RealGM

Who's jumping on with me?

Yes, if the raptors pick 1 or 2 then Williams or Irving is the guy. Both fit need positions (williams in a prototype NBA 3, Irving a 1) and both are well rounded and high-level talents. But after that, the draft is very flat.

Kanter and Valanciunas have similar issues - big guys playing low minutes and only really showing off against smaller competition. No vertical leap on either and neither is going to be a defensive force with their limited athletecism. Both could be good players but they will ahve their work cut out for them in a league where they aren't bigger or stronger than their opponents and where their inbility to jump with others will hinder them on both ends.

Walker and Knight are solid prospects but both have serious issues. Knight is a similar player to Jerryd Bayless, but without the NBA experience. If Bayless was in this draft after his last year at Arizona he'd be ranked above Knight. Hard to see a reason to jettison Bayless in favour of Knight. Walker is a volume scorer, really a chucker of sorts but with some late-game heroics and a great NCAA run he looks rosier than his numbers would suggest. Hes destined to be a 6th-man, Gordon/Crawford/Terry type in the bast case and a Juan Dixon in the worst case. Too much of a gambe and not a need for the raptors.

This brings me to Biyombo. Upside - huge. Limited basketball experience but amazing length and athleticism and motor. Developing offensive game and jumper, but lives on the glass and swatting shots. He's a Serge Ibaka clone and a potential game changer on the defensive end - which just happens to be the Raptor's biggest need. His height isn't ideal for a centre but his reach more than makes up for it - think a taller Ben Wallace, or an Emeka Okafor type. And on Offense he has that cram-in-on-you aggression that our guys have been missing.

I don't love this draft, but if the raptors pick 3 or below I'm on the Biyombo Bandwagon for now.

Some highlights - shows off the shotblocking, his fluidity (opposite of kanter/JV), and even a nice jumper here and there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUxKzucNsTo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmndi2b-G5s

Update May 9: Biyombo is now ahead of Kanter in the DX big board. http://www.draftexpress.com/

im in!

guy could be the next best thing to dwight. he's a risk i'm willing to take @ #3

Does Guy Fieri host this show?

garbagnani wrote:im in!

guy could be the next best thing to dwight. he's a risk i'm willing to take @ #3

a borderline first rounder at 3?... wow..

as if this team ain't a joke now.. imagine BB at #3

so glad fans are not GMs

I'm so in

Lithuanian league is not as good as ACB, but Valanciunas' team also plays in the Euroleague, the highest level of competition outside NBA

rdtx2005 wrote:

garbagnani wrote:im in!

guy could be the next best thing to dwight. he's a risk i'm willing to take @ #3

a borderline first rounder at 3?... wow..

as if this team ain't a joke now.. imagine BB at #3

so glad fans are not GMs

lol! bordeline first rounder? haha

I'm still torn between the three bigs, but watching Ibaka get 9 blocks yesterday makes the prospect of bringing in an athletic lane intimidator like Biyombo very appealing.

I've been on the wagon for a while.

I acknowledge that yes, there have been past athletic busts.

But if the reports are true (I'm going on the videos and what I've read online), Biyombo is vocal, a hard worker, takes initiative and talks with the coaches, and displays leadership qualities...then yes, I most definitely would choose Biyombo over the other centre prospects.

This what makes him different. Alot of NBA players have the build/atheltic ability etc... but its the attitude/discipline that separates the mediocre, the good, and the great. Biyombo has the length and toughness that can really make a difference. I think he'll be solid.

I think he'll need one more year in Spain. And then I would bring him over. Its fine because the Raptors want another high pick in 2012.

Honestly all 3 of the big man prospects in our range intrigue the hell out of me. All of them have the potential to be studs (maybe some with more potential than others) but all of them could also turn out
to be huge busts.

I've been leaning on Kanter since the start of the year, Val was always close behind and now Biyombo coming out of nowhere and all I keep hearing is "growth plates might not have fused", "plays with a fierce passion", "successful against high level competition", "great athleticism & length" and all those things we love to hear.

My problem is that this draft kind of feels like the '06 draft to me, where most of the lottery picks just became straight up busts. So I really think we have to choose carefully between these three guys. I'm still leaning on Kanter for now though.

rdtx2005 wrote:

garbagnani wrote:im in!

guy could be the next best thing to dwight. he's a risk i'm willing to take @ #3

a borderline first rounder at 3?... wow..

as if this team ain't a joke now.. imagine BB at #3

so glad fans are not GMs

Obviously it's still early, but Draft Express has him at #6 and Chad Ford has him at #8. That's closer to #3 than borderline first rounder.

Lionel Messi wrote:Honestly all 3 of the big man prospects in our range intrigue the hell out of me. All of them have the potential to be studs (maybe some with more potential than others) but all of them could also turn out
to be huge busts.

I've been leaning on Kanter since the start of the year, Val was always close behind and now Biyombo coming out of nowhere and all I keep hearing is "growth plates might not have fused", "plays with a fierce passion", "successful against high level competition", "great athleticism & length" and all those things we love to hear.

My problem is that this draft kind of feels like the '06 draft to me, where most of the lottery picks just became straight up busts. So I really think we have to choose carefully between these three guys. I'm still leaning on Kanter for now though.

What about Donatas? You fail to mention him. Thumbs down.

Basketball_Jones wrote:

Lionel Messi wrote:Honestly all 3 of the big man prospects in our range intrigue the hell out of me. All of them have the potential to be studs (maybe some with more potential than others) but all of them could also turn out
to be huge busts.

I've been leaning on Kanter since the start of the year, Val was always close behind and now Biyombo coming out of nowhere and all I keep hearing is "growth plates might not have fused", "plays with a fierce passion", "successful against high level competition", "great athleticism & length" and all those things we love to hear.

My problem is that this draft kind of feels like the '06 draft to me, where most of the lottery picks just became straight up busts. So I really think we have to choose carefully between these three guys. I'm still leaning on Kanter for now though.

What about Donatas? You fail to mention him. Thumbs down.

Uh...are you (Please Use More Appropriate Word) or something?



He's not dropping to #3.

I think at our pick if it isn't top 2, you have to take a look at him. Although his offensive game is raw, he stilll looks very good physically while finishing, has a great pep to his step and great defensive awareness.

Lionel Messi wrote:

Basketball_Jones wrote:

Lionel Messi wrote:Honestly all 3 of the big man prospects in our range intrigue the hell out of me. All of them have the potential to be studs (maybe some with more potential than others) but all of them could also turn out
to be huge busts.

I've been leaning on Kanter since the start of the year, Val was always close behind and now Biyombo coming out of nowhere and all I keep hearing is "growth plates might not have fused", "plays with a fierce passion", "successful against high level competition", "great athleticism & length" and all those things we love to hear.

My problem is that this draft kind of feels like the '06 draft to me, where most of the lottery picks just became straight up busts. So I really think we have to choose carefully between these three guys. I'm still leaning on Kanter for now though.

What about Donatas? You fail to mention him. Thumbs down.

Uh...are you (Please Use More Appropriate Word) or something?



He's not dropping to #3.

When I first saw him, I said he'll be the number one pick. I just didn't realize we could be the team that gets him at #1.

who?

Anywhere outside of a top 5 pick and I'm all for it.

Lionel Messi wrote:Honestly all 3 of the big man prospects in our range intrigue the hell out of me. All of them have the potential to be studs (maybe some with more potential than others) but all of them could also turn out
to be huge busts.

I've been leaning on Kanter since the start of the year, Val was always close behind and now Biyombo coming out of nowhere and all I keep hearing is "growth plates might not have fused", "plays with a fierce passion", "successful against high level competition", "great athleticism & length" and all those things we love to hear.

My problem is that this draft kind of feels like the '06 draft to me, where most of the lottery picks just became straight up busts. So I really think we have to choose carefully between these three guys. I'm still leaning on Kanter for now though.

In a draft like this and considering that the Raptors will be drafting to fill out a long term position rather then aiming for a franchise player, maybe its critical that we draft someone with the least bust factor ...

No love for a guy fieri joke? jesus.

I wouldn't be mad if the management in place at the time acquired a second first round pick to take biyimbo.

I don't think he warrants a top 3 pick. Kanter, Irving and Williams are top 3 locks.

rdtx2005 wrote:

garbagnani wrote:im in!

guy could be the next best thing to dwight. he's a risk i'm willing to take @ #3

a borderline first rounder at 3?... wow..

as if this team ain't a joke now.. imagine BB at #3

so glad fans are not GMs

Wow - somebody only knows how to read nbadraft.net for all their info.

I have to assume they will work him out with some other big guys. That could be the deciding factor - he needs to dominate in the workouts.