Toronto Raptors Add to Front Court by Drafting Jakob Poeltl, Pascal Siakam
The Toronto Raptors used their two first-round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft to address their frontcourt depth, selecting Jakob Peoeltl and Pascal Siakam.
With the No. 9 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Jakob Poeltl. Centre, from Utah University.
When NBA commissioner Adam Silver made that announcement on Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, Toronto Raptors fans shared mixed emotions about the selection.
Poeltl, a 7-foot-1 centre with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, isn’t a sexy pick that will inject excitement into the fan base. Instead, he’s a relatively safe pick with the potential to become a nice well-rounded rotational player.
Related Story: What Millsap Could Bring to the Raptors
While some feel he doesn’t necessarily fit where the new NBA is heading, myself included, others think he could carve out a long and productive career. Here’s what one anonymous scout had to say about Poeltl when talking to Sports Illustrated’s Seth Davis before the NBA Draft.
"“Classic low block center. The league has gone away form that, which is to his advantage. How athletic is he in a quick-twitch league? He’s going to be really good. The improvements he made in rebounding and free throw shooting were impressive. He’s just scratching the surface. If you watch him guard pick and roll, he can switch against guards. He’s grown on me. People always forget you have to wait on bigs. I’m a little more high on him than most people. He doesn’t shy away from contact and he runs the floor very well.”"
With an 8-foot-10 standing reach, and deceptive mobility that allows him to effectively defend the pick-and-roll, there are promising components to Poeltl’s game. The 20-year-old Austrian native still needs to add strength to his frame, but he does have a nice touch around the rim, where he shot 69 percent in college.
In all likelihood Poeltl will be a backup centre for the Raptors and is a “safe pick”, which is something fans are not accustomed to seeing from general manager Masai Ujiri. For what it’s worth, he’s a heck of a teammate according to his former college point guard, and current Raptors reserve point guard, Delon Wright.
More from Tip of the Tower
- Cam Phillips making his mark on Toronto Argonauts offence
- Toronto Argonauts: 4 storylines ahead of matchup against Redblacks
- Federico Bernardeschi ready for new challenge with Toronto FC
- Toronto Argonauts overcome Roughriders in entertaining Touchdown Atlantic
- Buffalo Bills: Von Miller drawing inspiration from Bruce Smith
Perhaps more interesting than the selection of Poeltl, however, is that the Raptors tried to deal the pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Serge Ibaka, according to ESPN‘s Marc Stein. The package the Thunder ended up getting for Ibaka was one I think the Raptors had no chance of matching, but either way, it was an interesting report.
As for the Raptors second first-round pick at No. 27, they decided to go the unconventional route and pass on name brand prospects like Skal Labissiere and Deyonta Davis, and select Pascal Siakam from New Mexico State.
Standing at 6-foot-10, Siakam fits the description of a typical Ujiri prospect. He has a 7-foot-3 wingspan, a 9-foot standing reach, and a motor that never stops. Offensively he’s a project, particularly his ability, or lack thereof, to shoot the basketball, but his combination of size and athleticism makes him an interesting prospect.
I’m probably trying to talk myself into him a bit, especially since a similar player like Chieck Diallo was still on the board, but I’m guessing that he really impressed Ujiri and the Raptors’ brain trust during his workout in Buffalo last week.
Next: 5 Worst Draft Picks in Raptors History
Overall, both Poeltl and Siakam address an area of need for the Raptors, which was to add size and depth to their frontcourt. Once Terrence Ross‘ poison pill contract kicks in on July 1, Poeltl could be a trendy name attached to Raptors trade rumours. But in the meantime, he should pencil in as the Raptors backup centre, should the team not re-sign Bismack Biyombo.