Grading every Toronto Raptors move this offseason
Drafting Dewan Hernandez
With their first move of the offseason, the Toronto Raptors drafted Dewan Hernandez with the 59th pick of the NBA draft. Hernandez is a power forward/center out of the University of Miami who was suspended all of the 2018-2019 season, after agreeing to accept illegal benefits from an agent.
Picking at 59, NBA teams are just hoping to get someone with a pulse who can maybe stick to a roster. If you’re still in the NBA after a few years in the league as a late second-round pick, you’re a success.
Hernandez appears to have a chance. He’s springy, can finish around the basket, and has been rumoured to be adding a three-point shot (although we have not seen it in real competition yet). He has solid defensive instincts, and if developed properly, has a shot to be a rotation player.
Of course, no team thinks they’re drafting a lemon. Fanbases all believe that the player they select in the second round is going to be the one who pans out, despite what the probabilities that appear year after year.
Regardless of how it works out, the thought process was sound. Ujiri clearly thinks there is some type of market inefficiency from players who are forced to sit out a year. Between Hernandez and Sagaba Konate, Masai has developed another “type” to go along with his love for older players and those who picked up basketball later in life.
Toronto also used their mid-level exception to offer Hernandez a three-year deal, with no guarantees after year one. The move adds the upside of team control with no additional cost –a solid move for Toronto.
Probabilities tell us Dewan Hernandez is probably not going to work out. However, considering the location of the pick, Toronto did a nice job.