The newest addition to the Toronto Raptors is official folks.
Santa Clara forward, Allen Graves, was the Raptors' pick at No. 19 in the 2026 NBA Draft.
When it was Toronto's turn to make a selection, perhaps they might've blindly passed on a prospect with a higher star ceiling in Labaron Philon Jr., who was still on the board and fell into the 76ers' arms at No. 22. Instead, the Raptors opted to go with their prototypical favoritism towards versatile forwards, and they find just that in Allen Graves.
Now, because of a combination of passing on other prospects like Philon, Baylor's Cameron Carr, or even Houston's Chris Cenac Jr, along with Toronto's front office not abandoning the "Vision 6'9" philosophy — some fans' instant reactions to the pick took a largely negative stance.
While I'm not here to tell Raptors fans who to root for or what to feel, I do think it's only right to also hear out and give a prospect a chance before completely selling them short. I, for one, learned the hard way last year when I didn't quite see the vision or potential in Collin Murray-Boyles — who completely proved me wrong in almost every capacity en route to what became an All-Rookie Second Team introductory campaign.
And even if you don't fully agree or support the pick, I'd like to think that after his post-draft Raptors media call, there were more than a few remarks that speak volumes to Graves' character. A character that should set him up to be a fan favorite in the making.
Allen Graves shows love for the Raptors organization and Toronto in post-draft remarks
During the media availability, Graves was asked what he knows about the Raptors, its current roster, and if he'd been watching the team this past season.
Graves replied: "Definitely. Obviously, you know, Scottie [Barnes]. RJ [Barrett]. The team is just constructed with big wings. They love big wings and big guards. Collin Murray-Boyles, that they drafted. So, I fit right in. I know that the culture there is great, just from my visit being there, so just knowing that I'm coming into a winning program that's in the right direction is amazing, an amazing feeling. And knowing that I can help impact that winning, that they're on the trajectory for."
Later on in the media call, Graves was asked about his initial pre-draft visit, what he learned about the city and Raptors organization as a result, to which he responded: "[...] My visit there was amazing. I like to say it was one of my best visits. Just the city-wise and then, you know, just the team, just being around the culture, being around the Raptors. Seeing all the players that were there, working out and just watching the coaching staff, whether it was the head coach, whether it was, you know, assistants — they were all invested in each and every player. They actually take the time to get to know them and get to really build a personal relationship with them."
Anytime you have a new face joining the Raptors family, whether it's in the draft, trades, or free agency, it's always telling when you hear what those newcomers have to say in their first comments. Last year, we saw how quickly guys like Collin Murray-Boyles and especially Sandro Mamukelashvili garnered the support of fans by quickly warming up to the city, culture, and organization, while also displaying a committed mindset and approach to winning.
Allen Graves, even in just this first media appearance for the organization, is already making those same intentions clear. Regardless of how you feel about his fit or long-term potential as a prospect, I think Graves set the perfect precedent for his Raptors path moving forward, and pending the on-court developments and glaring questions at the next level — he looks poised to become a darling of the fans in no time.
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