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Fellow Raptor fans! It's been a pretty depressing season to this point, but there's light at the end of the tunnel, just stay positive. One of my saving graces during the rough times has been analyzing the draft and seeing potential future Raptors play in the NCAA and overseas.

When I was still just a board stalker and not yet signed up I found the (multiple) draft threads thoroughly enjoyable. So, seeing as how the NCAA season has begun coupled with the Raptors struggles, and with the blessings of Rhett I give you the first draft thread of the 2012/13 season!

Toronto Raptor picks

a) Anywhere between 1-3 OR 15-30 (Kyle Lowry trade)
b) Toronto Raptors 2nd Round Pick

DX Raptors Picks: Cody Zeller (3), Reggie Bullock (33)

NBADraft.net Raptors Picks: Shabazz Muhammad (3), Patric Young (33)

Draftexpress.com Top 10
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2013/

1) Shabazz Muhammad - UCLA
2) Nerlens Noel - Kentucky
3) Cody Zeller - Indiana
4) Rudy Gobert - Cholet (Int'l)
5) Alex Len -Maryland
6) Isaiah Austin - Baylor
7) Alex Poythress - Kentucky
8) Archie Goodwin - Kentucky
9) Mason Plumlee - Duke
10) James McAdoo - North Carolina

ESPN.com Top 10 by Chad Ford

1) Nerlens Noel - Kentucky
2) Cody Zeller - Indiana
3) Shabazz Muhammad - UCLA
4) Alex Poythress - Kentucky
5) Alex Len - Maryland
6) Rudy Gobert - France
7) Otto Porter - Georgetown
8) Archie Goodwin - Kentucky
9) Isaiah Austin - Baylor
10) Mason Plumlee - Duke

NBADraft.net Top 10
http://nbadraft.net/2013mock_draft

1) Cody Zeller - Indiana
2) Nerlens Noel - Kentucky
3) Shabazz Muhammad - UCLA
4) Marcus Smart - Oklahoma State
5) Otto Porter - Georgetown
6) Tony Mitchell - North Texas
7) Alex Len - Maryland
8) Ben McLemore - Kansas
9) Archie Goodwin - Kentucky
10) CJ McCollum - Lehigh

*Note: Re-voting allowed in case you change your opinion

It's too early for this kind of thread, bring this back in April

It's never too early for a draft thread in Raptorland! When the games start up the thread will pick up. People are already voting.

Ah good old draft thread, this is where I belong. Let the debate begin!

Let the tanking begin!

Imagine a frontcourt of Noel and Valanciunas? Shot blocking galore.

Choker wrote:Imagine a frontcourt of Noel and Valanciunas? Shot blocking galore.

This beats Drummond and Val. Much more active and nonstop motor running. All we need is a good scoring SF to balance things out.

Choker wrote:Imagine a frontcourt of Noel and Valanciunas? Shot blocking galore.

Who would've though that was even possible at the beginning of the season? It's crazy that we could have a shot at him.

Here's the never ending debate; does Orlando get the first overall pick?

Who gets Detroit's pick if they win the lottery?

fredericklove wrote:Who gets Detroit's pick if they win the lottery?

It's lottery protected in 2013

TheFreshPrince wrote:

fredericklove wrote:Who gets Detroit's pick if they win the lottery?

It's lottery protected in 2013

joe dumars is not as STUPID! as BC.

raptorfan416 wrote:

TheFreshPrince wrote:

fredericklove wrote:Who gets Detroit's pick if they win the lottery?

It's lottery protected in 2013

joe dumars is not as STUPID! as BC.

Well, Einstein, if we win the lottery (top 3 pick) we keep it. So what's the point of your insult?

Assuming we retain our pick, the best fit and arguably talent is Shabazz. Otherwise we should make a trade (trade down, trade for 2014 pick) or draft the BPA and trade him.

This is definitely the most open #1 pick year since 2006

Shabazz Muhammad - UCLA is this year's UConn, a lot of big name prospects but a mess of a team. If they're bubble tourney quality or worse it'll probably cost him a chance at going #1, there is still a huge emphasis on drafting players who's teams won in college. The worst UCLA gets the more attention will be put on their failure because Howland's been underperforming for years. Stats are also just OK so far for Shabazz

Nerlens Noel - Will get a lot of defensive hype, but I'm guessing nobody will be sold on his offense, which will make him less of an 'upside/star' pick. Has a good chance at going #1

Alex Poythress- Best case scenario is MKG 2.0 in terms of his draft stock, getting called an ideal Gerald Wallace/etc. jacked athletic SF, with serious offensive concerns. Probably not enough to go #1.

Cody Zeller - Almost a cinch that he's not going #1. He's going to get tagged with the "he's going to be ONLY solid, no star upside!" label all year, a player flatlining statistically from one year to the next (Cody's freshman to sophmore) kills prospects hype, and he's going to have a worse combine day than anyone when his arms measure out as T-Rex. I think he falls out of the top 5 because of the obsession with the measurement tape and super athletic 18 year olds, and is the steal of the draft

Alex Len - Looks to me like the all around most complete prospect, but if the start he's had to the season can't get him top 3, it's possible the media just isn't on his side enough for him to get #1 hype. Has a reasonable shot to go #1 IMO

Archie Goodwin - My sleeper to be the #1 pick due to his amazing physical tools and the inevitable Wade comparisons with his body type, explosiveness and even finishing style at the rim. Needs to get better shooting but with his age teams will assume he can add it. No matter where he gets picked I think he carries a "superstar upside" label with him

Le'Bryan Nash - Looks like Rudy Gay 2.0 to me but like Len, I think it's just not in the cards media wise for him to this year to make a serious run at #1 after weak freshman season and reputation of a bonehead

I think the Raps are at rock bottom now, and by seasons end are around the 10th pick before the lottery. If the Raps somehow end up with a top 3 pick, there are a few guys who would be great fits. I think Cody Zeller would be the best fit though, not a big fan of Shabazz. Zeller/Val would be awesome.

When I looked at some tape of Archie Goodwin I immediately saw DeMar in his game. I think he's a better shooter, ball handler and passer, so that projects as a pretty good player to me. Not the guy that will wow you game to game, but will get the job done in time.

Haven't watched much college ball aside from couple of Kentucky games, but Archie Goodwin caught my eye too. Why isn't there more hype for him to go top 5? Combo guard skills with good NBA SG size (6'5 in shoes, 6'10 wingspan, said doctors told him that he can still grow couple more inches), looks like a great athlete, quick and loves to attack the defense, can look really natural as a playmaker, high motor...is his jumper broken or something? Looked pretty decent though there's couple of things he needs to adjust in his release. Wade had insane quickness/speed, it's hard to tell if an 18 year old's body will mature into that, but from a physical standpoint it's a much more fitting comparison for him than it was for Waiters.

And then I realized we're not going to have a draft pick this year.

Goodwin does not have superstar upside label. He can be a good stats padding guard with skill set that fits today's fast pace game but nowhere near star caliber level. Zeller is not falling out of top 5 just because of his t Rex arms, teams look for an advanced offensive game from a 4 so he'll be ranked high. Nash is no gay 2.0.

BTW guys two guys to check out tonight include the stat stuffer from Syracuse, Michael Carter-Williams playing at 7pm against Eastern Michigan. As well, you can take a look at Jamaal Franklin of SDSU against Texas Southern at 10pm.

I'm not sold on any superstar talent in this class maybe outside of Shabazz but there are some solid guys. I think you can find solid starters but nothing that will make you significantly better immediately. To be honest I'm not a fan of Noel's, Len or seller from bigs either to thin not enough offensive game or length is an issue. I think obviously next years is the next big thing people are looking forward to but there are some solid guys in this class maybe not elite but solid players.