2023 Draft Discussion Part III

[DreamTeam09]

I like Jordan Hawkins or Jett Howard or any movement shooter for us to be frank.

[BoyzNTheHood]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10070509-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-post-march-madness

14. Toronto Raptors: Kobe Bufkin (Michigan, PG/SG, Freshman)

Scouts started to take Bufkin seriously as the off-the-dribble shooting, crafty finishing and two-way playmaking consistently popped over the last few months. He was far more efficient than some of the projected one-and-done lottery guards, and considering he's still 19 years old, it's not out of the question teams start thinking about Bufkin as an option earlier than mid-first-round.

[Dalek]

I was thinking about the top ten, and I think there has to be one or two guys that make it that no one expected to round out 9 and 10. Guys like Dick and Black are always considered top ten and I could see either drop out in favor of more NBA ready types. Both those guys will be good high-end role players, but it seems like there are a number of teams with multiple firsts. To me that might mean they are more willing to gamble on a one and done high upside type.

In the top ten I could see Brice Sensabaugh. The guy is about 6'6/6'7 and a three level scorer and only 18. To me, he is the type a lot of teams will have a hard time passing on especially if they get him in a workout scenario. He looks like he would cook in that scenario. He is not a defender, but that could be Carmelo Anthony like scoring:

Read on Twitter

The other guy I see as a top ten pick potentially is Kyle Filipowski. He could fit the Lauri Markkanen archetype and I think NBA teams like that type of size and fluidity with the ball. I just don't know if he commits this year but it is hard to find true seven footers with his handle and shooting potential.

Didn't Malaki Branham shoot like 50/40/80 at Ohio State?

Branham is a guard who is about 6'4 and maybe 190 lbs. Sensabaugh is 6'6 and 230 lbs so he is a different player. More of a young David Roddy type to me. I give him the lottery because of his age, mature body and numbers.

Branham is a combo guard and those guys are usually late firsts because the NBA is loaded with great two-way lead guards and unless you can defend you end up a bench guard.

[Dalek]

I like Jordan Hawkins or Jett Howard or any movement shooter for us to be frank.

I'd worry about those types because the current team does not have a lot of movement in the offense outside of rim runs. Going through the list of shooters who died: Matt Thomas, Svi, Weiskamp, Yuta, and now Barton are added to list of guys whose scoring evaporated when they played with Toronto.

[WuTang_CMB]

Donovan Clingan will have good timing on his side if he decides to enter since Kessler had a break out rookie season. Can defend, Nice hands, moves hips well, nice touch inside.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Matt Thomas' shooting dried up when he left Toronto. He was over 40% here. Svi's only ever shot well on tanking teams. Basically every team's off night is his time to get his shot off. You know Barton was washed when he came here. Weezy's shooting 43% here, up from 32% in San Antonio. Yuta isn't really a movement shooter. I think Toronto has room for one, but if you're drafting one you really want to focus on what else they do instead of just what they do well. You can get specialists cheap.

[DreamTeam09]

I like Jordan Hawkins or Jett Howard or any movement shooter for us to be frank.

I'd worry about those types because the current team does not have a lot of movement in the offense outside of rim runs. Going through the list of shooters who died: Matt Thomas, Svi, Weiskamp, Yuta, and now Barton are added to list of guys whose scoring evaporated when they played with Toronto.

Those guys were journeyman types before they got here, I agree that there is a trend tho, but what's the exact cause I don't know. None of those guys are really come off of a pin down type of shooters tho, except maybe Svi. But even with Svi, I remember him getting plenty of open to wide open looks and it's just brick after brick after brick. Maybe it's an arena lighting issue, who knows.

With Jakob in the fold now you have seen some more movement and cuts from us, you can easily see how a Kevin Heruter type would really open up things for us.

[Dalek]

I was thinking about the top ten, and I think there has to be one or two guys that make it that no one expected to round out 9 and 10. Guys like Dick and Black are always considered top ten and I could see either drop out in favor of more NBA ready types. Both those guys will be good high-end role players, but it seems like there are a number of teams with multiple firsts. To me that might mean they are more willing to gamble on a one and done high upside type.

In the top ten I could see Brice Sensabaugh. The guy is about 6'6/6'7 and a three level scorer and only 18. To me, he is the type a lot of teams will have a hard time passing on especially if they get him in a workout scenario. He looks like he would cook in that scenario. He is not a defender, but that could be Carmelo Anthony like scoring:

Read on Twitter

The other guy I see as a top ten pick potentially is Kyle Filipowski. He could fit the Lauri Markkanen archetype and I think NBA teams like that type of size and fluidity with the ball. I just don't know if he commits this year but it is hard to find true seven footers with his handle and shooting potential.

Filipowski should be there when we pick. I like his game a lot. It’s annoying to mention this name, but I kind of see him as a tough Bargnani. Imagine if Andrea cared. That’s Kyle Filipowski. The problem is where do we play him with Pascal and Jakob? Unless Pascal can play the 3 Filipowski will be relegated to the bench and might start his career off slow like Markkanen did.

If Flip is there Toronto should consider it just to add some size and IQ on the court. I like Boucher, but his game is so erratic. Flip could slot into his role as an outside threat that the bench misses. He is still a young player so he can start in time.

I just think whatever team that looks at him will have to worry a bit about the lateral quicks. If your team has solid rim protection you can get away with Flip on court but he will be a target.

[DreamTeam09]

Matt Thomas' shooting dried up when he left Toronto. He was over 40% here. Svi's only ever shot well on tanking teams. Basically every team's off night is his time to get his shot off. You know Barton was washed when he came here. Weezy's shooting 43% here, up from 32% in San Antonio. Yuta isn't really a movement shooter. I think Toronto has room for one, but if you're drafting one you really want to focus on what else they do instead of just what they do well. You can get specialists cheap.

Agreed, if i'm looking at a shooter, they have to be able to do something once you're ran off of the FT line. I see Hawkins having some in-between game tho.

[Dalek]

I like Jordan Hawkins or Jett Howard or any movement shooter for us to be frank.

I'd worry about those types because the current team does not have a lot of movement in the offense outside of rim runs. Going through the list of shooters who died: Matt Thomas, Svi, Weiskamp, Yuta, and now Barton are added to list of guys whose scoring evaporated when they played with Toronto.

Those guys were journeyman types before they got here, I agree that there is a trend tho, but what's the exact cause I don't know. None of those guys are really come off of a pin down type of shooters tho, except maybe Svi. But even with Svi, I remember him getting plenty of open to wide open looks and it's just brick after brick after brick. Maybe it's an arena lighting issue, who knows.

With Jakob in the fold now you have seen some more movement and cuts from us, you can easily see how a Kevin Heruter type would really open up things for us.

Yup it is baffling to me, but you are right about journeyman shooters. It is just funny that they guys that left proceeded to shoot well again in their new spots. I feel like Nurse has such a short leash that guys are always looking over their shoulder, plus Pascal and Fred created looks are not always clean into guys shooting pockets.

Jakob and Scottie both love to get the ball to shooters, but for movement guys you need more complicated screens set-up and I just don't know if they are capable. It seems like only ATO is when we run the screening actions to free up shooters.

[Rapsfan07]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10070509-2023-nba-mock-draft-full-2-round-predictions-post-march-madness

14. Toronto Raptors: Kobe Bufkin (Michigan, PG/SG, Freshman)

Scouts started to take Bufkin seriously as the off-the-dribble shooting, crafty finishing and two-way playmaking consistently popped over the last few months. He was far more efficient than some of the projected one-and-done lottery guards, and considering he's still 19 years old, it's not out of the question teams start thinking about Bufkin as an option earlier than mid-first-round.

Argh. I feel like every player I fall in love with in the lower ends of the draft find their way up the boards.

My hope was that we could trade down and grab him and someone else but that doesn't look possible anymore.

[DreamTeam09]

I'm also kinda high on Keyonte George for us.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I'm also kinda high on Keyonte George for us.

I’m not sure Nurse is the guy to get him to take better shots, but if he was more efficient he’d be ranked much higher than he is. The fact that we started winning, therefore dropping lower in the draft and he has kept pace with us says a lot.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

I'm also kinda high on Keyonte George for us.

Bufkin is the same type of player and way more efficient tbh

[Psubs]

Adding this to an offense where everyone besides Scottie and Jakob are allergic to movement would be transcendent. Fred, Pascal, Gary, Precious, etc are all out there for themselves. At least Fred and Gary can shoot. Pascal and the other non shooters just create a lack of spacing.

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=iDergfyDJveIq9pY2qCCBQ

He's running around like Rip and Reggie!

[Psubs]

If Flip is there Toronto should consider it just to add some size and IQ on the court. I like Boucher, but his game is so erratic. Flip could slot into his role as an outside threat that the bench misses. He is still a young player so he can start in time.

I just think whatever team that looks at him will have to worry a bit about the lateral quicks. If your team has solid rim protection you can get away with Flip on court but he will be a target.

Boucher, Otto and Flynn should be traded for the best guard/wing they can get.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Matt Thomas' shooting dried up when he left Toronto. He was over 40% here. Svi's only ever shot well on tanking teams. Basically every team's off night is his time to get his shot off. You know Barton was washed when he came here. Weezy's shooting 43% here, up from 32% in San Antonio. Yuta isn't really a movement shooter. I think Toronto has room for one, but if you're drafting one you really want to focus on what else they do instead of just what they do well. You can get specialists cheap.

Agreed, if i'm looking at a shooter, they have to be able to do something once you're ran off of the FT line. I see Hawkins having some in-between game tho.

I don't think Hawkins has shown much of that.

.315 on far 2s stinks.
.547 on low volume close 2s is pretty weak.
low assist rate.

I would pass.

[DreamTeam09]

I'm also kinda high on Keyonte George for us.

Bufkin is the same type of player and way more efficient tbh

They are very similar, but I'd still rank George higher. I can wrap my head around about a freshman lead guard being an inefficient player. For some reason George looks bigger, but I see Kobe being listed as 10lbs heavier. Geroge looks like he's able to get a lot stronger. He also looks to be the better defender down the line

[DreamTeam09]

Matt Thomas' shooting dried up when he left Toronto. He was over 40% here. Svi's only ever shot well on tanking teams. Basically every team's off night is his time to get his shot off. You know Barton was washed when he came here. Weezy's shooting 43% here, up from 32% in San Antonio. Yuta isn't really a movement shooter. I think Toronto has room for one, but if you're drafting one you really want to focus on what else they do instead of just what they do well. You can get specialists cheap.

Agreed, if i'm looking at a shooter, they have to be able to do something once you're ran off of the FT line. I see Hawkins having some in-between game tho.

I don't think Hawkins has shown much of that.

.315 on far 2s stinks.
.547 on low volume close 2s is pretty weak.
low assist rate.

I would pass.

Does he finish well at the rim?

[BoyzNTheHood]

I'm also kinda high on Keyonte George for us.

Bufkin is the same type of player and way more efficient tbh

They are very similar, but I'd still rank George higher. I can wrap my head around about a freshman lead guard being an inefficient player. For some reason George looks bigger, but I see Kobe being listed as 10lbs heavier. Geroge looks like he's able to get a lot stronger. He also looks to be the better defender down the line

Kobe Bufkin is only a month and a half older than Keyonte George. He also shot 38% from the field as a freshman and 22% from 3


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