The Toronto Raptors made a very strong draft choice at No. 33 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, as they addressed their lack of tremendous height by adding 7-1 Arizona center Christian Koloko. Considering how many prognosticators expected him to be picked in the first round, the Raptors were regarded to have pulled off quite the heist.
In a draft that was thin on elite center prospects after the consensus top of the class, Koloko (who won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year) was surprisingly passed over 32 times. Luckily, the Raptors were able to snag someone who fits the physical profile they had been looking for.
Many expect 2022-23 to be a year of learning and gradual improvement for Koloko, as Toronto’s drive to compete for a deep postseason run will lead to him getting more minutes with Raptors 905 than the big-league club. At least, that might be how it initially appears.
The Raptors might be forced to make some changes if Koloko is further along than they anticipated. While it might sound bold to think that Koloko will be a key part of what Toronto does this year, some would have been skeptical if you called Scottie Barnes the Rookie of the Year at this time last year.
Toronto Raptors: 3 bold predictions for rookie Christian Koloko.
3. Average 1.5 blocks per game
The archetype Koloko fits best is a multi-faceted switchblade on the defensive end that starts with both covering multiple positions. His shot-blocking ability was sorely missed on last year’s Raptors team, which was the main reason that Toronto used their lone pick on him.
Koloko averaged 2.2 blocks per game in just 22 minutes per game during Summer League play. With the wingspan needed to defend well outside of the paint and the intuition to become a dominant rim protector, Koloko and former Raptors lottery pick Jakob Poeltl might not be too dissimilar in terms of their styles.
Toronto Raptors: Christian Koloko is a solid shot-blocker.
Over the years, Ujiri has typically liked to draft players with multiple years of collegiate experience. Even though he is a bit of a work in progress as a whole, Koloko’s time with the Wildcats helped sharpen his defensive instincts to a point where he should jump right into an NBA lineup and be a positive force.
Part of the reason that the Raptors have been so successful at finding talent in the 20s and 30s in the NBA Draft is their willingness to throw these youngsters right into the mix. The best way to prove that Koloko can impact the game is to let him cut his teeth in the pros, not hide him in Mississauga.
2. Score 6.0 points per game
Koloko will be an excellent defender that the Raptors can eventually watch blossom, but even the most optimistic Koloko fans out there will tell you that he needs some instruction on the offensive end. His string defensive play in Summer League was marred by poor efficiency.
Koloko needs to work on his ability to finish from 15 feet inside, though he has an array of post moves that could help him eventually become a quality offensive player. While his 3-point shot is exceedingly raw right now, the Raptors will likely have that issue fixed within the next few years.
Christian Koloko needs to get better on offense.
Koloko could pile up the points as a rebounder and put-back artist if nothing else. He’ll need to focus on working close to the basket in the NBA while using his expected 905 time to eventually become a big man worthy of being deployed in Nick Nurse’s challenging offense.
After half of one season, Precious Achiuwa went from a total non-factor as a shooter to someone who was rising up from deep with ease. Even if Koloko doesn’t take to that as quickly as Achiuwa did, Nurse will likely have him ready to score sooner rather than later.
1. End the season in the rotation
The Raptors will be more than willing to shake their rotation up and let Koloko play a more traditional five-man role if he has proven that he’s taken some developmental steps forward. Precious Achiuwa and Chris Boucher could easily move over to power-forward roles while Otto Porter Jr. becomes even more perimeter-oriented.
The biggest obstacle standing in his way right now is Khem Birch, who is in the second year of a three-year contract. While he was terrible last season, the Raptors might be willing to give him a second place, as injuries made it tough for him to really get into a groove last year.
Will the Toronto Raptors lean on Christian Koloko?
If the Raptors view Koloko and Birch as equal players, the question of how ill get more minutes will come down how much Toronto will try to justify Birch’s contract. If they are ready to cut bait, we could see Koloko get his chance over the more experienced Birch.
Whereas most teams who contend for championships use second-round picks as a way to add cannon-fodder youngsters to the mix as backups, Toronto’s ability to seamlessly marry the two warring families of player development and competitiveness could help Koloko find himself getting legitimate pro minutes.