Tuesday Night kicked off the 1st round of the NBA Draft as 30 of college basketball and international basketball's biggest stars heard their names called kicking off their journey in the NBA. On Wednesday Night, the draft continues as another 30 players will get to begin their journey towards stardom. The Oregon Ducks didn't have any players picked on Night 1, but Day 2 looks to be the day for the Ducks.
Oregon Basketball only has 1 former player projected to be picked this year in Senior center Nate Bittle. After spending 4 seasons in Eugene, Nate Bittle heads to the professional ranks where he'll look to stay healthy, and continue his development into a rotational piece wherever he ends up.
Nate Bittle earns perfect opportunity in Day 2 Mock Draft
The dust has settled on the 1st round of the NBA Draft, allowing everyone to reset and focus on the second night. After all the chaos of the 1st round, NBA Draft experts have adjusted their boards, and accounted for all the trades we saw unfold, allowing them to project where the remaining prospects will end up.
Christopher Kline of Fansided.com has Nate Bittle coming off the board 50th overall to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday Night in his newest mock draft following the 1st round. Kline has the following to say about Bittle's ability along with his potential in Toronto.
"Nate Bittle enters the NBA as an older prospect with a lengthy injury history, but he's an analytics darling with a massive 7-foot-5 wingspan. He can pass and step out behind the 3-point line. If he can stay on the floor, Bittle is a potential value add late in the second round, especially for a team with a dire need at center like Toronto."Christopher Kline
Landing in Toronto would give Nate Bittle the perfect opportunity to contribute on a Playoff caliber team. This past season, the Raptors took the Cleveland Cavaliers to 7 games in the 1st round of the Playoffs, and now they'll look to build on their successful season. Nate Bittle would have a great chance to be a part of the team taking that next step.
Arguably the biggest need for the Toronto Raptors is finding quality minutes from big men to round out the rotation. Jakob Poetl and Sandro Mamukelashvili both struggled to make a major impact in the Playoffs against the Cavs, and Bittle fits the mold of a player who could better fit this modern era of the NBA.
Nate Bittle is a career 32.8% shooter from 3 point range which would bring more spacing to the Raptors offense. On the interior, Nate Bittle's 7-foot frame with his massive wingspan could make him a great defender at the rim as he continues to develop his game. The ability for Bittle to play on the outside reflects what teams like the Spurs and Knicks both did with their offenses this postseason which is becoming the best model in the NBA.
Obviously, Nate Bittle would prefer his name to be called sooner rather than later when the Draft resumes on Wednesday Night. At the end of the day, it's more about where you're picked than when you're picked, and landing with a Playoff contender like the Raptors may be the best possible outcome for a player with Bittle's upside.
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