Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal

The Toronto Raptors need a center. That may not be their primary motive for making this trade, but it feels like a starting point.

Jakob Poeltl feels perfect for this roster. He’s not such a prominent figure that he’ll demand a massive role. The Raptors can use him in situational minutes if they prefer to continue exploring Siakam-at-the-5 formations. When they need traditional big man minutes, Poeltl will be there.

In fact, they could hardly ask for a better fallback. Poeltl is a high-end rim protector who can also defend in space. He’s a strong pick-and-roll finisher. Basically, he’s exactly what Nick Nurse is currently missing in his rotation.

Even still, that ninth overall pick is the selling point for the Raptors here. They’d have a number of interesting selections on the board. If they’re lucky, Dyson Daniels will still be on the board. He’s a 6’8 point guard with supreme floor vision: in other words, a perfect fit for this team’s playmaking wing-heavy philosophy.

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Otherwise, Jeremy Sochan fits a similar description. He’s less polished offensively than Daniels, but he might be the best defensive player in this whole draft. In any event, the Raptors could use this pick to select a player who factors prominently into their future.