With the 9th Pick, the Raptors select Collin Murray-Boyles!

[tsherkin]

The thing that gets me excited is when teams tried to guard him 1on1 with their best defender (some of whom were drafted this year) he ate those guys alive consistently. Teams had to send doubles and help to get a chance and he still scored well vs that. I think at the very least he can force the defense to send help and quickly feast on any sort of mismatch in transition.

Maybe. I don't think we're going to see him doing much on-ball work except in garbage minutes. But I would love to see him working against guys of similar size and see how his screening helps us out. And if he can get that offensive rebounding to translate to the league, then that will be another happy addition to our squad, no doubt.

I'm in the middle of writing up a post for the Post Draft Poll thread and trying to be optimistic about him.

[Agimat]

Masai’s parting gift to this franchise

[DreamTeam09]

The thing that gets me excited is when teams tried to guard him 1on1 with their best defender (some of whom were drafted this year) he ate those guys alive consistently. Teams had to send doubles and help to get a chance and he still scored well vs that. I think at the very least he can force the defense to send help and quickly feast on any sort of mismatch in transition.

Maybe. I don't think we're going to see him doing much on-ball work except in garbage minutes. But I would love to see him working against guys of similar size and see how his screening helps us out. And if he can get that offensive rebounding to translate to the league, then that will be another happy addition to our squad, no doubt.

I'm in the middle of writing up a post for the Post Draft Poll thread and trying to be optimistic about him.

He's definitely going to be able to, and given the opportunity to attack players in iso, that's a strength of his & we could use that on the bench actually.

[LoveMyRaps]

Damn man... Masai said CMB is gonna be special. His famous last words before leaving this team.

His parting gift.

I'm so high on CMB now! I think he's gonna be a special talent - a bonafide star!

[tsherkin]

He's definitely going to be able to, and given the opportunity to attack players in iso, that's a strength of his & we could use that on the bench actually.

"Definitely going to be able to" seems a bit strong. As far as the opportunity, we'll have to see what the roster is during the season. It's hard to envision him catching a lot of chance to dribble the basketball with RJ, Quick, BI and Scottie on the team.

[DreamTeam09]

He's definitely going to be able to, and given the opportunity to attack players in iso, that's a strength of his & we could use that on the bench actually.

"Definitely going to be able to" seems a bit strong. As far as the opportunity, we'll have to see what the roster is during the season. It's hard to envision him catching a lot of chance to dribble the basketball with RJ, Quick, BI and Scottie on the team.

You listed a bunch of starters, the bench could and will definitely need an ISO attacker or someone who can get down hill. He'll be doing it with strength as oppose to flashy razz and dazzle everyone fetishizes about.

[StopitLeo]

The thing that gets me excited is when teams tried to guard him 1on1 with their best defender (some of whom were drafted this year) he ate those guys alive consistently. Teams had to send doubles and help to get a chance and he still scored well vs that. I think at the very least he can force the defense to send help and quickly feast on any sort of mismatch in transition.

Maybe. I don't think we're going to see him doing much on-ball work except in garbage minutes. But I would love to see him working against guys of similar size and see how his screening helps us out. And if he can get that offensive rebounding to translate to the league, then that will be another happy addition to our squad, no doubt.

I'm in the middle of writing up a post for the Post Draft Poll thread and trying to be optimistic about him.

It's not hard to be optimistic if we start with realistic expectations of a 9th overall pick. Nobody drafted in the bottom half of the lottery should be expected to have a well-rounded game and be able to make immediate contributions—the rare guys at that level get selected at the top of the draft.

I think CMB has as much potential to become a solid player as anyone else drafted in the bottom half of the lottery.

As Raptors fans our sense of player quality in the draft is really skewed because of how successful the team has been post-Bruno (gotta give him credit for his role in establishing the 905 development pipeline). Delon Wright is the weakest of that group and he's had a 10 year career as a backup PG, making $50M+ over that time.

[tsherkin]

You listed a bunch of starters, the bench could and will definitely need an ISO attacker or someone who can get down hill. He'll be doing it with strength as oppose to flashy razz and dazzle everyone fetishizes about.

We aren't likely to throw out an all-bench lineup al that often if we're trying to win... and even still, it'll still include Walter and Shead and Gradey as guys we want to evaluate more than him right away.

[LoveMyRaps]

Read on Twitter

[tsherkin]

It's not hard to be optimistic if we start with realistic expectations of a 9th overall pick.

It has been difficult for me, but it's tied to more than just the pick itself, to be fair.

[DreamTeam09]

You listed a bunch of starters, the bench could and will definitely need an ISO attacker or someone who can get down hill. He'll be doing it with strength as oppose to flashy razz and dazzle everyone fetishizes about.

We aren't likely to throw out an all-bench lineup al that often if we're trying to win... and even still, it'll still include Walter and Shead and Gradey as guys we want to evaluate more than him right away.

Huh? Why n how did you come to that sentiment? Why would a 45th pick a 13th pick and a 19th pick be more in line for evaluation purposes then your recently selected #9 pick ?

Shead Walter dick and CMB can all play together, throw in one of the starters and that's a bench unit.

[LoveMyRaps]

CMB was a much better college prospect than Scottie based on the numbers.

[Johnny Bball]

I think this is the first time in years I’m left shaking my head at a draft pick. I will probably never understand the logic of reaching way down for a safe pick just because of fit, and not drafting potential and talent and swinging for the fences with one of maybe 3 18 year old prospects. This team needed to swing for the fences.

Lots of ppl had CMB top 5 and analytically I believe he was top 3. He has 2 elite skills already, if he develops a shot he has an extremely high ceiling. Just because he has a high floor, doesn't mean he doesn't have an extremely high ceiling.

It was his ceiling I was lamenting.

[tsherkin]

Huh? Why n how did you come to that sentiment? Why would a 45th pick a 13th pick and a 19th pick be more in line for evaluation purposes then your recently selected #9 pick ?

I imagine because we have less time before we need to pick up options or extend them and because we need to flesh out our backcourt rather badly, and because we need to see what we have in case we move RJ.

And because CMB can get offense in ways more appropriate to his position pretty easily at the same time. Running PnR WITH CMB is a good way to look at both of them, for example.

Shead Walter dick and CMB can all play together, throw in one of the starters and that's a bench unit.

That sounds a little rough to me if we're actively trying to win.

[Basketball_Jones]

It’s hard to see him on the floor at the same time with Scottie and Yak. That is ultimately the dream goal/scenario though.

[Mikistan]

I think this is the first time in years I’m left shaking my head at a draft pick. I will probably never understand the logic of reaching way down for a safe pick just because of fit, and not drafting potential and talent and swinging for the fences with one of maybe 3 18 year old prospects. This team needed to swing for the fences.

Lots of ppl had CMB top 5 and analytically I believe he was top 3. He has 2 elite skills already, if he develops a shot he has an extremely high ceiling. Just because he has a high floor, doesn't mean he doesn't have an extremely high ceiling.

It was his ceiling I was lamenting.

Johnston addressed ceiling in his post...

[right between the eyes]

Any of the new guys in Toronto yet?

[DreamTeam09]

CMB was a much better college prospect than Scottie based on the numbers.

Rookie yr vs rookie yr?

[Cyrus]

Raps not announcing rookies press conf. after all this masai news...

Sounds like they would be introduced at summer league...

[WuTang_CMB]

Masai selecting CMB knowing he will be a stud and then walking off
god bless him