Snapbacks and Handshakes: The 2017 Draft (Raps pick #23)

[HeadtopChunes]

Here's my extended board so far.

1. OG ANUNOBY
2. Justin Jackson (Maryland)
3. Hamidou Diallo
4. Terrence Ferguson
5. Semi Ojeleye
6. Jordan Bell
7. Harry Giles
8. DJ Wilson
9. Luke Kennard
10. Juwan Evans
11. Justin Jackson (UNC)
12. Jonathan Jeanne
13. Jonah Bolden
14. Wesley Iwundu
15. Sindarius Thornwell
16. Devin Robinson
17. Dwayne Bacon


I might be too high on Diallo but that upside is really attractive.

[Psubs]

I would LOVE to buy a pick in the 2nd rd to grab Jordan Bell but not with our 1st.

Trade Bebe or CoJo or both for picks. Imagine drafting Justin Jackson (Maryland), Jordan Bell and Juwan Evans! J-Crew!

PG Wright - FVV/Evans
SG Derozan - Powell
SF Tucker - Powell - Jackson
PF Siakam - Bell - Bruno
C Valanciunas - Poeltl

That's a decent re-tooling and not spending over $40 million on Lowry + Ibaka.

[HeadtopChunes]

I would LOVE to buy a pick in the 2nd rd to grab Jordan Bell but not with our 1st.

Trade Bebe or CoJo or both for picks. Imagine drafting Justin Jackson, Jordan Bell and Juwan Evans! J-Crew!

We really do need another pick, this draft has some good talent in the 2nd round. I'd love to get Semi Ojeleye and Jordan Bell via draft and maybe even sign an undrafted Peter Jok

Assuming we trade Cojo and Bebe I'd love a roster like.

Lowry/Delon/FVV
Demar/ Norm/ Jok
PJ/ Ojeleye/ Bruno
Ibaka/ Pascal/ Bell/
JV/Poetl/

[Troubadour]

Getting a freak athlete like Diallo who has the physical profile of a future All-Star, especially at his age, would be exciting. Talking myself into it. At the very least, Diallo would carry on the Raptors tradition of winning the dunk contest...or at least participating in it. Shout out to Jamario Moon.

[Clutch0z24]

Call me Crazy but Hamidou Diallo has a little bit of a Kobe Bryant feel for me....I think a team might take a gamble on him end of lottery to the 18 ish ....But if he is there at 23 i think id want him....Has the most upside

Watch on YouTube

anyone else see Kobe in his moves?

[HeadtopChunes]

Call me Crazy but Hamidou Diallo has a little bit of a Kobe Bryant feel for me....I think a team might take a gamble on him end of lottery to the 18 ish ....But if he is there at 23 i think id want him....Has the most upside

Watch on YouTube

anyone else see Kobe in his moves?

Reminds me more of Demar than Kobe but I agree he has some high upside. I'd love to take him.

[SharoneWright]

I would LOVE to buy a pick in the 2nd rd to grab Jordan Bell but not with our 1st.

Those cheap rookie contracts in current NBA salary structure are so valuable- 2nds aren't quite as easy to get anymore.

[ballislife]

I don't know why no one is talking about Caleb Swanigan... that guy is going to be stud if he's put in the right situation. Play him as a C in today's game and he's going to succeed.

I remember during the tournament, a former NBA star (I forgot who) said it perfectly... he's going to be slept on in the draft and have a Draymond Green type of impact at his draft position.

He can be a deadly low post scorer, he's a great passer, and he can shoot the ball. Not to mention his rebounding ability and his length. He might not be the quickest guy, but he can make up for it with his length. His passing, shooting and rebounding is what intrigues me most though. If he's there at our spot I'd love to grab him... I think he has underrated star potential. He single handedly took his team deep into the NCAA tournament.

TBH, I think he's more fitted at the C spot in the current NBA than both JV and Jakob.

[PoundTown]

I don't know why no one is talking about Caleb Swanigan... that guy is going to be stud if he's put in the right situation. Play him as a C in today's game and he's going to succeed.

I remember during the tournament, a former NBA star (I forgot who) said it perfectly... he's going to be slept on in the draft and have a Draymond Green type of impact at his draft position.

He can be a deadly low post scorer, he's a great passer, and he can shoot the ball. Not to mention his rebounding ability and his length. He might not be the quickest guy, but he can make up for it with his length. His passing, shooting and rebounding is what intrigues me most though. If he's there at our spot I'd love to grab him... I think he has underrated star potential. He single handedly took his team deep into the NCAA tournament.

TBH, I think he's more fitted at the C spot in the current NBA than both JV and Jakob.

He is talented, but kind of stuck in between the 4 and the 5 spot, but does have length like you said, but not much of a rim protecctor. Great passer, rebounder and has great touch and plays big. Can stretch it too. Kind of has a lot of the same strengths as a David Lee. Certain guys he might not be able to match that well, like Mo Wagner who would drove by him from the perimeter, but he is interesting because his body is continuously improving and has come a really long way in the last four year, so maybe he can become a lot quicker. He has a place in the league in some capacity.

[RaptorsLife]

I love Thomas Bryant. Length unbelievable. Still him in raptors 905 for 1-2 years. He gonna be absolute beast

[MavCarter]

Where do you take this guy in the draft? (Please don't say his name if you know who it is)

6'9"
250 lbs
7'4" wingspan
9'0" standing reach
37" max vert

Basically averages a double double in college, and makes over one 3 a game on over 48% shooting. Oh yeah, his hands are bigger than Kawhi Leonard's...

Who is it? lol

[MavCarter]

Read on Twitter

According to bleacher report we're interested in hartenstein

[PhilBlackson]

Read on Twitter

According to bleacher report we're interested in hartenstein

Masai was seen in attendance several times watching him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying not to let it get out. Not saying that he's anywhere near the level but last time Masai loved Giannis (and Ennis) and never had a shot at him. He's at top of my big board with Bolden n Diablo. We badly need to take a chance on upside.

[S ID]

Where do you take this guy in the draft? (Please don't say his name if you know who it is)

6'9"
250 lbs
7'4" wingspan
9'0" standing reach
37" max vert

Basically averages a double double in college, and makes over one 3 a game on over 48% shooting. Oh yeah, his hands are bigger than Kawhi Leonard's...

Who is it? lol

Noah Vonleh

[CoachJReturns]

I don't know why no one is talking about Caleb Swanigan... that guy is going to be stud if he's put in the right situation. Play him as a C in today's game and he's going to succeed.

I remember during the tournament, a former NBA star (I forgot who) said it perfectly... he's going to be slept on in the draft and have a Draymond Green type of impact at his draft position.

He can be a deadly low post scorer, he's a great passer, and he can shoot the ball. Not to mention his rebounding ability and his length. He might not be the quickest guy, but he can make up for it with his length. His passing, shooting and rebounding is what intrigues me most though. If he's there at our spot I'd love to grab him... I think he has underrated star potential. He single handedly took his team deep into the NCAA tournament.

TBH, I think he's more fitted at the C spot in the current NBA than both JV and Jakob.

He is talented, but kind of stuck in between the 4 and the 5 spot, but does have length like you said, but not much of a rim protecctor. Great passer, rebounder and has great touch and plays big. Can stretch it too. Kind of has a lot of the same strengths as a David Lee. Certain guys he might not be able to match that well, like Mo Wagner who would drove by him from the perimeter, but he is interesting because his body is continuously improving and has come a really long way in the last four year, so maybe he can become a lot quicker. He has a place in the league in some capacity.

The one game I got to see of Purdue this year I just watched Swanigan. He is the slowest player I've seen in years. That's not an exaggeration either. If he's playing, it needs to be with 4 other guys quick enough to somewhat compensate for his inability to defend the perimeter in any way. Basically teams will spam the pick and roll against him worst then they did against JV.
Caleb has a ton of offensive skills and can rebound as well. His shooting and passing will make him useful for any team on offense, even if they don't utilize his post game a lot, but he's essentially a one way player. I'm sure there's some video dissecting his utter lack of quickness.
I won't be mad if we pick him, but if there's anyone with a high ceiling as a 2 way player that's the way I'd prefer we go. I don't think there's anyone matching that description though. The 2 way guys left at our pick are likely low ceiling guys.

[CoachJReturns]

Call me Crazy but Hamidou Diallo has a little bit of a Kobe Bryant feel for me....I think a team might take a gamble on him end of lottery to the 18 ish ....But if he is there at 23 i think id want him....Has the most upside

Watch on YouTube

anyone else see Kobe in his moves?

Reminds me more of Demar than Kobe but I agree he has some high upside. I'd love to take him.

Yeah, let's not bring up Kobe. The only prospect anywhere who reminds me of Kobe at all is Canada's own RJ Barrett.
Kobe was already very, very skilled as a senior in high school. He was playing a lot of point guard for those not old enough to remember. Diallo is nowhere near that, but there are plenty of raw athletic guys you could compare him to.

[CoachJReturns]

Diallo is near the top of every athletic category from the combine. Just take a flyer on the kid. We can afford to risk one with so many young guys on the roster. This isn't another Bruno where a guy hasn't even played ball against anyone worthwhile before. If he doesn't pan out it's fine, but if he does his ceiling is probably higher than anyone outside the top 10 in this draft.

[dgr81]

Just draft someone who can rebound. The raps need someone who can rebound and keep the ball alive.

Right now the raps have no one who can rebound.

[PhilBlackson]

Just draft someone who can rebound. The raps need someone who can rebound and keep the ball alive.

Right now the raps have no one who can rebound.

Perhaps THE worst suggestion.

A team should never use a 1st rd pick to address a CURRENT need. These picks are FUTURE based not to mention the output from a rookie on a Casey coached team will be slim to none. So replacing that can be very easily addressed in FA or trades. Not to mention rebounding actually wasn't the issue lol it was shooting.

[CoachJReturns]

Just draft someone who can rebound. The raps need someone who can rebound and keep the ball alive.

Right now the raps have no one who can rebound.

Hmm...So what you're saying is...We need rebounding?