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

[MEDIC]

The one real positive takeaway from SL is he didn't feel like he was getting sped up. He operated at his pace. Sure he lost the ball and fell over a few times, but he showed a great ability to be poised.

That's a great point. I felt Gradey looked the opposite last year......trying to rush everything.

[Reeko]

I actually wouldn't mind him starting next season and figuring it out

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Am I the only one seeing a bit of Shai in his game? He's so smooth, has great patience handling the ball coming off screens and his jumpers/drifters off the dribble are so smooth. He has that fluidity in his game to create separation and go into his jump shot off the dribble similar to Shai, just needs to add more strength to be able to take the contact and finish in traffic. I already see a lot of advanced countermoves in his game based on that short clip. The potential his high with this kid.

Shai's handle was way better and he already had an understanding of pace and how to use it to his advantage that is going to take Walter years to learn, if ever. Honestly I see a lot of Gary Trent Jr, but I actually think Walter could be better. And no way would I start him ahead of Gradey who is just a way better all around player at this stage.

[HumbleRen]

Jakobe has a similar movement pattern to Shai in terms of wiggle.

The difference is, Shai in his rookie year had handles that Jakobe will most likely never get to in his entire career. On top of those handles, Shai had a monstrous sense of pace.

Jakobe won’t be able to take advantage of that special movement he has due to his handles and lack of pace but he can still use it to his benefit in being a FT merchant. Just needs to get much stronger to absorb the bumps and hits.

He can

[Indeed]

Jakobe has a similar movement pattern to Shai in terms of wiggle.

The difference is, Shai in his rookie year had handles that Jakobe will most likely never get to in his entire career. On top of those handles, Shai had a monstrous sense of pace.

Jakobe won’t be able to take advantage of that special movement he has due to his handles and lack of pace but he can still use it to his benefit in being a FT merchant. Just needs to get much stronger to absorb the bumps and hits.

He can

I think his handle is underrated, as we saw in summer league, he got a bit of a cross over already. It is not his handle that limited him, it is his lack of first step, and sadly, he will never have the athleticism and first step to be an elite scorer.

[MEDIC]

I actually wouldn't mind him starting next season and figuring it out

Read on Twitter

Am I the only one seeing a bit of Shai in his game? He's so smooth, has great patience handling the ball coming off screens and his jumpers/drifters off the dribble are so smooth. He has that fluidity in his game to create separation and go into his jump shot off the dribble similar to Shai, just needs to add more strength to be able to take the contact and finish in traffic. I already see a lot of advanced countermoves in his game based on that short clip. The potential his high with this kid.

Let's get him working with Nash.

[PoundTown]

I actually wouldn't mind him starting next season and figuring it out

Read on Twitter

Am I the only one seeing a bit of Shai in his game? He's so smooth, has great patience handling the ball coming off screens and his jumpers/drifters off the dribble are so smooth. He has that fluidity in his game to create separation and go into his jump shot off the dribble similar to Shai, just needs to add more strength to be able to take the contact and finish in traffic. I already see a lot of advanced countermoves in his game based on that short clip. The potential his high with this kid.

Let's get him working with Nash.

Also, needs a whole lot of work on his handle, but I definitely see the poise and craftyness to have an off-dribble game once the dribble improves. He is an interesting prospect and I could see him being good, but I could also see him being Gary Trentish. His ceiling is definitely higher than Gary's though.

[OAKLEY_2]

I actually wouldn't mind him starting next season and figuring it out

Read on Twitter

Am I the only one seeing a bit of Shai in his game? He's so smooth, has great patience handling the ball coming off screens and his jumpers/drifters off the dribble are so smooth. He has that fluidity in his game to create separation and go into his jump shot off the dribble similar to Shai, just needs to add more strength to be able to take the contact and finish in traffic. I already see a lot of advanced countermoves in his game based on that short clip. The potential his high with this kid.

Shai's handle was way better and he already had an understanding of pace and how to use it to his advantage that is going to take Walter years to learn, if ever. Honestly I see a lot of Gary Trent Jr, but I actually think Walter could be better. And no way would I start him ahead of Gradey who is just a way better all around player at this stage.

GTjr and Walter are nothing alike. Trent is a finished product and Walter far from it. Walter is a better athlete with better handle than Gary. Also he is a better defender. Better shooter? No. At this point.

[Reeko]

Am I the only one seeing a bit of Shai in his game? He's so smooth, has great patience handling the ball coming off screens and his jumpers/drifters off the dribble are so smooth. He has that fluidity in his game to create separation and go into his jump shot off the dribble similar to Shai, just needs to add more strength to be able to take the contact and finish in traffic. I already see a lot of advanced countermoves in his game based on that short clip. The potential his high with this kid.

Shai's handle was way better and he already had an understanding of pace and how to use it to his advantage that is going to take Walter years to learn, if ever. Honestly I see a lot of Gary Trent Jr, but I actually think Walter could be better. And no way would I start him ahead of Gradey who is just a way better all around player at this stage.

GTjr and Walter are nothing alike. Trent is a finished product and Walter far from it. Walter is a better athlete with better handle than Gary. Also he is a better defender. Better shooter? No. At this point.

Lol to say that they're nothing alike is silly. If you feel like Walter is more advanced at the same age and that he will be a better player than GTJ that's fine and I would agree, but they definitely have similarities.

[Clay Davis]

Shai's handle was way better and he already had an understanding of pace and how to use it to his advantage that is going to take Walter years to learn, if ever. Honestly I see a lot of Gary Trent Jr, but I actually think Walter could be better. And no way would I start him ahead of Gradey who is just a way better all around player at this stage.

GTjr and Walter are nothing alike. Trent is a finished product and Walter far from it. Walter is a better athlete with better handle than Gary. Also he is a better defender. Better shooter? No. At this point.

Lol to say that they're nothing alike is silly. If you feel like Walter is more advanced at the same age and that he will be a better player than GTJ that's fine and I would agree, but they definitely have similarities.

I like basketball! *rizz* *rizz*

[OakleyDokely]

He seemed to improve with each summer league game and that's what you want see from a young prospect.

He seems like a foul merchant and I like the fact he's able to draw fouls on the perimeter. If the shot continues to get more consistent and he maintains the ability to draw fouls, there's quite a bit of offensive potential to unlock.

[Johnny Bball]

I actually wouldn't mind him starting next season and figuring it out

Read on Twitter

Am I the only one seeing a bit of Shai in his game? He's so smooth, has great patience handling the ball coming off screens and his jumpers/drifters off the dribble are so smooth. He has that fluidity in his game to create separation and go into his jump shot off the dribble similar to Shai, just needs to add more strength to be able to take the contact and finish in traffic. I already see a lot of advanced countermoves in his game based on that short clip. The potential his high with this kid.

Kind of funny. Was watching this and first thing I thought is his jumper and turnaround looked similar. Then read your post. So yeah, there's some similarity I think in that regard.

[WuTang_CMB]

Cant take much from SL, he'll play even better with better talent like IQ and Scottie creating. He has the physical tools with a massive advantage wingspan, the shot and looks like the defensive effort was there. Natural getting to the rim and drawing. I like the pick more and more. He will settle in nicely

[Thaddy]

Cant take much from SL, he'll play even better with better talent like IQ and Scottie creating. He has the physical tools with a massive advantage wingspan, the shot and looks like the defensive effort was there. Natural getting to the rim and drawing. I like the pick more and more. He will settle in nicely

I don't think he gets playing time early on. We're going to park him in the GLeague and develop creation ability. If we develop him as an off ball player it would be a waste of talent. The key to being a star player is mastering the pick and roll. He'll be with Carlson and Chomche. They aren't good but they contrast different types of bigs and give him a good experience. I think by mid season he would be a great "acquisition" and make us surge.

[WuTang_CMB]

Cant take much from SL, he'll play even better with better talent like IQ and Scottie creating. He has the physical tools with a massive advantage wingspan, the shot and looks like the defensive effort was there. Natural getting to the rim and drawing. I like the pick more and more. He will settle in nicely

I don't think he gets playing time early on. We're going to park him in the GLeague and develop creation ability. If we develop him as an off ball player it would be a waste of talent. The key to being a star player is mastering the pick and roll. He'll be with Carlson and Chomche. They aren't good but they contrast different types of bigs and give him a good experience. I think by mid season he would be a great "acquisition" and make us surge.

Now that Trent is out, JKW likely gets the same role as Gradey. Give him a shot early on... send him to g league for a few stints .. bring him back and let him play. A lot will depend on how the season goes.

[Thaddy]

Cant take much from SL, he'll play even better with better talent like IQ and Scottie creating. He has the physical tools with a massive advantage wingspan, the shot and looks like the defensive effort was there. Natural getting to the rim and drawing. I like the pick more and more. He will settle in nicely

I don't think he gets playing time early on. We're going to park him in the GLeague and develop creation ability. If we develop him as an off ball player it would be a waste of talent. The key to being a star player is mastering the pick and roll. He'll be with Carlson and Chomche. They aren't good but they contrast different types of bigs and give him a good experience. I think by mid season he would be a great "acquisition" and make us surge.

Now that Trent is out, JKW likely gets the same role as Gradey. Give him a shot early on... send him to g league for a few stints .. bring him back and let him play. A lot will depend on how the season goes.

He'll be used as a peripheral scorer that won't get the ball. In the GLeague he'll be isoing, using picks to get open, bringing the ball up, and other stuff he won't do here. Once he does that well he could be our bench creator. We have to develop that talent somewhere if we want to eventually be a contender.

[WuTang_CMB]

I don't think he gets playing time early on. We're going to park him in the GLeague and develop creation ability. If we develop him as an off ball player it would be a waste of talent. The key to being a star player is mastering the pick and roll. He'll be with Carlson and Chomche. They aren't good but they contrast different types of bigs and give him a good experience. I think by mid season he would be a great "acquisition" and make us surge.

Now that Trent is out, JKW likely gets the same role as Gradey. Give him a shot early on... send him to g league for a few stints .. bring him back and let him play. A lot will depend on how the season goes.

He'll be used as a peripheral scorer that won't get the ball. In the GLeague he'll be isoing, using picks to get open, bringing the ball up, and other stuff he won't do here. Once he does that well he could be our bench creator. We have to develop that talent somewhere if we want to eventually be a contender.

Again a lot will depend on how the season goes. He will start with us playing off ball and then go down for a few stints. If the season goes sideways or if theres a bunch of injuries, he'll be in the rotation developing with the big roster.

[execoftheyear]

I actually wouldn't mind him starting next season and figuring it out

Read on Twitter

Am I the only one seeing a bit of Shai in his game? He's so smooth, has great patience handling the ball coming off screens and his jumpers/drifters off the dribble are so smooth. He has that fluidity in his game to create separation and go into his jump shot off the dribble similar to Shai, just needs to add more strength to be able to take the contact and finish in traffic. I already see a lot of advanced countermoves in his game based on that short clip. The potential his high with this kid.

Shai's handle was way better and he already had an understanding of pace and how to use it to his advantage that is going to take Walter years to learn, if ever. Honestly I see a lot of Gary Trent Jr, but I actually think Walter could be better. And no way would I start him ahead of Gradey who is just a way better all around player at this stage.

No doubt Shai has a better handle but we don't really need a ball dominant player next to Scottie, RJ and IQ. Just someone who can attack those gaps when Barnes draws multiple defenders or create when coming off screens. I think Jakobe has similar "slitheriness" to Shai when driving to the basket and his body control when driving really reminds me of Shai's. The way he can stop on a dime to avoid the charge and either dish it or pull up or even mix it up with a head fake or two and step through/pivot to get his shot off is a very underrated/overlooked part of his game. If he can further develop this part of his game and be as advertised as a knockdown shooter, he could actually be a better fit in the starting line up over Gradey.

Fun fact...just found out his favourite player is Shai so that explains the similarities. He definitely tries to emulate parts of Shai's game.

lol if Ja'Kobe and Chomche develop into Shai and Giannis lites...Masai will finally be able to sleep easy after missing out on the two players he has coveted all these years

[hyper316]

If Kobe can be a KCP type of player, it's a win

[ItsDanger]

Players like Walter & Dick work better around players that generate their own high gravity. Something this roster lacks. Preferably, these players are those who don't hog floor space and shot clock time.

[LoveMyRaps]

Goal of this draft was to get a couple of serviceable bench/role players moving forward - I think Shead and Walter will be just that.

Goal of this next draft is to add that starting caliber, ideally a shot creator, star-potential level player.