Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri’s approach to the 2014 NBA Draft was shrouded in mystery. He went young and off the board, taking Brazilian Bruno Caboclo 20th overall.
There was much less secrecy heading into the 2015 draft. The Raptors’ needs included defence and a piece ready to contribute, and they added a 23-year-old potential ball hawk with point guard Delon Wright out of Utah.
Here’s what you need to know about Delon Wright.
Name: Delon Wright
Position: Point guard
Age: 23
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 178 lb.
College: Utah
Ujiri may have played his hand when he shipped guard Greivis Vasquez to the Milwaukee Bucks. He quickly added some depth with Wright.
The fit
Wright should mesh well with head coach Dwayne Casey’s style. His speed could help him assume a defensive stopper role at the two, while his overall skill will allow him to contribute at the one, where his size will certainly be an asset.
At 23, Wright wasn’t going to land in the lottery. Instead, he steps into an ideal situation where he could jump into the rotation on a Raptors team that’s closer to contending than rebuilding.
3-and-D
Terrence Ross fell flat as a 3-and-D presence on the wing. Could Wright step up to fill that role?
His three-point shooting improved to 35.6 per cent in 2014-15 from 22.2 per cent a season earlier. Consider him a work in progress as an outside shooter.
It’s an area where the Raptors need help, and Wright’s defence will be a welcome addition, but he’s not exactly known as a finisher either.
An unorthodox path
Wright spent two years in junior college prior to landing in Utah. His brother Dorell currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The younger Wright struggled with academics in high school, and basketball, too, for that matter. He failed to make his varsity team at Leuzinger high school in Lawndale, Calif. His school work suffered, as USA Today’s Nicole Auerbach detailed in an excellent profile.
Now, he’s a NBA first-round draft pick who’s working feverishly to finish his degree. He’s a classic late-bloomer.
The highlights
