Thank Nation! Raps Pick 9th - Draft on June 23rd 8pm (Part 6)

[ill-Will03]

Brogdon is going to be a beast, mark my words!

[theSkinny]

I would be happy if we could land Maker as our PF/C rookie fill in .. Then use 9 and take the BPA

[OAKLEY_2]

Problem with this statement is Will Poeltl be the best player in this draft or best at 9? Is Poeltl an all star or even going to be a great player in the NBA? What if we pick Poeltl at 9 thinking he is BPA but he ends up being a horrible player? where do we go from there?...I Don't think this is a good example cause i dont think Poeltl is in that conversation of being a big time player if that was the case he would not be this far down in mock drafts and such ...

I still think there will be better talent on board at 9 then Poeltl so imo he is not BPA at 9 for me anyways.

Of course, it's a crapshoot. Anyone of these guys can be a stud or be a bust. I'm only pointing out what a mistake it would be to ignore a player just because he plays the same position as our most promising young player.

In regards to Poeltl...I think if ANY of the top 8 drop, they're instantly the best player available outside of maybe Brown. Whom I would still likely take. After the top 8, in terms of size, length, skill, age, analytics and numbers in college I think Poeltl is the clear cut bpa. When comparing him to Skal, Davis, Sabonis, and Ellenson. He has the upper hand in nearly every major thing you look for in a prospect. To me at least the only other player that can challenge him at our spot is Denzel Valentine due to his offensive skills. Yet he has so many faults that concern me.

This is funny as hell to me. I was just thinking if you put a gun to my head and told me to choose between Brown and Skal, I'd take Skal, but also think Valentine gets picked before either of them.

Brown has the worst BPM of everyone who will be picked in the first round. He has the worst TS% of everyone who will be picked in the first round. Does that mean he could fall to #30? No, but maybe it means he shouldn't be considered a lottery pick. You certainly aren't drafting Brown for his D, so what are you drafting him for? Pure potential?

You really think Valentine will crack the top 15?

Right now realistically speaking I like Chriss (homerun), Korkmaz (triple), Poetl (stand-up triple) and Diallo (leadoff double). Pretty sure the Raptors are scouting Ante Zicic on this trip and they might actually like him as much as Poetl. Don't like Skall or Davis and Ellensen looks great on offence but the rest of his game is full of risks. Prince he is another double.

[Kabookalu]

You guys should just disregard anyone that wants Skal at this point. He's garbage and confirmed it at Kentucky.

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

[wegetitin08]

Of course, it's a crapshoot. Anyone of these guys can be a stud or be a bust. I'm only pointing out what a mistake it would be to ignore a player just because he plays the same position as our most promising young player.

In regards to Poeltl...I think if ANY of the top 8 drop, they're instantly the best player available outside of maybe Brown. Whom I would still likely take. After the top 8, in terms of size, length, skill, age, analytics and numbers in college I think Poeltl is the clear cut bpa. When comparing him to Skal, Davis, Sabonis, and Ellenson. He has the upper hand in nearly every major thing you look for in a prospect. To me at least the only other player that can challenge him at our spot is Denzel Valentine due to his offensive skills. Yet he has so many faults that concern me.

This is funny as hell to me. I was just thinking if you put a gun to my head and told me to choose between Brown and Skal, I'd take Skal, but also think Valentine gets picked before either of them.

Brown has the worst BPM of everyone who will be picked in the first round. He has the worst TS% of everyone who will be picked in the first round. Does that mean he could fall to #30? No, but maybe it means he shouldn't be considered a lottery pick. You certainly aren't drafting Brown for his D, so what are you drafting him for? Pure potential?

You really think Valentine will crack the top 15?

Right now realistically speaking I like Chriss (homerun), Korkmaz (triple), Poetl (stand-up triple) and Diallo (leadoff double). Pretty sure the Raptors are scouting Ante Zicic on this trip and they might actually like him as much as Poetl. Don't like Skall or Davis and Ellensen looks great on offence but the rest of his game is full of risks. Prince he is another double.

A lot of things that are said about Jaylen is things that people saod about DeMar coming into the draft... What got DeMar to the level he is at now? Work ethic, Brown is said to have a great work ethic (modelling it after Kobe), I think Brown at 9 would be a steal for us, DeMar can show him the ropes too and they can train together. My only thing about Brown is I hope he becomes a better defender than DD

[Too Late Crew]

You guys should just disregard anyone that wants Skal at this point. He's garbage and confirmed it at Kentucky.

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

Drummond averaged 10 points 8 rebounds and 3 blocks shooting 54% at UConn. If that is terrible then what was Skal at Uk? Ultra super duper terrible?

It's fair logic because Skal did not produce anything of note vs NCAA caliber players.

[Kabookalu]

You guys should just disregard anyone that wants Skal at this point. He's garbage and confirmed it at Kentucky.

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

Drummond averaged 10 points 8 rebounds and 3 blocks shooting 54% at UConn. If that is terrible then what was Skal at Uk? Ultra super duper terrible?

It's fair logic because Skal did not produce anything of note vs NCAA caliber players.

Terrible was stretching it, but at best he was mediocre. If you watched him play his defense wasn't good despite the blocks. Surprisingly his FG% is better than I thought because he usually bricked a lot of close shots from post ups. He was nothing but a glorified garbageman in college with no post skills.

[WeTheNorth123]

You guys should just disregard anyone that wants Skal at this point. He's garbage and confirmed it at Kentucky.

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

Drummond averaged 10 points 8 rebounds and 3 blocks shooting 54% at UConn. If that is terrible then what was Skal at Uk? Ultra super duper terrible?

It's fair logic because Skal did not produce anything of note vs NCAA caliber players.

you conveniently forgot to mention the minutes associated with the production levels

Drummond averaged 28 Minutes/per game
Skal averaged 15 Minutes/per game

.....per 48 minutes....the productivity is not that different (better offence, less rebounding, smilar in terms of block)

not to mention that Skal also played for a better team

[DreamTeam09]

You guys should just disregard anyone that wants Skal at this point. He's garbage and confirmed it at Kentucky.

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

Drummond averaged 10 points 8 rebounds and 3 blocks shooting 54% at UConn. If that is terrible then what was Skal at Uk? Ultra super duper terrible?

It's fair logic because Skal did not produce anything of note vs NCAA caliber players.

You can't and shouldn't scout like that. Thabeet put up #s in college and did **** in the NBA. Drummond was suppose to beast in college n didn't but now is. Skals game will be better in the pros, not to mention coach Cal did him no favours

[yt_boi]

You guys should just disregard anyone that wants Skal at this point. He's garbage and confirmed it at Kentucky.

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

Im sick of ppl saying this. Drummond still averaged 10 ppg 8 rpg and 3 bpg. Not the beast ppl thought he'd be but still decent and FAR better than skal

[yt_boi]

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

Drummond averaged 10 points 8 rebounds and 3 blocks shooting 54% at UConn. If that is terrible then what was Skal at Uk? Ultra super duper terrible?

It's fair logic because Skal did not produce anything of note vs NCAA caliber players.

you conveniently forgot to mention the minutes associated with the production levels

Drummond averaged 28 Minutes/per game
Skal averaged 15 Minutes/per game

.....per 48 minutes....the productivity is not that different (better offence, less rebounding, smilar in terms of block)

not to mention that Skal also played for a better team

You conveniently forgot to mention that Andre averaged 2.2 fouls in 28 mins so he could stay on the court longer and skal averaged 3 fouls in 15 mins.

[Kabookalu]

You guys should just disregard anyone that wants Skal at this point. He's garbage and confirmed it at Kentucky.

Drummond was terrible at Connecticut too. Not that I think the two are in the same stratosphere as prospects, but I don't like that logic.

Im sick of ppl saying this. Drummond still averaged 10 ppg 8 rpg and 3 bpg. Not the beast ppl thought he'd be but still decent and FAR better than skal

Like I already said terrible was stretching, but he was mediocre. Defense wasn't good in spite of the shot blocking, always seems to get lit up in one on one situations, and his offense was mechanical as they came. Also it's different now, but his defensive rebounding wasn't good. He crashed the boards hard on offense, but for whatever reason didn't show that same tenacity on the defensive end. He lacked assertiveness and wasn't one you'd say held down the paint.

[Kabookalu]

Drummond averaged 10 points 8 rebounds and 3 blocks shooting 54% at UConn. If that is terrible then what was Skal at Uk? Ultra super duper terrible?

It's fair logic because Skal did not produce anything of note vs NCAA caliber players.

you conveniently forgot to mention the minutes associated with the production levels

Drummond averaged 28 Minutes/per game
Skal averaged 15 Minutes/per game

.....per 48 minutes....the productivity is not that different (better offence, less rebounding, smilar in terms of block)

not to mention that Skal also played for a better team

You conveniently forgot to mention that Andre averaged 2.2 fouls in 28 mins so he could stay on the court longer and skal averaged 3 fouls in 15 mins.

lol now you're making things up. He didn't pick up a lot of fouls because he was soft. He'd let people ram their bodies into him, and then would put in 300% of his energy into trying to block the shot. Which in a way, sounds like a good strategy, but right now he's improving his mean streak by playing more aggressively on defense, putting his bodies into players, and he's far better for it.

[Volcano]

Drummond had elite athleticism and an NBA body

Skal still has to grow into his body and has a very average body

Drummond's also still overrated defensively and jumps on every pump fake. He hasn't added much to his game since he came into the NBA. Skal isn't going to be able to survive off of elite rebounding and explosive finishes at the rim.

A lot of things that are said about Jaylen is things that people saod about DeMar coming into the draft... What got DeMar to the level he is at now? Work ethic, Brown is said to have a great work ethic (modelling it after Kobe), I think Brown at 9 would be a steal for us, DeMar can show him the ropes too and they can train together. My only thing about Brown is I hope he becomes a better defender than DD

Hopefully Jaylen is NOT DeMar. DeMar maximized on his potential and is going to get overpaid based off of inefficient volume shooting. If DD was put in a smaller role, he would never be considered an all-star. Having a bigger, more athletic DeMar is basically having Rudy Gay all over again.

[3Si]

Drummond averaged 10 points 8 rebounds and 3 blocks shooting 54% at UConn. If that is terrible then what was Skal at Uk? Ultra super duper terrible?

It's fair logic because Skal did not produce anything of note vs NCAA caliber players.

you conveniently forgot to mention the minutes associated with the production levels

Drummond averaged 28 Minutes/per game
Skal averaged 15 Minutes/per game

.....per 48 minutes....the productivity is not that different (better offence, less rebounding, smilar in terms of block)

not to mention that Skal also played for a better team

You conveniently forgot to mention that Andre averaged 2.2 fouls in 28 mins so he could stay on the court longer and skal averaged 3 fouls in 15 mins.

If he had 10/8/3, he would've been gone way before 9th

[720]

[Wally West]

What's wrong with Jaylen Brown? You're pretty much getting Jason Richardson

Jason Richardson could shoot the 3 and settled for too many threes. Jaylen Brown does not do this. Jaylen Brown's more DeMar DeRozan/a prime Richard Jefferson.

[Wally West]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RaptorsMR/status/742149215925772288[/tweet]

If brice Johnson develops a 3pt shot he can be good. He was a beast for North Carolina

I think he's seriously being slept on. From everything I've seen. I think he could become a great NBA player.

[Double Helix]

Have a look at Al Horford's freshmen year numbers. If he needed money desperately coming from the Dominican Republic as well and Billy Donovan hadn't convinced him to stay he might have ended up going who knows where in the first round based on nothing but his HS hype and physical upside but that team would have hit a huge home run. Instead he went back, improved, and became a third overall pick. Skal should have gone back. That's what most do. He didn't. So now it's on scouts to determine if he has the work ethic to make dramatic strides or not.

I remember this same logic recently used on Zach LaVine. The consensus around here seemed to be that because he hadn't done anything he never would and that his upside would be relegated to dunk contests. I'd say he's already showing enough to warrant for optimism he'll go way beyond that. Joe Alexander the kid ain't. Some could see he had a nice looking 3 point shot, had a decent handle and an electric first step and figured his game would transition better outside of UCLA and in the NBA. It has. He's started as a bench weapon but you can already see him getting better and better every season. I won't be surprised if he catches up to the older Oladipo within the next couple seasons. Some similar tools there but he has more natural ability. One was a 2nd overall. One was a late Lotto pick. When you gamble on upside in the late lotto or mid-first sometimes you get a ROI closer to what a higher pick would yield in the future. Calipari himself said that if Skal stayed with him for a couple more years he'd probably challenge to be a #1 pick. Skal has talent. I don't know if he'll maximize it in 3-4 years but it won't surprise me if he does.

[CoachJReturns]

you conveniently forgot to mention the minutes associated with the production levels

Drummond averaged 28 Minutes/per game
Skal averaged 15 Minutes/per game

.....per 48 minutes....the productivity is not that different (better offence, less rebounding, smilar in terms of block)

not to mention that Skal also played for a better team

You conveniently forgot to mention that Andre averaged 2.2 fouls in 28 mins so he could stay on the court longer and skal averaged 3 fouls in 15 mins.

If he had 10/8/3, he would've been gone way before 9th

10/7.6/2.7
It was a very good top 10 that year apart from Waiters and Ross. Drummond was a disappointment in his 1 year of college, but managed to stay on the floor and at least produce a little. Skal didn't even manage that. Andre should have dominated college like Shaq though. He's aan among boys in the NBA so he should have just destroyed college kids. Still, we need to stop bringing up Drummond so damn often when discussing Skal. It's ridiculous. One is nearly 300 pounds and the other is 200 pounds and not as good a leaper. They are absolutely nothing alike. Can someone please find a better example? U less there are no great players who were in bad in college as Skal which is possible. Most guys who perform that poorly go back for another year but this guy has so much hype behind him he can still get taken in the first round. It makes business sense for him, but it could be a disaster for an NBA team.