TORONTO – The message was clear from Dan Tolzman.
The Toronto Raptors will likely be sticking to the script in going for the most effective player available in next week’s NBA draft.
With the deepest draft class in recent memory on offer, the team’s assistant general manager shared some insight into a possible path to take at pick No. 19. The draft is happening on June 23-24 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“We’ve got numerous really interesting bigs but I feel everyone knows we don’t (have) lob threats (and) shot blocking; that’s probably the side of the bigs that we’ve lacked,” Tolzman said.
“And so, taking an in depth take a look at that … it’s going to be a wrinkle in our offence that I feel could unlock another stuff.”
The query was posed in regard to a difficulty many of the league now faces: finding premium bigs to deal with the issue the San Antonio Spurs pose with superstar Victor Wembenyama.
“I feel everybody wants bigs that may step out on the perimeter, not only offensively but defensively too,” Tolzman said. “Because as you see within the playoffs, it’s all about matchups. If you happen to can put people in actions and check out to hunt the matchups that you just want; you would like your bigs to have the ability to modify around.”
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Seven-footer Jakob Poeltl is the one true centre on the Raptors roster, and the one player taller than six-foot-nine.
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Nevertheless, Poeltl is popping 31 in October and missed 36 games resulting from injuries, namely a nasty lower back.
While he’s a very good passer, he doesn’t pose a threat on the perimeter, nor does he possess the athleticism and rim protecting chops (0.7 blocks per game last season) to scare teams from driving to the basket. He only played 19.1 minutes per game in Toronto’s seven-game series against Cleveland.
With Poeltl locked right into a four-year, US$104 million deal through 2029-30, the Raptors may gain advantage from drafting a younger, more athletic and gifted big man. Chris Cenac Jr., Morez Johnson Jr., and Hannes Steinbach are among the many names that would fall to 19.
Although there are quite a lot of good bigs available, much of the hype around this draft has been concerning the guards.
Tolzman acknowledged that the team has also done its due diligence on the guards available. Toronto finished twentieth in three-point percentage (35.4 per cent) and may gain advantage from added shot creation.
Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson and Baylor’s Cameron Carr are the most important names expected to fall near the range of the Raptors’ pick.
“If numerous those guards do go early then there’s … quite a bit bigs in that range of us as well so we got to know that position as well,” Tolzman said. “Same thing as you compare all these guys side by side, how do you stack them out face to face. That’s what we’re working on straight away.”
Tolzman said the Raptors are on the lookout for a certain demeanour of their draft picks, no matter position.
“There’s definitely a certain form of player that we search for by way of with the ability to impact either side of the ball, offence, defence,” he said. “And from there, we attempt to get guys which can be good characters that bring the extent of toughness to not only the sport but in addition to the The work they put in away from (it).
“Just guys which can be committed to convalescing because so lots of these these guys that we can be taking a look at 19 or 50 even, they’re just scratching the surface on what they might be however it’s gonna be on them to get to those next levels. If you happen to usher in the appropriate those that have that approach, then we’re getting the most effective out of it too, identical to they’re getting it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press