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

[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?

Kenyon Martin/Amre Stodomire

Toppin looks like he has more strength than matrix

He’s a better shooter and has better handles than any of those guys.

He’s kind of in the Anthony Davis mold where he was a guard and then grew a ton late. He’s not as athletic or as big as Davis, but his natural skills are close or maybe a little better - I think he shoots better than Davis did at the same point.

[ATLTimekeeper]

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.

I don't know if the league will value centre prospects as much as we might in the upcoming draft. Andre Drummond was just dumped for a 2nd round pick. There's going to be a lot of teams that try to get a jump on the future and end up passing on talent. One thing about this year is that we're not really requiring our Cs cover as much ground as most teams. Well, Boucher is an exception, but Serge and Marc largely stay at home. Teams are going to be looking and emphasizing fast feet on the perimeter, and a more station-to-station big like Oturu could turn a lot of teams off. Not that he's slow or anything, but he looks like a one position player. The Raptors know their playstyle and know it works, they can cater to that.

[NotMyKawhi]

I'd bet on agbaji, Precious, Okoro or nowra

[NotMyKawhi]

we don't guard shooting guards well

[HeadtopChunes]

DeAndre Williams is an interesting sleeper candidate

Pretty thin now but pretty long

6’9 forward

Has been absurdly productive in his minutes and missed some time with a back injury

Looks like he can do a bit of everything. Interesting guy to keep an eye on

Watch on YouTube

[ATLTimekeeper]

DeAndre Williams is an interesting sleeper candidate

Pretty thin now but pretty long

6’9 forward

Has been absurdly productive in his minutes and missed some time with a back injury

Looks like he can do a bit of everything. Interesting guy to keep an eye on

I brought him up a few pages ago. He's fouled out in 1/3 of his games, and had 4 in 3 others.

[HeadtopChunes]

DeAndre Williams is an interesting sleeper candidate

Pretty thin now but pretty long

6’9 forward

Has been absurdly productive in his minutes and missed some time with a back injury

Looks like he can do a bit of everything. Interesting guy to keep an eye on

I brought him up a few pages ago. He's fouled out in 1/3 of his games, and had 4 in 3 others.

That’s not the worst weakness in the world, foul trouble is something that can be coached out I believe

I’d be worried about his frame and not being much of a shooter at this time.

[LoveMyRaps]

Read on Twitter

''A mix between Gobert and Porgzingis'' Goddamnnn
Seems like a Masai type of player
Excited to see his growth over these next two years

[BoyzNTheHood]

Read on Twitter

''A mix between Gobert and Porgzingis'' Goddamnnn
Seems like a Masai type of player
Excited to see his growth over these next two years

We won't be bad enough to take this kid.

[BoyzNTheHood]

How do people feel about Malachi Flynn as a potential replacement for Fred (if he leaves via FA)?

[raptor jesus]

Read on Twitter

''A mix between Gobert and Porgzingis'' Goddamnnn
Seems like a Masai type of player
Excited to see his growth over these next two years

Looks like this kid is already 7'2. I'd be concerned about him growing even more, because I do think there's such a thing as being too tall for the NBA, especially in the modern game, never mind the increased risk for injury. As skilled as he looks, I'd say he's far from the sure thing; he could become more of a novelty player. That's said, I'm definitely intrigued, and look forward to seeing how he pans out.

[Karanpal]

My top 6

Nesmith
Nolley II
Cassel
Reed
Tre Jones
Biram faye

[Ell Curry]

Jalen Smith is interesting. Averaging 17-10.5-2.5 in conference play and shooting really well from 3 and the FT line. I'll watch the Maryland-Michigan in a game next month, but he would maybe be available at our pick and while he'd need to put at least another 15 pounds on to play 5 at the next level, he's still only 19 so that seems plausible. Basically the idea is he'd be an Ibaka type on offense but a bit more fluid so we can continue to play 5 out.

[Psubs]

How do people feel about Malachi Flynn as a potential replacement for Fred (if he leaves via FA)?

Malachi Richardson + Johnny Flynn =

[Psubs]

Jalen Smith is interesting. Averaging 17-10.5-2.5 in conference play and shooting really well from 3 and the FT line. I'll watch the Maryland-Michigan in a game next month, but he would maybe be available at our pick and while he'd need to put at least another 15 pounds on to play 5 at the next level, he's still only 19 so that seems plausible. Basically the idea is he'd be an Ibaka type on offense but a bit more fluid so we can continue to play 5 out.

NBADraft.net has him at #26. Hopefully his stock doesn't rise too much.

Whoa 39% from 3. Looks like a better rebounding Boucher, consistently gets over 10 rebs/gm! He might be able to add some bulk.

Watch on YouTube

[Ell Curry]

Jalen Smith is interesting. Averaging 17-10.5-2.5 in conference play and shooting really well from 3 and the FT line. I'll watch the Maryland-Michigan in a game next month, but he would maybe be available at our pick and while he'd need to put at least another 15 pounds on to play 5 at the next level, he's still only 19 so that seems plausible. Basically the idea is he'd be an Ibaka type on offense but a bit more fluid so we can continue to play 5 out.

NBADraft.net has him at #26. Hopefully his stock doesn't rise too much.

Whoa 39% from 3. Looks like a better rebounding Boucher, consistently gets over 10 rebs/gm! He might be able to add some bulk.

I think he'll end up going top 20. He's quite fluid and it seems like a huge chunk of teams now want a stretch 5 and a proper 5 like we or Boston (Theis and Kanter/Williams) or Atlanta (Dedmon and Capela) have as a combo.

Smith could guard the 4 without getting abused I think, but not enough passing or dribbling game to play there on O. Might get picked by a team like Brooklyn (for when they wanna save KD from reps at the 4 they can just stick him in the corner as a stretch 4 along with Prince, or he can be the stretch 5 option when they play Smith-KD-Prince-Levert-Kyrie and want space for their 3 good iso scorers).

TLDR: He's got NBA size (sort of) and fluidity and can shoot, I think he goes high as a 4/5 role playing 3rd big before we get to pick him because it's a weak draf.

[LoveMyRaps]

Read on Twitter

''A mix between Gobert and Porgzingis'' Goddamnnn
Seems like a Masai type of player
Excited to see his growth over these next two years

We won't be bad enough to take this kid.

Yeah of course not, especially with Giannis coming over.

[HeadtopChunes]

As a safer pick, I like Xavier Tillman from MSU

His drawbacks are his size and shooting (6'8 and career 30% from 3 and 69% from the line)

But his strengths make him pretty much bust proof

Extremely versatile on offense

- Can handle the ball
- Can make quick decisions on the short roll
- Can Face up and post up
- Can pass out the post
- Great screener and offensive rebounder


The same on defense
- Great interior defender (2blocks per game)
- Great help defender
- Can switch on to the perimeter


I think if you teach him how to shoot you have yourself an Al Horford type player

some clips

Spoiler:

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[Dalek]

I swear no one is talking about AJ Lawson, but he is the perfect late first round pick. Great size (6-6) and skill as a scorer, and can get deflections/steals with his good anticipation skills.

South Carolina just beat Georgia and it featured AJ Lawson (20 pts) outscoring Anthony Edwards (16 pts).

You put this guy in Toronto's system and you will have a star in a year.

[DG88]

Sam Vecenie updated his Mock Draft to 3.0 post trade deadline. Draft positions are based on standings as of Feb 10th, and on team needs.

https://theathletic.com/1603325/2020/02/13/vecenie-2020-nba-mock-draft-version-3-0-post-trade-deadline-edition/

Raptors:

28. Toronto Raptors
Daniel Oturu | 6-10 center | 20 years old, sophomore | Minnesota

Oturu has been one of the big midseason risers within this cycle, going from something of an afterthought after a solid freshman campaign heading into the season to one of the best centers in college basketball. The big man out of Minnesota is averaging a monster 20.1-point, 11.5-rebound per game line while also swatting 2.7 shots per game. He also moves his feet reasonably well enough to where teams should be able to play drop coverage with him at center.

The concerns here? First, he just doesn’t really pass it at all. His near-1-to-3 assist to turnover ratio is an issue. For him to become a potential starter at the center position, he’ll need to at least be able to make reads in short rolls. Also, at 6-10, even with good length, he’ll be slightly undersized for the position. Finally, while he has shown good shooting mechanics and workable potential on that end, he is only hitting 30 percent from 3. I’d bet that he’s a good shooter in time, but that consistency needs to be repped out.

58. Toronto Raptors
Paul Eboua | 6-8 forward | 19 years old | Pesaro

Eboua has been in double-figures in eight of his past 15 games, and seems to be coming along from an offensive perspective despite still clearly being pretty raw. And at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and massive hands, he’s a monster defensive player. Toronto obviously specializes in these types of guys and tends to have success with them. This is a late bloomer profile, even if scouts do have some concerns about the way he processes the game on offense, and the fact that he doesn’t really ever make high-level passes.