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

[BoyzNTheHood]

I might be in the minority, but I'd take Terry over Mannion.

[Psubs]

Seriously good shooter

Read on Twitter

Isn't all crazy like Trae, he's got great balance and calm like FVV.

[HeadtopChunes]

I might be in the minority, but I'd take Terry over Mannion.

Don't think that's crazy, I have Mannion ranked 16th among all the guards I have looked at so far

[Psubs]

I might be in the minority, but I'd take Terry over Mannion.

I would too! I like might even take him over Cole Anthony (overrated). He might be the best 1st round prospect shorter than 6'4.

[SaveTheHens]

Not sure how to judge a guys character before meeting a guy, but I think Masai will base a lot of his decision on that. Our team is stacked full of good guys who work hard and care about the details. With that formula and our development staff, we just need the right mindset and decent talent to develop them. Only thing that would slow a player from developing here is either injuries or a bad attitude or lack of an ability to care for oneself.

[Psubs]

Not sure how to judge a guys character before meeting a guy, but I think Masai will base a lot of his decision on that. Our team is stacked full of good guys who work hard and care about the details. With that formula and our development staff, we just need the right mindset and decent talent to develop them. Only thing that would slow a player from developing here is either injuries or a bad attitude or lack of an ability to care for oneself.

I'd be cool with Terry and Tillman.

Watch on YouTube

Terry seems like a level-headed professional.

[casual_raps_fan]

if the season is canceled, do you think they should add all the teams to the lottery?

If I had to choose between all teams being in the lottery or bottom teams being in the lottery, I would always prefer all teams in the lottery.

What I really would like is no draft and an open market. All rookies can sign anywhere.

edit: I didn't answer the question. They probably won't add all the teams to the lottery.

[Psubs]

if the season is canceled, do you think they should add all the teams to the lottery?

If I had to choose between all teams being in the lottery or bottom teams being in the lottery, I would always prefer all teams in the lottery.

What I really would like is no draft and an open market. All rookies can sign anywhere.

edit: I didn't answer the question. They probably won't add all the teams to the lottery.

You want college players to start forming super teams?

[Mark_83]

Read on Twitter

Terry declared, would be someone im interested in

Seriously good shooter

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This kid looks really good. Pure stroke, and plays within the flow of the offense. At the very least he's Seth Curry, but I think he has the potential to be Steph-like due to his IQ. I would trade up to take this kid.

[Mark_83]

Not sure how to judge a guys character before meeting a guy, but I think Masai will base a lot of his decision on that. Our team is stacked full of good guys who work hard and care about the details. With that formula and our development staff, we just need the right mindset and decent talent to develop them. Only thing that would slow a player from developing here is either injuries or a bad attitude or lack of an ability to care for oneself.

I'd be cool with Terry and Tillman.

Watch on YouTube

Terry seems like a level-headed professional.

He sounds very poised and polished and not in a cliche using sort of way. Plus Stanford.

[Johnny Bball]

The final four would've been about now - how unfortunate we couldn't use that to see how prospects perform on the big stage.

Well apparently if you watch youtube clips of guys making every shot, people have all the info they need.

I saw sweet FA for college ball this year and have no clue at all. Even the mocks have little or bad info.

[rapsdotcom]

I might be in the minority, but I'd take Terry over Mannion.

I think most analysts are higher on Terry than Mannion. They seem pretty down on Mannion’s athleticism and the fact that he really struggled to get into the paint off the bounce.
I think Terry clearly has more upside and a better pro-game. The only real knock on him has been his frame, but guys like Steph and Trae have shown that you can overcome that, especially if you have the ability to knock shots down and create more space to attack off the dribble.

[casual_raps_fan]

if the season is canceled, do you think they should add all the teams to the lottery?

If I had to choose between all teams being in the lottery or bottom teams being in the lottery, I would always prefer all teams in the lottery.

What I really would like is no draft and an open market. All rookies can sign anywhere.

edit: I didn't answer the question. They probably won't add all the teams to the lottery.

You want college players to start forming super teams?

I don't have an opinion to that question. If that happens, it happens. They will sign with the franchise that can offer them the best situation for their career.

Also I think rookie contracts should be open market as well. For example, a highly sought after rookie can immediately get a max contract.

[Psubs]

If I had to choose between all teams being in the lottery or bottom teams being in the lottery, I would always prefer all teams in the lottery.

What I really would like is no draft and an open market. All rookies can sign anywhere.

edit: I didn't answer the question. They probably won't add all the teams to the lottery.

You want college players to start forming super teams?

I don't have an opinion to that question. If that happens, it happens. They will sign with the franchise that can offer them the best situation for their career.

Also I think rookie contracts should be open market as well. For example, a highly sought after rookie can immediately get a max contract.

You want to go back to Vin Baker initial contracts?

This will make it worse for small market teams playing in cold and boring cities. Milwaukee lost Brogdon and didn't bring in any equally big FA's. If they couldn't draft Giannis, do you think he would sign there? Teams like Milwaukee, Sacramento and Minnesota might as well fold. I guess they could survive with revenue sharing like the Florida Marlins in MLB.

[HeadtopChunes]

Just declared but likely won’t stay in the draft,

Oscar Tshiebwe is an interesting big man prospect, 6’9 but a special athlete. Can really move fluidly and protect the rim and can shoot FTs okay. Maybe 3ptrs down the line.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[casual_raps_fan]

You want college players to start forming super teams?

I don't have an opinion to that question. If that happens, it happens. They will sign with the franchise that can offer them the best situation for their career.

Also I think rookie contracts should be open market as well. For example, a highly sought after rookie can immediately get a max contract.

You want to go back to Vin Baker initial contracts?

This will make it worse for small market teams playing in cold and boring cities. Milwaukee lost Brogdon and didn't bring in any equally big FA's. If they couldn't draft Giannis, do you think he would sign there? Teams like Milwaukee, Sacramento and Minnesota might as well fold. I guess they could survive with revenue sharing like the Florida Marlins in MLB.

I'm not too familiar with the Vin Baker contract situation so I read up on it a bit. It looks like after his rookie contract with the Bucks, he signed a monster 10 year deal with Seattle which he did not live up to. Wouldn't you be able to avoid that if you limit the length in contracts? I think the 4-5 year limit has been working well for all parties.

Hmm... I didn't consider teams in cold/boring cities folding. Don't you think if the franchise can develop players well, play their players in their optimal role, and win, they would draw interest from free agents? For example, the Bucks. They've been very shrewd at drafting/picking up players and developing them (Giannis with the 15th pick and buying low on Middleton). You can tell that they have a plan and are well run at the top. You would think smart players would be able to recognize this.

You are right about the Kings and Wolves though. They would probably be doomed. They are the types of teams that make me scratch my head following the NBA. They are absolutely terribly run and then they get rewarded with high draft picks year after year. Players then get drafted by these teams and their careers are basically ruined. The well run franchises and players being picked by these crappy teams are getting the short end of the stick.

I guess the problem is that when you even out the playing fields, it gives too big of an advantage to the warm and exciting cities. It feels like a catch 22.

[Mark_83]

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/amp/warriors_on_the_clock_nba_mock_draft_10/s1__31733651

TORONTO | Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State

In college, Tillman already looked like a Raptor. He defends hard in the post, but he can switch onto the perimeter. He sets screens, blocks shots and shoots well. The reason he dropped this far is that he’s already 21 and seemingly hit his ceiling, but this is a guy who’s a useful backup big right now.

I have interest in a number of other players like Terry, Reed, Bey, Dotson, but Tillman just seems to make too much sense, and would fit like a glove in terms of need (with one of Gasol or Ibaka leaving), skillset (switchability, defense, passing, stretch potential), and makeup (High IQ, high character, hard working).

I see some similarities between him and Horford. And think he would at the very least be a solid backup 4/5 for us.

Horford: 6-8¾(w/o shoes), 244lbs, 7-0¾(wingspan), 35inch(vertical), 20 reps (185lb BP), 3.37(sprint), 12.15(lane agility)

Tillman: 6-8(w/o shoes), 245lbs, 7'-1(wingspan)

*No recorded vertical, BP, or lane agility,
*Horford probably beats him in vertical but Tillman is likely more agile than Horford was based on eye test and reports (Horford finished middle of the pack and second last in his combine sprint and lane agility respectively).
*No recorded BP info but found this annecdote in an article: "He went from a 6-foot-8, 272-pound slightly thick big man who could only rep eight times on the bench and do one chin-up to a 6-8, 245-pound cut machine who can rep 20 on the bench and do 14 chin-ups. This is all in a year’s span."

Stats comparison
Horford (Jr): 27.8mins 13.2pts 9.5reb 2.2ast 1.8blk 0.7stl (60.8%fg, 0.00%3pt, 64.4%ft)

Tillman (Jr). 32.1mins 13.7pts 10.3reb 3.0ast 2.1blk 1.2stl (55%fg, 26%3pt, 66.7%ft)

[Psubs]

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/amp/warriors_on_the_clock_nba_mock_draft_10/s1__31733651

TORONTO | Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State

In college, Tillman already looked like a Raptor. He defends hard in the post, but he can switch onto the perimeter. He sets screens, blocks shots and shoots well. The reason he dropped this far is that he’s already 21 and seemingly hit his ceiling, but this is a guy who’s a useful backup big right now.

I have interest in a number of other players like Terry, Reed, Bey, Dotson, but Tillman just seems to make too much sense, and would fit like a glove in terms of need (with one of Gasol or Ibaka leaving), skillset (switchability, defense, passing, stretch potential), and makeup (High IQ, high character, hard working).

I see some similarities between him and Horford. And think he would at the very least be a solid backup 4/5 for us.

Horford: 6-8¾(w/o shoes), 244lbs, 7-0¾(wingspan), 35inch(vertical), 20 reps (185lb BP), 3.37(sprint), 12.15(lane agility)

Tillman: 6-8(w/o shoes), 245lbs, 7'-1(wingspan)

*No recorded vertical, BP, or lane agility,
*Horford probably beats him in vertical but Tillman is likely more agile than Horford was based on eye test and reports (Horford finished middle of the pack and second last in his combine sprint and lane agility respectively).
*No recorded BP info but found this annecdote in an article: "He went from a 6-foot-8, 272-pound slightly thick big man who could only rep eight times on the bench and do one chin-up to a 6-8, 245-pound cut machine who can rep 20 on the bench and do 14 chin-ups. This is all in a year’s span."

Stats comparison
Horford (Jr): 27.8mins 13.2pts 9.5reb 2.2ast 1.8blk 0.7stl (60.8%fg, 0.00%3pt, 64.4%ft)

Tillman (Jr). 32.1mins 13.7pts 10.3reb 3.0ast 2.1blk 1.2stl (55%fg, 26%3pt, 66.7%ft)

If he's still there in the 2nd round, I draft him like Hernandez.

[DelAbbot]

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/amp/warriors_on_the_clock_nba_mock_draft_10/s1__31733651

TORONTO | Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State

In college, Tillman already looked like a Raptor. He defends hard in the post, but he can switch onto the perimeter. He sets screens, blocks shots and shoots well. The reason he dropped this far is that he’s already 21 and seemingly hit his ceiling, but this is a guy who’s a useful backup big right now.

I have interest in a number of other players like Terry, Reed, Bey, Dotson, but Tillman just seems to make too much sense, and would fit like a glove in terms of need (with one of Gasol or Ibaka leaving), skillset (switchability, defense, passing, stretch potential), and makeup (High IQ, high character, hard working).

I see some similarities between him and Horford. And think he would at the very least be a solid backup 4/5 for us.

Horford: 6-8¾(w/o shoes), 244lbs, 7-0¾(wingspan), 35inch(vertical), 20 reps (185lb BP), 3.37(sprint), 12.15(lane agility)

Tillman: 6-8(w/o shoes), 245lbs, 7'-1(wingspan)

*No recorded vertical, BP, or lane agility,
*Horford probably beats him in vertical but Tillman is likely more agile than Horford was based on eye test and reports (Horford finished middle of the pack and second last in his combine sprint and lane agility respectively).
*No recorded BP info but found this annecdote in an article: "He went from a 6-foot-8, 272-pound slightly thick big man who could only rep eight times on the bench and do one chin-up to a 6-8, 245-pound cut machine who can rep 20 on the bench and do 14 chin-ups. This is all in a year’s span."

Stats comparison
Horford (Jr): 27.8mins 13.2pts 9.5reb 2.2ast 1.8blk 0.7stl (60.8%fg, 0.00%3pt, 64.4%ft)

Tillman (Jr). 32.1mins 13.7pts 10.3reb 3.0ast 2.1blk 1.2stl (55%fg, 26%3pt, 66.7%ft)

If he's still there in the 2nd round, I draft him like Hernandez.

That vertical is what is keeping Tillman down as a 2nd rounder and not a top 20 pick. Definitely lower than 30 inches vertical and even Tillman's wingspan looks significantly short of the reported 7'1. Outside those negatives, he would fit great on our team.

However, hearing about his work ethic makes me more inclined to say he could be taken by us at 28

[HeadtopChunes]

28. Toronto Raptors

Aleksej Pokusevski
Olympiakos B
PF
Age: 18.2

Best fit: Isaiah Stewart

The Raptors have never been shy about investing resources in prospects needing long-term development. A 7-footer who can dribble, pass and shoot, Pokusevski wouldn't have been eligible for the draft had he been born six days later, making him one of the youngest players ever projected to be drafted in this age-limit era. With Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol passing their prime, the Raptors might look at the plethora of big men available here. -- Givony

New ESPN mock has us taking Poku