The Raptors have given us some clues as to who they might end up taking with the 19th and 50th picks in this year’s draft.
The 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to have one of the most seemingly loaded classes in a long time, with its top three of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson jostling for first place in a contest that is unlike that of many other years. With the Raptors having received only a low first-rounder along with a second, Toronto’s expectations for this draft have been tempered,
but some clarity has emerged regarding the prospects that the Raptors will be targeting.
Earlier this week, Raptors Assistant General Manager Dan Tolzman shed some light on what criteria the franchise is using to make their decisions to evaluate potential draft picks, as well as some thoughts around team construction.
Best man on the board
There has been debate as to whether the Raptors are more in need of a guard or a centre amidst the glut of forwards they currently have. One aspect of criticism towards the Raptors’ selection of Collin Murray-Boyles (over centre Khaman Maluach) was that the Raptors were simply adding players that lacked value to the team because of their position. But, that seems to have more than worked out, with the Raptors picking up an All-Rookie talent who’s been capable of playing the 5 in small ball lineups.
Tolzman has clarified that this philosophy has not changed, and that this year, Raptors will not draft for fit, rather, taking the best player available at 19th pick.
Big man not a sure selection
While the Raptors will have two opportunities to add to their big man roster (and likely will choose to do so), that first round draft pick may not be the centre that the team is so desperate for. However, the AGM has noted that the Raptors are certainly aware of their deficiency, and could look to free agency to bolster their ranks, rather than the draft.
There are a number of big names set to enter free agency, ranging from grizzled veterans like Nikola Vučević and Jusuf Nurkić, to guys on competitive teams potentially looking to change up their rosters, like Robert Williams III and Mitchell Robinson. The Raptors may opt to target some of these players rather than take a lesser prospect with a pick too high in the name of fit.
Workouts complete
The Raptors have, at this point, already worked out everyone who they’ve wanted to, and are currently evaluating those prospects internally. He added, however, that workouts were only a part of the process in making a draft pick. As of June 11th, Josh Lewenberg of TSN has noted the following names as having worked out for the Raptors.
Last minute trades?
The NBA Draft is set to begin less than a week from now, and the Raptors have indicated that it is still too early to tell what picks might be available to trade up or down to. “We really like 19,” Tolzman stated, and he also noted that there was “a premium you were probably going to pay” if the a team tried to jump ahead in such a hyped up draft.
He clarified, however, that in the next few days, more information would emerge as to what the market for trading picks might look like, but that information wasn’t on the table yet.
The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23rd and 24th. The Raptors will draft in both the first and second round at picks 19 and 50.
