Assistant GM likes ninth overall pick for Raptors
Global News
The 2025 NBA draft class has been billed as one of the most talented in years.
TORONTO – The 2025 NBA draft class has been billed as one of the most talented in years.
But for Dan Tolzman, assistant general manager of the Toronto Raptors, there’s potential in every draft.
Tolzman spoke to media Monday about Toronto’s options with the ninth pick in Wednesday’s first round and the 39th pick in Thursday’s second round.
“We liked last year’s draft, too. It’s such an eye-of-the-beholder thing,” said Tolzman at OVO Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto. “I think this is a very strong draft. I think it’s maybe a little deeper just in terms of guys who can come in and impact right away, but I just think drafts are like this every year.
“This year I feel like we like where we’re at, and we’re focusing on that more so than what a normal draft looks like or previous drafts looked like. I would say it’s a range that we like a lot.”
The Dallas Mavericks have the first-overall pick and it’s almost a guarantee that they will take Duke University forward Cooper Flagg.
Seven other players will get picked before the Raptors have their turn at the dais at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Wednesday. It’s expected that Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel, Jeremiah Fears, and Khaman Maluach will all be within the top eight selections, but in what order is still unknown.
Tolzman wasn’t counting on any one player being a sure thing, except Flagg.
