The Toronto Raptors selected Utah forward Jakob Poeltl with the No. 9 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.
The seven-foot-one centre from Vienna, Austria, will be a big boost to a Raptors’ front court that will likely be without Bismack Biyombo next season.
Poeltl played two seasons with the Utes, earning the Pac-12 conference player of the year award this past spring. The 20-year-old averaged 17.2 points and 9.1 rebounds a game this season.
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The Raptors also have the No. 27 pick.
Toronto acquired the pick back in 2013 in the deal that sent Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks.
Nine is the highest Toronto had picked since 2012, when they selected Terrence Ross at No. 8.
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