Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 6

[fredericklove]

Sure Biyambo looks like a good defensive presence but for some posters who actually thinks we should use our 3rd pick on him is crazily ridiculous.

[bboyskinnylegs]

I'd agree on Kanter being a better fit, but I question those knees of his and that he isn't a shot-blocker. Kanter doesn't do anything for us defensively, and he does slow the team down. A guy like Biyombo can easily put on more weight looking at his frame. The best part is, if there is a lock out he continues to develop in Spain. This is already the best shotblocker in the ACB and one of the top per min. rebounders. He has huge upside. In a draft where there is hard to take notice of anyone, this guy has just stood up. A triple double against guys like Anthony Davis who could go number one overall next year? Why not draft the guy at 3.

We may miss out on a Kemba Walker, Valicunius, and Derrick Williams. But, I wouldn't lose sleep over any of those prospects.

We don't need a great shotblocker. Look at a guy like Perkins, he's a great defender because he's strong, has a big body, and he understands positioning. He's a good, but not great rebounder or shotblocker. Same goes for Gasol. With Kanter, he actually does look like a very good rebounder, and the benefit is he may be able to be a legitimate go-to scorer. If the choice is between Kanter and Biyombo, I think I'd definitely take Kanter. Right now we have a very solid athletic shotblocker in Ed... who can't possibly deal with the bigger C's in the league like Gasol/Bynum/Cousins. I'm not sure if Biyombo could match up against bigger C's like that either.

[bboyskinnylegs]

Everything's been going too well on the tanking front. I'm somewhat afraid we'll end up with the 5th pick, while Sacramento and Washington get #1 and 2. Then we end up with Jan Vesley or Donatas. Then we shoot ourselves.

5th pick would be fine, we get one of Kanter/Barnes/Valanciunas, don't get much choice but at least they're solid prospects. What scares me is if we move down to 6, or somehow end up in a tied for 3rd, lose a coin toss, and then end up in 7th (unlikely, but not impossible). Then we have little to no choice of quality prospects, and have to decide between Kemba/Knight (I honestly prefer Bayless at this point), take a chance on Biyombo (could be a worthwhile risk) or worry about picking Donatas/Vesely/T.Jones.

[yayotube]

Kanter's the perfect front court fit with Ed Davis going forward. Ed needs to bulk up this summer, but even then he has a lanky frame even if he fills out. Someone like Kanter like mentioned above has the body type of a Perkins where he may not have the shot-blocking and superior athleticism but makes up for it with the strength, determination, and rebounding. Plus he has a nice touch in the paint and excellent footwork (from what we've seen which is not a lot) but once again work outs will shed more light. We don't need another twig next to Ed though trying to man the middle (Valanciunas)

[darth_federer]

Lot of love for Jonas here from one of the best Euro blogs

http://euroleagueadventures.com/the-dar ... lanciunas/

[Moxie]

I think Valanciunas will end up in the Nene ballpark in terms of size, or slightly bigger. He's certainly no Sammy D.

[yayotube]

Lot of love for Jonas here from one of the best Euro blogs

http://euroleagueadventures.com/the-dar ... lanciunas/

If the adjective for big men who drift to the perimeter and don’t go hard to the glass is soft, then Jonas’ persistence can only be called hard.

Sold.

[bboyskinnylegs]

^^ I think those ratings might be somewhat skewed, but the kid is a very good prospect. Biyombo looked great at the Hoop Summit but Jonas is taller, more skilled, has the same mammoth wingspan and weighs the same. I really think he can be like a center version of our current PFs in Ed/Amir, which would make for a very long, athletic frontcourt that can be super efficient without requiring that plays be run specifically for them (at least for right now-- I think all of Ed/Amir/Jonas have a lot of untapped potential on the offensive end) and allows our backcourt to provide most of the scoring (something we may have the right personnel for with DeMar/Jerryd).

You know that effort will not be an issue for a frontcourt with those 3, although size could prove to be an issue against bigger guys like Cousins/Bynum/Gasol. Jonas certainly has the frame to add a lot of weight, but it will come down to the kind of commitment and work he puts in in that regard. If he reaches his potential, he could be like a longer version of Joakim Noah with offense. I'm still not sure who I like better between him and Kanter right now... I think I lean a bit towards Kanter because he's got the size to bang in the post now and is probably a more skilled scorer, but Jonas could be very special as well.

Don't forget to catch his team playing at 12:15pm today.

[darth_federer]

The only thing Im wary about when it comes to Biyombo is how fast hes risen. Hes gone from 61 to 19 to 7 in the space of 3-4 weeks. Generally speaking you dont want to risk a top 5 pick on a guy like that. Id like a guy who has proven himself If Im taking him with a top 5 pick. Just my opinion....

[yayotube]

Hopefully the Raps schedule Kanter, Valanciunas, and Biyombo for head to head workouts

[Waylon Mercy]

Whens that Pu$$y Harrison Barnes finally gonna make his decision?

[bboyskinnylegs]

Whens that Pu$$y Harrison Barnes finally gonna make his decision?

he's got 12 days to make a decision, I think he'll enjoy taking his time before making a decision... although he should realize he has very little competition at this point and is more or less guaranteed to be in the top 5 this year... is it worth potentially competing with better prospects at his position like Gilchrist/Q.Miller next year? If he flops his stock will take a nosedive, if he does well he *might* be able to get drafted around where he is projected now. Seems like a big risk, although the desire to make another run at the NCAA championship and improve his game might be pretty strong.

[S.W.A.N]

Hopefully the Raps schedule Kanter, Valanciunas, and Biyombo for head to head workouts

Absolutely loving the fact that these three guys should be in the mix for our pick...
I would gladly take any of these three.

So excited about this coming draft, it might be weak in so much as there no sure fire superstar but there are some very talented players who are going to be available when we draft.

[fredericklove]

Hopefully the Raps schedule Kanter, Valanciunas, and Biyombo for head to head workouts

Absolutely loving the fact that these three guys should be in the mix for our pick...
I would gladly take any of these three.

So excited about this coming draft, it might be weak in so much as there no sure fire superstar but there are some very talented players who are going to be available when we draft.

Leaving is the soft big man who's a volume shooter and doesn't rebound if his life depends on it, entering is the rough big man who has variety of offensive post moves and crashes the glass like there's no tomorrow. Um, I like this then!!

[yayotube]

Leaving is the soft big man who's a volume shooter and doesn't rebound if his life depends on it, entering is the rough big man who has variety of offensive post moves and crashes the glass like there's no tomorrow. Um, I like this then!!

Trust me it's not only the talent of a Kanter/Valanciunas/Biyombo but the fact that the politically correct move would then be to ship Bargs out the door that makes this all worthwhile

[andyo]

I don't think this draft is that weak. Everytime people say the draft is weak, it ends up being the opposite. I remember people saying the CP3-Deron-Bogut draft was weak.

If we can get in the top 3 and get one of Kanter, Irving, or Williams, I'll be happy.

[WhatsaTDot]

The only thing Im wary about when it comes to Biyombo is how fast hes risen. Hes gone from 61 to 19 to 7 in the space of 3-4 weeks. Generally speaking you dont want to risk a top 5 pick on a guy like that. Id like a guy who has proven himself If Im taking him with a top 5 pick. Just my opinion....

Exactly. As the tournament starts, inevitably the field of vision narrows.

DO.NOT.WANT. This is Whiteside hype all over again.

Jonas V is the better prospect with the higher ceiling who happens to also fill a need for us.

[ATLTimekeeper]

The only thing Im wary about when it comes to Biyombo is how fast hes risen. Hes gone from 61 to 19 to 7 in the space of 3-4 weeks. Generally speaking you dont want to risk a top 5 pick on a guy like that. Id like a guy who has proven himself If Im taking him with a top 5 pick. Just my opinion....

Exactly. As the tournament starts, inevitably the field of vision narrows.

DO.NOT.WANT. This is Whiteside hype all over again.

Jonas V is the better prospect with the higher ceiling who happens to also fill a need for us.

Whiteside had some major red flags with his personality and he slid because of it.

I'd want a guy to prove himself, too. But in this draft, the only top 5 player you can surely say that about is Derrick Williams. Irving played a handful of games. Barnes was pretty awful most of the year. Valanciunas played 15 minutes a game. Kanter didn't play all year. This is really a draft where the scouts are going to have to earn their money.

[Brinbe]

Irving, Barnes and these other guys still have a definable track record, where you've seen the good and the bad that they have to offer... And we haven't had that with these kid yet. And believe me, it'll come. Just reminds me of a Qyntel Woods all over again. Also, I'd be kinda mad to waste an entire season of tanking on such a risky venture.

But if the FO do their HW on him, and everything checks out (including the age issue) then perhaps I could be on board. But right now I wouldn't take him where we're likely to pick.

[DG88]

I want to get another pick for Val really like what I'm hearing about him. He's be a nice center that we can stash away in Europe to develop. He could be our Omer Asik or better.