With the 45th pick, the Raptors select Jamal Shead

[ItsDanger]

Shead looks bigger and stronger than Fred when both came out of college after 4 years. The athleticism isn't close obviously. Question will be when he is off ball more, will his shooting and efficiency improve. Houston didn't exactly have a dynamic offense, they relied upon their defense a lot. He really just has to be average or slightly below average. His defense should make up small differences.

[ontnut]

Interesting that teams are reaching out to potential picks to discuss 2 way deals if they draft them. If the player/agent says they won't sign a 2 way, they fall farther down the draft.
Shead is tough as nails and has the size and attitude of Lowry/FVV. The question is, are small guards still relevant?

Define small...


He won't be getting bullied by anyone, especially today's thinner, more mobile bigs. Plus, his low center of gravity will make moving him sort of like when guys try to back down Lowry or Marcus Smart.
He honestly has some Tony Allen defensive instincts from the clips that I've watched. I'm extremely high on Jamal!

Wait, is he deadlifting nearly 500 lbs?

The inner plates look like 20kg Eleiko plates, the outer plates should be 10's. So, 90kg each side = 180kg (400lbs) plus the bar which is on average about 50lbs. 450lb deadlift. Yeah. Strong.

[Dalek]

Shead measures comparably to Davion Mitchell.
6'2 in shoes with a 6'3 wingspan and 8 reach 200 lbs

FVV is at best 6'1 and 6'2 wp and it probably took a few years to get up to 200 lbs if he is at that weight. Shead looks bigger and is stronger and is a more vertical athlete. No question he outperforms FVV as an athlete. The shooting is special for Fred and is why he can start and why I think Shead is a career back-up, but a really good one.

I do think it is weird we got Davion Mitchell and Jamal Shead, but I assume Mitchell is a cheap flyer to take.

My guess is 1) the Raptors didn't think Shead would be available at 45. 2) I believe Mitchell is in the final year of his contract. So he'll be an UFA. Shead will learn the ropes under IQ/Mitchell. If Mitchell walks, we still have Shead.

Bobby gave us the answer already. They're just accumulating assets and both Shead and Mitchell came essentially for free. He's talked a lot about us being at a talent deficit and how not everyone is going to hit, and so they're just taking as many shots they can at goal right now without much of focus on need and redundancy.

It is just a bit weird because Shead and Mitchell are exactly the same type of player give or take on the outside shot. Mitchell is on an expiring deal with $19m cap hold. I think they end up playing him more to recoup some value in a future trade.

It seems like they went to a lot of expense for Shead so I think he is the guy they prioritize.

Overall, it is funny how the talent deficit thing is perceived by Bobby as a guard weakness, even though we lost OG and Siakam and haven't addressed the forward position at all. Mogbo is a project and may not be able to shoot (same could be said for Agbaji), and Veznekov can't defend.

[ForeverTFC]

My guess is 1) the Raptors didn't think Shead would be available at 45. 2) I believe Mitchell is in the final year of his contract. So he'll be an UFA. Shead will learn the ropes under IQ/Mitchell. If Mitchell walks, we still have Shead.

Bobby gave us the answer already. They're just accumulating assets and both Shead and Mitchell came essentially for free. He's talked a lot about us being at a talent deficit and how not everyone is going to hit, and so they're just taking as many shots they can at goal right now without much of focus on need and redundancy.

It is just a bit weird because Shead and Mitchell are exactly the same type of player give or take on the outside shot. Mitchell is on an expiring deal with $19m cap hold. I think they end up playing him more to recoup some value in a future trade.

It seems like they went to a lot of expense for Shead so I think he is the guy they prioritize.

Overall, it is funny how the talent deficit thing is perceived by Bobby as a guard weakness, even though we lost OG and Siakam and haven't addressed the forward position at all. Mogbo is a project and may not be able to shoot (same could be said for Agbaji), and Veznekov can't defend.

I don't think they perceive it as a guard weakness; they're just going all in on BPA and it seems to be more guards available to them where they're picking. With that said, I think he is lying a bit when he says need and fit isn't a consideration. They're clearly emphasizing Scottie's needs in some of their decisions (shooting, POA defense, centers, cutters, etc.) and I think that fit angle becomes more and more important as the position becomes closer to Scottie. If you're building around Scottie, you need a particular type of wing to pair with him. If I'm a betting man, I'd bet that they're accumulating assets but are cognizant that none of those get in the way of Scottie.

[dohboy_24]

The inner plates look like 20kg Eleiko plates, the outer plates should be 10's. So, 90kg each side = 180kg (400lbs) plus the bar which is on average about 50lbs. 450lb deadlift. Yeah. Strong.

Without a waist belt? Hard to tell in the picture...

[MEDIC]

Don't know if it's just me - but he does not look 6'1

Looks a bit taller.

I feel the same. He doesn't look small out there. I have to do a double take watching highlights because I keep thinking I am watching the wrong player.

[Duffman100]

I guess this means Nowell isn't coming back

[Basketball_Jones]

Doesn’t seem like a very dynamic player and the shot is ugly. Very Kyle esque in that sense, though he had a pretty explosive first step in college and early career. But he has the makings to be very solid all around player.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Doesn’t seem like a very dynamic player and the shot is ugly. Very Kyle esque in that sense, though he had a pretty explosive first step in college and early career. But he has the makings to be very solid all around player.

What's your definition of dynamic?

[HoopAndTheHarm]

Interesting that teams are reaching out to potential picks to discuss 2 way deals if they draft them. If the player/agent says they won't sign a 2 way, they fall farther down the draft.
Shead is tough as nails and has the size and attitude of Lowry/FVV. The question is, are small guards still relevant?

Define small...


He won't be getting bullied by anyone, especially today's thinner, more mobile bigs. Plus, his low center of gravity will make moving him sort of like when guys try to back down Lowry or Marcus Smart.
He honestly has some Tony Allen defensive instincts from the clips that I've watched. I'm extremely high on Jamal!

Hey I'm all for the guy getting strong etc. But all the weight lifting in the world won't make him taller. His vert seems decent. I guess we'll see.

[Basketball_Jones]

Doesn’t seem like a very dynamic player and the shot is ugly. Very Kyle esque in that sense, though he had a pretty explosive first step in college and early career. But he has the makings to be very solid all around player.

What's your definition of dynamic?

Van Vleet

[Dexjackson]

Doesn’t seem like a very dynamic player and the shot is ugly. Very Kyle esque in that sense, though he had a pretty explosive first step in college and early career. But he has the makings to be very solid all around player.

What's your definition of dynamic?

Van Vleet

VanVleet is dynamic but Shead isn't? Trolling much?

[Duffman100]

What's your definition of dynamic?

Van Vleet

VanVleet is dynamic but Shead isn't? Trolling much?

I mean VanVleet has shown to be a starting NBA calibre point guard who has hit big shots in a title run

Shead is projecting to be a bench guard who hasn't proved he can shoot.

It's not really trolling. Perhaps impatient

[Dexjackson]

Van Vleet

VanVleet is dynamic but Shead isn't? Trolling much?

I mean VanVleet has shown to be a starting NBA calibre point guard who has hit big shots in a title run

Shead is projecting to be a bench guard who hasn't proved he can shoot.

It's not really trolling. Perhaps impatient

That's fair. I think we just had different definitions of dynamic. I assumed dynamic was referring to his physical ability. I.e. twitchy, fast, quick. etc. Apologies for calling you out for trolling Basketball_Jones.

No argument from me that VanVleet is the better player by a mile until proven otherwise.

[Duffman100]

VanVleet is dynamic but Shead isn't? Trolling much?

I mean VanVleet has shown to be a starting NBA calibre point guard who has hit big shots in a title run

Shead is projecting to be a bench guard who hasn't proved he can shoot.

It's not really trolling. Perhaps impatient

That's fair. I think we just had different definitions of dynamic. I assumed dynamic was referring to his physical ability. I.e. twitchy, fast, quick. etc. Apologies for calling you out for trolling Basketball_Jones.

No argument from me that VanVleet is the better player by a mile until proven otherwise.

He could also be being sarcastic about FVV

I'm with you though. If Shead can find a way to shoot, he could be super dynamic.

[wazabifuzz]

He’s can’t be any worse than bronny if not comparable

[MEDIC]

I would say Shead's skill set is just as dynamic as FVV's. They just have different skills.

Shead has the potential to be a more dynamic player than FVV due to his athleticism. Not saying it's going to happen, but he has natural gifts that Fred doesn't have.

[aminiaturebuddha]

I mean VanVleet has shown to be a starting NBA calibre point guard who has hit big shots in a title run

Shead is projecting to be a bench guard who hasn't proved he can shoot.

It's not really trolling. Perhaps impatient

That's fair. I think we just had different definitions of dynamic. I assumed dynamic was referring to his physical ability. I.e. twitchy, fast, quick. etc. Apologies for calling you out for trolling Basketball_Jones.

No argument from me that VanVleet is the better player by a mile until proven otherwise.

He could also be being sarcastic about FVV

I'm with you though. If Shead can find a way to shoot, he could be super dynamic.

Also, not to be semantic, but saying "VanVleet" is an example, not a definition. So I still really have no idea what he means by saying that Shead isn't dynamic.

What aspect of Fred's game makes him dynamic that Shead lacks? If it's just his success as an NBA calibre point guard, then no incoming draft pick could be seen as dynamic, no matter who they are, and the criticism is somewhat useless.

So, knowing this board, I'm just going to assume trolling until proven otherwise. Apologies to all if incorrect.

[TimeForChange]

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