2023 Draft Discussion Part 4

[tecumseh18]

Coulibaly reminds a lot of OG. But faster twitch, thinner and a more fluid athlete.

If he's really 6'8, I don't see how we pass him if he's available.

He plays with a ton of force for a thin guy and really gets after it on defense. He plays with a nice amount of tenacity. Also shows good adjustment in midair finishing through contact at the rim. His ability to improvise bodes well for him.

The entire flow of events in February, including Masai's trip to France and the trade deadline, suggests that Coulibaly has always been the Raptors' target. Just as Koloko was last season. Just as Giddey would have been in 2021 if we didn't move up to #4 (and maybe should have been anyway - we'll see).

[LBJKB24MJ23]

Kobe Bufkin, Jordan Hawkins, or Bilal Coulibaly please.

Though, knowing the Raps, it'll probably be someone I've never heard of.

Cason Wallace!!!

It has to be one of these four.

Coulibaly

[arbsn]

We are definitely picking someone who nobody expects and is projected to go 20-45 in draft boards. I can’t think of a time Masai picked the consensus/projected guy. Even Scottie was a shock pick over Suggs at the time.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

I think it's Coulibaly if he's still on the board

[Jenga_tDot]

I have a feeling Orlando or OKC is gonna take Coulibaly before us. If we want him we'll have to trade up

[Jcity08]

If we can get another later pick in the draft, Kris Murray is interesting, I like what Ive seen of him so far.

[Dalek]

We are definitely picking someone who nobody expects and is projected to go 20-45 in draft boards. I can’t think of a time Masai picked the consensus/projected guy. Even Scottie was a shock pick over Suggs at the time.

Toronto picks all scream high defensive upside with limited shooting ability. Here are some of draft picks and guys I think fit the archetype to some degree:

Delon Wright = Hood-Schifino - tall heady PG w/ good defensive instincts
Jakob Poeltl = Lively - great rim protector outside who is a good passing big
Pascal Siakam = Clowney/Miller - both are great runners for their size and the energy effort is mixed with some ball skill
OG Anunoby = OMax Prosper/Arthur Kaluma both are OG clones being athletic defense oriented forwards
Bruno = Coulibaly/Rupert/Cissoko - long defensive prospects that you take a swing on

It is pretty much a perfect draft class for Toronto to pick from, but the problem is do they keep with this same plan or do they bet on offensive star power for once?

[Jcity08]

If Coulibaly is available at the 13th its a no brainer.

[Dalek]

Just thinking about Sasser and where he ends up. My pick if I was a betting man would be Memphis.

Ja is going to be out for a while and they gotta keep afloat with Tyus Jones. Sasser is going to be able to play right away and he defends and shoots it so he can help in key areas.

[ImaBeatDatAzz]

I would do OG for 3rd it'll be a great roleplayer at best. I would stick with Hendricks in that range if we want a strong complimentary piece. Hendricks elite shooting and rim protection at 6'9 would give us a great small ball center at worst. It's a safe and easy choice especially if Portland is desperate. We would have an elite shooter and 2 rim protectors on the floor at all times.

Ur crazy.. Brandon miller is him

[C_Money]

I’m not falling for the Coulibaly hype. I’ve seen these type of prospects end up as busts far too many times.

[BoyzNTheHood]

How is Leonard Miller not a projected lottery lock at this point? A 19 year old averaging 17/10 on 54% from the field and almost 80% from the line with a .630 TS% against better competition that anyone not named Scoot Henderson.

[NotMyKawhi]

Is 2 available? is 4 available?

we will see

[Indeed]

We are definitely picking someone who nobody expects and is projected to go 20-45 in draft boards. I can’t think of a time Masai picked the consensus/projected guy. Even Scottie was a shock pick over Suggs at the time.

Toronto picks all scream high defensive upside with limited shooting ability. Here are some of draft picks and guys I think fit the archetype to some degree:

Delon Wright = Hood-Schifino - tall heady PG w/ good defensive instincts
Jakob Poeltl = Lively - great rim protector outside who is a good passing big
Pascal Siakam = Clowney/Miller - both are great runners for their size and the energy effort is mixed with some ball skill
OG Anunoby = OMax Prosper/Arthur Kaluma both are OG clones being athletic defense oriented forwards
Bruno = Coulibaly/Rupert/Cissoko - long defensive prospects that you take a swing on

It is pretty much a perfect draft class for Toronto to pick from, but the problem is do they keep with this same plan or do they bet on offensive star power for once?

I really don't see much starter level players on this draft. Maybe those in the lottery can be a starter, but I don't see anyone comparable to Poeltl nor Anunoby.

It is a weak draft, I don't see how this can be claimed as a "perfect draft class". I would have Jalen Duren last year over Jarace Walker of this year.

[Mark_83]

Coulibaly reminds a lot of OG. But faster twitch, thinner and a more fluid athlete.

If he's really 6'8, I don't see how we pass him if he's available.

He plays with a ton of force for a thin guy and really gets after it on defense. He plays with a nice amount of tenacity. Also shows good adjustment in midair finishing through contact at the rim. His ability to improvise bodes well for him.

The entire flow of events in February, including Masai's trip to France and the trade deadline, suggests that Coulibaly has always been the Raptors' target. Just as Koloko was last season. Just as Giddey would have been in 2021 if we didn't move up to #4 (and maybe should have been anyway - we'll see).

I also speculated about this back in March.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2268112&p=104705338&hilit=Masai#p104705338

ESPN has Bilal Coulibaly as a projected top 10 pick in 2024 (if he doesn't enter this year).

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/35707557/2024-nba-mock-draft-why-bronny-james-projected-top-10-pick

It's pure speculation on my part, but with Coulibaly projected to go late in the 1st this year, is it possible Masai has him on the radar for our pick in the teens?

For one, why would we keep our pick this year in the Yak trade when we planned to hurt that pick by making the playoffs? Secondly, why would we trade our pick in 2024, which, if we decide to blow it up, will be much better than our pick this year.

Again, just speculating, but it seems like Masai has no intention of blowing it up after the season if this team underwhelms. If that was in the plans, then he would have just traded this year's pick, which we know will be in the teens, rather than a future pick, which could be anywhere.

Masai must believe either that the talent in the teens this year is equivalent/interchangeable to talent he would have been picked in the lottery before the Yak trade, or, that there's a talent available in the teens this year, who would likely be a lottery pick in the next year if he chose not to enter (kind of like Porzingas, who would likely have gone late 1st the year before he actually entered the draft and became a lottery pick the following year instead).

I'm a big fan of Bilal, and seems like ESPN thinks he has lottery talent if he waits a year. If he enters this year he's likely to go later in the first round, but Masai could swoop in and take him at an earlier pick and end up with a lottery-level talent.

[Clutch0z24]

Lillard + Siakam is more sure thing than Scoot, Sharpe and Simons.


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Its about age at this point....Lillard is on his final stretch and Siakam is entering his peak years....You also have to take salary into it...2 players will be max contract players and 2 will be on rookie salaries .....Siakam/Lillard might win you a round but thats about it....I don't see a deep run with them...

Also Siakam is going to be a free agent i doubt Portland trades a top 3 pick for a guy who will be able to walk in free agency....Just does not make sense

They are already letting Lillard in on the whole front office business. Lillard has pull in the decisions the front office is making. If that’s the case, they are not betting on Simons and Scoot.


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Ok but who is to say Siakam is the best they could get in a package for Scoot? What if they could get a better option? like a KAT or something? And anyways i doubt they trade the pick anyways....Teams rarely trade top end draft picks....

[S.W.A.N]

We are definitely picking someone who nobody expects and is projected to go 20-45 in draft boards. I can’t think of a time Masai picked the consensus/projected guy. Even Scottie was a shock pick over Suggs at the time.

Scottie was 5th on most boards lets not get crazy...

[Clutch0z24]

I’m not falling for the Coulibaly hype. I’ve seen these type of prospects end up as busts far too many times.

Agreed....I see flashes of a decent player but he looks far too raw on the offensive end....would be a big risk at 13....Alot more prospects with higher upsides at 13 for us to get.

[DreamTeam09]

I’m not falling for the Coulibaly hype. I’ve seen these type of prospects end up as busts far too many times.

Agreed....I see flashes of a decent player but he looks far too raw on the offensive end....would be a big risk at 13....Alot more prospects with higher upsides at 13 for us to get.

I don't see the "a lot" of more players with higher upside.

It seems like we have a solid group of 4 maybe 5 in Bilal/Kobe/Wallace/Hawkins/George. Anyone else probably a reach.

But who do you want/like.

Bilal looks like he might be able to get to a Mikal Bridges level

[Clutch0z24]

I’m not falling for the Coulibaly hype. I’ve seen these type of prospects end up as busts far too many times.

Agreed....I see flashes of a decent player but he looks far too raw on the offensive end....would be a big risk at 13....Alot more prospects with higher upsides at 13 for us to get.

I don't see the "a lot" of more players with higher upside.

It seems like we have a solid group of 4 maybe 5 in Bilal/Kobe/Wallace/Hawkins/George. Anyone else probably a reach.

But who do you want/like.

Bilal looks like he might be able to get to a Mikal Bridges level

Atm im sold n Bufkin....I think his offensive upside is really strong and he fits the mold of todays NBA guards....I think if we didn't have a handfull of players like Coulibaly already i might be higher on him but we have OG/Barnes who are in the sim mold of player type....Idk where he would fit in with the team tbh....

Plus i think he has boom or bust potential which is scary to me at 13.....Atm id go Bufkin with Keyonte being a 2nd option If we traded OG for a prospect and another pick id be glad to add Coulibaly to take OGs role though

We need more guards...Atm we have FVV/GTJR both futures with us up in the air...