The court is illuminated at Scotiabank Arena ahead of the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors in Toronto on Sunday, June 2, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young.

Toronto Raptors to pick ninth overall in 2025 NBA Draft

by · CityNews

After months of anticipation, basketball fans north of the border finally have an answer.

The Toronto Raptors will have the ninth overall pick at the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft in June, after Monday’s lottery draw locked in the team order for the top 14 selections.

Toronto entered the day with the seventh-best odds (7.5 per cent) of leapfrogging to No. 1 and presumably drafting Duke standout Cooper Flagg, a 31.9-per-cent chance at getting into the top four and a 68.1-per-cent possibility of landing anywhere between Nos. 7-11.

The Raptors “earned” those odds by finishing the 2024-25 season with a 30-52 record while missing the playoffs for a third straight year.

Despite the team’s early struggles throughout an injury-riddled campaign, Toronto did go 20-21 over the second half while posting the NBA’s second-best defensive rating as the Raptors took advantage of the league’s easiest strength-of-schedule after the All-Star break.

Next season the Raptors will look to turn a corner with the additions trade-deadline acquisition Brandon Ingram and the ninth pick.

More to come