Allen Graves struggles in preseason debut

The Raptors fell short of a spot in Saturday’s semifinals, but Graves came through with another solid performance for the winners. The rookie forward’s ability to fill a stat line is what pushed him into the first round despite not being a starter at Santa Clara. Graves contributed on both ends of the floor against the Heat, and he offers a similar fantasy profile to Collin Murray-Boyles, albeit at a smaller size. How valuable Graves can be as a rookie depends partially on Kawhi Leonard, whose acquisition is still on hold. Rotation minutes should not be an issue for Graves, given the many ways in which he can contribute.

As was the case in Friday’s loss to the Celtics, Graves provided value in multiple statistical categories on Monday. Versatility is one reason the first-round pick out of Santa Clara could be an immediate fantasy asset, even though Graves is likely to come off the bench. Graves offers value as a rebounder, facilitator and defender, with Monday’s stat line only lacking a blocked shot. While he may offer a limited ceiling as a rookie, Graves may be worth the risk in deeper leagues.

Making his summer debut, Graves displayed the versatility that made him the 19th overall pick in last month’s draft. Efficient offensively, the former Santa Clara forward was also a pest defensively. What the Raptors’ rotation will look like once the regular season begins is unknown, as the Kawhi Leonard trade has been placed on hold. Regardless of what happens, Graves has the tools needed to crack the rotation, just as Collin Murray-Boyles did as a rookie last season.

After one season at Santa Clara, Graves both entered his name into the NBA Draft pool and the transfer portal. However, as the draft process wore on, it was clear that the versatile 6-foot-8 forward would be a first-round pick. A first-team All-WCC selection, Graves averaged 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers. He was productive enough to win WCC Sixth Man of the Year honors, and the ability to fill multiple roles on both ends of the floor is what makes Graves such an intriguing prospect. He’s an analytical darling, but he’ll be an interesting fit alongside Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. It will be tough for him to carve out a role with the other two in the mix.