"Mogbo was an athletic, defensively sound forward with undersized center abilities, who possessed a diverse skillset capable of stuffing the stat sheet. Well, everywhere but a consistent three-point shot, at least. This allure, as a very prototypical Masai Ujiri prospect, was even more magnified by this key Raptors connection - Jonathan Mogbo's close friendship with Scottie Barnes, which dates back to their childhood."
"If you do a bit more digging into this story, you'll see that it was noted by people within the Raptors organization. However, Bobby Webster has said that he was unaware of how close their friendship actually is, and that the pick wasn't made just to please Scottie Barnes. But let's be honest - adding one of your best friends to the team is definitely going to give a major morale boost."
"I never really expected Mogbo to become a massive piece for the Raptors, but after a solid rookie season that had flashes of double-double and triple-double brilliance - and plenty of that unique versatility - I figured it wouldn't be long before he secured a solid spot in the young, blossoming Raptors bench. But now we're in the big 2026, as the kids might call it,"
Toronto used the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to select Jonathan Mogbo. Mogbo is an athletic, defensively sound forward with undersized-center abilities and a diverse skillset, though lacking a consistent three-point shot. Mogbo's close childhood friendship with Scottie Barnes was noted internally, though GM Bobby Webster said he did not know its depth and denied the pick was made to please Barnes. Toronto viewed the 31st pick as a prime spot and made a calculated risk choosing Mogbo over other available prospects. After a rookie season with flashes of double-double and triple-double versatility, Mogbo found himself largely outside the rotation by 2026.
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