The Toronto Raptors selected Allen Graves with the 19th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, surprising many by choosing the Santa Clara forward over more heralded prospects such as Labaron Philon and Cameron Carr. The decision, made by general manager Bobby Webster and the front office, prioritizes a ready-made role player with strong defensive instincts and analytics appeal.
Graves' Profile and Skills
Graves, standing nearly 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, is praised for his quick processing of the game, defensive versatility, and rebounding ability. However, he is not considered a major offensive threat at this stage. He won two state titles in Louisiana and is viewed as a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type. The Raptors opted for a likely contributor with a lower ceiling over riskier prospects, ignoring needs at guard and centre.
Recent Draft Success
The Raptors have had success in recent drafts, including Collin Murray-Boyles (ninth overall in 2025), Ja'Kobe Walter (19th in 2024), and Jamal Shead (45th in 2024). The team is building around Scottie Barnes but must now integrate Murray-Boyles and Graves into a crowded frontcourt. Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, and Ja'Kobe Walter also command minutes at small forward and shooting guard.
Fit and Potential
Graves played power forward in college but can also play and guard small forward. If his three-point shooting improves, he can stretch the floor. However, the pick does not address Toronto's major deficiencies. Several players the Raptors coveted were taken just before their pick, including Stanford's Ebuka Okorie (17th), Christian Anderson Jr. (18th), centre Hannes Steinbach (14th), and point guard Bennett Stirtz (16th).
Defensive Prowess
ESPN's Jay Bilas ranked Graves third or fourth overall defensively in the draft and tops among non-centres. Last year, Bilas called Murray-Boyles the best defender in the draft. Graves mostly came off the bench for Santa Clara, the alma mater of Steve Nash, though Barnes also came off the bench at Florida State.
Top of the Draft
The top of the draft went as expected. Washington selected BYU's AJ Dybantsa first overall, a scorer compared to Tracy McGrady and Paul George. Utah took Kansas guard Darryn Peterson second, bypassing Duke's Cameron Boozer. Memphis selected Boozer third, a fit beside Toronto-born centre Zach Edey. Chicago took North Carolina power forward Caleb Wilson fourth. The Los Angeles Clippers selected Illinois point guard Keaton Wagler fifth. Brooklyn added Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. sixth. Atlanta took Houston's Kingston Flemings seventh. Dallas picked Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. eighth. Milwaukee, after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, selected Arizona's Brayden Burries ninth.
The Raptors' decision to draft Graves reflects a commitment to analytics and defensive-minded players, but questions remain about how he will fit into an already crowded rotation.
