Australian basketball sensation Nathan Jawai is set to play in the NBA next season for Toronto despite being selected by Indiana in the draft.
Jawai, 21, became the first indigenous Australian athlete ever drafted when he was selected by former American great Larry Bird's Pacers with the 41st pick in the draft, held in New York.
But the 208cm Jawai is now at the centre of a trade deal that seems set to have him lining up with the Canadian franchise, joining countryman and Milwaukee centre Andrew Bogut in the world's strongest competition.
Under NBA league rules any deals can't be announced until after July 9, although the Raptors confirmed on their official website that Indiana had selected Jawai on their behalf.
"The Raptors agreed to a trade in principle on the eve of the draft, acquiring six-time all-star Jermaine O'Neal and Indiana's 41st pick in exchange for point guard T.J. Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and Toronto's 17th pick.
"So when the Pacers selected Australian centre Nathan Jawai at No.41, they did so on behalf of the Raptors," the story said.
Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said he couldn't comment.
The website described Jawai as a "bruising big man with a raw, unpolished game. His strengths are his soft touch, strength and explosiveness".
Cairns head coach Alan Black said he had spoken to Jawai's agent Mark Fleischer about the likely trade.
"Jim Kelly, who is the head scout for Toronto, was in Cairns last year to see Nathan play and we know that the Raptors are very impressed with Nathan," Black said.
"After talking with Nathan's agent he has been told by Toronto that they want Nathan to play with the club in the NBA next season, which is fantastic news for Nathan.
"The full trade will take about a week to finalise, but it now looks highly probable that Nathan has achieved his dream and will be playing with the Toronto Raptors in the NBA."
Jawai, who won the NBL rookie of the year and was named the most valuable player in the league's All Star game, became the 10th Australian ever drafted to the NBA.
Bogut was drafted at No.1 by Milwaukee in 2005 with the Bucks today looking to strengthen their roster by selecting small forwards Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, from Cameroon, with their draft picks.
The Bucks also announced that they had acquired Richard Jefferson in a trade with New Jersey before the draft started.
Chicago used the first overall pick to choose hometown hero, point guard Derrick Rose.
Forward Michael Beasley was the second overall pick by Miami and guard OJ Mayo rounded out the top three by going to Minnesota.
