Tuesday was a good day for the Toronto Raptors. As the front office assembled in front of a television at a bar in Chicago following the day’s NBA Draft Combine action, the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery unfolded. With Fred VanVleet representing the organization at the lottery virtually, the Raptors moved up to the No. 4 overall selection.
After finishing the 2020-21 season with a 27-45 record, the Raptors started the night with the seventh-best odds. The team had a 31.9 percent chance of a top-four pick and an 8.5 percent chance of securing the fourth overall pick.
“It’s a silver lining on a tough season, but the work starts now,” Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster told the media during a zoom call shortly after the lottery concluded.