Toronto Raptors: 2016 Offseason Grades
Draft Pick No. 1
With the ninth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, general manager Masai Ujiri had plenty of high-upside prospects — the kind of player he’s regularly dabbled with in the past — to choose from. Instead, he chose an NBA-ready prospect who should carve out his place in the league as a consistent fringe starter/backup big for years to come, Jakob Poeltl.
A 7’1″ center from the University of Utah, Poeltl is one of the safer, more refined low-post scorers in this year’s draft class. He averaged a healthy 17.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game on 64.6 percent shooting in his final season with the Utes, he’s a hard worker and he’s got a high basketball IQ.
Raptors are very high on Poeltl. Was at the top of their board at 9. They had him higher than roughly half the guys that went in top-8
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) June 24, 2016
For a seven-footer like this, Poeltl’s skilled touch, rebounding and shot-blocking ability should help him find his role on a Raptors team that could use the frontcourt depth, especially with Bismack Biyombo leaving in free agency.
In NBA Summer League, Poeltl averaged 6.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game while shooting an efficient 66.7 percent from the field.
If he can get stronger, develop a more respectable jumper and even come close to providing the kind of numbers he posted in Summer League as a rookie, this safe pick will start paying dividends from day one.
Grade: B+
Next: Draft Pick No. 2