Raptors Are Desperate for Offense + Initiator: The Case for a sleeper who may slip to 9#

[Pericles]

Agreed on Kon. I was highly skeptical, but he’s made
me a believer. Crazy shooting splits for a freshman, just about 50/40/90. Vertical is very poor, lateral quicks are average, but the kid is strong as a bull. Takes contact and can finish like few guard/wing prospects I’ve seen. Plenty tall to play even at the 3. IQ, footwork, composure all through the roof.
His lateral quickness is not special, but his frame and strength are. He’ll be able to defend at the NBA level. He could be a star.

[YogurtProducer]

No to Shead. And that's an overpay for a 1st.

I still think RJ or Dick to Orlando has legs.

Really? What would be the trade package?

I don't know. But RJ, Dick, and Shead plus our 2nd seems steep for another 1st (assuming it was meant to be a mid rounder).

Shead was one of the best backup point guards last year. I don't want to let that go yet.

And Dick is still a guy who was a lottery pick 24 months ago.

A mid round 1st is generally not that great.

[YogurtProducer]

Kon is a pretty solid team defender. He's honestly very similar to Lowry/Fred IMO in that sense, but a taller and better version?

a 6'6" Lowry/FVV is a DPOY candidate on the wing. This has got to be hyperbole.

[ConSarnit]

Kon is a pretty solid team defender. He's honestly very similar to Lowry/Fred IMO in that sense, but a taller and better version?

a 6'6" Lowry/FVV is a DPOY candidate on the wing. This has got to be hyperbole.

I think we are well past hyperbole in this thread. Apparently Kon is:

-a mini version of Luka as a playmaker/creator
-shoots like Klay
-a wing sized Lowry as a defender

If that’s true how exactly is that guy not the #1/2 pick in this draft?

[pharring]

I'm out on Kispert/Grady/Knecht/Kon. Not with a lottery pick.

[nivisi9]

Kon is a pretty solid team defender. He's honestly very similar to Lowry/Fred IMO in that sense, but a taller and better version?

a 6'6" Lowry/FVV is a DPOY candidate on the wing. This has got to be hyperbole.

I think we are well past hyperbole in this thread. Apparently Kon is:

-a mini version of Luka as a playmaker/creator
-shoots like Klay
-a wing sized Lowry as a defender

If that’s true how exactly is that guy not the #1/2 pick in this draft?

He's arguably top 5 after the 4 who've been hyped for a year

[Thaddy]

I hope Knueppel goes before us and another team buys this over Fears, Queen or Maluach. Otherwise I see us taking Knueppel based on NCAA success and his numbers. I don't see how he succeeds against NBA sized defenses with his physical stats.

We would have to make a trade at that point for a big too. We're very guard heavy and don't have minutes for everyone. It's fairly concerning.

Why? he's not small whatsoever, borderline wing size for a guard.

Super Elite IQ, shiftiness, plays physical and smart defensively, high defensive IQ

Luka makes it work and he's only 1-2 inches taller and a literal pylon, and Kon plays more physical and already a better shooter.

This is why he'll turn into a sleeper, the physical limitations and lack of bursts is being over valued.

I don't buy the ankle injury. He skipped the combine because he's afraid of being tested athletically. Athleticism is probably one of the most important aspects. A skillful NCAA player would struggle in the NBA if they lacked size/strength/athleticism. I think Knueppel falls in that batch.

[Tripod]

Man if Kon is what some believe, packaging him with RJ for Giannis is a great deal for the Bucks.

[Grew]

Kon's defense is overstated here. He played with Cooper and Mal, the other guard Sion was an athletic tank. Definitely an easy hide for duke on D. Kon is slow, I anticipate the same type of struggle on D Gradey has, but instead of getting bodied around the paint, he will be getting blown by on the perimeter.

If there is a player who looks anything like a mini Luka in this draft it's Kasp. Kon will be a Gradey type, he might start a little quicker, due to being older and stronger, but he's ultimately an off ball shooter with connective ability on offense.

[MEDIC]

I don't get this whole."we need an initiator" movement.

I don't think we we will he finding anyone better than IQ ot BI at initiating the offense ar pick 9. We also have Scottie & RJ that can do it in spurts. Shead and Walter are growing as players as well.

With our current lineup, what we need is more.defense & capable offense.Maluach, Bryant, Fleming, etc.

I am not saying no to Kon. I like him as a player & would have to consider taking him at 9, but I think this pick will be used to fill holes & I think there are bigger holes to fill.

[Dalek]

I don't get this whole."we need an initiator" movement.

I don't think we we will he finding anyone better than IQ ot BI at initiating the offense ar pick 9. We also have Scottie & RJ that can do it in spurts. Shead and Walter are growing as players as well.

With our current lineup, what we need is more.defense & capable offense.Maluach, Bryant, Fleming, etc.

I am not saying no to Kon. I like him as a player & would have to consider taking him at 9, but I think this pick will be used to fill holes & I think there are bigger holes to fill.

I'd say we don't have specific needs other than back-up C. We have no depth behind Poeltl. We can't expect him to play 82 games next year, so we need to get someone capable beyond Colin Castleton and a 19YO Chomche.

Regarding defense, we were pretty good from January onwards. We had the 7th best defensive rating in the league. At the same time, we had the 25th offensive rating over the same period. Ingram will help as will a healthy starting group. The bench is where we need to improve. Moving Dick to the bench will add shooting, but back-up big with scoring punch is what I see as a gap.

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

We either take one of the centers(Queen(defense an issue) or Khaman) or if none are available take Carter Bryant or Rasheer Fleming. We don't need more players like Kon.. Need more 2 way players

[VanWest82]

Your always more likely to not even get an NBA player at 17, so I would turn down that deal. Gradey had a great start to last year and needs to build off that. I can understand selling potential for wins, but not potential for less potential.

Generally agree though maybe not in this draft. It looks relatively deep to me.

Also, what's Gradey's defensive ceiling at this point? Are we sure it's that of an NBA playoff rotation player? I still get Bargnani vibes with him.

[hype_2004]

Brother, just trade the pick and RJ for a vet and call it a day. You’re high thinking Kon is an initiator or could be a mini-Doncic

Exactly drafting rookies to make an immediate impact on winning is recipe for disappointment. Every draft is a crap shoot, we don't know if any of the guys we have drafted or will draft will be in the league 5 years from now. Our core is ready, we have enough young players on the roster, what we need is consolidate this pick and some of our young guys to get an established player. We have a pressing need at Center, Poetl is solid but Chomche is probably 3 or 4 years away from remotely being a serviceable player if he is still in the league by then. We don't need C projects, we need a vet that can back up Jak and do a commendable job to solidify our frontcourt. Masai should really think twice about keeping this pick, if a trade for a good Vet C is available he should pursue it. The East is wide open next season, Masai should strike while the iron is hot.

[MEDIC]

I don't get this whole."we need an initiator" movement.

I don't think we we will he finding anyone better than IQ ot BI at initiating the offense ar pick 9. We also have Scottie & RJ that can do it in spurts. Shead and Walter are growing as players as well.

With our current lineup, what we need is more.defense & capable offense.Maluach, Bryant, Fleming, etc.

I am not saying no to Kon. I like him as a player & would have to consider taking him at 9, but I think this pick will be used to fill holes & I think there are bigger holes to fill.

I'd say we don't have specific needs other than back-up C. We have no depth behind Poeltl. We can't expect him to play 82 games next year, so we need to get someone capable beyond Colin Castleton and a 19YO Chomche.

Regarding defense, we were pretty good from January onwards. We had the 7th best defensive rating in the league. At the same time, we had the 25th offensive rating over the same period. Ingram will help as will a healthy starting group. The bench is where we need to improve. Moving Dick to the bench will add shooting, but back-up big with scoring punch is what I see as a gap.

For sure. A big is ideal at 9 & maybe even in the 2nd round.

I would.like to see what the defenae looks like against better teams. We faced far too many tanking teams that weren't trying to win in the 2nd half.

BI will help the offense a lot, but he also might hurt the defense. We'll see.

Gradey 100% needs to come off the bench (I prefer they move him if he doesn't show significant improvement defensively in the first few months)

[djsunyc]

draft a solid rotation guy or take a bit more of a risk for potential impact guy?

[Jim Todd Jr.]

I'm out on Kispert/Grady/Knecht/Kon. Not with a lottery pick.

So your out on white wings in general??? weird statement to just mention those 4

[pharring]

I'm out on Kispert/Grady/Knecht/Kon. Not with a lottery pick.

So your out on white wings in general??? weird statement to just mention those 4

Seems to represent an archetype that appears each year. Each seems to be described in similar terms at draft time. Each seems to have translated to something less at the next level. I have nothing personal against any of these guys. And some nights they seem to be valuable. But for the reasons noted, I'd rather draft them where Knecht ended up than where Kon is being projected. League is the league.

[SpezNc]

The Raptors need an offensive initiator and the 2025 Draft might be our last real shot at landing one for this core.

There seems to be a clear top tier forming around:

Flagg, Harper, Bailey, Edgecombe, Topic, Johnson, Fears, Queen, Maluach, Kon
[/b]

Topic ?

[twiggy2]

I'd rather asa newell or kasparas.