Snapbacks and Handshakes: The 2017 Draft (Raps pick #23)

[super_balls]

What's the catch with Semi Ojeyle? Draftexpress has him at 38 but he looks better than most of the scrubs listed below him. Am I missing something?

He is a 4 in a PJ Tucker size frame. He does tick some boxes but fluid movement as a wing isn't one of them. He's completely jacked which some here fall for. Back-up energy player?

"at 6' 7”, and he doesn't make up for (short stature) with a freakish reach (6' 10” wingspan) although his jacked 235-pound frame definitely helps. He's somewhat caught between positions on the defensive end as he's not quite big enough to check traditional fours, and while demonstrating solid lateral quickness when fully engaged, doesn't have a ton of experience chasing around NBA-level wings. His instincts on that end have room to improve as well, evident by his very low block and steal rates (partially a product of SMU playing a fair amount of zone). Ojeleye can also add more value on the defensive glass – 5.5 per 40 minutes –, another area where he'll need to bump up his production to play long stretches at the four in the NBA. (Dexp)"

He apparently had one of the best Raptor workout so far:

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If you watch the snapchats/insta stories of the raptors, you would see them do this drill where the player is going back and forth finishing different types of shots. I believe they showed TJ Leaf doing this and he bricked every shot but made some pretty unathletic looking layups (I know he was probably tired) but still.

[CoachJReturns]

What's the catch with Semi Ojeyle? Draftexpress has him at 38 but he looks better than most of the scrubs listed below him. Am I missing something?

Other than the obvious, age, his steal totals are incredibly low for an athletic 3/4. Doesn't block shots either and rebounds at an average clip. Could be Joey Graham with a better shot.

[ATLTimekeeper]

He apparently had one of the best Raptor workout so far:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

If you watch the snapchats/insta stories of the raptors, you would see them do this drill where the player is going back and forth finishing different types of shots. I believe they showed TJ Leaf doing this and he bricked every shot but made some pretty unathletic looking layups (I know he was probably tired) but still.

Couple things about this:

1) Workouts have just started, so it's not that big a deal that he set the high water mark.
2) He admitted himself that he shot poorly in the scrimmage, so I don't know if he truly had the best workout.
3) Blake Murphy admitted he wants the Raptors to draft Semi, so there's a bit of bias behind hyping this drill.

[DG88]

Todays workouts look to be very interesting:

Justin Jackson (Canadian)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Canadian)
MiKyle McInstosh (Canadian)
Johnathan Motley
Isaiah Briscoe
Sebastian Saiz

[super_balls]

He apparently had one of the best Raptor workout so far:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

If you watch the snapchats/insta stories of the raptors, you would see them do this drill where the player is going back and forth finishing different types of shots. I believe they showed TJ Leaf doing this and he bricked every shot but made some pretty unathletic looking layups (I know he was probably tired) but still.

Couple things about this:

1) Workouts have just started, so it's not that big a deal that he set the high water mark.
2) He admitted himself that he shot poorly in the scrimmage, so I don't know if he truly had the best workout.
3) Blake Murphy admitted he wants the Raptors to draft Semi, so there's a bit of bias behind hyping this drill.

I see, good to know. Thanks man.

I'm excited about today's workouts. Two guys I grew up playing with and against in Mikyle and Xavier plus, Canadian Justin Jackson, who I am pretty high on. Mottley is intriguing as well (but he might be Pascal 2.0).

[RaptorsLife]

Todays workouts look to be very interesting:

Justin Jackson (Canadian)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Canadian)
MiKyle McInstosh (Canadian)
Johnathan Motley
Isaiah Briscoe
Sebastian Saiz

Johnathan motley the first real big man. We're working out

[RaptorsLife]

Damn 6'9 with 7'4 wingspan with great advanced stats wouldn't mad at jonathan motley pick

[Patman]

What's the catch with Semi Ojeyle? Draftexpress has him at 38 but he looks better than most of the scrubs listed below him. Am I missing something?

Other than the obvious, age, his steal totals are incredibly low for an athletic 3/4. Doesn't block shots either and rebounds at an average clip. Could be Joey Graham with a better shot.

Excellent wingspan and athleticism, but low steals, usually points to low feel for the game. Pass.

[CoachJReturns]

Todays workouts look to be very interesting:

Justin Jackson (Canadian)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Canadian)
MiKyle McInstosh (Canadian)
Johnathan Motley
Isaiah Briscoe
Sebastian Saiz

Johnathan motley the first real big man. We're working out

Glad Raps seem to be working out just about everyone in their range. I don't see us taking Motley though, as he's another athletic big who runs the floor and doesn't block a lot of shots. Not terribly dissimilar to Siakam, who at least showed some flashes of an improving perimeter game in D League. I'm not opposed to Motley, as I'm not opposed to most of the options available, but I think Masai is just covering all bases here. I don't expect us to take him. But who really knows?

[RaptorsLife]

Todays workouts look to be very interesting:

Justin Jackson (Canadian)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Canadian)
MiKyle McInstosh (Canadian)
Johnathan Motley
Isaiah Briscoe
Sebastian Saiz

Johnathan motley the first real big man. We're working out

Glad Raps seem to be working out just about everyone in their range. I don't see us taking Motley though, as he's another athletic big who runs the floor and doesn't block a lot of shots. Not terribly dissimilar to Siakam, who at least showed some flashes of an improving perimeter game in D League. I'm not opposed to Motley, as I'm not opposed to most of the options available, but I think Masai is just covering all bases here. I don't expect us to take him. But who really knows?

He says he wants to be a strench 4. Him and Pascal small ball in future would be insanity on defense

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[HeadtopChunes]

Anyone hear anything about Jonah Bolden? I haven't heard anything about the dude for a while. If I remember correctly he wasn't at the combine either.

[OAKLEY_2]

Todays workouts look to be very interesting:

Justin Jackson (Canadian)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Canadian)
MiKyle McInstosh (Canadian)
Johnathan Motley
Isaiah Briscoe
Sebastian Saiz

Johnathan motley the first real big man. We're working out

Glad Raps seem to be working out just about everyone in their range. I don't see us taking Motley though, as he's another athletic big who runs the floor and doesn't block a lot of shots. Not terribly dissimilar to Siakam, who at least showed some flashes of an improving perimeter game in D League. I'm not opposed to Motley, as I'm not opposed to most of the options available, but I think Masai is just covering all bases here. I don't expect us to take him. But who really knows?

One thing you can go to the bank with. The player we take will be an elite shooter. All the other measurements and considerations will fall on the heals of that reality. Where does that put Diallo and players who are a work in progress in terms of shooting? Probably on the outside of the conversation. Start listing elite shooters.

[HeadtopChunes]

Johnathan motley the first real big man. We're working out

Glad Raps seem to be working out just about everyone in their range. I don't see us taking Motley though, as he's another athletic big who runs the floor and doesn't block a lot of shots. Not terribly dissimilar to Siakam, who at least showed some flashes of an improving perimeter game in D League. I'm not opposed to Motley, as I'm not opposed to most of the options available, but I think Masai is just covering all bases here. I don't expect us to take him. But who really knows?

One thing you can go to the bank with. The player we take will be an elite shooter. All the other measurements and considerations will fall on the heals of that reality. Where does that put Diallo and players who are a work in progress in terms of shooting? Probably on the outside of the conversation. Start listing elite shooters.

I'm pretty sure that we want shooting but history suggests we believe it can be learned. Tolzman said it wasn't all they were looking for. Of course our workouts so far suggest the opposite.

[deeps6x]

Learned? Like Leonard learned to shoot, but was picked because of his size and athleticism?

I'm not against reaching for an athletic specimen with great measurements and hoping we can teach him to shoot. This is #23 after all. This is where you gamble and reach and hope you get lucky, and not pick the next Bruno. If you are lucky, you pick the next Rodney Hood.

BTW, I'm down with trading for Will Barton this summer.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Anyone hear anything about Jonah Bolden? I haven't heard anything about the dude for a while. If I remember correctly he wasn't at the combine either.

His team is still playing in the Adriatic League, they have games into June, but I'm not sure how long their season goes. Anyway, a guy like that they'll have plenty of tape on and already have a feel for playing against higher quality competition. The Raptors had someone at the Euroleague Final 4 (hopefully not Weltman), so I'm sure if he's on their radar they'll check out a game in person.

[HeadtopChunes]

Learned? Like Leonard learned to shoot, but was picked because of his size and athleticism?

I'm not against reaching for an athletic specimen with great measurements and hoping we can teach him to shoot. This is #23 after all. This is where you gamble and reach and hope you get lucky, and not pick the next Bruno. If you are lucky, you pick the next Rodney Hood.

BTW, I'm down with trading for Will Barton this summer.

Something like that we've done a pretty good job on teaching Norm to shoot. Delon hasn't shown the same progress. Siakam is also developing his shot.

[Boardbreaker]

Learned? Like Leonard learned to shoot, but was picked because of his size and athleticism?

I'm not against reaching for an athletic specimen with great measurements and hoping we can teach him to shoot. This is #23 after all. This is where you gamble and reach and hope you get lucky, and not pick the next Bruno. If you are lucky, you pick the next Rodney Hood.

BTW, I'm down with trading for Will Barton this summer.

Something like that we've done a pretty good job on teaching Norm to shoot. Delon hasn't shown the same progress. Siakam is also developing his shot.

Delon did hurt his shoulder so I'd imagine that's stunted his development a bit.

[PhilBlackson]

I have no idea why people keep lumping Semi and Tucker into the same sentence other than being physically strong players that are somewhat short for their position, their style of play is literally nothing alike.

Semi is not known as a great defender and PJ isn't as well rounded offensively.

[HeadtopChunes]

I have no idea why people keep lumping Semi and Tucker into the same sentence other than being physically strong players that are somewhat short for their position, their style of play is literally nothing alike.

Semi is not known as a great defender and PJ isn't as well rounded offensively.

They just look similar physically and the hope is that PJ can help him out on the defensive end.

[HeadtopChunes]

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