The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, as the Toronto Raptors now shift their focus to welcoming both of their new rookies.
On day one of the draft, the Raptors selected Santa Clara forward Allen Graves at No. 19, and while they passed on an elite guard talent to do so, they also stole one in the second round.
Bobby Webster opted to stay put at No. 50 in round two, and it worked out as Arizona guard Jaden Bradley fell right into the Raptors’ lap.
Toronto entered the draft with a few needs: center play, a Sandro Mamukelashvili replacement, and guard depth. Obviously, they couldn’t check all three boxes with only two picks. But in my eyes, they checked the two most important boxes with Bradley bringing guard depth and Graves likely being a Mamu replacement. That need for another center will now likely be filled through free agency or the trade market.
Bradley is truly one of the biggest steals of the entire two-day draft, as on my personal board, I had him as a top-40 guy and a guard who I believe can play 10+ years in the NBA. His maturity, resume, frame, and skills give me full belief he’ll reach that bar.
Raptors fans will love Jaden Bradley
In his final year at Arizona, Bradley took home the Big 12 Player of the Year award, along with being named to the first team All-Big 12, the conference’s all-defensive team, and earning the Big 12 tournament’s MVP. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals and led the Wildcats to a 36-3 record.
Bradley was the tone setter on both ends of the floor for the Wildcats, getting them into their sets, running the offense, and creating shots for himself and his teammates. Bradley is a strong shot-maker with a large catalog of clutch buckets from his three years with Arizona. He has an explosive first step that helps him put constant pressure on the rim, and while he isn’t a high-volume three-point shooter, he’s an efficient one.
Defensively, he’s a pitbull. Bradley isn’t a crazy defensive playmaker, but he does have great hands that help him generate a fair amount of steals on the ball. His real calling card on that end is his strength and ability to just get in a stance, be physical, shut a guy down, and force tough shots. At 6-foot-2.5, 205 pounds with a 6-foot-6.25 wingspan, Bradley has the length and size to guard 1s and 2s really well and be pesky against thinner wings.
The Raptors love physically tough, gritty guards, think Jamal Shead, Fred VanVleet, and Kyle Lowry—that’s the cloth of player Bradley is cut from.
He’s all about winning, and that is reflected in his effort. Whether he’s taking charge or diving at the basket to try and outwill a 7-footer for a rebound, Bradley is worried about bruises or taking an ice bath after the game as long as he gets the win. If that doesn’t scream culture fit for the Raptors, I’m not sure what does.
For a Raptors team that desperately needed some guard depth, Bradley brings a skill set and style of play that’ll make him a seamless fit for this team and an absolute steal in the second round.
Add us as a preferred source on Google