Draft Day: Thank Nation! Raptors/9th Pick - TSN2 Coverage Starts At 7:00pm Eastern

[CoachJReturns]

The stars are aligned Thank Nation with 9 we shine/
to find a diam/ond in the rough, to surprise the blind/
Finally I'm/not afraid led by the slyest mind/
So sing the chorus cause we primed it's time!/


I believe in Masai!
I believe he can touch the sky.
I think about him every night and day.
He made Bargnani go away!!!

[CoachJReturns]

I'm getting kind of hype! lol.

[Jonn]

Merry Christmas everyone.

Don't draft Sabonis. Thanks.

[CoachJReturns]

If PHX passes on chriss does he fall to us?

I'll be at the ACC doing the "tootsie roll" if he does, whereas if we take Sabonis or Poetl I'd be more inclinded to do the "safety dance."

[nabbs]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/745982669872193536[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/745983128464826372[/tweet]

UHmmm Bledsoe has only 14-15 million on his deal right??? Does Utah have capspace because Hayward for the #4 pick and Bledsoe is something I would run away with and not think twice. WHat is Utah doing?

[MavCarter]

Would look at trading 9th & Raptors 2017 1st. to Atlanta for 12th & 21st. Think Sabonis will go either 8th to SAC or be available @12th.

Worst trade for the raptors. We lose our 9th and a future pick in 2017.

Really?
Atlanta needs a C so Poelt @ 9th
Get Sabonis/ Luwawu / Korkmaz @ 12th
Get Brice Johnson/Valentine/ Prince @ 21st
Get Zizic/ Bembry @ 27th
Would be a happy camper what Toronto needs is depth we lost Scola & JJ and likely BB8 and possible trades of Ross, Patterson & Bebe.

And what happens if we're bad next year? Yes we can put protection on the pick but then those protection picks start to drag out when you don't turn it over and you have that cloud over your head. Would much rather keep our pick and draft BPA. I don't think we'll bring 2 rookies over this year so 27 will probably be a stash

[Risk101]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/745986158933450752[/tweet]

[Kabookalu]

on what info do these multiple sources base a guy like Thon not being his stated age? Personally I feel like this sort of thing is being put out intentionally just to help tank certain prospects' stock (similar rumors came out about Qi). If real info is there, then it should be made available to expose the player.

For me, I'm not just flipping on him for his age, but that this is just a long line of question marks surrounding Maker. From every account I've gathered he has a terrible and cocky attitude, and he thinks he's much better than he really is. Which is something I'm willing to stomach given his physical tools and solid skill foundation, but if there's even a chance that he's a lot older than he really is, it's just too much baggage to risk even a late first rounder on.

I can't speak for these other teams but I imagine this could be the same thought process running through their heads. Although you're right that regardless if it's true or not, it's done a great job of tanking his stock.

[CoachJReturns]

on what info do these multiple sources base a guy like Thon not being his stated age? Personally I feel like this sort of thing is being put out intentionally just to help tank certain prospects' stock (similar rumors came out about Qi). If real info is there, then it should be made available to expose the player.

For me, I'm not just flipping on him for his age, but that this is just a long line of question marks surrounding Maker. From every account I've gathered he has a terrible and cocky attitude, and he thinks he's much better than he really is. Which is something I'm willing to stomach given his physical tools and solid skill foundation, but if there's even a chance that he's a lot older than he really is, it's just too much baggage to risk even a late first rounder on.

I can't speak for these other teams but I imagine this could be the same thought process running through their heads. Although you're right that regardless if it's true or not, it's done a great job of tanking his stock.

Where did you hear he has a bad attitude? From what I've seen of him in interviews he appears to be a very level headed guy.

[Kabookalu]

on what info do these multiple sources base a guy like Thon not being his stated age? Personally I feel like this sort of thing is being put out intentionally just to help tank certain prospects' stock (similar rumors came out about Qi). If real info is there, then it should be made available to expose the player.

For me, I'm not just flipping on him for his age, but that this is just a long line of question marks surrounding Maker. From every account I've gathered he has a terrible and cocky attitude, and he thinks he's much better than he really is. Which is something I'm willing to stomach given his physical tools and solid skill foundation, but if there's even a chance that he's a lot older than he really is, it's just too much baggage to risk even a late first rounder on.

I can't speak for these other teams but I imagine this could be the same thought process running through their heads. Although you're right that regardless if it's true or not, it's done a great job of tanking his stock.

Where did you hear he has a bad attitude? From what I've seen of him in interviews he appears to be a very level headed guy.

It's hearsay but I remember reading somewhere in a topic (not sure if on this board or in the draft board) from someone who knows the people that Thon Maker played with saying they absolutely loathed him because of his attitude. Yeah it's not much to go off of.

[nabbs]

Someone explain this to me.... I know they just acquired George Hill but did the Jazz really just turndown Bledsoe and the 4th pick for Hayward?

[Duffman100]

Someone explain this to me.... I know they just acquired George Hill but did the Jazz really just turndown Bledsoe and the 4th pick for Hayward?

Bledsoe is injury prone, and who is there at the 4th?

Hayward is a great player.

[sweetcity]

Someone explain this to me.... I know they just acquired George Hill but did the Jazz really just turndown Bledsoe and the 4th pick for Hayward?

Ya, Bledsoe is always hurt.... get over it

[artsncrafts]

Its unlikely the 4th pick is as good as Hayward but you never know. Also they just traded for Hill..

[Potential]

Today is the day we draft a player who gets us to the Finals

[Lucky26]

I made a thread about this but draft related so posting here too. Raps only team in NBA to use new super system by IBM called 'Watson'

After reading this, and seeing how many project players we have, it's hard to think of Masai keeping 9 or 27th pick if he can get an immediate return like Millsap.

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/toronto-raptors-nba-draft-day-ibm-watson?utm_source=mbtwitter

He’s become a huge basketball fan since working on the project. He praised the Raptors as a ”very pragmatic and well-paced” team with tremendous point guards—and the rare problem of too many talented young players. This has left Ujiri with a dilemma.

“I don’t know if it’s a draft where we can go and get somebody who will impact our team right away,” he said at a Toronto press conference on Tuesday. “Is it a player that’s three, four years down the road and that player has a high upside? We have to look out for the organization that way.”

The software used for NBA picks is based on how IBM does corporate acquisitions, which may seem like a leap, but it’s actually surprisingly similar.

Corporations want to acquire companies that excel in their specific field. Otherwise they have to reinvest, said Lenchner. Translated to the NBA, that means getting rid of players who don’t perform, and drafting ones who fit with your existing team or strengthen an area you’re going to focus on.

[IMAN5]

Hornets looking to dump Hawes or Lamb with the 22nd pick. I'm really interested to see who bites on that deal. Hawes and Lamb aren't completely useless, they can be rotation guys and Lamb is still young enough (7 mill deal til I believe 2018) and Hawes' deal has 2 more years will be expiring next season ($7 mill as well).

If I'm a rebuilding team with lots of cap space I'd be all over this. Looking at the Sixers.

[Drop Shot]

Today is the day we draft a player who gets us to the Finals

[0 - 100]

Would not be shocked if we drafted Skal with Masai's comments the other day. I am preparing for that just in case even though I don't want him

[OAKLEY_2]

If PHX passes on chriss does he fall to us?

I'll be at the ACC doing the "tootsie roll" if he does, whereas if we take Sabonis or Poetl I'd be more inclinded to do the "safety dance."

Poetl or Sabonis or trade. No scratch and win please.