Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread

[Dr Positivity]

The guy I think is overrated is Perry Jones... the only thing he has going for him is athleticism and even that's not freakish. He's a clear SF/PF tweener... I'm not seeing much ballhandling, passing potential. Chad Ford said Perry has the inside track at #1... that's a joke. He looks like either a SF with not enough perimeter skills, or a skinny PF with a face-up game... I dunno. I want my top prospects to have the right size and body for their positions. Irving is 6'3 and fast, great for a PG. Barnes is a 6'8 SG/SF with good athleticism, like a young Paul Pierce. I don't know who Perry resembles other than Durant, who clearly had far more skills in his box

[Reignman]

The guy I think is overrated is Perry Jones... the only thing he has going for him is athleticism and even that's not freakish. He's a clear SF/PF tweener... I'm not seeing much ballhandling, passing potential. Chad Ford said Perry has the inside track at #1... that's a joke. He looks like either a SF with not enough perimeter skills, or a skinny PF with a face-up game... I dunno. I want my top prospects to have the right size and body for their positions. Irving is 6'3 and fast, great for a PG. Barnes is a 6'8 SG/SF with good athleticism, like a young Paul Pierce. I don't know who Perry resembles other than Durant, who clearly had far more skills in his box

Actually, his "size to skill ratio" (i hate that saying after these last few years) is excellent. You don't get to see him use his ball handling because Baylor plays him at the 5 and he's an after thought on offense.

Now I'm not suggesting he's not a tweener, he might very well be. If he's an NBA PF then he loses a lot of his shine, as an NBA SF he's very intriguing.

Point is, with the way Baylor uses him don't expect to see much of his offensive repetoire unless something changes.

[Rhettmatic]

New DX mock:

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2011/

1. Irving
2. Jones
3. Valanciunas
4. Kanter
5. T. Jones
6. Jared Sullinger
7. Kemba Walker
8. Harrison Barnes
9. Donut
10. John Henson

[DreamTeam09]

Why is 6'0 - 6'1 undersize for a pg, in the case of Kemba Walker.

[Brinbe]

Interesting... I'd have no problems taking Barnes at eight, if we did end up in that same area once again.

[Reignman]

Why is 6'0 - 6'1 undersize for a pg, in the case of Kemba Walker.

Look at some of the new era point guards, 6'3", 6'4" etc. That's why.

[DreamTeam09]

Why is 6'0 - 6'1 undersize for a pg, in the case of Kemba Walker.

Look at some of the new era point guards, 6'3", 6'4" etc. That's why.

Yea I understand that, I don't think a height advantage matters at the pg spot as much as any other position. If your under 6" I can understand. Coaches dont run sets for pg to post up or put them on block. They might be a better on the boards because of it but thats about it, and isn't much to skip on players imo.

[fredericklove]

The guy I think is overrated is Perry Jones... the only thing he has going for him is athleticism and even that's not freakish. He's a clear SF/PF tweener... I'm not seeing much ballhandling, passing potential. Chad Ford said Perry has the inside track at #1... that's a joke. He looks like either a SF with not enough perimeter skills, or a skinny PF with a face-up game... I dunno. I want my top prospects to have the right size and body for their positions. Irving is 6'3 and fast, great for a PG. Barnes is a 6'8 SG/SF with good athleticism, like a young Paul Pierce. I don't know who Perry resembles other than Durant, who clearly had far more skills in his box

Only two things positive from what I've seen in his games are athleticism and ball-handling skills, the baylor system uses him wrong too and he's not assertive much... I'd take Barnes over PJ in a heart beat. Irving resembles GOD, that's all I have to say.

[drew_28]

With all the irving talk (and rightfully so..) not many talk falls to Duke's other star guard. I think he has adapted well to playing the one, and even though he is more of a combo/scoring guard...i think he definitely has upside.

We have bayless... similar skill set...but i think he could really be a second round steal or late first steal.

especially if barbousa and caldaron are on there way out..

thoughts?

[Rude Boy 1]

^ who Nolan Smith? I love the guy! If he continues to play the way he has since Kyrie went down he could be a nice pick up as a 1st rounder. Good instincts, shot making ability, not explosive but gets to his spots, well-coached. I would take a look at him

[Rude Boy 1]

I wonder how many UNC games you've watched this season, sure he struggles to create his own shots and his jumper aren't falling but can't just write him off this quickly. The season's not finished yet it's only half way through. He still shows some flashes from time to time, calling him a bust that quickly is just nonsense. He's still a top 5 if he comes out in this draft.

More than a few! And to be honest with you I would love for Harrison to be even an adequate player, the fact is he's been abysmal. He has played himself into a late lottery selection in my opinion and the only reason why he's even considered a lottery pick is because he was previously a no.1 and considered an All-American as a freshmen. The Givony write up echoes what I feel about Harrison, I feel he needs to stay in school another year or two and refine his game because the college game has exposed him weaknesses.

Having said that it is still early and who knows maybe he can pull a DeMar?! At this point I do not want him with our pick. I would take Chris Singleton over him in a heartbeat if we are hellbent on selecting a SF. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Chris-Singleton-1342/

[drew_28]

^ who Nolan Smith? I love the guy! If he continues to play the way he has since Kyrie went down he could be a nice pick up as a 1st rounder. Good instincts, shot making ability, not explosive but gets to his spots, well-coached. I would take a look at him

my thoughts exactly. i'm thinking it is worth the miami pick to gamble on him...i can definitely see him as a reliable backup to the one...and perhaps even sharing at the two if we go small.

plus and possibly most importantly...the guy is a winner. looking at his resume the guy wins everywhere he goes. definitely something worth having on an up-and-coming team.

[fredericklove]

^ who Nolan Smith? I love the guy! If he continues to play the way he has since Kyrie went down he could be a nice pick up as a 1st rounder. Good instincts, shot making ability, not explosive but gets to his spots, well-coached. I would take a look at him

my thoughts exactly. i'm thinking it is worth the miami pick to gamble on him...i can definitely see him as a reliable backup to the one...and perhaps even sharing at the two if we go small.

plus and possibly most importantly...the guy is a winner. looking at his resume the guy wins everywhere he goes. definitely something worth having on an up-and-coming team.

He's got defense and a good slasher, definitely not a bad prospect. Another guy that's worth a miami pick is David LIghty, http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/David-Lighty-1177/, he's quick he's versatile and has a winning mentality too, thoughts?

[Rude Boy 1]

He's got defense and a good slasher, definitely not a bad prospect. Another guy that's worth a miami pick is David LIghty, http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/David-Lighty-1177/, he's quick he's versatile and has a winning mentality too, thoughts?

I've never seen him play but judging by what's being said about him he's got nice long arms and could have stopper potential on the perimeter. I don't like his age(he'll be 23 when the draft comes around) and doesn't look like he can know down shots either. He tore his ACL in high school too that can't be good. If I were looking at him it would be as a 2nd rounder.

[Indeed]

What if we made the playoffs?

[jigga_man]

What if we made the playoffs?

[wesleybrown]

Nolan Smith is fanastic hes who i want most from this draft. I think only reason why his stock isn't in lottery or top 10 even is cuz hes a senior. He has been fantastic and I think he has potential to be a star in the nba.
He sort of reminds me of Ginobili, as a pg though.
If Irving doesn't go to the draft I would be happy to take Smith with the 2nd pick if he's still available and take a 3 earlier. Smith could be our starting pg of the future I think and Bayless could play 6th man.
Problem is we need a great pg, a 3, and a big shotblocking great rebounding centre.
Yet, we already have bargs ed davis and amir all will be locked up if they arent already, and all of them are 4s. So, we can't draft another big like Sullinger because he isn't a real centre.
Wherever we go, we have all the opportunities open at this point. Do u think Colangelo is the right guy to make the decisions now moving ahead or do u think we need someone different to help move the rebuild along

[DreamTeam09]

^^Colango has done a fine job drafting for us while he's been here. He's picked Bargs(1)/Demar(8-9)/Ed Davis(12-13). Those are all good players and far from scrubs.

[Rude Boy 1]

^^Colango has done a fine job drafting for us while he's been here. He's picked Bargs(1)/Demar(8-9)/Ed Davis(12-13). Those are all good players and far from scrubs.

I'd give him a C+

[redred9]

I would be so on board with Nolan Smith with a second pick if he's there- he would look great next to Bayless and Demar in a 3 guard rotation.