Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 6

[34_fifty]

KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!KEMBA!

[God Squad]

So, do the posters who want Bismack think he'll be better than Ed? Do you take him and trade Ed or do you plan on playing them together?

Exactly. Biismack is redundant when we already have Ed. The guy's barely 6-9 in shoes. Also some scouts are not sure he's 18. They said he might be as old as 23-26.

I knew that they had concerns about his age. I didn't think he would be that old. .

[tcee]

not sure how much merit this has, but for what it's worth..

Forwards Tyler Zeller and John Henson have already announced their return for the 2011-12 season. Now freshman forward Harrison Barnes will announce his return as well. Barnes is reportedly enrolling into summer classes at the University. Multiple sources say the official announcement will probably come no later than Thursday.

source: http://isportsweb.com/2011/04/11/barnes-returning/

[dagger]

Time for a little Jonas Valinciunas duck-in here

Played a critical role in Rytas' win over KK Kaunus today in Lithuanian League action.

14 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blocks in 20 minutes.

http://www.lithuaniabasketball.com/leag ... 27980.html

[Reignman]

Time for a little Jonas Valinciunas duck-in here

Played a critical role in Rytas' win over KK Kaunus today in Lithuanian League action.

14 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blocks in 20 minutes.

http://www.lithuaniabasketball.com/leag ... 27980.html

man, everytime you post these updates I have to start all over in my personal Kanter vs Val debate.

i think I'll leave this one to the brass unless we get some decent footage of these guys in workouts (preferrably against each other).

[Consequence]

not sure how much merit this has, but for what it's worth..

Forwards Tyler Zeller and John Henson have already announced their return for the 2011-12 season. Now freshman forward Harrison Barnes will announce his return as well. Barnes is reportedly enrolling into summer classes at the University. Multiple sources say the official announcement will probably come no later than Thursday.

source: http://isportsweb.com/2011/04/11/barnes-returning/

Well, depends on how those summer courses work. If they do two-month accelerated summer courses like some schools do, he could take those after being drafted. He can still go to school after being drafted, just can't play anymore. Not end of the world, but not awesome news either.

[dagger]

Time for a little Jonas Valinciunas duck-in here

Played a critical role in Rytas' win over KK Kaunus today in Lithuanian League action.

14 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blocks in 20 minutes.

http://www.lithuaniabasketball.com/leag ... 27980.html

man, everytime you post these updates I have to start all over in my personal Kanter vs Val debate.

i think I'll leave this one to the brass unless we get some decent footage of these guys in workouts (preferrably against each other).

I think they both have merit. It depends on a few factors.

1) patience. Kanter can probably do more sooner because his body is closer to NBA ready.
2) lockout. Kanter would likely play for us in a lockout shortened season, while Valanciunas would stay overseas until the 2012-13 season. There is something to be said for both approaches. Leaving Valanciunas overseas would have the merit of helping us continue to build through one more lottery.
3) upside. I'm guessing there is more upside in the less physically finished Valanciunas, and the fact he is a steadt contributor to his team while Kanter leaves us guessing by not playing in games like thhe Nike Global Summit has me concerned.

It also depends on whether the style of play we will favor will involve offensive rebounding. Some teams peel back and don't contest the offensive boards so they can set up their defence. Boston comes to mind. Other teams make a virtue of generating additional offensive sets. If you plan to emphasize offensive rebounding, you draft Valanciunas, if you plan to get back on D and sacrifice offensive rebounding, you draft Kanter.

The trouble is, neither our GM or coach are assured of returning next season, so it would be counterproductive to use the 3rd or 4th or 5th pick on a player not knowing how he might be used by another regime.

[Brinbe]

Ugh, having Barnes and P. Jones not declaring really sucks... Guess it's down to a battle of Jonas vs. Enes if we don't win a top two pick.

[Comeatme_Bro]

Wow, after the first 2 picks, this draft is a crap shoot. Did both Kanter and Jonas officially declare for the draft yet?

[Prestige]

Biyombo is an intriguing player but he's come out of nowhere so fast that I would have mixed feelings about the team drafting him at 4-6. I don't think any of us can accurately rate him as a prospect along with the other players, that's the type of information our scouting staff should have. They're really going to have to earn their paychecks if we end up drafting at those spots. In a draft this weak, do you draft Biyombo if you think he'll become a Serge Ibaka type player or better? For that matter, where would a guy like Ibaka go in this draft?

I just hope we get a top 2 pick and avoid all these risky situations.

[wegetitin08]

We have to win the lottery now with all this tanking...its looking like it was all done in vain (next years draft is FULLY LOADED...bet some freshmen are gonna go back for their sophomore year now)

[Reignman]

Wow, after the first 2 picks, this draft is a crap shoot. Did both Kanter and Jonas officially declare for the draft yet?

Kanter is essentially a lock, he is permanently ineligible. He could always go back to Europe but he seems pretty set in going into the draft. Val may/may not but apparently the kid really wants to be the league and with the way the draft is shaping up this would be a great year to declare.

[DG88]

It's official Kemba Walker is in the draft
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011 ... AHeadlines

Kyrie Irving has apparently hired an agent so he's for sure locked into the draft

Duke's Kyrie Irving, the likely No. 1 pick in the draft, will sign with agent Andy Miller of ASM Sports, a source has confirmed. He will likely sign this week. ASM Sports's current clients include Kevin Garnett, Sebastian Telfair, Kyle Lowry, Antonio McDyess, Serge Ibaka, Chauncey Billups and Andre Miller. Irving announced last week that he will leave Duke after just one year in college to enter the NBA Draft.

http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=697

[Reignman]

Time for a little Jonas Valinciunas duck-in here

Played a critical role in Rytas' win over KK Kaunus today in Lithuanian League action.

14 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blocks in 20 minutes.

http://www.lithuaniabasketball.com/leag ... 27980.html

man, everytime you post these updates I have to start all over in my personal Kanter vs Val debate.

i think I'll leave this one to the brass unless we get some decent footage of these guys in workouts (preferrably against each other).

I think they both have merit. It depends on a few factors.

1) patience. Kanter can probably do more sooner because his body is closer to NBA ready.
2) lockout. Kanter would likely play for us in a lockout shortened season, while Valanciunas would stay overseas until the 2012-13 season. There is something to be said for both approaches. Leaving Valanciunas overseas would have the merit of helping us continue to build through one more lottery.
3) upside. I'm guessing there is more upside in the less physically finished Valanciunas, and the fact he is a steadt contributor to his team while Kanter leaves us guessing by not playing in games like thhe Nike Global Summit has me concerned.

It also depends on whether the style of play we will favor will involve offensive rebounding. Some teams peel back and don't contest the offensive boards so they can set up their defence. Boston comes to mind. Other teams make a virtue of generating additional offensive sets. If you plan to emphasize offensive rebounding, you draft Valanciunas, if you plan to get back on D and sacrifice offensive rebounding, you draft Kanter.

The trouble is, neither our GM or coach are assured of returning next season, so it would be counterproductive to use the 3rd or 4th or 5th pick on a player not knowing how he might be used by another regime.

That's probably going to be the major factor. Both guys have potential on both sides of the ball; however, I see Val's strength being his rebounding/weakside shot blocking and Kanter's strength being post offense/defense.

I guess with Ed I'd prefer someone like Kanter who can be a stay at home C and give us our first legitimate post option on offense. Ed and Val seem to have a lot of duplication in style (not that it's a bad thing).

This has probably been my favourite prospect debate, both players would play 5 but bring completely different strengths weaknesses yet I can envision both guys fitting in nicely in their own way.

[Reignman]

It's official Kemba Walker is in the draft
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011 ... AHeadlines

Kyrie Irving has apparently hired an agent so he's for sure locked into the draft

Duke's Kyrie Irving, the likely No. 1 pick in the draft, will sign with agent Andy Miller of ASM Sports, a source has confirmed. He will likely sign this week. ASM Sports's current clients include Kevin Garnett, Sebastian Telfair, Kyle Lowry, Antonio McDyess, Serge Ibaka, Chauncey Billups and Andre Miller. Irving announced last week that he will leave Duke after just one year in college to enter the NBA Draft.

http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=697

For some reason I'm happy he didn't join the CAA gang.

[dagger]

Wow, after the first 2 picks, this draft is a crap shoot. Did both Kanter and Jonas officially declare for the draft yet?

Kanter is essentially a lock, he is permanently ineligible. He could always go back to Europe but he seems pretty set in going into the draft. Val may/may not but apparently the kid really wants to be the league and with the way the draft is shaping up this would be a great year to declare.

Well, his agent is talking up how the lockout is helping his ciient's cause - moving him up even though he would stay in Europe until the following season. I'd say it's likely he's in because he can lock up a high draft position. He has nothing really to lose here.

[Basketball_Jones]

This is crazy, after Kyrie and Williams everybody is going to be reaching with their picks. There is really no consensus after those two.

[darth_federer]

Ok we know that Reignman wants Kemba Walker but what do your mocks look like?

1) Irving
2) Williams
3) Barnes
4) Jonas
5) Kanter

[Lionel Messi]

Ok we know that Reignman wants Kemba Walker but what do your mocks look like?

1) Irving
2) Williams
3) Barnes
4) Jonas
5) Kanter

Posted mine a few pages back it was basically the same as yours but with Kanter and Barnes flipped.

[DG88]

Ok we know that Reignman wants Kemba Walker but what do your mocks look like?

1) Donatas
2) Williams
3) Barnes
4) Jonas
5) Kanter