I can vividly recall who I really wanted the Raptors to pick ninth overall in the 2025 NBA Draft: it largely boiled down to either Khaman Maluach or Carter Bryant. I liked guys like Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and Jeremiah Fears too, but of course, by the time it was the Raptors’ turn to make a selection, none of those names were still available.
All of that is still in the Raptors Draft tab of Raptors Rapture, so go check it out if you want a little chuckle. Honestly, I sometimes cringe when I think back because the players I didn’t want the Raptors to even consider targeting have mostly turned into studs.
Enter the prospect who Toronto ended up selecting with the ninth pick: Collin Murray-Boyles.
I was largely under the impression that CMB’s lack of a jump shot and his redundant fit among a roster full of non-shooting forwards could hurt the Raptors’ competitive hopes. Man, was I way off. Not only has CMB proven he can shoot an acceptable three-ball, even if it’s a small sample, but he’s also shown a real commitment to making winning plays. Murray-Boyles' versatile skillset allows him to take on matchups against stronger, more experienced NBA players with confidence.
CMB's tangible impacts across the board have been a massive game-changer for this Raptors season already, as Raptors Rapture's Daniel O'Connor previously highlighted.
Raptors can rejoice in the Collin Murray-Boyles draft pick
He's dealt with some injury issues, but whenever CMB is healthy, and considering the Raptors' urgent need for someone to step in for Jakob Poeltl, you can count on Murray-Boyles to be a regular part of the rotation. He's definitely earned it and stepped up in a high-impact regard.
Overall, the 2025 NBA Draft has proven to be a solid gem pool, but that can't really be said for these players taken after Collin Murray-Boyles. In particular, I'm talking about Khaman Maluach, Noa Essengue, and Carter Bryant. I saw potential in all three prospects and found them appealing, but with three months of their rookie seasons wrapped up, Murray-Boyles has clearly pulled ahead of them.
Maluach, who was largely a Raptors darling — and perhaps a favorite of Masai Ujiri during the pre-draft process — seems to be more of a developmental project for the years ahead.Currently, he's struggling to gain any real momentum with the still-competitive Phoenix Suns, who don’t have room to give him a meaningful role. If he deserved more minutes, he would've gotten them, but players like Oso Ighodaro and Mark Williams are ahead of him.
Essengue, on the other hand, didn’t really get a fair shot at a rookie campaign after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Bryant is battling through a tough lineup of competitive rotation threats in San Antonio. He's still working to earn a consistent role, but he's a long way from it. Still, I believe his 3-and-D potential was very plug-and-play right from the start at the NBA level.
The only two guys Toronto might look back on with a bit of regret for passing on are Cedric Coward, the 11th pick, and Derik Queen, who was the 13th. Both have been key contributors to their teams, fellow NBA Rising Stars, and likely going to be top All-Rookie candidates. However, considering Toronto’s system, I still believe Collin Murray-Boyles was the right choice all along.