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Realistic Expectations for Toronto Raptors Rookie Jakob Poeltl in 2016-17
- Updated: July 26, 2016
By selecting Utah’s Jakob Poeltl with the ninth pick in the 2016 NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors preemptively addressed their one roster hole that free agency created.
Poeltl was one of the most pro-ready players in the 2016 rookie class, and he has an opportunity to fill the backup center spot left vacant by Bismack Biyombo, who signed with the Orlando Magic.
Poeltl was an unknown two years ago when he arrived from Austria, but he quickly got on the NBA’s radar when he made an immediate impact at Utah. He was considered a possible lottery pick after his freshman season, but he decided to return after Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak told him he didn’t think he was ready.
“I think he knew what was right for him, and he tackled every single thing that was considered a weakness a year ago and made improvements and really enhanced his opportunity,” Krystkowiak told Bleacher Report leading up to the draft. “He just kept approaching his weaknesses: his free-throw shooting, his strength, his moves, his defense not fouling. He stayed in the moment and kept trying to improve all of those things.”
The proof was in the numbers. Poeltl won Pac-12 Player of the Year and was a second-team All-American as a sophomore.
The Raptors saw Poeltl’s dependability in summer league. He didn’t blow anyone away with 6.8 points per game on 66.7 percent shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, but he played smart basketball on both ends and didn’t try to do too much.
Team Fit
Poeltl can provide some of the same things that made Biyombo so valuable: rim protection, rebounding and the ability to guard multiple positions in a pinch. Poeltl isn’t going to offer the same level of shot blocking or rebounding, but he is a superior offensive player.
The big Austrian has excellent hands and made his living his freshman year by working out of the pick-and-roll with fellow Raptor Delon Wright. He expanded his game as a sophomore to become more of a low-post scorer, but those types of touches will be rare in the NBA.
He already experienced that in summer league. He rarely got the ball in the post. But when he did, including several possessions against the Dallas Mavericks, he made the most of it.
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