Latest news with #Tolzman
Hamilton Spectator
8 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
How the Raptors deal with NIL's impact on the NBA draft
The Raptors are facing a dwindling pool of possibilities with their second-round pick in this week's NBA draft because of the financial realities of college basketball these days. The NCAA's NIL system — where players get paid because of the rights they have to their own name, image and likeness — has cut the number of underclassmen who enter the draft. And that hits the Raptors as they mull the 39th pick (ninth in the second round) on Thursday night. 'It's obvious that it has impacted it a lot,' Dan Tolzman, Raptors assistant general manager and vice-president of player personnel, said Monday. 'Where in the past that was a pretty good contract for a kid in college to stay in the draft, now with NIL it's pretty much comparable to what they could get and stay in college.' The chance to work on their game and get paid like an NBA second-rounder without any of the pressure or expectation has to be attractive to a teenager. Schools benefit by having players for at least another year; the NBA loses (at least a bit) because they can't get a young, developmental piece as easily as they did. 'We're looking at maybe a little bit older group of players than what we normally do, and that's not a bad thing,' Tolzman said. 'A lot of those guys can come in and contribute from Day 1.' The Raptors aren't as bothered as some other teams because they aren't fazed by late-career collegians hitting development plateaus. 'I would say we try to just get the guys that we think still have some upside, and some of those four-year guys that we've taken, we see some potential in a different environment with a little more development work,' Tolzman said. 'And I don't think that would change any now. 'It just comes down to, yeah, maybe now there's less of those young development project guys that'll be available at 39, because a lot of those guys are now going back for a second or third year in college first before taking the jump.'
Global News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Global News
Assistant GM likes ninth overall pick for Raptors
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.' Story continues below advertisement 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. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Tolzman wasn't counting on any one player being a sure thing, except Flagg. 'There's always a chance of one, maybe two guys, sneaking in there that changes things up a little bit,' he said. 'It does seem like, at least, if I'm reading all the stuff online, and the public stuff and the sources, that it seems like there's eight players that are being named to go ahead of us. Story continues below advertisement 'If it goes that way, I'd actually be really surprised. It doesn't seem like any draft ever goes the way that it says it does to begin with.' Trading to move up or down in the draft order is still a possibility, but Tolzman said the Raptors like holding a top-10 pick. 'There's definitely interest in people trying to get our pick, I think for the same reason,' said Tolzman. 'It's an interesting group of players around there. 'I wouldn't say (there's an) any-percentage chance that we do one or the other, but there (are) definitely conversations being had of teams trying to get into the top 10 for the same reason why we like being here right now.' The Raptors' second round pick, which originally belonged to the Portland Trail Blazers, was acquired by Toronto at last year's draft in a deal with the Sacramento Kings. Tolzman said the 39th overall selection will be helpful to add mature depth to Toronto's roster, as the ability for NCAA players to receive compensation for use of their personal brand have made it more lucrative for younger U.S. collegiate stars to stay in school rather than turn pro. 'We're looking at maybe a little bit older group of players than what we normally do,' said Tolzman of the early second round 'And that's not a bad thing. Story continues below advertisement 'A lot of those guys can come in and contribute from Day 1, just because they're more closer to being NBA ready.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
