9. Toronto Raptors (Via New York): Marquese Chriss, Washington
The Toronto Raptors had their best season in franchise history last season, and with a smart decision made by the front office in the past, they have a chance to go even further next year.
Masai Ujiri has a lot of options here at pick number nine. With the resurgence of Patrick Patterson in the playoffs this year, the power forward position becomes less of a need. So the Raptors could look at a replacement for soon-to-be free agent DeMar DeRozan, with Furkan Korkmaz and Timothe Luwawu still on the board. However, I do believe they will go with the “big” pick here and select Marquese Chriss.
Chriss is a high risk, high reward type gamble for Toronto. The freshman is an athletic post man who can shoot from the outside. He’s definitely raw offensively, but he still has the tools to develop into the ideal four man in three or four years.
The former Washington Huskie has also shown great defensive potential. Standing 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Chriss has the length to bother opposing big men. He’s in no way a good defender right now, but in the right system, he could flourish on that side of the ball.
Of course, he is not without flaws. Chriss’s basketball IQ is poor and he lacks mental toughness. He also isn’t a very motivated rebounder, either. But with his world class athleticism and lengthy frame, he’s still a risk worth taking.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks