No. 2: Drew Timme, PF, Gonzaga
Despite the strong start the Raptors have had with the injection of Birch, it’s still unlikely that he’s the answer to Toronto’s long-term questions at the centre position. The first round of this draft holds one blue-chip centre prospect in Evan Mobley, but without some real lottery luck he might be a little out of the Raptors’ price range.
After Mobley, the high first round is mostly a mix of guards and wings, which means that for a Raptors team still looking for a young big they may want to look to the picks post 30. And if so, Timme could be perfect.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. Timme was the star big for the undefeated Gonzaga team that made the NCAA Finals this year. Built strong at 6’10 and 235 pounds, Timme had some huge games for ZAG finishing around the hoop, rebounding, and finding teammates on cuts, averaging 19 points and seven rebounds per game while shooting an absurd 65% from the field.
What sets him apart has been his work ethic as a big man. Timme has never coasted on his natural abilities, but rather has worked hard to develop his finesse and shooting. Traveling to Europe between his freshman and sophomore seasons to train and rework his shot mechanics. He’s still not much of a long-range gunner, but he has been able to consistently hit from mid.
Raptors draft: Drew Timme could be a quality addition.
Timme’s game and play style is something the Raptors don’t currently have on their roster. Not a high-flying athlete or small-ball five, Timme plays the centre position in a more traditional vein. High post actions, screen and roll, interior finishing, and nice soft hands for floaters and hook shots.
His playing style is similar to another former Bulldog in Domantas Sabonis. While maybe the all-star level talent Sabonis is, the mobility at his size combined with the old-school interior game and the soft touch from mid-range starts to look like a nice piece for a team looking for a new frontcourt.
For the Raptors, Timme would bring a lot of what we’d hoped we were getting from Aron Baynes. But with Baynes looking like he might return to Australia sooner rather than later, it would help to have a big, savvy, skilled project like Timme.