With the 4th Pick, the Raptors select Scottie Barnes! Part 2

[Raps in 4]

Ok, I'll entertain you. Please show me any evidence that the Raptors thought Mobley > Barnes or even Mobley = Barnes.

Mobley fits the profile of a long, athletic, defence-first, high-IQ player that Masai covets. If Masai wanted to trade up, it was 100% to take Mobley. If he wanted to trade up to #3 to draft Barnes, he wouldn't be an NBA GM. Even if he coveted Barnes, he'd have the sense to know that other teams didn't. It's an insult to his intelligence to think he was willing to give up assets to trade for up a guy that would almost 100% be available at #4.

Ok, so you have no evidence. Got it, thanks!

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

[c3luong]

Mobley fits the profile of a long, athletic, defence-first, high-IQ player that Masai covets. If Masai wanted to trade up, it was 100% to take Mobley. If he wanted to trade up to #3 to draft Barnes, he wouldn't be an NBA GM. Even if he coveted Barnes, he'd have the sense to know that other teams didn't. It's an insult to his intelligence to think he was willing to give up assets to trade for up a guy that would almost 100% be available at #4.

Ok, so you have no evidence. Got it, thanks!

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

Yes, but you're the only one that is 100% sure what players the front office likes. Again, would love to have that amount of confidence about something that is impossible to know.

[Los_29]

Mobley fits the profile of a long, athletic, defence-first, high-IQ player that Masai covets. If Masai wanted to trade up, it was 100% to take Mobley. If he wanted to trade up to #3 to draft Barnes, he wouldn't be an NBA GM. Even if he coveted Barnes, he'd have the sense to know that other teams didn't. It's an insult to his intelligence to think he was willing to give up assets to trade for up a guy that would almost 100% be available at #4.

Ok, so you have no evidence. Got it, thanks!

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

But that's not a logical conclusion.

[Raps in 4]

Ok, so you have no evidence. Got it, thanks!

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

But that's not a logical conclusion.

Thinking that Masai wanted to trade up to #3 to draft Barnes is a logical conclusion?

[lolwut]

Mobley fits the profile of a long, athletic, defence-first, high-IQ player that Masai covets. If Masai wanted to trade up, it was 100% to take Mobley. If he wanted to trade up to #3 to draft Barnes, he wouldn't be an NBA GM. Even if he coveted Barnes, he'd have the sense to know that other teams didn't. It's an insult to his intelligence to think he was willing to give up assets to trade for up a guy that would almost 100% be available at #4.

Ok, so you have no evidence. Got it, thanks!

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

There's a chance that Cleveland could have taken Suggs or Barnes at #3, and in that case, Raptors would need to trade up to #3 to secure Barnes if they ranked him above Mobley. Unlikely that this was the scenario, but at the time, it was impossible to know for sure. Cleveland can be unpredictable.

The only sure things were Cade #1 and Green #2. After that, Cleveland was a wild card. Keep in mind that Bobby said they were still contemplating trading the pick up (not sure whether up or down) till 6pm the night of the draft.

If Raptors wanted Mobley instead of Barnes, then...

• If they knew Cleveland is taking Mobley, then they absolutely needed to trade up
• If they didn't know who Cleveland is taking, then they'd be wasting an asset to trade up in case Cleveland takes Suggs or Barnes

If Raptors wanted Barnes instead of Mobley, then...

• If they knew Cleveland is taking Mobley, then they just sit back and grab Barnes at #4
• If they didn't know who Cleveland is taking, then they'd be wasting an asset to trade up in case Cleveland takes Suggs or Mobley

If you want to talk logic, then these are the different ways #3 and #4 could have played out. Unless Cleveland reveals its draft board, we'll never be able to know what really happened. There's no way to eliminate any of these possibilities because we're lacking facts. You can be confident in a guess, but that's all it is: a guess.

[Los_29]

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

But that's not a logical conclusion.

Thinking that Masai wanted to trade up to #3 to draft Barnes is a logical conclusion?

Well we know that some teams had Barnes #3 on their draft board. What makes you think Masai would like a guy like Mobley over a guy like Barnes?

[Raps in 4]

Well we know that some teams had Barnes #3 on their draft board

Which teams are those? Clearly not the ones who actually drafted 1-3.

What makes you think Masai would like a guy like Mobley over a guy like Barnes?

For the exact same reasons he likes Barnes?

He's a long, athletic, versatile defender with high IQ.

We don't know that the Raptors actually tried to trade for #3. But if they did, I'd bet my life's savings that it was to draft Mobley and not Barnes. Masai isn't dumb. He has a feel for who other teams covet. He wasn't going to burn assets to trade up and draft a player that was almost guaranteed to be available at #4.

[Spicy P]

Can we talk about Barnes high socks look? Can someone tell him it looks bad lol. I have nothing wrong with the short shorts, but socks make it look like he's wearing those long boots women wear

Man I like it. Reminds me of JYD.

[Spicy P]

Well we know that some teams had Barnes #3 on their draft board

Which teams are those? Clearly not the ones who actually drafted 1-3.

What makes you think Masai would like a guy like Mobley over a guy like Barnes?

For the exact same reasons he likes Barnes?

He's a long, athletic, versatile defender with high IQ.

We don't know that the Raptors actually tried to trade for #3. But if they did, I'd bet my life's savings that it was to draft Mobley and not Barnes. Masai isn't dumb. He has a feel for who other teams covet. He wasn't going to burn assets to trade up and draft a player that was almost guaranteed to be available at #4.

I was thinking more along the lines of the Raptors doing it to block OKC from getting the 3rd pick assuming the rumour of OKC trying to trade up to 3 to draft Barnes was true.

[mihaic]

Ok, so you have no evidence. Got it, thanks!

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

There's a chance that Cleveland could have taken Suggs or Barnes at #3, and in that case, Raptors would need to trade up to #3 to secure Barnes if they ranked him above Mobley. Unlikely that this was the scenario, but at the time, it was impossible to know for sure. Cleveland can be unpredictable.

The only sure things were Cade #1 and Green #2. After that, Cleveland was a wild card. Keep in mind that Bobby said they were still contemplating trading the pick up (not sure whether up or down) till 6pm the night of the draft.

If Raptors wanted Mobley instead of Barnes, then...

• If they knew Cleveland is taking Mobley, then they absolutely needed to trade up
• If they didn't know who Cleveland is taking, then they'd be wasting an asset to trade up in case Cleveland takes Suggs or Barnes

If Raptors wanted Barnes instead of Mobley, then...

• If they knew Cleveland is taking Mobley, then they just sit back and grab Barnes at #4
• If they didn't know who Cleveland is taking, then they'd be wasting an asset to trade up in case Cleveland takes Suggs or Mobley

If you want to talk logic, then these are the different ways #3 and #4 could have played out. Unless Cleveland reveals its draft board, we'll never be able to know what really happened. There's no way to eliminate any of these possibilities because we're lacking facts. You can be confident in a guess, but that's all it is: a guess.

I think it could have also been a smokescreen. The 4d chess tou guys like to talk about.

Masai wanted Barnes and did not know what Cleveland does. He then tries to trade up so Cleveland knows at this point he wants Suggs or Mobley. Cleveland makes an offer, Masai says no - too much asked. This kind of makes Cavs think we want one of Suggs or Mobley.

[720]

Can we talk about Barnes high socks look? Can someone tell him it looks bad lol. I have nothing wrong with the short shorts, but socks make it look like he's wearing those long boots women wear

Man I like it. Reminds me of JYD.

Man also looks like a giant on the court. Vs the knicks it looked like he was the biggest guy on the court while also handling the ball. Longs sock probably helps with the illusion.

[c3luong]

Yeah, there's a lot of game theory stuff that you need to consider which makes the analysis a lot more complicated.

[anotherhomer]

Can we talk about Barnes high socks look? Can someone tell him it looks bad lol. I have nothing wrong with the short shorts, but socks make it look like he's wearing those long boots women wear

Man I like it. Reminds me of JYD.

i keep invoking the JYD comparison too....
but hopefully Draymond is the better floor

[KINGTHANOS]

Nobody does because nobody here works in the FO. But you can apply simple logic to arrive at an obvious conclusion.

But that's not a logical conclusion.

Thinking that Masai wanted to trade up to #3 to draft Barnes is a logical conclusion?

Is there a quote from Bobby or Masai where they said they wanted to trade up? And, if so, did they specify trading up to #3?

If not, then no proof exists to speculate about them wanting Mobley.

[fedade]

His passing is unbelievable and the most surprising. You rarely see a rookie make a left hand full court pass. I didn’t like the pick at the time, but he had shown enough flashes in one game to justify the pick.

[Jcity08]

Watch on YouTube

One thing I didnt notice the first time that this video goes over is how well Barnes keeps the flow of the offense going(hot potato passes), he's not a ball stopper, his head is on a swivel looking for the open man and if he cant find anyone, his decision making is really quick and he'll create something for himself.

[KrazyP]

Watch on YouTube

One thing I didnt notice the first time that this video goes over is how well Barnes keeps the flow of the offense going(hot potato passes), he's not a ball stopper, his head is on a swivel looking for the open man and if he cant find anyone, his decision making is really quick and he'll create something for himself.

And1. Quick decision making is an underrated talent. Look at how much impact a washed up Gasol had on the Raptors offense.....he couldn't score at all but his ability to move the ball quickly opened up the floor for clean 3pt looks, cuts to the basket , etc.

[blastttOFF]

Watch on YouTube

One thing I didnt notice the first time that this video goes over is how well Barnes keeps the flow of the offense going(hot potato passes), he's not a ball stopper, his head is on a swivel looking for the open man and if he cant find anyone, his decision making is really quick and he'll create something for himself.

And1. Quick decision making is an underrated talent. Look at how much impact a washed up Gasol had on the Raptors offense.....he couldn't score at all but his ability to move the ball quickly opened up the floor for clean 3pt looks, cuts to the basket , etc.

Hopefully this play will be infectious to ball stoppers like Fred and Pascal

[aminiaturebuddha]

I think what impressed me most during the game, and as highlighted in that video is how quickly and seamlessly he was switching on defence. It's actually pretty rare in summer league to see a rookie who's that aware on defence.

That'll definitely earn him minutes in Nurse's defensive system early on, which should give him the playing time he needs to let him grow and develop other aspects of his game.

[dgr81]

Read on Twitter