Thank Nation! Raptors Pick 9th (PART 5)

[WeTheNorth123]

Just read raps have their eye on whitehead at 27...havent seen him play, but saw highlights ..not sure if that would be the best pick

No way at 27th....for a guy who might go undrafted.....he shoots 37% from the field

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/2016/06/draft-rumors-chriss-kings-trade-candidates.html

Don't know how to embed articles yet but that's where I read it from! Also says chriss wants to play for SAC and teams that are willing to trade their pick

Chriss Makes sence for sacramento.....cousins can board and mask his weakness (both can spread the floor a bit)......he was born and raised in Sacramento so i wouldnt be surprised

[Rayflow]

Looks pretty tough to me. Have you watched him play? Just because he's skilled doesn't mean he shies away from contactor shuts down when things aren't going his way. Also, I wouldn't put "defense" as a stipulation for Masai. Guys like Faried and Fournier are not defensive-minded players.

You are right that he can finish with contact, but he doesn't have the 2 way potential that I should have clarified for "toughness". Faried and Fournier were drafted 20 or later, and so was Bruno.

Really hope we don't draft ellenson...just think he doesn't have that high of a potential, at best I think he's a Meyers Leonard type of player...don't see him having a high ceiling. Would rather draft skal of the top 8 holds

[0 - 100]

I think if Masai decides to hold onto the pick and cant trade up for Murray and Chriss is gone by 9, he should swing for it and grab Skal.

Let the kid work his butt off in the 905 and add strength and keep improving his shot.

I'm leaning the same way. A year ago, we all would've been over the moon to get Skal. Sure he's been underwhelming and his stock has dropped from being a top 2 guy, but so did Andre Drummond's during his draft year coming out of UCONN. I'm willing to take the chance.

Agreed...I'd take skal too if anyone from the top 8 doesn't slip . He's got one of the highest ceiling and was often compared to AD coming into Kentucky

He's definitely got some Marcus Camby to him and already has a better shot.

The defense and energy is already there. As Masai said, 9th pick wont be in the rotation. Just groom him to be you're stretch 4.

I don't know, maybe I'm getting hyped just looking at his workout vids but if he gets the proper development and can hit 3's steady, he will be good. That's a two way PF.

But if I had to guess, I see Masai brewing something up and packing 9th with another pick and Ross for something nice.

[Mark_83]

Chad Ford Mock Draft

1. Ben Simmons (PHI)
2. Brandon Ingram (LAL)
3. Kris Dunn (BOS)
4. Marquese Chriss (PHX)
5. Jamal Murray (MIN)
6. Dragan Bender (NOP)
7. Jaylen Brown (DEN)
8. Buddy Hield (SAC)
9. Henry Ellenson (TOR)

Henry Ellenson Marquette Freshman Forward/center
I think the Raptors have been secretly hoping Chriss falls to them at No. 9 for a while. As he starts blowing up in workouts, that feels more and more like a dream.
Power forward is their biggest need and the choice will likely come down to Ellenson, Skal Labissiere, Deyonta Davis and Domantas Sabonis. You can make an argument for all four.
Labissiere is the best shooter and has the highest ceiling (but also the lowest floor). Ellenson gives you a lot more game, but without the same elite athleticism.

10. Dejounte Murray (MIL)
11. Skal Labissiere (ORL)
12. Jakob Poeltl (UTH)
13. Wade Baldwin IV (PHX)
14. Deyonta Davis (CHI)
15. Furkan Korkmaz (DEN)
16. Ante Zizic (BOS)
17. Ivica Zubac (MEM)
18. Denzel Valentine (DET)
19. Thon Maker (DEN)
20. Domantas Sabonis (IND)
21. Malachi Richardson (ATL)
22. Malik Beasley (CHA)
23. Cheick Diallo (BOS)
24. Tyler Ulis (PHI)
25. DeAndre Bembry (LAC)
26. Patrick McCaw (PHI)
27. Guerschon Yabusele (TOR)

Guerschon Yabusele France Age: 19 Forward
Yabusele is built like a brick house. He's one of the strongest players in the draft, but he's also skilled. He moves well despite his size and has a shot that goes all the way out to the 3-point line.
The Raptors love toughness and Yabusele brings that. And given the fact that this is the Raptors' second first-round pick, a draft-and-stash type player like Yabusele makes some sense.

28. Juan Hernangomez (PHX)
29. Demetrius Jackson (SAS)
30. Damian Jones (GSW)

Happier with the 27th pick than the 9th pick in this scenario. Not an Ellenson fan. I'd prefer Skal/Davis/Chriss if we go PF. Also if we go PF at 9 I might prefer going with Felder or Prince at 27, even though I really like Yabusele.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Ellenson is basically the opposite of everything Casey and Masai look for in their players (toughness / defence in the case of Dwane, and high upside / defence in the case of MasaI). His shooting would be of help but so can many others

Looks pretty tough to me. Have you watched him play? Just because he's skilled doesn't mean he shies away from contactor shuts down when things aren't going his way. Also, I wouldn't put "defense" as a stipulation for Masai. Guys like Faried and Fournier are not defensive-minded players.

You are right that he can finish with contact, but he doesn't have the 2 way potential that I should have clarified for "toughness". Faried and Fournier were drafted 20 or later, and so was Bruno.

They seemed to think he has the potential to defend in the NBA. Tolzman mentioned that post-workout. He does a lot of dirty work in the paint, but I feel like he either lacks awareness or effort on rotations. Neither are great signs, but awareness comes with experience and effort can improve. I don't want us to draft him, but he's not a typical great white hope American college pick that seems to make it to the lottery every year and underwhelm. He's 19, most of those guys are juniors and seniors that have put up significant production at the college level. Compare him to one and done players and you'll see a rare amount of skill for someone that size.

[WeTheNorth123]

Guerschon Yabusele needs to be the pick at #27

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJbbA6sJvA[/youtube]

So good.

not bad.....hows his defense though

[Fairview4Life]

Guerschon Yabusele needs to be the pick at #27

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJbbA6sJvA[/youtube]

So good.

not bad.....hows his defense though

Who cares. He wears knee high socks. Draft him.

[DG88]

Guerschon Yabusele needs to be the pick at #27

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJbbA6sJvA[/youtube]

So good.

not bad.....hows his defense though

Terrible. His team was also the worst defensive team in Pro A France.

[Jadoogar]

I absolutely believe that one of the supposed top 8 will drop considering the Kings are picking ahead of us. They are very unorxodox about their selections. There will also be some teams selecting for need instead of BPA, for example the Pelicans likely want to get better now instead of selecting someone like Bender

[TheGoodDoctor]

I think I would snap if Hield went just before our pick and then to make things worse we took Henry Ellenson.

Damn you Coin Toss!!!

[MavCarter]

Kris Dunn is so overrated to me

[Troubadour]

Guerschon Yabusele needs to be the pick at #27

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJbbA6sJvA[/youtube]

So good.

not bad.....hows his defense though

Terrible. His team was also the worst defensive team in Pro A France.

Played a lot better with the U-20 French team.

[T-d0t]

You are right that he can finish with contact, but he doesn't have the 2 way potential that I should have clarified for "toughness". Faried and Fournier were drafted 20 or later, and so was Bruno.

Really hope we don't draft ellenson...just think he doesn't have that high of a potential, at best I think he's a Meyers Leonard type of player...don't see him having a high ceiling. Would rather draft skal of the top 8 holds

you have nothing to worry about LOL

[notsla refar]

Who was it that posted that thing about Jankovic not identifying as a Canadian? I just found this which seems to contradict that.

After the workout on Thursday, Jankovic expressed gratitude to the Raptors for bringing him in and even hinted that he’ll be involved with Canada Basketball, after taking time away from the national team for quite a while.

“The fact that they brought me in is huge for me,” Jankovic said. “I haven’t been home since August, so to see my parents, to see my family, probably see my friends in the next couple days or whatnot it’s huge for me.

“I used to go to Raptors games growing up for five, six years straight. VC [Vince Carter] was here back in those days when I was a little kid playing OBA.”

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/nba-draft-notebook-raptors-work-stretch-four-candidates/

[Rayflow]

Really hope we don't draft ellenson...just think he doesn't have that high of a potential, at best I think he's a Meyers Leonard type of player...don't see him having a high ceiling. Would rather draft skal of the top 8 holds

you have nothing to worry about LOL

What makes you say that ?

[Potential]

Guerschon Yabusele needs to be the pick at #27

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJbbA6sJvA[/youtube]

So good.

not bad.....hows his defense though

Terrible. His team was also the worst defensive team in Pro A France.

can't be worse than scola tbh

[CoachJReturns]

I wonder if having a D League team actually increases the odds much of having prospects reach their potential? Obviously it's beneficial for guys to get game experience as some things have to be learned in game situation like bball IQ, but it's also possible that guys who reach their potential have work ethics that will get them there regardless of circumstances.

[CoachJReturns]

The prospect thread vote seems to suggest Chriss is the clear favorite on this board. As usual, I'm in the minority and voted Korkmaz. lol. I swear I never like the same player as most of you guys. I don't mind Chriss though. I may have him ahead of the other PF prospects.

[JJ From Deep]

The prospect thread vote seems to suggest Chriss is the clear favorite on this board. As usual, I'm in the minority and voted Korkmaz. lol. I swear I never like the same player as most of you guys. I don't mind Chriss though. I may have him ahead of the other PF prospects.

DX has him at #3 right now and his stock is skyrocketing as he darts up draft boards. Realistically, he probably won't even be there at 9.

[Brinbe]

Ellenson is fine at 9.