GreatWhiteStiff wrote:Matt hit like 46% of his three point attempts with the raptors .
played 0 defense though. gave up more on defense than what he can produce on the offensive end.
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GreatWhiteStiff wrote:Matt hit like 46% of his three point attempts with the raptors .
raf1995 wrote:I just don’t think he has that kind of potential. I think we will regret not trading him for a haul in a few years when he’s a mid-tier starter with nice playmaking and defense and a shaky jumper.
NBA Draft: Undrafted Ron Harper Jr., former Rutgers star, signs two-way deal with Raptors
To the careful observer, it was obvious from the day he set foot on Rutgers University’s campus that Ron Harper Jr. did not want to live off his famous name.
Yes, he appreciated that his father won five NBA championships as a player. But the new Scarlet Knight, fresh off an impressive high school career at Don Bosco Prep, was intent on carving out his own distinct reputation in the basketball world.
That quest took another step early Friday, when Harper Jr. signed a two-way free-agent deal with the Toronto Raptors shortly after the NBA Draft ended. A two-way deal means he'll split time between the Raptors and their G League affiliate, with his earnings pro-rated to reflect how many NBA games he plays. It also provides a measure of security; most two-way signees get a full season to show what they can do.
“The Rutgers basketball family is so proud of Ron Harper Jr.,” Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell said. “This couldn’t have happened to a better person or better ambassador for our program on and off the court. Ron guided us to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, hit some of the biggest shots in Rutgers history and achieved incredible individual accolades over the past four years. I am so excited to watch Ron’s NBA journey and I am thrilled for his friends and family.”
More proving grounds lie ahead. Harper will have to earn the Raptors' trust, starting with a strong performance in the NBA’s summer league. But he’s got a foothold — a franchise invested in him and willing to give him an extended look.
Here’s a quick rundown of what the Raptors are getting in the 6-foot-6 wing forward.
As a Rutgers senior, Harper averaged 15.8 points and 5.9 boards and shot 39.8 percent from 3-point range. He won the prestigious Haggerty Award as the metropolitan area’s best player, the first Rutgers player to do so since Quincy Douby in 2006, and earned second-team All-Big Ten and honorable mention All-America recognition.
He’s a fundamentally sound defender blessed with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. He lost 20 pounds throughout the pre-draft process, slimming from 260 to 240, which should help his burst on both ends of the court.
His basketball IQ is high; he’s a willing passer who is good at finding the open man and taking shots in the flow. His 3-pointer is particularly good in transition, which should translate to the next level.
He’s a well-regarded teammate and a prolific winner who led Don Bosco Prep to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions final and then played a major role in three straight NCAA Tournament seasons for Rutgers, which hadn’t been to the Big Dance since 1991.
This could be considered his parting gift to the program. A record of putting players into the NBA is probably the second-greatest recruiting tool right now, behind Name/Image/Likeness deals. It has more cache with many recruits than jaw-dropping facilities and, one could argue, wins on the court.
“He has a bunch of stories, he has a bunch of advice that he’s given to me,” Harper Jr. said last week. “And it really helps you out through this whole process.”
Ell Curry wrote:He sort of stopped improving, but he can really shoot it and having a 7'1 wingspan and some strength means he might be able to survive on defence in the NBA if he can be a 40% 3pt guy.
As Ethan Strauss wrote:
Fat is Potential in Disguise
FIPID has gained some traction, thanks to the references by NBA writer John Hollinger over at The Athletic. It’s mostly a sports theory, but apply it to life if you will. The basic premise is that fat guys constitute a potential NBA Draft market inefficiency. Sure they’re fat, perhaps speaking to work ethic issues. But, if they’re this good already while pudgy, who knows what potential might be unlocked with some portion control. This term is like the love child of Mel Kiper Jr. and Richard Simmons, if you care to picture that.
Ell Curry wrote:He sort of stopped improving, but he can really shoot it and having a 7'1 wingspan and some strength means he might be able to survive on defence in the NBA if he can be a 40% 3pt guy.
As Ethan Strauss wrote:
Fat is Potential in Disguise
FIPID has gained some traction, thanks to the references by NBA writer John Hollinger over at The Athletic. It’s mostly a sports theory, but apply it to life if you will. The basic premise is that fat guys constitute a potential NBA Draft market inefficiency. Sure they’re fat, perhaps speaking to work ethic issues. But, if they’re this good already while pudgy, who knows what potential might be unlocked with some portion control. This term is like the love child of Mel Kiper Jr. and Richard Simmons, if you care to picture that.
WuTang_OG wrote:
DG88 wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:
Scottie approved!
WuTang_OG wrote:DG88 wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:
Scottie approved!
With our wing situation in limbo off the bench, I can see Harper pushing for some minutes as early as next season
PD28 wrote:Ell Curry wrote:He sort of stopped improving, but he can really shoot it and having a 7'1 wingspan and some strength means he might be able to survive on defence in the NBA if he can be a 40% 3pt guy.
As Ethan Strauss wrote:
Fat is Potential in Disguise
FIPID has gained some traction, thanks to the references by NBA writer John Hollinger over at The Athletic. It’s mostly a sports theory, but apply it to life if you will. The basic premise is that fat guys constitute a potential NBA Draft market inefficiency. Sure they’re fat, perhaps speaking to work ethic issues. But, if they’re this good already while pudgy, who knows what potential might be unlocked with some portion control. This term is like the love child of Mel Kiper Jr. and Richard Simmons, if you care to picture that.
I'm loaded with potential, just need to tap into it.
niQ wrote:?t=a3oWuaUEIvbdXYaCLpYDBg&s=19
DG88 wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:
Scottie approved!
DG88 wrote:WuTang_OG wrote:
Scottie approved!