Toronto Raptors Select Jakob Poeltl In NBA Draft

With the ninth pick in the NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Jacob Poeltl, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The 20-year-old provides the franchise with another option at the center position. At 7’1?, 240 pounds, Poeltl gives the Raptors a potential replacement for Bismack Biyombo if he leaves via free agency.

The Toronto Raptors are in quite the enviable position. Not only were they able to win 56 games and made the NBA Playoffs, but the team was also in possession of the ninth overall selection in the draft. It means that they’re able to acquire a player that could potentially make them even more equipped to compete next season.

Many have stated that Jakob Poeltl would have gone much higher in the NBA Draft had this been a generation ago. He’s a true back to the basket center. Unfortunately for him, the National Basketball Association has leaned more towards small ball basketball.

.@Steve21Smith and @ClarkKelloggCBS talk @Raptors' Jakob Poeltl… https://t.co/9SJsyOiGLm

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 25, 2016

Jakob Poeltl is considered one of the players that is most ready to contribute immediately in the NBA. He has plenty of fundamentals. Poeltl might not be ready to be a starter in the National Basketball Association, but he can be someone that can join the rotation for the Toronto Raptors as a backup center.

According to Sports Illustrated, Jakob Poeltl is ready to help the Toronto Raptors on both offense and defense. That’s usually rare for rookies, as most of them need to improve on one side of the ball before being able to contribute on the professional level.

In modern basketball, long range shooting is something that is considered very valuable for front court players. Unfortunately for Jakob Poeltl, that’s not one of the many skills that he possesses. Poeltl is really a traditional center who is much more comfortable with scoring with his back to the basket.

Jakob Poeltl has all the chance in the world at being a rotational player for the Toronto Raptors. Bismack Biyombo has shown a ton of potential. He’s also a free agent. NBA teams are going to be lining up this summer to offer him the maximum contract to see if he can be their new starting center.

The addition of Jakob Poeltl means that the Toronto Raptors are looking to win now. There are plenty of players in the NBA Draft who have higher potential. However, the Raptors wanted someone that can play now. Poeltl is someone that is likely to play at the start of the regular season.

According to SB Nation, Jakob Poeltl is hoping that he can pattern his game in the NBA after Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol. The Spaniard developed his outside shooting to the point where he is a threat to the three-point line now, so Poeltl could be looking to do the same thing.

Jakob Poeltl is more than likely going to be backing up Jonas Valanciunas when he joins the Toronto Raptors. It’ll be tough to secure a whole lot of minutes because the Raptors consider Valanciunas the third best player behind Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

There’s a very good chance that DeMar DeRozan signs another contract with the Toronto Raptors this summer. If he does that, then Jakob Poeltl will be joining a roster that should be able to compete in the NBA. They might not be able to get past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they should be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Jakob Poeltl is now in the NBA. As the ninth pick in the draft, he’s expected to immediately provide the Toronto Raptors with some help.

[Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images]