Raps 2020 Picks (Prospect Watch, Update: Vecenie Mock Released)

[Dennis 37]

Translation: «Nemi with what was likely his best game of the season, in a Utah State victory over UNLV. The Portuguese centre scored 21 points (8/11 FG, 5/7 FT), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks.»

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OG: Do we even have anyone from Portugal who is a fan of the Raptors?

Besides me, there are the odd former immigrants who have returned from Canada scattered across the country. Fellas who follow the NBA here are typically rabid Lakers, Celtics, or Heat fans. Luka fandom is picking up steam of late. But for a serious following of the NBA, only in neighbouring Spain.

That will all change if Nemi gets drafted.

That OG, always pushing buttons.

[HeadtopChunes]

Another big game from Nemias Queta for Utah State vs Boise St.

21 pts 8 reb 5 blocks
5-8 from the field
11-14 from the line.

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Don’t think he will be drafted too high based on his rankings but I he’d make a good 2nd round target

I like how he’s a capable passer at the Center spot something that’s so valuable

[HeadtopChunes]

Tyler Bey is also interesting

6'7 218lbs 7ft wingspan

- elite leaper
- elite rebounder
- high motor
- very good defender
- developing into a decent spot up guy
- some passing/post game

Kind of a bigger more athletic RHJ with a better hope of a jumpshot

[Mark_83]

Tyler Bey is also interesting

6'7 218lbs 7ft wingspan

- elite leaper
- elite rebounder
- high motor
- very good defender
- developing into a decent spot up guy
- some passing/post game

Kind of a bigger more athletic RHJ with a better hope of a jumpshot

I've been pumping him since pre-season. He's like a middle class man's Shawn Marrion with better looking form on his jumper.

More of a very good rather than elite athlete though from what I've seen.

Right now I got my sights set on any of:

Nesmith
Vassell
P. Williams
S. Bey
T. Bey
Reed
Howard

Could also see us targeting a point guard to groom so maybe Hagans, Dotson, Jones, or Winston but haven't really paid close attention to them.

[HeadtopChunes]

Tyler Bey is also interesting

6'7 218lbs 7ft wingspan

- elite leaper
- elite rebounder
- high motor
- very good defender
- developing into a decent spot up guy
- some passing/post game

Kind of a bigger more athletic RHJ with a better hope of a jumpshot

I've been pumping him since pre-season. He's like a middle class man's Shawn Marrion with better looking form on his jumper.

More of a very good rather than elite athlete though from what I've seen.

Right now I got my sights set on any of:

Nesmith
Vassell
P. Williams
S. Bey
T. Bey
Reed
Howard

Could also see us targeting a point guard to groom so maybe Hagans, Dotson, Jones, or Winston but haven't really paid close attention to them.

Good group of forwards there, some of them could be rotation players right off the bat, especially if we lose RHJ in the summer.

as far as the point guards they seem meh to me

All those guys look like backup PG types which i wouldn't use a first on.

I thought we draft a gaurd this year but with TD's emergence im not sure we need to anymore. A forward or center i think makes sense as a general target.

[DG88]

Tyler Bey is also interesting

6'7 218lbs 7ft wingspan

- elite leaper
- elite rebounder
- high motor
- very good defender
- developing into a decent spot up guy
- some passing/post game

Kind of a bigger more athletic RHJ with a better hope of a jumpshot

I've been pumping him since pre-season. He's like a middle class man's Shawn Marrion with better looking form on his jumper.

More of a very good rather than elite athlete though from what I've seen.

Right now I got my sights set on any of:

Nesmith
Vassell
P. Williams
S. Bey
T. Bey
Reed
Howard

Could also see us targeting a point guard to groom so maybe Hagans, Dotson, Jones, or Winston but haven't really paid close attention to them.

Good group of forwards there, some of them could be rotation players right off the bat, especially if we lose RHJ in the summer.

as far as the point guards they seem meh to me

All those guys look like backup PG types which i wouldn't use a first on.

I thought we draft a gaurd this year but with TD's emergence im not sure we need to anymore. A forward or center i think makes sense as a general target.

Based on our roster a Forward or Center prospect makes the most sense.

[nivisi9]

I feel like Saddiq Bey could develop into a star in our system 2-3 yrs down the road, he might still be there at our pick

[Mark_83]

I've been pumping him since pre-season. He's like a middle class man's Shawn Marrion with better looking form on his jumper.

More of a very good rather than elite athlete though from what I've seen.

Right now I got my sights set on any of:

Nesmith
Vassell
P. Williams
S. Bey
T. Bey
Reed
Howard

Could also see us targeting a point guard to groom so maybe Hagans, Dotson, Jones, or Winston but haven't really paid close attention to them.

Good group of forwards there, some of them could be rotation players right off the bat, especially if we lose RHJ in the summer.

as far as the point guards they seem meh to me

All those guys look like backup PG types which i wouldn't use a first on.

I thought we draft a gaurd this year but with TD's emergence im not sure we need to anymore. A forward or center i think makes sense as a general target.

Based on our roster a Forward or Center prospect makes the most sense.

I don't really like the center prospects at our spot. Okonkwu is the most interesting one but he'll almost certainly be gone by our pick, ditto for Oturu.

That leaves us with Nnaji, Carey, and Azibuike or if we're talking small ball Cs then Smith and Stewart.

[Scott Hall]

Can't remember the last time I paid attention to a mock draft Raptors haven't had a lotto pick in
ages and whoever we get in the late 1st round or 2nd round will be a guy no one has ever heard of.

[alan_156]

Can't remember the last time I paid attention to a mock draft Raptors haven't had a lotto pick in
ages and whoever we get in the late 1st round or 2nd round will be a guy no one has ever heard of.

And probably end up a top 5 talent

[YelloC]

Could Obi Toppin end up being the next Micheal Beasley or Derrick Williams or is he more skilled??
I guess this is the tweener era where those players would probably fit in better.
I kinda get vibes of those players with Obi or even Aaron Gordon and Tobias Harris.

[Mascot]

27 Amar Sylla/Jordan Nwora
57 Malcolm Cazalon/Saddiq Bey

Not drafted worth a look
Tyler Hagedorn
Trae Berhow
Jake Toolson

[Psubs]

Killian Tillie undrafted? Senior. Maybe Ryan Anderson 2.0?

[PT416]

Masai has made it his bread and butter to never follow the hype train and make his own scouting decisions. Brilliant move considering the advancement of social media marketing and the hype that the young players can achieve just by having the best highlight videos or marketable skillsets. Masai going against the grain on that and doing the nitty gritty instead is what makes him a great scout.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Had anyone taken a look at Naji Marshall? His stats don't jump off the page, but he looks like he can do a little bit of everything. One aspect of his game that's especially intriguing to me is his passing. Although he only averages about 2 assists per game, he consistently gets his teammates great looks.

If we're looking for a big man I'd love Oturu of course, but Paul Reed is another one to watch. Lanky, smooth, perfect for the pick and roll game, and defends well. His defensive potential is mouth watering.

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Did you read this article? it makes a pretty compelling case for the guy

I haven't seen that as yet, but I will definitely check it out!

[BoyzNTheHood]

Is there any reason Udoka Azubuike is ranked so low besides the whole extinction of the big man narrative?

7 foot, 275 lbs with a 7'7" wingspan and his advanced stats look pretty nice to me. Outside of free throw shooting I don't see another glaring weakness as a big man.

To me he looks like he's built in that Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan mold where they'll get you a ton of rebounds, try to block everything, and seemingly always be catching lobs and dunking under the rim.

P.S. He's also Nigerian and plays for an amazing program at Kansas so you can bet your bottom dollar Masai knows a ton about him.

[HeadtopChunes]

Good group of forwards there, some of them could be rotation players right off the bat, especially if we lose RHJ in the summer.

as far as the point guards they seem meh to me

All those guys look like backup PG types which i wouldn't use a first on.

I thought we draft a gaurd this year but with TD's emergence im not sure we need to anymore. A forward or center i think makes sense as a general target.

Based on our roster a Forward or Center prospect makes the most sense.

I don't really like the center prospects at our spot. Okonkwu is the most interesting one but he'll almost certainly be gone by our pick, ditto for Oturu.

That leaves us with Nnaji, Carey, and Azibuike or if we're talking small ball Cs then Smith and Stewart.

yeah it’s rough finding a center worth drafting

Okongwu would be my ideal player for the raptors in this draft but he looks like a top 10 pick

Oturu is interesting but I’m not sure where I stand on him yet

The others I don’t see much with at the moment.

I like Xavier Tillman who has a very al Horford type game but he’s undersized and not shooting it that well which means he’s probably a backup

Oscar Tshiebwe has some fantastic tools defensively but he looks like a typical rim runner on offense and isn’t very tall (6’9) kinda of like Biyombo

I think a combo forward is probably the best bet maybe snag a gaurd if one falls

[HeadtopChunes]

Is there any reason Udoka Azubuike is ranked so low besides the whole extinction of the big man narrative?

7 foot, 275 lbs with a 7'7" wingspan and his advanced stats look pretty nice to me. Outside of free throw shooting I don't see another glaring weakness as a big man.

To me he looks like he's built in that Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan mold where they'll get you a ton of rebounds, try to block everything, and seemingly always be catching lobs and dunking under the rim.

P.S. He's also Nigerian and plays for an amazing program at Kansas so you can bet your bottom dollar Masai knows a ton about him.

He’s pretty stiff movement wise and doesn’t show much offensive skills

He’s also been more or less the same player for 4 years

Every time I seen him play at Kansas he didn’t really stand out to me despite his size

In the NBA it’s hard to see him provide too much value as he’s likely only a drop big on defense and doesn’t really have the instincts to be dominant on that end or give you much on offenses

I bet a team will take a flyer on him because of his size but I don’t see personally

[Dalek]

I am a big Gamecocks fan. Frank Martin's South Carolina plays crazy defense. It can often take a while for players to find their way but they always end up superior team defenders.

My pick would be AJ Lawson. Great size for a SF, athleticism and skill that is really starting to click the past month.

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I kind of liken him to a better shooting PJ Dozier. He is also from Mississauga so he should fit in nicely with the 905.

The funnest part would be he could keep his number 00 and we would also have Davis at 0. Is that event possible?

[RapsFanInOhio]

He’s not going to be available when we pick, but Obi Toppin is going to be a very good pro.

Keep an eye out on Justin Turner if he doesn’t return to Bowling Green. TD vibes in that guy.

Toppin = Matrix 2.0?

I think he’s a little bigger and can shoot a bit better, but I can see it.