2023 Draft Prospect discussion

[Mark_83]

Walker is good but idk how that works with Siakam still here.

Same. I got Walker as either the 2nd or 3rd best player in this draft, but Siakam, Barnes, Precious, and Walker are different variations of the same player type. Not enough shooting there already AND we're talking about trading OG our second best shooter?

Project 6'9 can absolutely work. But you need skillet diversity within that group. Out of those first 4 guys the best shooter is arguably Walker, and he still needs to get better.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Walker is good but idk how that works with Siakam still here.

Same. I got Walker as either the 2nd or 3rd best player in this draft, but Siakam, Barnes, Precious, and Walker are different variations of the same player type. Not enough shooting there already AND we're talking about trading OG our second best shooter?

Project 6'9 can absolutely work. But you need skillet diversity within that group. Out of those first 4 guys the best shooter is arguably Walker, and he still needs to get better.

Project 6'9" is elite with guys who can do everything, and that includes shooting! That's the main thing our management may have forgotten. So guys like Walker fit the mold better than a guy like Siakam for example. Not to say Pascal isn't a great player, but it's so frustrating to watch Pascal brick open 3's. At least Scottie is showing improvement from last season to this season.

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[Brinbe]

The fascination with George who has a disgustingly bad FG% and basically a 1-1 AST/TO ratio is mind boggling. Can anyone name me a current star NBA guard who shot 38% during their freshman college season?

because he can do this

Read on Twitter

and you project that with more reps/development that he'll improve on that efficiency. and he some passing acumen.

Read on Twitter

obviously he's not perfect, but the point is finding good players and I think he will offer value at the next level and fulfills a lot of what we've needed for a while, especially off the bench.

[Brinbe]

The fascination with George who has a disgustingly bad FG% and basically a 1-1 AST/TO ratio is mind boggling. Can anyone name me a current star NBA guard who shot 38% during their freshman college season?

because he can do this

Read on Twitter

and you project that with more reps/development that he'll improve on that efficiency. and he some passing acumen.

Read on Twitter

obviously he's not perfect, but the point is finding good players and I think he will offer value at the next level and fulfills a lot of what we've needed for a while, especially off the bench.

[ItsDanger]

The 6'9 lineup works in theory. But in practice in NBA, it's likely to fail as it requires team effort and sacrifice. It's a style that takes a lot of energy. Contracts are on the line that are justified by stats. I just don't believe it's practical.

[HumbleRen]

The fascination with George who has a disgustingly bad FG% and basically a 1-1 AST/TO ratio is mind boggling. Can anyone name me a current star NBA guard who shot 38% during their freshman college season?

because he can do this

Read on Twitter

and you project that with more reps/development that he'll improve on that efficiency. and he some passing acumen.

Read on Twitter

obviously he's not perfect, but the point is finding good players and I think he will offer value at the next level and fulfills a lot of what we've needed for a while, especially off the bench.

Yep. Has the tools just needs to be more disciplined in his shot selection.

He has the highest upside to be a 3 level scorer after the top 2 picks.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

The fascination with George who has a disgustingly bad FG% and basically a 1-1 AST/TO ratio is mind boggling. Can anyone name me a current star NBA guard who shot 38% during their freshman college season?

because he can do this

Read on Twitter

and you project that with more reps/development that he'll improve on that efficiency. and he some passing acumen.

Read on Twitter

obviously he's not perfect, but the point is finding good players and I think he will offer value at the next level and fulfills a lot of what we've needed for a while, especially off the bench.

Could fill the Norm Powell role the squad has been missing since they dealt him

[Mark_83]

Walker is good but idk how that works with Siakam still here.

Same. I got Walker as either the 2nd or 3rd best player in this draft, but Siakam, Barnes, Precious, and Walker are different variations of the same player type. Not enough shooting there already AND we're talking about trading OG our second best shooter?

Project 6'9 can absolutely work. But you need skillet diversity within that group. Out of those first 4 guys the best shooter is arguably Walker, and he still needs to get better.

Project 6'9" is elite with guys who can do everything, and that includes shooting! That's the main thing our management may have forgotten. So guys like Walker fit the mold better than a guy like Siakam for example. Not to say Pascal isn't a great player, but it's so frustrating to watch Pascal brick open 3's. At least Scottie is showing improvement from last season to this season.

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I think going forward we can't have both Pascal and Scottie in the starting lineup unless either both improve to average from long range, or one of them becomes elite. Having two non-shooters on the floor at the same time allows teams to just collapse the defense.

[HumbleRen]

Always draft for best available talent.

It does not matter if Siakam is on the roster. We’re not building around him.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Same. I got Walker as either the 2nd or 3rd best player in this draft, but Siakam, Barnes, Precious, and Walker are different variations of the same player type. Not enough shooting there already AND we're talking about trading OG our second best shooter?

Project 6'9 can absolutely work. But you need skillet diversity within that group. Out of those first 4 guys the best shooter is arguably Walker, and he still needs to get better.

Project 6'9" is elite with guys who can do everything, and that includes shooting! That's the main thing our management may have forgotten. So guys like Walker fit the mold better than a guy like Siakam for example. Not to say Pascal isn't a great player, but it's so frustrating to watch Pascal brick open 3's. At least Scottie is showing improvement from last season to this season.

Sent from my LYA-L0C using RealGM mobile app

I think going forward we can't have both Pascal and Scottie in the starting lineup unless either both improve to average from long range, or one of them becomes elite. Having two non-shooters on the floor at the same time allows teams to just collapse the defense.

Which is why, as much as I love Pascal, I think it's best to sell high. As great as he's been this season, I don't think he's a first or even 2nd option. I understand that he was the 2nd option on the 2019 team but that required Kawhi going nuclear and KD getting hurt for us to win. I think he's a 3rd option on a team that's comfortable to be an unquestionable contender.

So selling high on him could net you a couple young guys and one great pick, or two very good picks. Those assets alone could get you the superstar you want down the road, or if Masai drafts like we expect it could become a Boston situation with how they got Tatum and Brown.

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[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

The tendencies that players exhibit in college carry over to the NBA 95% of the time. It's the same reason the Raptors are seemingly uninterested in drafting players with awful defensive stats in college, as they know they can't just coach some prospect who generated 0.4 steals per 36 to eventually become a guy stealing 1.5 per 36 in the NBA.

You look at:

Malachi Flynn, avging 1.8 stls his draft year
Pascal 1 stl 2.2 blk
Delon Wright 2.1 stls 1 blk
Poeltl 1.6 blk
Anunoby 1.3 stl 1.3 blk
Barnes 1.5 stl per 24 mins
Koloko .8 stl 2.8 blk per 25 min

They clearly do not touch players who can't fill up the stat sheet on defense as they want 2 way players who can impact the game positively on both sides and believe me there are dozens of prospects people bring up as being potential Raptors targets every year who barely fill up the stat sheet on that end.

But when it comes to FG% for guards, look at the NBA's best and what they did in college and even compare their other statistical tendencies.

De'Aaron Fox's percentages = similar
Gilgeous Alexander = similar
Steph Curry = career fg%, 3pt fg% similar
Kyrie = short stint with Duke showed the same ability shooting that translated equally to NBA
Jamal Murray = similar

Look at Trae Young's stats which are similar to his college stats. Dude has all the resources in the world and still can't improve his percentages.

I'm not drafting, at 6th overall, a combo guard who shot 38% from the field and 34% from the college 3 point line unless he is lighting it up in every other possible way, which he isn't. The only real standout trait he has demonstrated is the ability to use his athleticism to get to the free throw line. The rest isn't anywhere where it needs to be.

[Mark_83]

Project 6'9" is elite with guys who can do everything, and that includes shooting! That's the main thing our management may have forgotten. So guys like Walker fit the mold better than a guy like Siakam for example. Not to say Pascal isn't a great player, but it's so frustrating to watch Pascal brick open 3's. At least Scottie is showing improvement from last season to this season.

Sent from my LYA-L0C using RealGM mobile app

I think going forward we can't have both Pascal and Scottie in the starting lineup unless either both improve to average from long range, or one of them becomes elite. Having two non-shooters on the floor at the same time allows teams to just collapse the defense.

Which is why, as much as I love Pascal, I think it's best to sell high. As great as he's been this season, I don't think he's a first or even 2nd option. I understand that he was the 2nd option on the 2019 team but that required Kawhi going nuclear and KD getting hurt for us to win. I think he's a 3rd option on a team that's comfortable to be an unquestionable contender.

So selling high on him could net you a couple young guys and one great pick, or two very good picks. Those assets alone could get you the superstar you want down the road, or if Masai drafts like we expect it could become a Boston situation with how they got Tatum and Brown.

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That's why I really hope we keep OG. Him, Walker, and Scottie would work well together.

[_MidNight_]

Outside of the top 2, I like Anthony Black a lot! He's so unique. He's like a 6'7" pg with a strong defensive game who can also create for himself right from the jump. He also comes with a shot that won't take years to develop.

This is who I was by us to develop as our PG/SG of the future. Love Gary for his shooting, but we need size, defense, shot creating/playmaking, and someone who passes the damn ball at the SG moving forward.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I think going forward we can't have both Pascal and Scottie in the starting lineup unless either both improve to average from long range, or one of them becomes elite. Having two non-shooters on the floor at the same time allows teams to just collapse the defense.

Which is why, as much as I love Pascal, I think it's best to sell high. As great as he's been this season, I don't think he's a first or even 2nd option. I understand that he was the 2nd option on the 2019 team but that required Kawhi going nuclear and KD getting hurt for us to win. I think he's a 3rd option on a team that's comfortable to be an unquestionable contender.

So selling high on him could net you a couple young guys and one great pick, or two very good picks. Those assets alone could get you the superstar you want down the road, or if Masai drafts like we expect it could become a Boston situation with how they got Tatum and Brown.

Sent from my LYA-L0C using RealGM mobile app

That's why I really hope we keep OG. Him, Walker, and Scottie would work well together.

While I agree about the fit, OG is arguably at peak value. It's a good time to deal him as well.

[Ell Curry]

Vibes stink, draft the nice giant with a 2nd rounder to alternate with Koloko depending on if we need beef or switching at the 5 off the bench:

Read on Twitter

?

[grant101]

The tendencies that players exhibit in college carry over to the NBA 95% of the time. It's the same reason the Raptors are seemingly uninterested in drafting players with awful defensive stats in college, as they know they can't just coach some prospect who generated 0.4 steals per 36 to eventually become a guy stealing 1.5 per 36 in the NBA.

You look at:

Malachi Flynn, avging 1.8 stls his draft year
Pascal 1 stl 2.2 blk
Delon Wright 2.1 stls 1 blk
Poeltl 1.6 blk
Anunoby 1.3 stl 1.3 blk
Barnes 1.5 stl per 24 mins
Koloko .8 stl 2.8 blk per 25 min

They clearly do not touch players who can't fill up the stat sheet on defense as they want 2 way players who can impact the game positively on both sides and believe me there are dozens of prospects people bring up as being potential Raptors targets every year who barely fill up the stat sheet on that end.

But when it comes to FG% for guards, look at the NBA's best and what they did in college and even compare their other statistical tendencies.

De'Aaron Fox's percentages = similar
Gilgeous Alexander = similar
Steph Curry = career fg%, 3pt fg% similar
Kyrie = short stint with Duke showed the same ability shooting that translated equally to NBA
Jamal Murray = similar

Look at Trae Young's stats which are similar to his college stats. Dude has all the resources in the world and still can't improve his percentages.

I'm not drafting, at 6th overall, a combo guard who shot 38% from the field and 34% from the college 3 point line unless he is lighting it up in every other possible way, which he isn't. The only real standout trait he has demonstrated is the ability to use his athleticism to get to the free throw line. The rest isn't anywhere where it needs to be.

Fair and legit concern with George. Definitely not a sure thing he dramatically improves his percentages, at least not in a lead guard role (like Trae, i think his 3pt % is a little lower cause he takes a lot of contested ones off the dribble). He relies on a lot of difficult, self created shots. On the one hand, this team kind of needs a guard like that cause our offense can get painfully clogged. on the other hand, you just wish the percentages were better. Tough.

[Rapsfan07]

The 6'9 lineup works in theory. But in practice in NBA, it's likely to fail as it requires team effort and sacrifice. It's a style that takes a lot of energy. Contracts are on the line that are justified by stats. I just don't believe it's practical.

Yeah I don't believe it's practical either. Not sure what the obsession is with 6'9 guys tbh. We have a team full of them and are in the hunt for a top 5 pick.

We need to focus on talent much more than size.

[Rapsfan07]

The tendencies that players exhibit in college carry over to the NBA 95% of the time. It's the same reason the Raptors are seemingly uninterested in drafting players with awful defensive stats in college, as they know they can't just coach some prospect who generated 0.4 steals per 36 to eventually become a guy stealing 1.5 per 36 in the NBA.

You look at:

Malachi Flynn, avging 1.8 stls his draft year
Pascal 1 stl 2.2 blk
Delon Wright 2.1 stls 1 blk
Poeltl 1.6 blk
Anunoby 1.3 stl 1.3 blk
Barnes 1.5 stl per 24 mins
Koloko .8 stl 2.8 blk per 25 min

They clearly do not touch players who can't fill up the stat sheet on defense as they want 2 way players who can impact the game positively on both sides and believe me there are dozens of prospects people bring up as being potential Raptors targets every year who barely fill up the stat sheet on that end.

But when it comes to FG% for guards, look at the NBA's best and what they did in college and even compare their other statistical tendencies.

De'Aaron Fox's percentages = similar
Gilgeous Alexander = similar
Steph Curry = career fg%, 3pt fg% similar
Kyrie = short stint with Duke showed the same ability shooting that translated equally to NBA
Jamal Murray = similar

Look at Trae Young's stats which are similar to his college stats. Dude has all the resources in the world and still can't improve his percentages.

I'm not drafting, at 6th overall, a combo guard who shot 38% from the field and 34% from the college 3 point line unless he is lighting it up in every other possible way, which he isn't. The only real standout trait he has demonstrated is the ability to use his athleticism to get to the free throw line. The rest isn't anywhere where it needs to be.

Very fair critique of George. Definitely can't be mad at this. I'm a fan of his and I still wish he shot the ball better than he does now.

But he does have some very intriguing tools. If we stay at 6 and nothing else changes, it would be tough to choose between him, Whitmore and Walker.

I still think we're going to get a good player though.

[WuTang_CMB]

If Raps can scoop this Lakers swap from NO , that will be 8-12 pick to add to ours and we need 2 top 10 picks after this brutal year. Hoping Lakers strike out on Kyrie. That is a caveat Masai will watch for before making that deal. Have to see what Lakers do first cuz they can easily climb.

But this team very much needs a jolt of talent inserted into the lineup for next season.

2 top 10 picks would be great. Getting one of Scoot/Wemby would change the course of this franchise but if not, you must hit in the top 10. Jarace and Cam should be ranked higher.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

I understand what everyone is saying and I could be wrong cause as I said there are always exceptions (bradley beal, kawhi, etc..) but it's also true that college performance generally gives you an idea of how players will translate to the NBA.

Obviously George is a very good athlete with handles, looks good on defense when he dials in and has the ability to develop a variety of go-to moves on offense. We all want a star player who can cook opponents 1v1 but we need to have the *right* player to be that guy, not just the first guy who pops up as available who can do some flashy things but ultimately fails to make the ball go through the bucket at a rate that will help us be a championship team and who demonstrates poor shot selection frequently.

Another stat that is eye opening is that against ranked opponents this year he's shooting 32.9% from the field.

The fact that his court vision probably isn't good enough to look at him as a true PG right now means he is a combo guard and I just can't pull the trigger on a guy who is supposed to be able to score the ball as his bread and butter right now having such horrible percentages.