Thank Nation! Pre-Lottery: Denver 9th, NY pick 7th (PART 4)

[Treadmill_Team]

The east is getting stronger. Just because you think our team is not good doesn't mean it didn't get stronger. You had to finish above .500 to make the playoffs this year. http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Cnf.html?ls=iref:nba:gnav

If Parker, Duncan and Ginobili all retire they will not be in top 4 in the east. The East has good young teams as well, what do you think we are - D-League? Boston. Charlotte. Milwaukee. Chicago just had a bad year. Indiana is young.

Here are the 10 youngest teams in the NBA - http://www.nba.com/magic/gallery/cohen-8ball-ranking-nbas-10-youngest-teams-2015-16. 8 are from the East. Here are the four oldest teams in the NBA - http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/nba-the-4-oldest-teams-in-basketball.html/?a=viewall

Looking at teams that will be good in a few years you can say that about Toronto, Boston, Milwaukee, Indiana and Detroit. All have the chance with a good free agency to be strong contenders.

You are stubborn - the East has their best season in years. Conference dominance is cyclical and the change has started. In terms of good young players the draft will be rigged more for Western team to win but I doubt it's rigged.

Now in terms of analysis of the combine I want to hear the whispers that come out from the interviews. Athleticism is going as we thought. Some pleasant surprises in height and length. Can't wait for the team sessions and see who we bring in.

Is there a way we can find out which Euros Masai looked at. I know Furkan and Bender but who else?

Just because you're young, doesn't mean you're good. Answer my question, tell me one player in the East rn other than Lebron who is a superstar or has the potential to be one?

You need superstars to win and for you to say the spurs with a top 5 player in Kawai, LA and Coach Pop would be top 4 in the east shows how little you know. The cavs are the only ones that could compete with them.

But like I said, tell me someone in the east that has more superstar potential than a Curry, Westbrook, Durant, Kawai, Lenoard, Davis, Towns, Lillard?

I just gave you 8, give me 1 other than Lebron who is better than or has more potential than those players mentioned?

To prove your point your shifting the parameters of this discussion from teams with potential to young players to superstars (not potential superstars because 7 of the 8 you mentioned are already big time and Lebron is not young). You completely ignore when I showed you the East is actually getting better. I don't have the time for this since it will not end so I'll pass.

so you don't need superstars to win championships?! Sure the east is younger, doesn't mean it's better. Just sayin... But like I said, not one player. Goodbye

[Wally West]

I think we take Davis or Sabonis at our pick, I'd put money on it.

I have a feeling we take Davis - watching him reminds me a lot of Amir.

Davis (and a couple guys) came in a lot taller than I expected. Ellenson, Chriss, Hield, and Poeltl are all on the higher end of what I thought they would be.

Honestly, after Ingram/Simmons/Murray/Dunn I'm not crazy about this draft so I'll probably be pretty satisfied with whoever we take. Davis/Chriss/Poeltl/Scal and I'll be okay. Valentine isn't a bad pick either but we are loaded at guard so I don't know how much sense it makes.

If best player available is Valentine. You absolutely take him even the glut of guards on our team and you make it work or work out a trade. Just imagine what would've happened had we gone best player available and took Drummond even though we had Val. The most recent transaction involving taking the best player available only to trade him was Sam Hinkie when he took Elfrid Payton and traded him to Orlando for the rights to Dario Saric and a future 1st in 2017. Take the best player available and run.

[Wally West]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h5pubc7rU8[/youtube]

Chriss met with Toronto today.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icCg2mVQAYE[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-Vfc3-SE6M[/youtube]

Jaylen Brown was definitely impressive. T-Mac mention, wants to work like Kobe. I do worry about him on the defensive end and his lack of ball handling. Won't be able to just muscle his way to the rim like he did on college. Still has all star upside though.

[Wally West]

Kay Felder pulling his best Vince Carter impression showing his on again off again love affair with the headband lol

[Treadmill_Team]

In 2011, The clippers(pick was owned by Cavs) and Nets(pick owned by Jazz) won the NBA draft lottery from the 6th and 8th spots. We need the 7 and 9 spots to win, which is less likely, but this shows there is a chance.

[Dalek]

The guy that has opened my eyes is Kay Felder (thanks Draymond Green for talking him up). Honestly, his size scared me off, but if you watch him play I cannot help but see the Isaiah Thomas comparisons. He might be only 5-8, which would make him the smallest player in the NBA, but he does have a 6-2 wingspan and a 44 inch vertical and is a very tenacious player like Thomas.

If you were to revisit drafting Isaiah Thomas, you would think he would go in the first round considering that he can lead a team. Felder is the same body type, the same scoring instincts, the same assortment of stepbacks and cross-overs. Add to that he actually can lead a team and make great passes, leading the NCAA in assists last season.

At the combine he has shown that he can guard guys and be a JJ Barea type of man-to-man defender. I'd look at a first round pick for this guy. I mean his direct comparable prospect is Tyler Ulis and he is often mocked in the first. I can see Felder shooting up the draft boards like Damian Lillard. Of course Lillard came from a small school but the combine vaulted him into the draft lottery interest. I like him with our second pick, but we might need to consider moving up to get him.

[CoachJReturns]

I'm going to have to check out Felder later. Sounds intriguing. What's really impressive is his shooting percentages increased in all 3 of his college seasons as his usage went up. Very solid assists to turnover ratio, clearly very athletic. If we can't get someone like Prince with our late pick, I wouldn't mind this guy at all.

[TheGoodDoctor]

I've been saying Felder for a minute...

But I really want Wade Baldwin or Ben Bentil with our second pick. I already did my rant about Bentil a while ago but Baldwin is the perfect back up to groom into a starter. I know there's a lovefest with Delon now but I'd package him with our 27th for Baldwin if necessary although I'm hoping not.

Wade Baldwin

- is the same size as Norman Powell (both height & wingspan) but plays PG
- has great defense, good ballhandling
- great 3pt shooter (43% average)
- very athletic, runs the court extremely well

He is what I think we wish Delon was. If we don't get him oh well I guess. It's not like I hate Wright but I just think he would be an awesome upgrade and again I like Bentil who strikes me as a guy who would be a fan fav and Bismack's bff.

[Risk101]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F8n96-J86o[/youtube]

[DHK]

Really curious on what Masai will do.
We have a glaring holes in that we have no starting PF/ no starting SG/no back up C
Do you let the draft dictate your approach towards free agency, or do you let the draft patch up with a plan in mind going into FA.
I cant believe we're one win away from ECF, and we have a lottery pick, our two top players on absolute steals, with all of our key role players locked up outside of biyombo.
I never imagined I'd ever see the raptors in a position like this.

[TheGoodDoctor]

Really curious on what Masai will do.
We have a glaring holes in that we have no starting PF/ no starting SG/no back up C
Do you let the draft dictate your approach towards free agency, or do you let the draft patch up with a plan in mind going into FA.
I cant believe we're one win away from ECF, and we have a lottery pick, our two top players on absolute steals, with all of our key role players locked up outside of biyombo.
I never imagined I'd ever see the raptors in a position like this.

The most troubling part is that portion will be very short lived and changes everything due to the financials ahead.

[MEDIC]

Just because you're young, doesn't mean you're good. Answer my question, tell me one player in the East rn other than Lebron who is a superstar or has the potential to be one?

You need superstars to win and for you to say the spurs with a top 5 player in Kawai, LA and Coach Pop would be top 4 in the east shows how little you know. The cavs are the only ones that could compete with them.

But like I said, tell me someone in the east that has more superstar potential than a Curry, Westbrook, Durant, Kawai, Lenoard, Davis, Towns, Lillard?

I just gave you 8, give me 1 other than Lebron who is better than or has more potential than those players mentioned?

Paul George certainly played like one in the 1st round & also played like a superstar pre-injury.

Its hard to gage where the young guys will be down the road. Nobody knew Curry would be anywhere near this good. For all we know Porzingis will be a supertsar.

You are right though. There are obviously more higher end star players in the west.

The east has more depth, but the west has more true contenders.

[AbC?]

Liked the interview with Chriss. His rebounding numbers are scary bad but wouldn't mind him at 9. Later picks I like Baldwin, Hernangomez, Korkmaz. With our late 2nd I would take a chance on Robert Carter, if he can get less fat and seem motivated enough in interviews.

[TheGoodDoctor]

Liked the interview with Chriss. His rebounding numbers are scary bad but wouldn't mind him at 9. Later picks I like Baldwin, Hernangomez, Korkmaz. With our late 2nd I would take a chance on Robert Carter, if he can get less fat and seem motivated enough in interviews.

I don't think we do have a 2nd rounder do we??

But I legit would try to develop Chriss like a SF. I don't see why he can't play it if a guy like Deng could in his career. The kid is already this skilled and has only been playing for 4 years (which is crazy) and is still only 18 y/o. At worst we got a super skilled PF. I think if we take him that the funny thing is I could see him and Bruno swapping positions. The only thing is we'll need a really strong ballhandler at PG that can distribute but who knows. The kid just seems to have a star quality about him imo and it terrifies me if he falls into Indy's hands.

[wille-dynamite]

This has been the toughest draft for me to call in ages. There are usually 2 or 3 guys in our range I really want however, this year there are like 6 players I wouldn't mind it's a tough one.

[dalton749]

Liked the interview with Chriss. His rebounding numbers are scary bad but wouldn't mind him at 9. Later picks I like Baldwin, Hernangomez, Korkmaz. With our late 2nd I would take a chance on Robert Carter, if he can get less fat and seem motivated enough in interviews.

I would mind if we went with Chris just because I don't think this team will allow him to be bad at his current weaknesses. One of the biggest issues is boxing out defensively, from day one that would be drilled into his head by Casey until he gets it. As far as offence goes being the 5th option makes things easy and keeps expectations low.

[SciencePiggy]

Liked the interview with Chriss. His rebounding numbers are scary bad but wouldn't mind him at 9. Later picks I like Baldwin, Hernangomez, Korkmaz. With our late 2nd I would take a chance on Robert Carter, if he can get less fat and seem motivated enough in interviews.

I don't think we do have a 2nd rounder do we??

But I legit would try to develop Chriss like a SF. I don't see why he can't play it if a guy like Deng could in his career. The kid is already this skilled and has only been playing for 4 years (which is crazy) and is still only 18 y/o. At worst we got a super skilled PF. I think if we take him that the funny thing is I could see him and Bruno swapping positions. The only thing is we'll need a really strong ballhandler at PG that can distribute but who knows. The kid just seems to have a star quality about him imo and it terrifies me if he falls into Indy's hands.

Memphis owns the Raps 2nd rounder this year ...
http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

[Wally West]

Liked the interview with Chriss. His rebounding numbers are scary bad but wouldn't mind him at 9. Later picks I like Baldwin, Hernangomez, Korkmaz. With our late 2nd I would take a chance on Robert Carter, if he can get less fat and seem motivated enough in interviews.

I don't think we do have a 2nd rounder do we??

But I legit would try to develop Chriss like a SF. I don't see why he can't play it if a guy like Deng could in his career. The kid is already this skilled and has only been playing for 4 years (which is crazy) and is still only 18 y/o. At worst we got a super skilled PF. I think if we take him that the funny thing is I could see him and Bruno swapping positions. The only thing is we'll need a really strong ballhandler at PG that can distribute but who knows. The kid just seems to have a star quality about him imo and it terrifies me if he falls into Indy's hands.

Memphis owns the Raps 2nd rounder this year ...
http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

Silly BC when he kept trading away our 2nd rounders in garbage deals. I think this trade in particular had Quincy Douby involved.

[Risk101]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymZt_SM3iso[/youtube]

[Wally West]

Patrick McCaw showing his ability to play the passing lanes during the scrimmage. Really like this guy. Should absolutely be in play with our 2nd 1st rounder if we don't move it. I wish we had a pick in the 2nd round this year. So many guys we can draft and stash for a year. 2nd round picks could go for as much as 3.4 mill this year.