Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 8

[Rhettmatic]

Less than two weeks from the lottery, we have our eighth NBA draft discussion thread.

Here are the other threads:

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1056803
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1087333
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1093590
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1100716
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1102395
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1103762
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1106301

And the rules:

All thoughts on 2011 draft prospects and potential Raptors picks can go in this thread. After the draft lottery, it'll also be home to all mock-draft discussion and other fun.

Did Kyrie Irving have a sick crossover? Post it here. Did Jan Vesely drop 27 points on Crvena zvezda? Discuss it here. Are you having panic attacks because the Raptors just hired Donatas Motiejunas's father as their head scout? Seek medical help here.

We've got a few links here to NBA draft websites but please feel free to post more or PM a mod if you want more added.

Enjoy!

- The Mod Squad

Draft Express
NBADraft.net
ESPN Draft Base

[Reignman]

LOL, we've absolutely destroyed these draft threads one after another.

Anyway, until we hear more from the workouts my top 3:

Irving
D Will
Kanter

[Jazzfan12]

Dontas Motiejunas video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uvJ5rTj ... r_embedded

[Reignman]

Dontas Motiejunas video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uvJ5rTj ... r_embedded

Go back to the Jazz board and stop polluting our draft thread with this nonsense.

[Reignman]

A small write up on Burks highlighting his strengths/weaknesses:

The irony about Burks is that the 19-year-old is not a great shooter. But his upside is the best by far among those expected to play the two spot, even though he won't likely score in the traditional NBA manner by coming off of screens and pindowns. His style has at least one player personnel director thinking of veteran Larry Hughes -- "he's so much like Larry, it isn't funny," said the personnel man. Hughes was taken eighth overall in the 1998 Draft after one season at St. Louis, and that could well be the range in which Burks goes after leading the Buffaloes to the NIT semifinals.

"I've become a convert," said a Northwest Division scout of Burks. "I saw them play Texas at home. He was (terrible) in the first half. Second half, they couldn't guard him. Then I saw him twice in the Big 12 (tournament) and he was really good. He can't shoot, but he can score. He's something like a 28 percent (actually, 29.2) three-point shooter. But he gets to the line a lot. He can really rebound. I saw him get 16 rebounds. And they're not like those rebounds that fall to the floor. He goes and gets them."

Said another Northwest scout: "The only question I have is how consistent he can be as a shooter. And I think he will be, because I don't think his shot is broke."
Alec Burks' mid-range game has helped boost his stock in the eyes of some NBA front-office types.

Burks -- whom one assistant general manager thinks could also play some point guard in the NBA -- has a mid-range game that is a rarity among guards these days. Most young players who can't break you down off the dribble retreat behind the 3-point line and fire away. And while the 3-pointer has become a major weapon in the pros, making those proficient at it able to consistently find work, there are thousands of points from the foul line extended that are ignored, year after year. Doesn't anyone watch Paul Pierce play?

"What he'll have to work on is to be a threat at the 3-point line so the rest of his game will be just as effective," a Southeast Division personnel man said. "He's good at the one-two [dribble] and pull up, and he's good at the rim. He scores with trickery and not with the bounce. He doesn't have that last dribble like Jason Richardson, where he just takes a step and he's going to dunk on anybody. (But) when the shot clock is going down and all the coaches are yelling 'red!,' you can get the ball to Alec Burks, and he's going to manuever and get a shot. And that's highly valued in the NBA."

But Burks does need to work on some things, and not just his shooting. He has to stop ignoring the defensive end of the floor. "There's no pride in doing it yet," says a Northwest Division executive.

"He has no interest," the first Northwest scout said of Burks. "He won't go under, through, or behind (screens). He's got some issues. But we draft on talent, and he's very talented. He'll have the ball and he'll break you down. In space, he's (tough) ... great upside if he's willing to work. Something tells me (the work ethic) is not off the charts because he hasn't worked on his body at all. But the holes in his game are fixable."

[Alfred]

lol, the comparison was a veteran Larry Hughes? Is that supposed to be a complement?

[DG88]

LOL, we've absolutely destroyed these draft threads one after another.

Anyway, until we hear more from the workouts my top 3:

Irving
D Will
Kanter

Pretty much the same for my top 3. Still hoping to get the first pick though

[witnessraps]

Cant wait till the lottery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 weeks.

It's what we've all been waiting for since pretty much last April.

[pspot]

But Burks does need to work on some things, and not just his shooting. He has to stop ignoring the defensive end of the floor. "There's no pride in doing it yet," says a Northwest Division executive.

"He has no interest," the first Northwest scout said of Burks.

would have fit right in but hopefully not anymore

[RaptorReloaded]

I too am hoping for the first pick to get Irving but I want nothing to do with Kanter. Stats and highlights in a game he played against 18 year olds from over a year ago don't do it for me. That plus the fact he keeps on skipping on these workouts is turning me off. He's not THAT great of a prospect. He's doing this on purpose to protect his stock cause if he were to showcase himself, scouts would see the player that has missed more then a year of competitive ball. If he were the player posters are hyping him up to be why wouldn't he work out for scouts at a Kentucky players only combine hosted by his own coach? Who in that Gym could make him look bad?

[witnessraps]

I too am hoping for the first pick to get Irving but I want nothing to do with Kanter. Stats and highlights in a game he played against 18 year olds from over a year ago don't do it for me. That plus the fact he keeps on skipping on these workouts is turning me off. He's not THAT great of a prospect. He's doing this on purpose to protect his stock cause if he were to showcase himself, scouts would see the player that has missed more then a year of competitive ball. If he were the player posters are hyping him up to be why wouldn't he work out for scouts at a Kentucky players only combine hosted by his own coach? Who in that Gym could make him look bad?

We'll bring him into the ACC for some legit workouts and then we have a better, more definite idea. I don't think you can write him off yet, especially since we have needs at the C position.

[bboyskinnylegs]

^^ well there's no need to overreact, he's probably still working with ATTACK athletics in Chicago, and there's still time before the official combine and workouts so I'm not ruling him out at all. Maybe he's hoping to surprise some people with his height/weight measurements at the combine. Or maybe he is trying to hide something, although he can only do that for so long. He likely won't do competitive workouts (most top prospects won't), and the rumours about him selectively working out with teams that 'fit' him best do raise some concerns, but I could care less unless he refuses to work out here.

[Rhettmatic]

Chad Ford just updated his top 100 prospects... a fair bit of movement:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/draft/resu ... /year/2011

His top 10:

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Kanter
4. Walker
5. Knight
6. Vesely
7. Biyombo
8. Valanciunas
9. Terrence Jones
10. Tristan Thompson

[JumpinJack24]

does anyone else think it might be worth picking up a 2nd round pick to get Keith Benson?
H: 6' 11"
W: 225 lbs
Bday: 08/13/1988
(22 Years Old)

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kei ... z1LOc345wH
http://www.draftexpress.com

Draft Express: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Keith-Benson-5712/

I think if he can add muscle to his lower body (which is quite doable) and works with Alex on his shot (who has helped Amir and Davis both improve quite a bit) he could be a solid future C, not spectacular but at least a solid anchor. And getting him in the 2nd wont cost much/burden this team if he doesn't pan out.

[provecy15]

One player who is catching my eye is Jan Vessly. His athleticism is through the roof, he is an above average shooter and is similar to an Andrei Kirilenko. Clearly he is not a 4 he is a 3 and he would give some size to us in that position. If we could trade bargs for a legit center, have amir or ed at the 4 with this either johnson or this guy at the 3 and derozan at the 2...it would look nice. Of course if irving and williams are off the board. He would be by third choice.

[IntricateOh25]

Good to see Chad putting Knight higher on his list.

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Kanter
4. Knight

and that should be our entire draft board.

[Truthrising]

LOL, we've absolutely destroyed these draft threads one after another.

Anyway, until we hear more from the workouts my top 3:

Irving
D Will
Kanter

Agreed, it's all up in the air after the top 3 selection.

[Indeed]

does anyone else think it might be worth picking up a 2nd round pick to get Keith Benson?
H: 6' 11"
W: 225 lbs
Bday: 08/13/1988
(22 Years Old)

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kei ... z1LOc345wH
http://www.draftexpress.com

Draft Express: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Keith-Benson-5712/

I think if he can add muscle to his lower body (which is quite doable) and works with Alex on his shot (who has helped Amir and Davis both improve quite a bit) he could be a solid future C, not spectacular but at least a solid anchor. And getting him in the 2nd wont cost much/burden this team if he doesn't pan out.

We should save the pick for next season, unless they are willing to trade one of Alabi, Ajinca or Kleiza and give us the pick.
I hope BC can trade two of them for next season's pick, since we have similar talent at those backup spots already.

[HSOB SIRHC]

Chad Ford just updated his top 100 prospects... a fair bit of movement:

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/draft/resu ... /year/2011

His top 10:

1. Irving
2. Williams
3. Kanter
4. Walker
5. Knight
6. Vesely
7. Biyombo
8. Valanciunas
9. Terrence Jones
10. Tristan Thompson

Looks like Ford has been looking at my sig.

[HSOB SIRHC]

Seeing the Jazz have the 5th pick makes me a little worried. I have a gut feeling they're going to win the draft and then the NBA will be all over the "Williams vs Irving" match-up.