The Toronto Raptors were winners in the 2021 NBA draft lottery, jumping up to the fourth pick despite holding the seventh-best odds.
The fourth pick is especially valuable given that the consensus around the 2021 class is that four prospects have distinguished themselves from the pack. This leaves the Raptors with some consolation following a disastrous year in Tampa that was sidetracked by COVID-19, which led the front office to pivot towards a rebuild by resting key players which maximized their lottery odds.
But the decision for the Raptors isn't as clear-cut as taking whichever one of the four prospects is left over after Detroit, Houston, and Cleveland draft in the first three slots.