The Toronto Raptors are the first team in 50 years to reach the NBA Finals without a top-10 pick playing, and Marc Gasol believes that speaks a lot about the NBA Draft.
Gasol has established himself as one of the best big men of his generation. He is a three-time All-Star and has even won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year back in 2013, exceeding expectations when he was drafted in the second round back in 2007.
Now that he's heading to the NBA Finals with the Raptors to face the Golden State Warriors, the Spanish center speaks out on what it means to be a team built by players outside the draft lottery.
Marc Gasol, who was selected in the 2nd round in 2007, was asked what it says about the Raptors to be in the Finals without a lottery pick on the roster: "I think it tells you more about the draft."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 27, 2019
Indeed, a player's draft position doesn't show his ceiling. The Raptors are proof of that, with superstar Kawhi Leonard even drafted 15th back in 2011.
The Warriors are also familiar with having a second rounder bloom into a bonafide superstar. Draymond Green, who was drafted by the Dubs in 2012 with the 35th overall pick, is a three-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year. Moreover, he has been pivotal in Golden State's three championship rings in the past four years.
Toronto will certainly hope to show that getting highly-rated players are not only the way to build a championship team, and they will have a chance to do so in the Finals.
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