NBA Draft Results: Toronto Raptors Pick Ed Davis at 13th

Bryan Colangelo clearly stated that he would be the picking the best available talent. He once again proved that he is the man of his worth by picking Ed Davis, after he was passed by the likes of Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies.

I had my eyes on him for a month now. When I suggested that he just might be a Raptor next season, I was often criticized that there would be no point in drafting him when we have Amir Johnson at hand; which was a fair assessment.

Let's not forget Amir Johnson is an unrestricted free agent and we have no guarantee that he would be resigned. But before pointing out the obvious comparison, let's get to know the young prospect and find out how he can be of help to the Toronto Raptors.

It is no secret Toronto Raptors struggled defensively this season; more so than ever. The starting five tried to cover their lack of above-average cumulative athleticism with high basketball IQ and by being a very potent offensive force. It worked to a degree.

Ed Davis is set to bring two things this team is missing from their current roster: Athleticism and Defense.

He is a praised athlete for a big man and was considered to be the one of the best defensive center/forward of his draft class. He is described as a low post player, a very efficient rebounder and a shot blocker. He grabbed 9.6 boards per game in 27.9 minutes.

He has good size for his age, on the other hand he might not be wide enough to face up the elite centers of the league. However, if he improves his strength and bulk up a bit more, he would be a very effective defensive minded big men to compliment the Bargnani's non-post oriented game.

His offense needs more polish and he needs to be more creative around the rim. Being more of a post oriented player, I think he would make a living without taking a single jump shot. In any case, his current offensive game that relies on strength may not fly against strong centers of NBA.

Everything considered, while I will miss the possible most athletic front court in DeMar DeRozan and Avery Bradley, I am certainly happy that we went with the best available talent. Avery Bradley could be the defensive force around the perimeter of Raptors, but I am sure Ed Davis will have the same impact in a couple of years at the back court.

Amir Johnson was selected as the 56th overall pick in 2005 NBA Draft. He was drafted straight out of high school, so there were no college stats to look at. He is listed at 6.9' at 210 lbs. He is now 23 years old and he has 5 NBA seasons under his belt.

Ed Davis was drafted as a 13th pick in 2010 NBA Draft as a sophomore from North Carolina. He is listed at 6.10' at 227 lbs and he averaged 13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.8 personal fouls per game. He stayed 27.9 minutes in average on the court.

Unlike Amir Johnson, while both being a defensive-minded post player, Ed Davis is not foul-prone. Amir Johnson could only grab 1.5 boards per each foul he committed. On the other hand, Ed Davis grabbed 5.3 per personal foul at college level. The fact that he has an eye to block shots without fouling his opponents can not be overlooked.

Amir Johnson, at 23, has a limited head room to improve his game. However, Ed Davis is just fresh out of college at 21. Not to mention he has better fundamentals and understanding of the game, and has an unmistakable size advantage.

Considering everything, while being a more risky gamble, Ed Davis has the more upside. He will be on the rookie salary for 3 years and he has a shot at more minutes than he would have in Utah. Amir Johnson is predicted to sign a MLE level contract around 5 million dollars per season.

Ed Davis' offensive game seems to be more coordinated than Amir Johnson, how his potential would translate into the "big boy's league" would still remain a mystery. But his great work ethic and rebounding alone give him the edge.

On an unrelated note, now, I am more certain than ever Toronto Raptors would pursue a decent big men who would play like a conventional center via sign and trade, and pull Andrea Bargnani to play at power forward.

I would also think Toronto Raptors would try to acquire Avery Bradley before the season starts, but him being drafted by Boston Celtics did not help that case. With Nate Robinson out the door, they might have wanted the Texas combo guard for the keeps. In fact, he fits Boston better than Nate Robinson.