Mogbo as a long-term solution at Center

[S.W.A.N]

Somebody please bookmark this thread so we can share just how much hate this board has for another great prospect of ours. As of the Raptors havent proven it time and time again.

Skepticism isn't hate.

Dude can defend, that is clear. Not a great rebounder, but a pretty good passer and defender, for sure. And he isn't the worst at the line, either, he shot like 73%. But he has shown no touch away from the rim, and weak touch in close, both of which are concerns for his overall utility/ceiling.

So the notion that he needs to prove that he's a solid option in the short-term before being anointed as a long-term solution isn't unreasonable in any way, shape or form, nor does it constitute "hating."

I totally understand the skepticism and I actually agree with what a lot has been said. The whole point was to hear the different opinions given that Jak could be dealt, and what I posted is strictly based off potential. You all make fair assessments while having valid concerns, but we'll see whether he develops a lot this off-season to make a big jump next year.

The conversation is just a year early.

Right now Mogbo isn't even a good option as a backup C.

But if you are going to dream. Dream big.

The best case scenario isn't Mogbo as C it is as a Big Wing.

[tsherkin]

I totally understand the skepticism and I actually agree with what a lot has been said. The whole point was to hear the different opinions given that Jak could be dealt, and what I posted is strictly based off potential. You all make fair assessments while having valid concerns, but we'll see whether he develops a lot this off-season to make a big jump next year.

100%. He was a rook. Even a 23 year-old rook deserves a second season to see what's what. But that's sort of what people were saying: "let's see if he's a short-term solution before calling him the long-term solution," that's all. Just a little patience before we all get ahead of ourselves, and not doing what OhCanada did and attacking people for daring to hold a dissenting opinion, you know?

Mogbo has a lot of options. One of his potential outcomes is that he becomes sufficiently passable from the corners that we can use him as a 3, which TOTALLY changes the map of his potential usage and rotation minutes, you know?

[NoBias]

Saw him at the club two weeks ago with Castleton. Dude ain’t that big to be a center.

[HoopAndTheHarm]

It's wild that a guy who is 6'7 never developed his ability to make layups.

Did he play against weaker competition his whole life and just dunked everything 20 times a game?

I don't have high hopes for him. Although, anytime you can play defense and guard 3 or 4 positions, it doesn't take much on the other end to get minutes. Just a corner 3. But how do you have faith in that when he can't even make a layup.

He's definitely a tier below Shead and Walter.

Played 2 years at community colleges and then one year each in the MIssouri Valley Conference and the West Coast Conference. Net result is undersized competition and him playing the 4/5 in the paint because that was the most effective use of him.

[HoopAndTheHarm]

After seeing him play last year if you had to select what the one main reason we selected him was, what would it be?

He and Scottie played AAU ball together. Scottie also lived with Mogbo and his family in freshman year of highschool. So there's that?

[alan_156]

Mogbo has awful hands and is worse than precious in finishing around the rim.

No chance is he a long term solution

[OhCanada]

Collier and Filipowski both are pretty underwhelming as well.

Mogbo has the highest ceiling of the 3 IMO, but maybe the highest bust potential.

I'll give you that it's too early to pencil them into anything despite the fact that Mogbo is the oldest of the 3 and has not looked like he has any skills offensively to uncover unlike, for example, someone like Siakam. But based on the rookie year, both Collier and Filipkowski have shown they can be solid rotation players and maybe more. Can't say the same for Mogbo yet. He's shown flashes and it's not like he hasn't had chances with this team's roster situation being what it was.

Collier has not shown ****. He put up 9ppg and 6apg in 26mpg on 49TS%. That is horrible. He was 2nd last in the league in efficiency.

Filipowski was better - but his ceiling is what? Kelly Olynyk? Sure, they got a bench piece there but nothing more.


Mogbo is a legit all-league talent defensively. You can squint and if he improves the 3 ball you are looking at a 3+D PF/C which is incredibly valuable in this league. Oh, and he is a really good playmaker for a big, and averaged 11/10/7 with 2spg and 1bpg in his 5 starts to close the year.

In a redraft I am still taking Mogbo 100/100 times. There is just way to much potential there as a defender and playmaker.

I have WAY more faith in Mogbo developing a shot than I do Filipowski learning how to defend, or Collier developing multiple skills.

Yeah I've got no clue what these guys were watching. From game one he was one of the teams best defenders. You don't get those players for nothing they are extremely rare. When your drafting a player your usually guaging the likeleyhood to player will become all NBA or all Defense. Mogbo legitimately has all Defense upside. He gets shaky around the rim and lacks explosion consitently btu thats most rookies adjusting to the pace and physicality of the league. He's also doing so much on the defensive end. How many players in the league can get close to averaging a triple double?

[OhCanada]

Somebody please bookmark this thread so we can share just how much hate this board has for another great prospect of ours. As of the Raptors havent proven it time and time again.

Skepticism isn't hate.

Dude can defend, that is clear. Not a great rebounder, but a pretty good passer and defender, for sure. And he isn't the worst at the line, either, he shot like 73%. But he has shown no touch away from the rim, and weak touch in close, both of which are concerns for his overall utility/ceiling.

So the notion that he needs to prove that he's a solid option in the short-term before being anointed as a long-term solution isn't unreasonable in any way, shape or form, nor does it constitute "hating."

Yeah the skepticism is fine. People saying he's horrible, a bad pick and shouldn't even be on the roster is more what I'm speaking about. Mogbo has talents and instincts you can't teach and is a versatile defensive playmaker and he's a Toronto Raptor. The Raptor's have a pretty damn good track record of developing players that buy in. I just don't understand how people could say 'drop him he misses layups' instead of saying 'can't wait to say him develop and improve'. I mean wheres the support and trust? These new Raptors fans are spoiled rotten.

[tsherkin]

Yeah the skepticism is fine. People saying he's horrible, a bad pick and shouldn't even be on the roster is more what I'm speaking about.

Yeah, a lot of that is premature. He has size and athleticism, defends well. He's an okay rebounder. He passes well. There's stuff to work with. And he was taken 31st overall, a second-rounder, so like... managing expectations should be part and parcel of that. Not everyone is Jokic coming out of the second round, heh.

We have him for another year, with a team option beyond that: he's cheap as hell, and we need frontcourt depth. It doesn't really hurt to see if he can improve, for sure.

[nestea]

Let's see if he can first reliably make a layup.

Just needs more confidence

[Kingsway_fan]

Purtle will be extended this summer.. so we need a backup... Hopefully we can draft one...

[TimeForChange]

Best pick from last years draft.

Can’t wait to watch him this year.

[Thaddy]

He should improve based on what we saw in college. He would get better every year.

The feel for the game seems good but his handle, shooting, and finishing is bad. The only way he can score is being set up for shots.

The nice part is that defense is good and there. Becoming a PJ Tucker isn't that far off for him.

[tsherkin]

The only way he can score is being set up for shots.

This, in and of itself, isn't a problem. He just needs to be able to finish at the rim when he's set up and doesn't get a dunk out of it, you know?

[Thaddy]

The only way he can score is being set up for shots.

This, in and of itself, isn't a problem. He just needs to be able to finish at the rim when he's set up and doesn't get a dunk out of it, you know?

He needs to be set up for point blank shots. He's the opposite of someone like Gafford. He will never get to that level but if he can nail the corner 3 he's PJ Tucker level easy. That has value in this league.

[tsherkin]

The only way he can score is being set up for shots.

This, in and of itself, isn't a problem. He just needs to be able to finish at the rim when he's set up and doesn't get a dunk out of it, you know?

He needs to be set up for point blank shots. He's the opposite of someone like Gafford. He will never get to that level but if he can nail the corner 3 he's PJ Tucker level easy. That has value in this league.

There are only a few offensive skills he needs to become a viable low-volume option, no doubt.