Toronto Raptors Predicted to Take Freshman Big Man in NBA Draft

With the NBA Draft Lottery complete, all 30 teams officially know which pick they will have on June 23rd. After ending their three-year playoff drought, the Toronto Raptors will be selecting at No. 19 in the first round, and the pick will be extremely valuable to add to the young core. 

There was a lot to be happy about for the Raptors this season, seeing an increase in regular-season wins from the prior season by 16. They were able to push the heavily favored Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first-round series, and without some unfortunately timed injuries, they may have advanced to play the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. 

The Raptors have plenty of issues to solve going into next season, but adding another young piece will certainly add to their ability to contend in years to come. Another option is for general manager Bobby Webster to pursue a blockbuster trade to acquire another star or better role players to surround Scottie Barnes, and the first-round pick could be a valuable asset. 

Assuming they will keep the pick, ESPN has compiled a new Mock Draft after the lottery reveal.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has Toronto taking the starting center out of the University of Houston, Chris Cenac Jr. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound freshman prospect does not wow teams with his college stats or accolades, but his intangibles displayed at the combine change his trajectory dramatically. Possessing a 7-foot-5 wingspan and a 41.5-inch vertical, his potential abilities at the highest level outshine those of most other big men in the draft. 

There is a solid chance that he doesn’t fall to No. 19 because of his impressive combine showing, but he would fill a substantial hole for the Raptors if he does: front-court depth. Starting center Jakob Poeltl is a difficult player to gauge after missing 24 straight games due to a lower back strain this season. If he can return to the form of himself that earned a three-year contract extension, then the Raptors will have no problem with him remaining as their starter for the coming years. 

However, the backup center role is something Toronto lacked this season. The position was fulfilled by Sandro Mamukelashvili, who had the best year of his career. The problem was that he was only 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds; his strengths included outside shooting and shot creation, not rebounding and interior defense, as the Raptors needed.