Toronto clearly isn’t done with their faith in the "Vision 6'9" experiment, as they opted to use their ninth overall pick on South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles (even though CMB is more around 6-foot-6 and some change, 6-foot-7ish).
I raise that point as the Raptors add another stout defender to their lineup, with potential All-NBA caliber defensive traits that could make CMB a Draymond Green-lite, or even junior Scottie Barnes in a way. Although, on the flip side of things, Murray-Boyles does little to address Toronto's most urgent needs; sound perimeter scoring and true center depth beyond Jakob Poeltl.
As Toronto heads into night two of the 2025 NBA Draft, they'll hold the 39th overall selection, hoping to address one of those pressing concerns. With a solid talent pool still available on the board, it seems likely that a capable center could fall into the Raptors' hands, and I'd like to think it's NBA-ready Creighton product Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Ryan Kalkbrenner could be Raptors' second round draft steal
At 23 years old and a five-year collegiate player, Kalkbrenner might seem like a bit of a reach compared to some of the other talents still available in the second round. Names like Rasheer Fleming and Maxime Raynaud also strike me as very Raptors-centric choices.
However, since Toronto used their first-round pick on a prospect with defensive intangibles and upside, why not shift gears to someone who could help the Raptors on their hopeful journey back to the playoffs as soon as possible?
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor even compared Kalkbrenner to Raptors' veteran center, Jakob Poeltl, making the fit with Toronto even more appropriate. Sure, you could argue that Kalkbrenner's addition might create some redundancy alongside Poeltl, but unlike Jak, the Creighton big man is willing to shoot the three-ball if needed.
Though he still has some work to do, shooting 34.4% on a low-volume average of 1.7 attempts from beyond the arc in his final collegiate season. Still, that's better than nothing.
Also, when you consider that Kalkbrenner earned the 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award (an accolade shared with current Raptors guard Jamal Shead and ex-Raptor Davion Mitchell), it's clear that the Creighton center has an identity about him that fits perfectly with the already-established Raptors culture.
He's no Khaman Maluach, and while many in Raptors Nation were hoping to land the South Sudanese standout, Kalkbrenner is no measly consolation prize. He brings a ton of size (standing 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a 250+ lbs frame) that makes him a defensive anchor down low.
His wealth of college experience has also taught him to be a solid big man passer, much like Jakob Poeltl. And the window of opportunity is there for Toronto's coaching staff to refine Kalkbrenner's outside shooting, potentially unlocking a secret weapon in the Raptors' arsenal.
Kalkbrenner might not be the perfect choice for Toronto, but to me, he is the right choice. However, it might take a bit of slippage for Kalkbrenner to fall to Toronto at 39, seeing as other teams ahead of them could see the attraction before the Raps can capitalize. Nevertheless, Kalkbrenner remains the ultimate hope.