The Toronto Raptors were busy at the 2024 NBA Draft.
They began the draft with two picks and finished with four, none of which were originally Toronto’s. They drafted Ja’Kobe Walter in the first round, followed by Jonathan Mogbo, Jamal Shead, and Ulrich Chomche in the second round.
The NBA Draft discussion centered on the lottery’s top picks or the Los Angeles Lakers’ picks, which included LeBron James’ son Bronny. The Raptors’ picks did not fall into either of those categories, and they have not made any ripples in the weeks since the draft.
The Raptors had a quiet, bland draft
That’s also why the Raptors were not mentioned much in a recent ESPN survey of NBA executives and scouts about the 2024 draft. It was an intriguing assessment of how the league as a whole sees this class, and how Summer League action has already changed their perception.
It’s logical for the most current information to take precedence in the decision-making process, and players who stood out in Las Vegas were included in the poll, including Terrence Shannon Jr. and Tristan da Silva, who returned from strong summer seasons. Reed Sheppard was the consensus player to watch in the class after a successful performance in Vegas.
The Raptors had an up-and-down Summer League and lacked a strong player, fueling speculation that they would fly under the radar of industry officials. As a result, it was unexpected to see a Raptors draft pick receive a vote in at least one category.
When asked to identify a single “biggest draft steal,” one NBA executive chose Jamal Shead, a guard from Houston selected 45th overall by the Toronto Raptors. ESPN did not provide more comments, but it was interesting to see Shead’s name appear among Bub Carrington, Kel’el Ware, and Dalton Knecht.
Can Shead live up to the selection?
Last year, Shead was a consensus first-team All-American for the Houston Cougars, winning many national Defensive Player of the Year awards as well as Big 12 Player of the Year. He is an absolute bulldog on defense, both at the point of attack and in rotation with the team defense.
The offensive side of the ball will most likely determine where Shead’s career goes. If he can be a plus shooter and a solid backup point guard in terms of playmaking and ball-handling, his defense will take him to the next level. Given his current shot and score bag, that is far from the most likely conclusion, but it is certainly possible.
Depending on how you interpret the phrase “steal” and how it pertains to value, Shead will benefit by finishing 45th rather than 15th, but he still has a long way to go before living up to such lofty expectations. It would be fascinating to see why the executive chose Shead; do they view him as a starting point guard someday? A high-end backup? Can he play alongside Immanuel Quickley or only as his backup?
With Jonathan Mogbo a reach at 31 and Ulrich Chomche a longshot developmental project at 57, Shead was the correct Raptors player to select. He has the potential to be one of the top 25 players in this draft, if not better, thus he was an excellent value at 45. Is he a rising star? Probably not. If he can be good, however, it may validate this executive’s belief in Shead and his potential.
