With the 19th Pick, the Raptors select Ja'Kobe Walter!

[TorontoBarneys]

Not a fan of the argument that because Dick's development worked out in the 2nd half of the season, that Walter's development will somehow also work out. You're arguing off a sample size of 1. It's nonsense.

If there's anything people were right about and should probably reinforce, it's that this draft flat out sucked.

Not a fan of the argument that because Walter played bad in 3 summer games with **** teammates that means he sucks and won’t improve at all throughout his career. You're arguing off a sample size of 3 summer games. It’s nonsense

I've never even made that argument. You people are hysterical.

[LoveMyRaps]

He looked real good last night.

Promising.

[ItsDanger]

Unless he improves his first step burst, he'll need a screen to get open or remain off ball. This isn't uncommon and many players currently need that and was often used all the time back in the day. But it needs to be a constant feature in your offense instead of my turn/your turn style.

[SpezNc]

Let’s be brutally honest, this guy is a bust.

Calling a player a bust already …

You know there are many ways you can express some concern without labelling a player a bust after 4 SL games.

[TakeYourHeart]

Walter will be better than Gradey by end of season, good enough shooter but much better defensively

[Indeed]

Unless he improves his first step burst, he'll need a screen to get open or remain off ball. This isn't uncommon and many players currently need that and was often used all the time back in the day. But it needs to be a constant feature in your offense instead of my turn/your turn style.

Most likely he wont have the first step, and may not have the lateral quickness to be the point of attach defender.

Using a screen and work on the PnR is great, but he needs to improve his passing and read.

Both of these are the reasons he dropped. However I am higher on him than Graddy with him to have higher potential on defense and getting to the line.

[Duffman100]

Let’s be brutally honest, this guy is a bust.

Calling a player a bust already …

You know there are many ways you can express some concern without labelling a player a bust after 4 SL games.

I don't see it with Walter but calling him a bust is insane.

[Indeed]

Let’s be brutally honest, this guy is a bust. He’s two years away from being two years away

I’m sick and tired of watching these idiots draft players that can’t even god damn dribble. I mean come on!! If you can’t create your own shot, you have no business in the damn nba. I can’t even believe we continue to draft clowns that don’t even know how to handle the ball, it’s been a life long raptor brain damage problem

No handles, can’t shoot, disaster

I bet you said the same about gradey

To be honest, Gradey has been a borderline bust thus far. Even with his improved shooting in the latter half of last season, he remained one of the worst defenders in the league and was still a huge net-negative on the floor.

And I am unsure we should value too much at end of season. Flynn did the same thing and people was hopeful.

Gradey to me is Hauser on the Celtics team at best. Very good shooter, but hardly you can compensate his defense for a starting role.

[OAKLEY_2]

Let’s be brutally honest, this guy is a bust.

Calling a player a bust already …

You know there are many ways you can express some concern without labelling a player a bust after 4 SL games.

I don't see it with Walter but calling him a bust is insane.

In other words there is no evaluation to be had at this point. Not at 19. I remember when Danny Green said post Kawhi, the Raps still had some "pieces". Well Walter has some "skills". He is barely 19 and yet to play with the 5 best Raps or a player like Scottie. Walter and Chomche are so freakin young that clearly it will be 905 for reps. Even Gradey needs more 905. Naturally a junior and three seniors might show a little better right now. Walter is a freshman one and done.

[HumbleRen]

Rough couple of games but I’m still high on him being a very solid role player for us.

Not sure why Gradey is being used a gotcha in here though, he was pretty abysmal for the entire season and only started shooting well when every team in the league took their foot off the gas against us because we were so bad.

[YelloC]

I’m giving Ja’Kobe a little more leeway when it comes to adjusting to the speed of the game. He has kind of a shifty game that will take reps to get his timing right. He kind of reminds me of a young DeMar with the way he moves and would do well to study his footwork.

[Duffman100]

Rough couple of games but I’m still high on him being a very solid role player for us.

Not sure why Gradey is being used a gotcha in here though, he was pretty abysmal for the entire season and only started shooting well when every team in the league took their foot off the gas against us because we were so bad.

He was abysmal for the entire season?

[C_Money]

Well he was the leading scorer at Baylor so I trust he’s got more offensive game than we’ve seen so far. Albeit his shooting percentages were bad.

[HumbleRen]

Rough couple of games but I’m still high on him being a very solid role player for us.

Not sure why Gradey is being used a gotcha in here though, he was pretty abysmal for the entire season and only started shooting well when every team in the league took their foot off the gas against us because we were so bad.

He was abysmal for the entire season?

If we include defence, yeah. He was in the running as one of the bottom 10 defenders in the entire league. Not that big of a deal since he’s a rookie but just because his shot started dropping, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t a negative player on the court.

[Duffman100]

Rough couple of games but I’m still high on him being a very solid role player for us.

Not sure why Gradey is being used a gotcha in here though, he was pretty abysmal for the entire season and only started shooting well when every team in the league took their foot off the gas against us because we were so bad.

He was abysmal for the entire season?

If we include defence, yeah. He was in the running as one of the bottom 10 defenders in the entire league. Not that big of a deal since he’s a rookie but just because his shot started dropping, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t a negative player on the court.

Sure I wouldn't have him as abysmal. And discounting his shot falling because teams "went easy on us" is weird.

Either way, he's 20 and Walter is 19. Patience is the name of the game

[beanbag]

Let’s be brutally honest, this guy is a bust.

Calling a player a bust already …

You know there are many ways you can express some concern without labelling a player a bust after 4 SL games.

I don't see it with Walter but calling him a bust is insane.

Also....like what even is a bust if you're the 19th overall pick? Look at this list, the best player is Zach Randolph and he is very much an outlier when considering the rest of these names.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/19th-overall-draft-picks-nba

[MessiahUjiri]

Calling a player a bust already …

You know there are many ways you can express some concern without labelling a player a bust after 4 SL games.

I don't see it with Walter but calling him a bust is insane.

Also....like what even is a bust if you're the 19th overall pick? Look at this list, the best player is Zach Randolph and he is very much an outlier when considering the rest of these names.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/19th-overall-draft-picks-nba

The key thing with Walter is going to be his 3s.

He’s a classic 3&D prospect. Anything more and it’s gravy. For the first year, if he can just get his 3s, the next year he can think about cutting and free throws.

I don’t think he’ll ever be an initiator. Gradey showed more passing chops, and even he is a “3rd initiator on offense” type of prospect.

[GreatWhiteStiff]

Calling a player a bust already …

You know there are many ways you can express some concern without labelling a player a bust after 4 SL games.

I don't see it with Walter but calling him a bust is insane.

Also....like what even is a bust if you're the 19th overall pick? Look at this list, the best player is Zach Randolph and he is very much an outlier when considering the rest of these names.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/19th-overall-draft-picks-nba

Arguably that's borderline 2nd round pick in a decent draft territory. Generally guys are judged based on how good the players around them end up, even though its a bit of a crapshoot knowing how anyone will turn out at draft time.

[HumbleRen]

He was abysmal for the entire season?

If we include defence, yeah. He was in the running as one of the bottom 10 defenders in the entire league. Not that big of a deal since he’s a rookie but just because his shot started dropping, it doesn’t mean he wasn’t a negative player on the court.

Sure I wouldn't have him as abysmal. And discounting his shot falling because teams "went easy on us" is weird.

Either way, he's 20 and Walter is 19. Patience is the name of the game

I mean it’s just a trend that’s always been around. Rookies or young start playing really well towards the end of the season when there’s nothing to play for.

[OakleyDokely]

Dick started playing well in early January, well before the Raps were tanking.