Raptors Eye Best Player Available in Deep 2026 NBA Draft
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are sticking to their script heading into next week’s NBA Draft, with assistant general manager Dan Tolzman emphasizing the team’s commitment to selecting the best player available at No. 19 overall. The draft is set for June 23rd and 24th in Brooklyn, NY, and comes amid what many consider the deepest draft class in recent memory.
Addressing the Need for Athletic Bigs
With Jakob Poeltl as the only true center on the roster—and the only player taller than 6-foot-3—the Raptors are keenly aware of their lack of rim protection and lob-threat capability. Tolzman acknowledged this gap directly: “We have a lot of really interesting big players, but I think everyone knows we have no lob threats (and no shot blocking); that’s probably the big player side of things we’ve been missing.”
Poeltl, who turns 31 in October, missed 36 games last season due to a lower back injury and averaged just 0.7 blocks per game. In Toronto’s seven-game playoff series against Cleveland, he played only 19.1 minutes per game. While he remains under contract through 2029-30 on a four-year, $104 million deal, the team sees value in adding a younger, more athletic big man who can switch defensively and protect the rim.
Names like Chris Cenac Jr., Morez Johnson Jr., and Hannes Steinbach could be available when Toronto picks at 19. Tolzman noted that such a player could introduce a new wrinkle to the offense while shoring up defensive vulnerabilities: “It’s going to be a wrinkle in our offense that I think could expose other things.”
Guards Also on the Radar
While big men are a priority, the Raptors haven’t ignored the guard pool. Toronto ranked 20th in three-point percentage last season (35.4%), highlighting a need for improved shot creation. Tolzman confirmed the team has done its due diligence on available guards, including Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson and Baylor’s Cameron Carr, both of whom could be in range at pick 19.
“If a lot of those guards go early, then there are a lot of bigs in that area of ours, so we got to know that position as well,” Tolzman said. “The same thing applies when you compare all of these guys side by side: How do you pit them against each other? That’s what we’re working on right now.”
Culture and Character Matter
Beyond positional needs, Tolzman stressed that the Raptors prioritize players who impact both ends of the floor and embody a strong work ethic. “There’s definitely a certain type of player we’re looking for when it comes to making an impact on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively,” he said. “And from there we try to find people who are good characters, who bring a level of toughness to not only the game but also the work they put into it.”
He added that many prospects at this stage are still developing: “Just people who are committed to getting better, because so many of them that we would even bother with at 19 or 50, they’re just scratching the surface of what they can be, but it’s up to them to get to the next levels. If you bring in the right people who take that approach, then we’ll get the best out of it, just like they get it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2026.
