And Then There Was One: Thank Nation 2. Raps pick 23rd

LonZoBallin · Post #2141 » by **LonZoBallin** » Sat May 13, 2017 3:37 am

Giles or trade for DSJ

Psubs · Post #2142 » by **Psubs** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:03 am

Mr.Raptorsingh wrote:Frank Jackson just put up a 42'' vertical. Yeah, he's going to rise up the draft. If he's there when the Raps pick, I'd draft him.

Ya, he was similar to John Wall, though he wasn't that great in his freshman year, which may be good for the Raptors.

RaptorsLife · Post #2143 » by **RaptorsLife** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:07 am

We need talent. This team is nowhere near good enough to pick based on position

Mark_83 · Post #2144 » by **Mark_83** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:15 am

PhilBlackson wrote:
WeTheNorth123 wrote:Justin Jackson (Maryland) is the guy you take...no question

no we need a strong lengthy SF who can shoot open shoots....justin jackoson is the only player that fits that mold and being a canadian is cherry on top

I would actually say Jonah Bolden more so and why say that is a Bolden is just a little bit taller but he is also a little more ATHLETIC, QUICK and every inch counts (that's what she said - people still say that?). But seriously this pick as we know isn't to combat LeBron....it's for the young beasts that are developing right here in our backyard - the Eastern Conference.

Everyone blabs about how we the East is supposedly weak but right now while everyone is saying Anthony Davis and maybe KAT got next....don't look now because Giannis, Porz & Simmons are right there and I think given their greater SPEED in a league becoming more & more about that (and of course shooting) I think the East is actually primed to have the actual next big thing because unlike KAT or AD, Giannis and Simmons will have the ball in their hands...sorry for the sidebar but all that is to say is those are the beasts we have to contend with moving forward and who you pick better be able to match up with them as best as you possibly can and imo physically Bolden is the closest thing athletically, speed wise and physically as we can get and he is developing very well in all those areas. But maybe I'm wrong we'll have to see more of him as well but from footage I've seen a both, that really stood out to me as a noticeable difference.

Watch on YouTube

I think Bolden can be a star. His skillset and tools at that size is just unreal. I had a similar feeling about Giannis in his draft year (different types of players obviously) but just in terms of the rarity of what he brings at that size.

I think he's at the top of my board right now unless OG falls. Could be a really good 3/4 hybrid stretch.

Wish we had one more pick though. There's a bunch of other players I'd love to draft as well. Maybe we get one or two of Philly's 2nd rounders in a Lowry sing and trade or just straight up buy a pick. Guys like Diallo, Semi, Evans, Robinson, Thornwell, Justin Jackson, Iwundu, Anigbogu, etc.

PhilBlackson · Post #2145 » by **PhilBlackson** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:16 am

As of now, my top picks would be Bolden, Kuzma or Diallo with Anigbogu right behind.

I like Bolden to develop but I gotta say I do think Kuzma in time would be great fit in between Yak, Siakam, Norm and all those guys given his versatility. Still at this point I give the slight edge to Bolden because he has a little more upside given his athleticism and length.

CoachJReturns · Post #2146 » by **CoachJReturns** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:24 am

RaptorsLife wrote:We need talent. This team is nowhere near good enough to pick based on position

You're not wrong. I only take position onto consideration in the event that we draft someone who would be buried behind another prospect. Still, if someone is clearly BPA you just take them and go.

PhilBlackson · Post #2147 » by **PhilBlackson** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:31 am

Mark_83 wrote:
PhilBlackson wrote:
WeTheNorth123 wrote:Justin Jackson (Maryland) is the guy you take...no question

no we need a strong lengthy SF who can shoot open shoots....justin jackoson is the only player that fits that mold and being a canadian is cherry on top

I would actually say Jonah Bolden more so and why say that is a Bolden is just a little bit taller but he is also a little more ATHLETIC, QUICK and every inch counts (that's what she said - people still say that?). But seriously this pick as we know isn't to combat LeBron....it's for the young beasts that are developing right here in our backyard - the Eastern Conference.

Everyone blabs about how we the East is supposedly weak but right now while everyone is saying Anthony Davis and maybe KAT got next....don't look now because Giannis, Porz & Simmons are right there and I think given their greater SPEED in a league becoming more & more about that (and of course shooting) I think the East is actually primed to have the actual next big thing because unlike KAT or AD, Giannis and Simmons will have the ball in their hands...sorry for the sidebar but all that is to say is those are the beasts we have to contend with moving forward and who you pick better be able to match up with them as best as you possibly can and imo physically Bolden is the closest thing athletically, speed wise and physically as we can get and he is developing very well in all those areas. But maybe I'm wrong we'll have to see more of him as well but from footage I've seen a both, that really stood out to me as a noticeable difference.

Watch on YouTube

I think Bolden can be a star. His skillset and tools at that size is just unreal. I had a similar feeling about Giannis in his draft year (different types of players obviously) but just in terms of the rarity of what he brings at that size.

I think he's at the top of my board right now unless OG falls. Could be a really good 3/4 hybrid stretch.

Wish we had one more pick though. There's a bunch of other players I'd love to draft as well. Maybe we get one or two of Philly's 2nd rounders in a Lowry sing and trade or just straight up buy a pick. Guys like Diallo, Semi, Evans, Robinson, Thornwell, Justin Jackson, Iwundu, Anigbogu, etc.

I would LOVE to trade JV for those two 2nd rounders they got for Noel.

The "why" for PHI, is they have been in a forever tank and already have too many young guys that will be on the roster and of course there is the million dollar question, can Embiid stay healthy?!

Well given that he missed TWO seasons and was playing limited minutes and STILL got injured that is a very tough thing to hold your breathe for because look I'm telling you now, Simmons is too good for the Sixers to be bottom of the league to even be able to tank again, like it or not they will be at best picking 8-9 area...I think they are going to be far closer to actually making the Playoffs because that team was already a 20+W team and that is with no one but Luwawu playing there. Bring in Simmons and whatever top 7 pick (and maybe a top 3) this team will be too competitive to tank again so may as well try to ensure that Playoff spot and get the city hype that Ben did it in year 1 then just falling short. JV gives them a good enough C to help ensure that and of course if they take Kyle they could get to middle of the pack and PHI will be chomping at the bit to keep climbing there on out...

Now for us, JV just doesn't fit anymore. Unfortunately it's not yesteryear anymore and the post is becoming obsolete...I know that makes you ask then why would PHI want it and the bottomline is they just need a good enough C to hold the fort. They have no intention of holding onto Okafor for the money he'll want and even JV plays better defence than him. We need to start building for the future while we try to figure out "who we are" lol so grab a couple of upside guys from a mega draft and develop them. If that's Justin Jackson, Jonathan Jeanne, Ike Anigbogu, Peter Jok, who ever now with the added roster spots develop the hell outta them (with Bolden or Kuzma) and in a few years even though your management refused to tank maybe you do an excellent job developing a couple of them and defy the odds.

RaptorsLife · Post #2148 » by **RaptorsLife** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:31 am

CoachJReturns wrote:
RaptorsLife wrote:We need talent. This team is nowhere near good enough to pick based on position

You're not wrong. I only take position onto consideration in the event that we draft someone who would be buried behind another prospect. Still, if someone is clearly BPA you just take them and go.

Pg to centre it don't matter. We don't have a one superstar on this roster everyone can be upgraded this draft pick won't be the reason we beat the cavs

Get the bpa and development him

WeTheNorth123 · Post #2149 » by **WeTheNorth123** » Sat May 13, 2017 4:44 am

man check out his deep 3's...he shots those with confidence......Dude is already better the 60 million dollar contract Carol

Watch on YouTube

BoyzNTheHood · Post #2150 » by **BoyzNTheHood** » Sat May 13, 2017 5:03 am

Any more love for Frank Mason after the combine? Yes, he's already 23, but I don't think Watson takes age into account. He's basically the perfect back-up, and potentially a starter if he over achieves like the Boston hobbit.

From DX:

8 points, 4 assists, 0 turnovers, 2-4 2P, 1-3 3P, 22 minutes

Wooden award winner Frank Mason didn't need any time at all to adjust to the style of play at the NBA Combine, showing superb confidence right from the opening tip and demonstrating that his style of play translates seamlessly to this setting. He did all the things scouts were able to see in his memorable senior year, pushing the ball in the open court, operating at different speeds with his low and tight handle, and not being afraid to attack the rim and finish through contact or get to the free throw line. He made a spot-up 3-pointer, played excellent defense on Monte Morris, and perhaps most tellingly, saw his team completely collapse once he left the floor, with a plus/minus of +8 in a game his team lost by 18 points. Despite not posting guady numbers, it wasn' t difficult to see that Mason is a cut above the group of players assembled here, and its easy to project him as a super-solid backup who could probably come into a game early in his career and help hold down the fort.

PhilBlackson · Post #2151 » by **PhilBlackson** » Sat May 13, 2017 5:17 am

WeTheNorth123 wrote:man check out his deep 3's...he shots those with confidence......Dude is already better the 60 million dollar contract Carol

Watch on YouTube

For me like I said it's between him, Diallo and Kuzma...HM: Anigbogu

But one thing I have to say that I really like about Diallo is he is not only a physical alpha for a SG but he has an alpha personality, seems to have "it" as in fight. I like that in players and again any time we draft we're not drafting for a year or two from now so he'll only be starting to really kick in gear as DeMar's contract is ending anyways. Also should Kyle walk and we find ourselves contemplating finally committing to a rebuild we would be a year ahead because I think this kid has legit top 10 potential he's just super young and may be our chance to cash in.

We could be stealing a top 10 pick right now simply because the kid tested the market and we acted but guaranteed you have to take him in the 1st rd and likely promise him or he'll just withdraw. Part of me just gets the sense that he has it in his head that he either is going to speed up the process of the draft in a way so that he can "shave off" a year on a rookie contract so he'll make up the difference in money by his second one anyways or if not he'll take the feedback to hear what he needs to do to set himself apart n solidify himself as a top 10 pick (or better) for next year. I wouldn't mind taking a flyer, let him demolish some D-League faces for a year or so and then let him start chipping away as the heir to DD, with his physical tools and alpha personality who knows how good he may become?!

MavCarter · Post #2152 » by **MavCarter** » Sat May 13, 2017 5:23 am

So whats the catch with bolden?Every mock has him in the late 2nd so far. He looks too good to be true

CoachJReturns · Post #2153 » by **CoachJReturns** » Sat May 13, 2017 5:40 am

I know mock drafts aren't accurate(especially last year's) outside the top 10, but there's been plenty of movement on draftexpress.com

Terrence Ferguson is now ranked 25th and Jonathan Jeanne has moved up to 24th, both obviously for their respective measurements at the combine. Ferguson is average by the measuring tape and Jeanne measures out terrifically. He can also shoot when unguarded which probably impresses during shoot arounds since he's a legit 7 foot center.

Some other bits of note:

Iwundu and Thornwell who I read at least 5 posts about here every day are ranked 54th and 55th respectively. Again mock drafts can be way off, but in most cases way off is a matter of 5-10 picks. These guys are 30 picks below us for what it's worth. So rather than talk about them with our own pick, I think it obviously makes a lot more sense to discuss buying a late second rounder, or just signing one outright should they go undrafted.
There are quite a few mid-late second round guys I like in fact who could be signed to D League contracts like Alpha Kaba, Dwayne Bacon, Cameron Oliver(who was actually my choice for the Raptors pick earlier in the year), Jonah Bolden, Josh Hart and one of my other choices Devin Robinson.

Seems like a good opportunity for Masai to get back a 2nd rounder and take a chance on someone.

HeadtopChunes · Post #2154 » by **HeadtopChunes** » Sat May 13, 2017 5:44 am

McGregFan wrote:So whats the catch with bolden?Every mock has him in the late 2nd so far. He looks too good to be true

From what I've read his shooting is a bit suspect because his 3pt% (42%) and FT% (58%) don't match. So his shooting could be a fluke. Might need to get stronger. Has an inconsistent motor especially on defense and doesn't make great decisions on the offensive end. ( Either turning down open shots or taking some dumb ones.) Is also very inconsistent creating of the dribble and is more of a catch and shoot guy.

OAKLEY_2 · Post #2155 » by **OAKLEY_2** » Sat May 13, 2017 9:48 am

CoachJReturns wrote:I know mock drafts aren't accurate(especially last year's) outside the top 10, but there's been plenty of movement on draftexpress.com

Terrence Ferguson is now ranked 25th and Jonathan Jeanne has moved up to 24th, both obviously for their respective measurements at the combine. Ferguson is average by the measuring tape and Jeanne measures out terrifically. He can also shoot when unguarded which probably impresses during shoot arounds since he's a legit 7 foot center.

Some other bits of note:

Iwundu and Thornwell who I read at least 5 posts about here every day are ranked 54th and 55th respectively. Again mock drafts can be way off, but in most cases way off is a matter of 5-10 picks. These guys are 30 picks below us for what it's worth. So rather than talk about them with our own pick, I think it obviously makes a lot more sense to discuss buying a late second rounder, or just signing one outright should they go undrafted.
There are quite a few mid-late second round guys I like in fact who could be signed to D League contracts like Alpha Kaba, Dwayne Bacon, Cameron Oliver(who was actually my choice for the Raptors pick earlier in the year), Jonah Bolden, Josh Hart and one of my other choices Devin Robinson.

Seems like a good opportunity for Masai to get back a 2nd rounder and take a chance on someone.

Yes there are going to be second round undrafted players with more potential than Freddy and much of championship 905. If Thornwell goes undrafted I would Vegas Summer League him at worst and Freddy sign him at best. Draft.net which is usually more off the mark than express has Thornwell at 38 and Kuzma at 16. That is a big divergence from express which is the much more reliable mock. One good scrimmage and Kuzma moves up to Bulls at 16... Okay.

C_Money · Post #2156 » by **C_Money** » Sat May 13, 2017 9:50 am

Is this supposed to be a bad draft? I'm reading these scouting reports and everybody outside of the top 7 look like career bench players to me.

OAKLEY_2 · Post #2157 » by **OAKLEY_2** » Sat May 13, 2017 9:54 am

CoachJReturns wrote:I know mock drafts aren't accurate(especially last year's) outside the top 10, but there's been plenty of movement on draftexpress.com

Terrence Ferguson is now ranked 25th and Jonathan Jeanne has moved up to 24th, both obviously for their respective measurements at the combine. Ferguson is average by the measuring tape and Jeanne measures out terrifically. He can also shoot when unguarded which probably impresses during shoot arounds since he's a legit 7 foot center.

Some other bits of note:

Iwundu and Thornwell who I read at least 5 posts about here every day are ranked 54th and 55th respectively. Again mock drafts can be way off, but in most cases way off is a matter of 5-10 picks. These guys are 30 picks below us for what it's worth. So rather than talk about them with our own pick, I think it obviously makes a lot more sense to discuss buying a late second rounder, or just signing one outright should they go undrafted.
There are quite a few mid-late second round guys I like in fact who could be signed to D League contracts like Alpha Kaba, Dwayne Bacon, Cameron Oliver(who was actually my choice for the Raptors pick earlier in the year), Jonah Bolden, Josh Hart and one of my other choices Devin Robinson.

Seems like a good opportunity for Masai to get back a 2nd rounder and take a chance on someone.

Think about where Brogdan and Dwight Powell were picked. Really helped that they were mature high IQ players. So much of "upside" is a hot air balloon.

Veggamattic · Post #2158 » by **Veggamattic** » Sat May 13, 2017 1:01 pm

Dalek wrote:Jonah Bolden is a little bit off the radar type of prospect but very toolsy. Over 6-10, can shoot the three over 40%, and is a good defender.

Not as well-known, but is a an Aussie who was originally on UCLA but opted out of college to play in the Adriatic League (same league as that fun Mega Leks team that churns out uptempo NBA athletes like Luawawu from Philly). I love his maturity and tough-mindedness:

Not only is Bolden prepared to play any role to kick-start an NBA career, he is also ready to put in the work required to elevate his game to stardom. Bolden grew up a Toronto Raptors fan and now uses the Raptors’ All-Star shooting guard as inspiration, when toiling away in the gym.

“I really like how DeMar DeRozan was ranked the 46th best player before this NBA season [referring to Sports Illustrated’s top 100 player ratings] and at the end of the season he is averaging 27 points.

“You just see that he came in with a chip on his shoulder and did the work in the summer. You just see the difference it makes and I mould myself after him, not his game but his mentality. I look at how he went from being a scorer to being the main guy.”

I think the Derozan mentality is a key definer for how Masai drafts. Who wouldn't want a another Norman Powell type grinder at 6-10? This guy could be the next Paul George if developed well.

Watch on YouTube

I can't see what is not to like about this guy. I was watching the video and he started to check all my boxes and this little voice kept say "but can he pass" then I saw he has respectable passing numbers and I was totally sold. He would be a steal if we could grab him in the second round with a pick that may be easy to trade for.

ATLTimekeeper · Post #2159 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Sat May 13, 2017 1:24 pm

Have to admit Bolden looks great. I usually don't get too excited off highlight videos, but I don't know too many players that age that can catch one handed lobs behind their head, nail pull up jumpers and switch on the perimeter. Would he have been at UCLA the same time as Norm?

HeadtopChunes · Post #2160 » by **HeadtopChunes** » Sat May 13, 2017 2:08 pm

ATLTimekeeper wrote:Have to admit Bolden looks great. I usually don't get too excited off highlight videos, but I don't know too many players that age that can catch one handed lobs behind their head, nail pull up jumpers and switch on the perimeter. Would he have been at UCLA the same time as Norm?

Yeah Bolden and Powell were teammates