The Toronto Raptors Are Using IBM's Watson to Draft A Winning Team

After falling to the eventual NBA champs during the Eastern finals, the Toronto Raptors are hungry for a championship title. Thursday's draft will be crucial in crafting a winning lineup, and when it comes to deciding who makes the team, the Raptors will be able to consult their newest recruit: IBM's Watson. The partnership dates back to February, when the Raptors' parent company Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced they were partnering with IBM, making the Raptors the first NBA team to use the Watson supercomputer to analyze players. "Watson doesn't answer questions of who the best trade pick would be--rather it compares them on different dimensions," explained Jon Lenchner, the scientist who led the IBM Sports Insights Central project. IBMers collaborate through interactive touch screens as part of IBM Sports Insights Central.