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

[Kevin Willis]

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I hope not...

[Psubs]

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I hope not...

He's a poor man's TJ Leaf.

[TorontoRapsFan]

So bolden becomes a draft and stash? Didn't the deadline pass to pull out?

For some teams this should add to his value.

[TorontoRapsFan]

Semi's workout and interview vid from DX.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/semi-ojeleye-nba-pro-day-workout-and-interview-6000/

His arms look shorter than the measurements. Also, his dribbles, the tiny bit you see in the video, looks awesome for a 3. The ball barely comes up past his knees when he dribbles. Most PG don't dribble that low anymore. Is he known for handles? I say he can develop a serious dribble pull up or drive game later on.

Sees himself as a Jae crowder, a 3 and d, denfending 3s and 4s in and out of the post.

[HeadtopChunes]

Semi's workout and interview vid from DX.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/semi-ojeleye-nba-pro-day-workout-and-interview-6000/

His arms look shorter than the measurements. Also, his dribbles, the tiny bit you see in the video, looks awesome for a 3. The ball barely comes up past his knees when he dribbles. Most PG don't dribble that low anymore. Is he known for handles? I say he can develop a serious dribble pull up or drive game later on.

Well In that interview he said he's been work on the off the dribble stuff because it was a noted weakness of his. Semi is known for his work ethic so maybe he did improve. Definitely will play a factor in whether or not he can play the 3.

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[Saciid11]

I'm starting to warm up to the idea of drafting Semi Olejele...

Great Athlete,built like tank, can shoot the 3, good work ethics, good quickness...late bloomer which means he still getting better...

[Kevin Willis]

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I hope not...

He's a poor man's TJ Leaf.

1) Different positions and skillset
2) He's interesting as a stash and dash player with potential. He's not Batum but he could be that type of player.

[CoachJReturns]

I'm fine with Semi if Masai ends up going that way. I'm keeping my expectations much lower than some here though because I don't see anything special. Just a guy with as good a chance as any in our range to be an NBA rotation player. He could become more, but you can say that for a dozen different guys who will be on the board at 23. Of course, the fact he fills a hole for us as a big, athletic small forward definitely helps. Not necessarily my number 1 pick, but I'll be fairly happy if he's the choice.

[JediQ]

that 10min kuzma mixtape makes me wonder why he's ranked so low. I haven't seen him play, and I haven't done my homework on his combine numbers. He's not too fast, nor too athletic, nor a quick first step, but it looks like he's got enough lateral speed and footwork with a decent ball handling for his size and it looks like his BBIQ is pretty high. But then the mixtape does not really highlight his defense, even though he's got a couple of blocks as a help defender.

[DreamTeam09]

Draft semi. Getting a Jae Crowder at 23 is exactly what we need to come away with here

[HeadtopChunes]

I've noticed Thunder fans warming up on Semi. There's a chance he's not even there for us. Although I think they are more likely to draft a PG

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[OAKLEY_2]

I'm fine with Semi if Masai ends up going that way. I'm keeping my expectations much lower than some here though because I don't see anything special. Just a guy with as good a chance as any in our range to be an NBA rotation player. He could become more, but you can say that for a dozen different guys who will be on the board at 23. Of course, the fact he fills a hole for us as a big, athletic small forward definitely helps. Not necessarily my number 1 pick, but I'll be fairly happy if he's the choice.

I am not that impressed with Semi. We might be wise to trade the pick to move Carroll and buy into the second round. Or, we might use the pick to trade for someone like Nemanja Bjelica a legit stretch 4 replacement for Pat. I cannot see in any discernible way a difference between talent at 23 and going back all the way to 45. 23-45 is a complete crapshoot and not helped by the presence of so many bigs. If the Raps draft room is getting this similar vibe they may just go Hartenstein and call it day. Nobody can deny his combination of length and youth upside and he could be conveniently and mercifully stashed.

[HeadtopChunes]

I'm fine with Semi if Masai ends up going that way. I'm keeping my expectations much lower than some here though because I don't see anything special. Just a guy with as good a chance as any in our range to be an NBA rotation player. He could become more, but you can say that for a dozen different guys who will be on the board at 23. Of course, the fact he fills a hole for us as a big, athletic small forward definitely helps. Not necessarily my number 1 pick, but I'll be fairly happy if he's the choice.

I am not that impressed with Semi. We might be wise to trade the pick to move Carroll and buy into the second round. Or, we might use the pick to trade for someone like Nemanja Bjelica a legit stretch 4 replacement for Pat. I cannot see in any discernible way a difference between talent at 23 and going back all the way to 45. 23-45 is a complete crapshoot and not helped by the presence of so many bigs. If the Raps draft room is getting this similar vibe they may just go Hartenstein and call it day. Nobody can deny his combination of length and youth upside and he could be conveniently and mercifully stashed.

If we're stashing Kurucs > Hartenstein.

I don't think Hartenstein will be all that great

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[CoachJReturns]

Anyone else think the NBA combine is missing something without any kind of strength test?
The bench press never made much sense at all because, as any trainer will tell you, regardless of your bench press strength you can only horizontally press 50 percent of you own bodyweight from a standing position. That's why linemen in the NFL need to weigh a ton to produce any more force.
However, a squat test and/or overhead press, or power clean test would still have some validity as a demonstration of strength/power from a standing position. They wouldn't put guys over the top and pure strength doesn't have the same significance in the NBA as it does in the NFL combine, but it still has a place.
If nothing else, it tells you something about the work ethic of some guys and can also provide another clue as to who is genetically gifted among a draft class. And occasionally you find someone who is much stronger than anyone would have thought. Anybody remember Robert Pack? The NBA used to have some strength contests that weren't televised during all-star weekend. Pack apparently beat everyone in arm wrestling and he was a very strong finisher for a point guard at the time. You never know when there might be a guy who has some physical trait which has gone unnoticed somehow.

[OAKLEY_2]

Draft semi. Getting a Jae Crowder at 23 is exactly what we need to come away with here

This board always thinks it is going to get its small forward Jae freakin' Crowder every draft. If we didn't pick Prince last draft we are not taking Semi this draft especially with so many 4's available. If Semi is gone well good then.

[CoachJReturns]

Draft semi. Getting a Jae Crowder at 23 is exactly what we need to come away with here

Would be nice. Though I'm prepared for the fact that we're more likely to come away with a Joey Graham, though with better range.

[CoachJReturns]

Draft semi. Getting a Jae Crowder at 23 is exactly what we need to come away with here

This board always thinks it is going to get its small forward Jae freakin' Crowder every draft. If we didn't pick Prince last draft we are not taking Semi this draft especially with so many 4's available. If Semi is gone well good then.

I still like Rabb, but Semi is a possibility. We have to be realistic here though. Regardless of who we may individually like as prospects, there is NOBODY in our range that stands out. There are 5-10 and some might argue as many as 20 prospects available in the 20+ range who are all about even. So I'm trying to not disagree strongly with anyone's pick because in the end 80-90 percent of us will be wrong anyway. lol. Hell, we may all be wrong and an IT gets drafted 60th overall and becomes an all-star in a few years.(Glad we have those 2 way D League contracts now though for the unknowns.)

[OAKLEY_2]

I'm fine with Semi if Masai ends up going that way. I'm keeping my expectations much lower than some here though because I don't see anything special. Just a guy with as good a chance as any in our range to be an NBA rotation player. He could become more, but you can say that for a dozen different guys who will be on the board at 23. Of course, the fact he fills a hole for us as a big, athletic small forward definitely helps. Not necessarily my number 1 pick, but I'll be fairly happy if he's the choice.

I am not that impressed with Semi. We might be wise to trade the pick to move Carroll and buy into the second round. Or, we might use the pick to trade for someone like Nemanja Bjelica a legit stretch 4 replacement for Pat. I cannot see in any discernible way a difference between talent at 23 and going back all the way to 45. 23-45 is a complete crapshoot and not helped by the presence of so many bigs. If the Raps draft room is getting this similar vibe they may just go Hartenstein and call it day. Nobody can deny his combination of length and youth upside and he could be conveniently and mercifully stashed.

If we're stashing Kurucs > Hartenstein.

I don't think Hartenstein will be all that great



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I just threw him out there because 23-45 looks like such a blur. Bam is the only player in our range who i look at and say he looks like he could really be something. We have this brutally slow offence and not all the players available will suit that style.

[Syd-TK3]

Hopefully Kurucs stays in the draft

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[WeTheNorth123]

didnt even know this guy came in for a workout already lol

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dude might average more "you knows" per interview then derozan lol