Allen Graves hasn’t played a minute for the Toronto Raptors yet, but the early signs point to a clean fit. After one season of college ball and a strong showing in the Las Vegas Summer League, the 20-year-old looks like the kind of player Toronto had in mind when it made the pick.
The role is there for him, too. Graves has a chance to step into the spot Sandro Mamukelashvili occupied last season before signing a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Mamukelashvili made that job work, and the Raptors are clearly hoping Graves can do the same.
“Clearly, we have an archetype we believe in. We want all-around good players, but they have to defend too,” a Raptors front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith.
“We think Allen fits that mold perfectly. There are going to be nights where we’ll lean on him and CMB (Collin Murray-Boyles) a lot.”
That pairing with Collin Murray-Boyles is easy to imagine. Toronto took Murray-Boyles with the No. 9 overall pick last season, and the two young frontcourt pieces could give the bench a real defensive edge. Both can switch across matchups, and that kind of versatility matters for a team trying to keep opponents uncomfortable.
Graves gave a glimpse of that upside in Las Vegas. In four games at Summer League, he put up 16.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.
Against NBA-level size and strength, things may not look quite as smooth right away. Still, Graves already shows the kind of feel that helps him stand out. His ability to read defenses gives him value before he even settles into the league.
Toronto’s vision for itself lines up with that skill set.
“We want to be known as a group that is a pain to play against. Even if we aren’t hitting shots, nothing will come easy for you.
We’ll play hard and physical. You’re going to feel us.
Our goal is for opposing players to see Toronto next on the schedule and to know they are in for a long, tiring night,” a Raptors assistant coach told Smith.
That’s where Graves fits best. He brings the physical edge Toronto wants, and he joins a roster already stocked with players who play with that same mindset. For a rookie, that should make the transition smoother when his first NBA season begins.