The Toronto Raptors walked into the 2026 NBA Draft with two picks, two needs, and a reputation for doing things their own way. After a 2025-26 season that ended somewhere between mediocre and disappointing, the front office needed to add pieces that fit both the roster and the culture. They took a long, versatile forward in the first round, then grabbed a defensive guard in the second. Here’s how those picks look now, and what they mean for a team trying to climb back into contention.
Allen Graves at No. 19: The Archetype Pick
The Raptors love a certain kind of player. It’s practically a meme at this point. If you’re a 6’7 to 6’9 forward with long arms, switchable defense, and the ability to do a little bit of everything, Toronto’s scouting department probably has your name circled. That tradition goes back to Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, and it continued this year with Allen Graves.
Graves fits the mold. He’s a defensive-minded forward who can guard multiple positions and use his length to bother shooters and disrupt passing lanes. That part is easy. What makes him interesting is the shooting. Graves connected on 41.3 percent of his threes last season, and there’s reason to believe that translates to the NBA. He has the mechanics and the confidence to become a legit floor spacer.
The Raptors already have Scottie Barnes, who can do everything on the floor except consistently knock down outside shots. Surrounding him with shooters who also play defense is the obvious path forward. Graves looks like that guy. He’s also an underrated offensive rebounder for someone his size, which helps on a team that sometimes goes through scoring droughts.
Could they have gone in a different direction? Sure. A center would have been nice, especially after Jakob Poeltl’s down year. But the draft board didn’t cooperate. The quality big men were gone, and Toronto wasn’t excited about the guards still available. So they stuck with what they know. That’s not always a bad thing.
Grade: A-
Jaden Bradley in the Second Round: Defense First
The Raptors identity is defense. That has been true since the championship run, through Nick Nurse and now under Darko Rajakovic. It’s not changing anytime soon. So when they took Jaden Bradley with their second-round pick, the message was clear: they want someone who can guard immediately.
Bradley is older than most of the prospects in this class, which is the main reason he slipped to the second round. He spent last season at Arizona and established himself as one of the toughest on-ball defenders in college basketball. He’s strong for a guard, physical, and smart about positioning. He doesn’t get blown by often, and he fights through screens like it’s personal.
Offensively, Bradley isn’t going to be the guy carrying the scoring load. But he doesn’t need to be. The Raptors have Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley, and Scottie Barnes to create shots. What they need is someone who can space the floor, make the right pass in the pick-and-roll, and not hurt them on that end. Bradley can do those things. He’s a solid spot-up shooter and a willing passer.
His ceiling might be lower than some of the younger guards taken ahead of him. But Toronto is trying to compete for a playoff spot next season, not wait three years for a project. Bradley can play minutes now, especially on a team that values defense as much as this one does. He’ll be asked to chase opposing guards around the court and knock down open shots when they come. That’s a role, and he’s ready for it.
Grade: B+
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