit Toronto.
'Beautiful city. That was my first time outside the country as well,' said Sorber. 'They said they like the way I read the game as well. They're going to be looking out for me. I gotta be ready and hope to hear my name called.'
The Frenchman has been a late riser in this draft cycle with some mock drafts projecting him to land in Toronto. He hasn't worked out for teams since his pro season in Germany just concluded.
When asked by reporters which players he models him game after, Essengue gave a Raptors-themed answer.
'I'd say guys like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi,' he said. 'They can really do everything on the court. Play defense, dribble, shooting.'
BYU's Demin, a six-foot-nine point guard, worked out for 12 different teams in the last month, which included a workout with the Raptors in Buffalo.
'They are obviously a pretty tall team with Barnes. With him (and me) as a duo, it could be a really big duo,' said the 19-year-old. 'I think I can make much easier looks for him and the rest of the guys on the team, make their lives easier.'