In 2006, Toronto drafted shooting big man Andrea Bargnani and spent the better part of a decade arguing about what to make of him. Twenty years later, with training camp underway, 2026 draftee Allen Graves gives Toronto another shot at…
Writer Samuel Hernandez examines the comparisons between Toronto Raptors 2026 draft pick Allen Graves and former first overall pick Andrea Bargnani. While both entered the franchise as frontcourt players with perimeter shooting skills, Hernandez argues that Graves enters a vastly different situation with a modern NBA play style and a much stronger defensive foundation.
Unlike Bargnani, who was pressured to carry struggling Raptors offenses, Graves joins an established core featuring Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Kawhi Leonard. Hernandez notes that this complementary offensive role and superior defensive profile give Graves a far better environment to succeed than Bargnani experienced twenty years earlier.
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