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A couple of snippets from various sources regarding the draft and more specifically the Raptors' preparation for the draft.

1. The more you talk to NBA executives and talent evaluators, the more frustration you sense about how little control they have over who they get to work out for them and when. The adjective heard over and over again regarding the pre-draft combine in Chicago last week, where prospective picks basically did some shooting and dribbling while people waiting to give them millions of dollars watched, was "joke."

2. Player agents are trying harder than ever to manipulate the draft outcome by limiting who their clients work out for. With the rookie wage scale in place, they can't impact the contract negotiations, so this is the best way for agents can prove their value.

3. The Raptors have already narrowed down their focus to four players, one of whom they are confident will be there at the ninth spot. They haven't had any of these four in for a workout yet, so all that remains is to find a fifth name -- a fall-back choice in case the unexpected happens -- to round out their list of possible picks.

4. Organizing draft workouts is expensive and time consuming and perhaps not all that vital if you already have a pretty clear plan for draft night.

All of which perhaps helps explain why:

5. The Raptors announced that they are cancelling their draft workout for Thursday.

So....

6. Watch with interest who ends up being worked out on Friday.

Also, poking around a bit, one name that is being linked to the Raptors is Demar Derozan, the athletic if unpolished freshman wing from USC.

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