One of the big surprises at the trade deadline was the front office failing to add a player at power forward or center, but with the second best record in the Eastern Conference, it appears management wanted to give this roster a chance at succeeding without messing with team chemistry.
With the success of the last two years, it could mean good things for the franchise. Winning attracts free agents and with a likely top-10 pick in June, the future looks bright.
The latest mocks from the major sports sites all agree that adding a big-bodied player is a must. Toronto will have several options with their first choice, but Utah big man Jakob Poeltl appears to be the best option. At 7’0″ and 240 pounds, the center has the size needed to help in the paint and while his offensive game might not translate into big numbers in the NBA, his work on the glass and his ability to block shots, makes him a logical choice.
Diamond Stone of Maryland is another option and a youngster that has climbed quickly up the latest player rankings. At 6’10” he doesn’t have the size to play center at the next level, but he would be a great fit at power forward and definitely give this squad some much-needed help in the front court.
It gets a bit blurry later in the opening round, but plenty of young talent with size will still be available. The latest from Chad Ford of ESPN suggests the front office takes a look at forward Domantas Sabonis of Gonzaga. Despite not having the season fans and experts thought, the youngster has the size and bulk to help on the boards.
Free agency will be key this summer, but these two picks could give the fans a glimpse of what the Toronto Raptors will look like in the future and with the right moves, this franchise could be well on its way to become one of the best in the league over the next five years.
