TORONTO – Don’t confuse safe with boring.

The Raptors needed a big man, they wanted a big man, and they got one in Collin Murray-Boyles, the ninth-overall selection in Wednesday’s opening round of the NBA draft. While the pick feels like more of a single or a double than a home run, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

There were always going to be a bunch of a quality forwards and centres on the board in the mid-to-late lottery and Toronto was fortunate in the way the first eight picks unfolded. There was no shortage of good options. The question was how much risk tolerance they had. How patient were they willing to be with the development timeline of their newest player?

They could have rolled the dice on somebody like Khaman Maluach, the 7-footer from Duke who was projected by some to go inside the top eight but ultimately fell to the Phoenix Suns at 10. The 18-year-old centre figures to be more of a long-term project – he started playing organized basketball four years ago and is still learning the game – but, with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and enormous 9-foot-8 standing reach, he comes with elite potential as a rim protector. French forward Noa Essengue, who had a late workout in Toronto, is even younger and rawer but also flashes intriguing upside.

Instead, they opted for Murray-Boyles, a 20-year-old sophomore from South Carolina, whose ceiling isn’t quite as high as some of the alternatives, but his NBA-ready body and more polished skill set give him a sturdy floor.

If there was one takeaway from watching the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Indiana Pacers in a memorable and fiercely competitive seven-game series, it’s that you need dogs to win at a high level in this league. You need guys who are willing and able to play through physicality, who are mentally tough and resilient, and who prioritize defence. Clearly, the Raptors took notice.

“The intensity ratchets up and defence is so much more important, which is why I think [head coach Darko Rajakovic] and our coaching staff preach that so much, knowing that someday we’re hoping to be in that situation,” assistant general manager Dan Tolzman said earlier this week. “Those are the types of guys we’re looking for.”

Murray-Boyles fits the criteria. First and foremost, he’s known for his prowess as a defender.........

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