Jakob Poeltl – 9th overall (2016)
Stuck with the ninth pick in an eight-man draft, the Toronto Raptors went for upside. Poeltl averaged just 9 points and 7 rebounds in his final college season but did so in 26 minutes per game. Often referred to as an Austrian Andrew Bogut, Jakob has significant upside. His selection was a bit peculiar with Jonas Valaciunas on the roster. His addition signaled that the Raptors brass was not completely satisfied with the Lithuanian’s lack of development in certain areas.
In hindsight, there were some intriguing names on the board at ninth overall, but the best of them went to the Toronto Raptors 27th overall in Pascal Siakam. Eventual rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon, Dejounte Murray, Taurean Prince, Caris LeVert, Ivica Zubac, and Domantas Sabonis were all still on the board at ninth overall.
Poeltl would spend only two seasons with the Toronto Raptors before being traded as part of a package for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in the summer of 2018. As a member of the Raptors Poeltl showed some flashes and at times looked like a better prospect than our starting center in Jonas Valanciunas. He was more of a traditional big, but he had the defensive and rebounding prowess to go with it.
Poeltl averaged 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game in 136 contests as a Toronto Raptor. Those numbers did not see much of a jump in 2018-19 as he was still utilized in a rotational role as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 5.5 points, 5.3 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game for San Antonio. He started 24 contests.
Poeltl’s career highs are as follows: 20 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocks, 3 steals. Those numbers were all achieved in separate games but serve to accentuate his upside. Poeltl may very well make a giant leap up these rankings when we revisit them next summer.