Official Raptors 2012 NBA Draft Thread, Part 5

[JamesNaismith]

I don't want to just take a Barnes or MKG at #2 because we don't want another project. There are going to be teams that salivate over Drummond's potential so I think we can squeeze some more out of it.

It'll be tricky because we'd likely have to deal with the teams picking right after us but I think that might be a good way to get some extra value out of our pick.

Excellent point.

We maybe able to trade just a couple spots down or so and acquire an additional asset for Drummond if a GM falls in love with him. Personally I would have a hard time parting with Andre because he just such a massive potential and could really make a pairing with Valanciunas a special pairing if they both developed properly.

[King Bosh]

There's so many things that need to happen if we select Andre Drummond with the second overall pick, and the number 1 priority would be find a suiter for Amir Johnson. I rather keep Ed Davis and let Drummond/Bargs/Ed share minutes at the PF position, and even give Drummond some minutes at the 5 and see which position he's most confortable with in the NBA. Now I know Ed as had a bad season thus far, but many do during their sophmore season...might as well give him another chance and hopefully he can bring his trade value back up. If that all happens, you also find a FA center during the summer to start and ease Val into his role as a Toronto Raptor.

[Mr. Natural]

I am also looking forward to us being good enough again too.

Val + 2012 pick + healthy Bargs + significant FA signing should be enough to be competitive again.

I don't expect the Raptors to make the playoffs next season.

If you look at the OKC model:

2007: Draft Durant (2nd)
2008: Draft Westbrook (4th) and Ibaka (24th)

Now after adding these three players to the Thunder you'd expect them to be good. Well, the weren't.

2009: Draft Harden (3rd)

2010 turned out to be the turnaround year for the Thunder after adding Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka and Harden without adding any significant free agents.

[niQ]

I am also looking forward to us being good enough again too.

Val + 2012 pick + healthy Bargs + significant FA signing should be enough to be competitive again.

I don't expect the Raptors to make the playoffs next season.

If you look at the OKC model:

2007: Draft Durant (2nd)
2008: Draft Westbrook (4th) and Ibaka (24th)

Now after adding these three players to the Thunder you'd expect them to be good. Well, the weren't.

2009: Draft Harden (3rd)

2010 turned out to be the turnaround year for the Thunder after adding Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka and Harden without adding any significant free agents.

Don't forget they also had Jeff Green. Who was Boston's pick I think. Which they traded for Ray Allen.

[fredericklove]

BTW, Barnes has become a sure thing at this point. Glad I stayed on the bandwagon from his rookie year.

Of cos bro, Barnes 4 life. For those who don't think Barnes is a top 3 draft pick in this draft.

[DreamTeam09]

Barnes is player the raps need & should want out of this draft. That stat that I saw earlier about marshall passing to everyone but HB proves he can get buckets on his own... He's had some big scoring games in his career and several 20+ for a big school at a big time level. I don't care how he scores just as long as he scoring it. I just think we are gonna need luck to get him, but we've been lucky these last several drafts.

[SkywalkerAC]

Really wish that we were in a better position to draft HB rather than having to pray to the gods of the lotto. I think he could step in and not only start but lead us on a playoff run as a rookie on a young team. A Valanciunas pick and roll spaced by Barnes and AB would be unstoppable.

[C_Money]

I heard somebody say Harrison Barnes is a passive player with weak handles. A guy like that will never be anything more than a role player. Passive players tend to have confidence issues too.

[fredericklove]

Really wish that we were in a better position to draft HB rather than having to pray to the gods of the lotto. I think he could step in and not only start but lead us on a playoff run as a rookie on a young team. A Valanciunas pick and roll spaced by Barnes and AB would be unstoppable.

Demar: What am I gonna do?

[dTox]

Really wish that we were in a better position to draft HB rather than having to pray to the gods of the lotto. I think he could step in and not only start but lead us on a playoff run as a rookie on a young team. A Valanciunas pick and roll spaced by Barnes and AB would be unstoppable.

Demar: What am I gonna do?

If we end up having that sort of lineup next year Demar would really thrive in there, his ability to attack the rim and draw fouls will be a key missing piece.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Really wish that we were in a better position to draft HB rather than having to pray to the gods of the lotto. I think he could step in and not only start but lead us on a playoff run as a rookie on a young team. A Valanciunas pick and roll spaced by Barnes and AB would be unstoppable.

Demar: What am I gonna do?

If we end up having that sort of lineup next year Demar would really thrive in there, his ability to attack the rim and draw fouls will be a key missing piece.

I don't want him in the top-10, but trade for Austin Rivers later in the draft and we'd be sitting pretty with that lineup.

Rivers/DeRozan/Barnes/Bargnani/Valanciunas and me jizzing myself

[tdotrep2]

you guys are severely overrating what hb is going to be able to accomplish in the nba, especially next year

[SkywalkerAC]

you guys are severely overrating what hb is going to be able to accomplish in the nba, especially next year

thinking he's capable of making shots and playing solid D is severely overrating?

[tdotrep2]

Really wish that we were in a better position to draft HB rather than having to pray to the gods of the lotto. I think he could step in and not only start but lead us on a playoff run as a rookie on a young team. A Valanciunas pick and roll spaced by Barnes and AB would be unstoppable.

Lead us to a play-off run?

[Homer Jay]

Really wish that we were in a better position to draft HB rather than having to pray to the gods of the lotto. I think he could step in and not only start but lead us on a playoff run as a rookie on a young team. A Valanciunas pick and roll spaced by Barnes and AB would be unstoppable.

Lead us to a play-off run?

Oh Yeah... honestly if Bargs was here the whole season, we would very likely be in one now. With the possibilities of players like Dwight and Dwill moving to the Western Conf, as well as the Celts blowing it up, and Milly looking at a rebuild, it might not be hard to make the playoffs next year at all.

[PHANTOMPHOENIX]

If we have first overall, it's going to be Anthony Davis. If we pick second, it's going to be a shooter. I cannot see BC taking Drummond over Barnes or MKG even if Drummond projects reasonably well over the long term. There are only so many five-year big man projects this franchise will undertake. Valanciunas is enough, and his motor and work ethic are beyond question.

This is a business and it's time to move it forward. Waiting on multiple bigs to mature would destroy the fan base. Only a small fraction of fans would buy into another couple of years of willful losing.

I agree with you; however, if we have the #2 in this draft and Drummond declares, BC needs to keep things very close to the vest and play the game.

I don't want to just take a Barnes or MKG at #2 because we don't want another project. There are going to be teams that salivate over Drummond's potential so I think we can squeeze some more out of it.

It'll be tricky because we'd likely have to deal with the teams picking right after us but I think that might be a good way to get some extra value out of our pick.

I was hoping NO ends up 3rd if the Raps get 2nd so NO can offer the two 1sts for Drummond.

[fredericklove]

I was hoping NO ends up 3rd if the Raps get 2nd so NO can offer the two 1sts for Drummond.

You wish. NO won't offer 2 1st for this kid, cmon bro.

[PHANTOMPHOENIX]

I was hoping NO ends up 3rd if the Raps get 2nd so NO can offer the two 1sts for Drummond.

You wish. NO won't offer 2 1st for this kid, cmon bro.

Well, not with the way Drummond is playing. Stern will veto it for basketball reasons.

[King Bosh]

Like many members here..I have a man-crush on Harrison Barnes. I actually ordered one of his UNC jerseys online. Anyways, I was wondering what type of reaction would you guys have if we do end up picking Barnes and ends up being Luol Deng V2?

[Snooch]

i really like Tony Wroten jr. and hopefully team can pick up a bit of a later pick to grab him up.

Kids got a ton of athleticism, good court vision, good shooter very solid defender.

if we are talking pick and rolls, bargs, val and him would be very solid indeed.


Would absolutely need a shooter on the wings though to help stretch the floor a bit.