Official Raptors 2012 NBA Draft Thread, Part 8

[fredericklove]

how many draft picks we got this year ?

3 draft picks.

One top 8 pick, one 30-ish pick and one at 50-ish.

[sunny]

updated as of March 20th:

Scott Howard-Cooper from nba.com

1) Anthony Davis
2) Harrison Barnes
3) Andre Drummond
4) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
5) Jared Sullinger
6) Brad Beal
7) Thomas Robinson
8) Cody Zeller
9) James Mcadoo
10) Perry Jones
11) Jeremy Lamb
12) Damian Lillard
13) John Henson
14) Austin Rivers

nbadraft.net

1)Anthony Davis
2) Harrison Barnes
3) Thomas Robinson
4) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
5) Andre Drummond
6) Jeremy Lamb
7) Arnett Moultrie
8) Brad Beal
9) Meyers Leonard
10) Damian Lillard
11) Austin Rivers
12) Jared Sullinger

Draftexpress.com
1) Anthony Davis
2) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
3) Thomas Robinson
4) Andre Drummond
5) Jared Sullinger
6) Harrison Barnes
7) Perry Jones
8) John Henson
9) Tyler Zeller
10) Brad Beal
11) Terrence Jones
12) Jeremy Lamb

Chad Ford
1) Anthony Davis
2) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
3) Thomas Robinson
4) Brad Beal
5) Harrison Barnes
6) Andre Drummond
7) James Mcadoo
8) Perry Jones
9) Cody Zeller
10) Jared Sullinger
11) Tyler Zeller
12) Damian Lillard
13) Jeremy Lamb

draftexpress.com updated march 21

1) Anthony Davis
2) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
3) Thomas Robinson
4) Andre Drummond
5) Jared Sullinger
6) Harrison Barnes
7) Brad Beal
8) John Henson
9) Perry Jones
10) Tyler Zeller
11) Terrence Jones
12) JEremy Lamb
13) Damian Lillard
14) Kendall Marshall

Aside from the low placement of Jeremy Lamb, this is a great mock IMO.

draft express march 22

1) Anthony DAvis
2) Andre Drummond
3) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
4) Thomas Robinson
5) Jared Sullinger
6) Harrison Barnes
7) Brad Beal
8) John Henson
9) Perry Jones
10) Tyler Zeller
11) Terrence Jones
12) Jeremy Lamb

[Dr Positivity]

I don't know if this has been posted but what do you guys think about Moe Harkless 6'8 small forward freshman from St.Johns? he declared for the draft and is projected to go in the late first early second

I really like him, he actually had a better season statistically than MKG and is the same age. The thing about Harkless is he's exactly the type (Freshman, athletic, workout friendly, high motor, young enough for GMs think a massive skill jump is possible) who's far more likely to be the taken too high project than the taken too low steal. To me Harkless has the best chance of being this year's Tristan Thompson, someone who's extremely under the radar for most of the draft process, then he somehow goes like 6th overall after a team falls in love with his workouts and athletic tools

The guy who I believe will be a value pick is Tony Mitchell out of North Texas. He's putting up 14.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 57% shooting, 73.9% FT, at the age of a sophmore but being ineligible his freshman year. He was a highly ranked high school player before that season. Advanced stats absolutely love him - Ed Weiland is a statistical draft guy who puts him as the #2 prospect in this year's draft: http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=802 Weiland has done a ton of statistical research on draft picks and what succeeds at each position, and a lot of the things that matter include 2 point FG%, rebounds, combined blocks/steals, etc. graded against competition and age. He had Tristan Thompson 2nd last year, the Cavs apparently came to a similar result and had TT that high. Mitchell's outstanding rebounding, blocks and 2P% for a SF/PF could make him a mini Faried for this draft. I could see a statistical team jumping on Mitchell top 20, but if we could get him or move up from 34 for him in the 20s, he could be an outstanding pick and better value than using a #2 on MKG or a top 9 pick on Harkless if he goes that high, IMO

[sunny]

I don't know if this has been posted but what do you guys think about Moe Harkless 6'8 small forward freshman from St.Johns? he declared for the draft and is projected to go in the late first early second

I really like him, he actually had a better season statistically than MKG and is the same age. The thing about Harkless is he's exactly the type (Freshman, athletic, workout friendly, high motor, young enough for GMs think a massive skill jump is possible) who's far more likely to be the taken too high project than the taken too low steal. To me Harkless has the best chance of being this year's Tristan Thompson, someone who's extremely under the radar for most of the draft process, then he somehow goes like 6th overall after a team falls in love with his workouts and athletic tools

The guy who I believe will be a value pick is Tony Mitchell out of North Texas. He's putting up 14.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 57% shooting, 73.9% FT, at the age of a sophmore but being ineligible his freshman year. He was a highly ranked high school player before that season. Advanced stats absolutely love him - Ed Weiland is a statistical draft guy who puts him as the #2 prospect in this year's draft: http://hoopsanalyst.com/blog/?p=802 Weiland has done a ton of statistical research on draft picks and what succeeds at each position, and a lot of the things that matter include 2 point FG%, rebounds, combined blocks/steals, etc. graded against competition and age. He had Tristan Thompson 2nd last year, the Cavs apparently came to a similar result and had TT that high. Mitchell's outstanding rebounding, blocks and 2P% for a SF/PF could make him a mini Faried for this draft. I could see a statistical team jumping on Mitchell top 20, but if we could get him or move up from 34 for him in the 20s, he could be an outstanding pick and better value than using a #2 on MKG or a top 9 pick on Harkless if he goes that high, IMO

I really like Harkless but I think it is a bit disingenuous to compare him to MKG. The reason why MKG is so praised and successful is because of his head. Physically, I can understand the similarities and comparisons. However, MKG's basketball sense and understanding of where to be is uncanny and something that Harkless cannot match.

What imporesses me about Harkless is that he is always moving and good in transition. He definitely has what it takes to make it the nba. However, he does not have the "it" factor that seperates MKG from his peers.

[Dr Positivity]

everything depends on if we amnesty Jose, if Nash does want to sign here, the stupid tpe etc etc..
Unless its Anthony Davis, we should not be looking at a big man unless ed or amir packaged gets us another talent. PG and Wing is what we need most, however we are able to get them.

We just need to find an all-star talent any way possible. If that's Robinson we take him.

Passing on a PF would be the equivalent of Sacramento passing on Tyreke Evans because they had Kevin Martin on their team. SAC traded Martin half a season later. Yes the Tyreke situation doesn't seem to be working out, but that's not because he displaced Martin. If Tyreke was the star player he looked like after his rookie year taking him and not worrying about fit with Martin would've been a franchise changing genius move

If we took Robinson or Sullinger and they killed it the first half of his rookie season, I think Bargnani would be out of town very quickly.

[Marlo Stanfield]

I don't think I can list Dion Waiters as a sleeper anymore.

[sunny]

everything depends on if we amnesty Jose, if Nash does want to sign here, the stupid tpe etc etc..
Unless its Anthony Davis, we should not be looking at a big man unless ed or amir packaged gets us another talent. PG and Wing is what we need most, however we are able to get them.

We just need to find an all-star talent any way possible. If that's Robinson we take him.

Passing on a PF would be the equivalent of Sacramento passing on Tyreke Evans because they had Kevin Martin on their team. SAC traded Martin half a season later. Yes the Tyreke situation doesn't seem to be working out, but that's not because he displaced Martin. If Tyreke was the star player he looked like after his rookie year taking him and not worrying about fit with Martin would've been a franchise changing genius move

If we took Robinson or Sullinger and they killed it the first half of his rookie season, I think Bargnani would be out of town very quickly.

this this this

[Marlo Stanfield]

Dion Waiters is now trending worldwide. Am I good at picking talent or what?!?

[tdotrep2]

I thnk lamb is gonna slide and be a mega steal. Someone like the cavs are going to hit the jackpot.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Peyton Siva just caught an alley-oop. This kid is a HUGE sleeper. His skillset is off the charts. If we don't get a point guard early on I wouldn't be mad picking up this kid at the Indy pick (if he drops that far). In fact, I wouldn't be mad if we got him with our second rounder (again... if he drops that far).

[JN]

Mario - your Waiters claims like mine just go silent here.

Go Syracuse!!!!

[Marlo Stanfield]

Mario - your Waiters claims like mine just go silent here.

Go Syracuse!!!!

We're driving the bandwagon

[Marlo Stanfield]

....and Louisville just dropped the first 1 seed, Michigan St.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Dieng may have that same raw shotblocking potential as Ibaka.

[MaliBrah]

REAL DEAL BEAL, this guy can ball wow

[ballislife]

Beal's a baller. I wouldn't mind having him or Lamb on our team... what to do with DeRozan then? Tell him to bulk up and play SF?

[MainEvent]

Beal is still climbing the draft charts! nice game, I have Florida in my final 4 and my other 3 are still alive as well!

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Jonathan Givony ‏ @DraftExpress Close
Not sure Bradley Beal needed to have a signature performance after his SEC tournament semi game vs Kentucky, but he had another one tonight.

[Waylon Mercy]

Like some of us have been saying for over a month...

Lets draft Brad Beal and GTFO!!!!

[fredericklove]

What an outstanding game by Beal. He has 21 pts, 8 of 10 FG, 3 treys, 6 reb, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blks. He really showcased his passing skills tonight, this goes out to those who only prematurely put out stats to say he's not a good passer and doing so without watching any games, yeah I'm calling out on you and you know who you are. He also shows flashes of slashing ability and he didn't struggle his shots tonight. It's just a stat-stuffer performance, and certainly was a big part to this victory.

I'll be extremely happy if we take this guy in the draft.