2014 NBA Draft Prospects Thread #5 | Raps picking 20th

[SkywalkerAC]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvvoYd4eDJE[/youtube]

See, while I'm not high on Harris (because he's a 2-guard and hasn't been in our range), he looks like a solid prospect. He must have a lot of Avery Bradley in him to have been ranked so high in a deep draft at that size. Seems like a smart guy (sounds like Casey actually, so grain of salt there), a gamer/competitor, and he's got the ball skills we need, to go with a 3&D toolset. Remember, it's BPA and we're going to be signing a small forward of some kind anyway.

Is a Vasquez/Harris backcourt coming off the bench not preferable to an Ennis/Vasquez?

[CPT]

If rodney hood is avalible at #20 should we consider taking him?

Seems to have good size and shooting abilty to be successful.

I can't imagine a scenario where there wouldn't be someone better available.

He's projected to go ahead of us, and there must be reasons, but I'm just not sold. To me he's a 3 and D guy, without the D. People say he has good size for SF, but he's thin and weak, and kind of short-armed (though his slight frame may make his wingspan seem worse than it is a la Ross). And if you're looking for just a shooter, I think there will be better ones available at a lower cost.

[Kabookalu]

You have to watch him play. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and with an intensity that he's the best player on the court----kinda like Lillard on Weber St.

It's funny you mention Lowry, I think thats a good comparison. Only difference is that Smart has very good athleticism and Lowry had a better three point shot coming out. I have watched almost every Smart game this year, he tends to jack up some ill advised shots ala westbrook but has great defensive potential a la westbrook lol

As far as calling him the most sure thing? errr no lol I would say Jabari Parker is.

I think Orlando should forget about Exum and go for Smart.

The defensive potential and intensity of a Smart/Oladipo backcourt is intriguing.

Lowry actually had no jumpshot at all coming into the league. He's worked hard to improve that part of his game. Teams were high on him until they found out he couldn't shoot.

I've seen the Lowry comparison before in the draft board, but the thing is Lowry has the reputation of being a bulldog even though he's one of the more crafty PGs in the league. Smart is just a bulldog.

Lowry is not overly athletic, he has good quickness but not great, and he's short. How he excels is that he's clever as hell. He makes you think he's going to shoot, and then out of nowhere he blows by you, and at that point it's too late to recover because he's made you commit so far to his shot you might as well be running back down the other floor. This is what makes Chris Paul special too, him and Lowry have this awesome ability to feign their intentions. They're so unpredictable and have great basketball IQ. Paul's is obviously much higher but Lowry is damn good himself.

With Smart I don't see the pun intended smarts of a Lowry. He gets into the lane by bullying his way to the bucket, not by tricking you like Lowry.

If Smart ever develops this ability that Lowry has, along with being a respectable 3 point shooter, boy he's going to be special. If Lowry can take over games at his stature, then imagine Smart at 6'4. Though we have yet to see that happen and for now I see more Rodney Stuckey than Kyle Lowry.

[puinha]

The need in our team is for a strong SF, a backup C and BPA. In that order i would draft Inglis, Bashinsky and D. Powel
Then we need to get rid of some players that will not take part in our future ex Hayes, Psicho T, DeColo, Stone, Buycks,Salmons and try to sign some free agents that could play minutes under Caseys system.
If we were able to win almost 50 games with this roster, imagine what we will be able to do with a much improved bench...

[McFurious1]

Nah, most sure thing is Jabari Parker.

Really? What's Jabari's position?

He's clearly a SF. What were you thinking?

Smart himself doesn't seem to have a position. Is he a 2 or a pg?

Parker weighs as much as a NBA PF and doesn't have the quickness of a typical SF.

We've seen tweener PG/SG combos work in the NBA SF/PF Tweeners not so much.

Not saying Parker won't be good, but I don't think it's such a lock as some people think.

I thought Derrick Williams was going to be a stud SF in the NBA. That didn't turn out to well.

[Indeed]

The need in our team is for a strong SF, a backup C and BPA. In that order i would draft Inglis, Bashinsky and D. Powel
Then we need to get rid of some players that will not take part in our future ex Hayes, Psicho T, DeColo, Stone, Buycks,Salmons and try to sign some free agents that could play minutes under Caseys system.
If we were able to win almost 50 games with this roster, imagine what we will be able to do with a much improved bench...

Its good to upgrade the bench, but I think we need a good starting SF and PF. I don't think backup C is important, I would value 3 point shooting off the bench higher than a backup C.

[Indeed]

Really? What's Jabari's position?

He's clearly a SF. What were you thinking?

Smart himself doesn't seem to have a position. Is he a 2 or a pg?

Parker weighs as much as a NBA PF and doesn't have the quickness of a typical SF.

We've seen tweener PG/SG combos work in the NBA SF/PF Tweeners not so much.

Not saying Parker won't be good, but I don't think it's such a lock as some people think.

I thought Derrick Williams was going to be a stud SF in the NBA. That didn't turn out to well.

Because the skill set at PG and SG are rather similar (perimeter oriented), as for SF and PF, they are completely different. Worse, many PF offensive skills cannot transfer to SF as well (cannot contribute on neither end). How many post up SF you see in the league? How many mid range or long range shot you can take? PG/SG tweener can at least contribute on the offensive end, and became a 6th man.

[littlerock2277]

If rodney hood is avalible at #20 should we consider taking him?

Seems to have good size and shooting abilty to be successful.

You always should consider taking any player depending on whose left in the draft but their are way to many better players I would choose ahead of him. His upside is his shooting (almost 50% behind the arc) but his physical traits are under whelming, with averages of under 3 rebs a game.

Yikes nevermind didnt realize he had some major weaknesses.

[Chriscross]

What are peoples thought on Rodney Hood and James Young?

I don't see anything special in them but I feel like they could be available at 20

[Tortiglioni]

What are peoples thought on Rodney Hood and James Young?

I don't see anything special in them but I feel like they could be available at 20

Rodney Hood = no thanks (mediocre defence, limited upside, nothing special)
James Young won't be available - 99.9% chance Raptors would take him if he was there at #20.

[yt_boi]

Really? What's Jabari's position?

He's clearly a SF. What were you thinking?

Smart himself doesn't seem to have a position. Is he a 2 or a pg?

Parker weighs as much as a NBA PF and doesn't have the quickness of a typical SF.

We've seen tweener PG/SG combos work in the NBA SF/PF Tweeners not so much.

Not saying Parker won't be good, but I don't think it's such a lock as some people think.

I thought Derrick Williams was going to be a stud SF in the NBA. That didn't turn out to well.

Ive been telling anyone who will listen that parker is a pf. But ppl want to lable him a sf. And im sure he will play mins at sf but he'll be way more effective at pf. Hes just too slow to guard sf. Even his offense is better suited as a stretch 4 that can rebound and drive

[Indeed]

What are peoples thought on Rodney Hood and James Young?

I don't see anything special in them but I feel like they could be available at 20

Rodney Hood = no thanks (mediocre defence, limited upside, nothing special)
James Young won't be available - 99.9% chance Raptors would take him if he was there at #20.[/quote

I agree, James Young has the physical attribute to play SG or SF, while Hood doesn't have a true defensive position.

[Pass it]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZPRSXGMvto&feature=youtu.be&t=2h21m13s[/youtube]

Anyone on the McDaniels bandwagon watch him get the **** blocked out of 3 times by Thanasis in the draft combine from the 2:21-2:26 mark.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Thanasis should be one of our picks. That's all.

[raptor jesus]

What are peoples thought on Rodney Hood and James Young?

I don't see anything special in them but I feel like they could be available at 20

I think both have limited upside offensively and neither can defend. Young looks like a carbon copy of Xavier Henry. Nice lefty shooting stroke, can explode from time to time on straight line drives, but isn't a creator. Hood is a one dimensional specialist - the only skill I envision transferring is spot up shooting. There should be more multi-faceted talent available at 20.

[yt_boi]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZPRSXGMvto&feature=youtu.be&t=2h21m13s[/youtube]

Anyone on the McDaniels bandwagon watch him get the **** blocked out of 3 times by Thanasis in the draft combine from the 2:21-2:26 mark.

Lol. He didnt get blocked 3 times. Whats the exact seconds?

[Chriscross]

What are peoples thought on Rodney Hood and James Young?

I don't see anything special in them but I feel like they could be available at 20

I think both have limited upside offensively and neither can defend. Young looks like a carbon copy of Xavier Henry. Nice lefty shooting stroke, can explode from time to time on straight line drives, but isn't a creator. Hood is a one dimensional specialist - the only skill I envision transferring is spot up shooting. There should be more multi-faceted talent available at 20.

I don't understand how either of them have been so high in mock drafts

So I hope some team takes them before 20

[TheDunc]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZPRSXGMvto&feature=youtu.be&t=2h21m13s[/youtube]

Anyone on the McDaniels bandwagon watch him get the **** blocked out of 3 times by Thanasis in the draft combine from the 2:21-2:26 mark.

Thanasis looked impressive in that clip, he looks like a better athlete then I thought. He would be a nice pick at 37.

[Risk101]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMfD5APA9Us[/youtube]
Part 2 if anyone wants to watch the rest.

[Double Helix]

http://www.nba.com/raptors/thursday-pre ... kout-recap

“You’re looking for guys who can come in and impact the game without needing the ball or without really needing a big role on the team,” Tolzman said. “And it’s guys like that where they kind of carve out a niche as a defensive-minded guy and then they improve all the other things and they become so much more well-rounded. And I think K.J.’s the same way. He can get on the floor because of his defence and, from there, who knows? The sky can be the limit with him because he does have all the athletic tools and ability on that side.”

“I think the main thing for that is the position that we're picking,” Tolzman said. “I think at 20 the chances of you finding a guy that could be that one guy away are slim to none. To come in right away and do that, those guys aren't available at 20. Whether it’s the best player available or just the best player on your board, it could be totally different. If it fits with the culture of the team and the makeup of the locker room, and all of that stuff, in addition to him being a project, I think you roll the dice on a guy like that because you do have a little bit more of an opportunity to develop that person as your team builds on its own.”