With the 19th Pick, the Raptors select Ja'Kobe Walter!

[DreamTeam09]

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I poured over a lot of different mocks leading up to the draft. One pattern became clear - someone was going to fall to us who we will have to take. Based on high school rankings and recruitment status it became apparent one or both of those in Walter and Collier would be there at 19. Two upside picks. This was helped by Edey, Ware, Salaun, Bub and da Silva crowding the field. At times it looked like we would be looking at Jaylon Tyson best case scenario. But Walter was there and we had the choice of the longer JaKobe as better shooter and more complete game vs. beasty Collier with less head for the game. For us 19 was as good as 8 in the grander scheme. Things just got better and better as Raps put faith in the overall talent in this draft taking a freshman, a junior, a senior and an 18 year old project and African league man child baller.

We also got the 9th pick from the stacked 2021 draft class who has some Lowry in him. And we got him for next to zero cost plus two picks. So our guard depth just got a whole lot better. It begs the question: what will 2025 bring? I think Mitchell could really help a second unit. Imagine twin guards, Casey style, coming off the bench... We might want to S+T Gary over to Coach Nurse and get Paul Reed back. Another opportunity. Gary mle to Philly and big Reed coming home.

I disagree Collier fell, I understand the hype was around Collier, and ppl were mocking him in the 17-25 range, but I always thought he wasn't gonna go top 20. Shakey jumper, not really tall, off n on yr in college, not the most shifty... I'm not the highest on him
I agree tho, someone was gonna fall who we would have to take. Holland Dillingham Topic, Walter were candidates in my books.

[SpezNc]

Freshman seasons at Baylor

J Walter 32.3 MIN, 14.5 PPG, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .341 3PT (6.3 ATT), .792 FT (5.2 ATT), .541 TS, 23.4 USG, 5.8 BPM
K George 28.6 MIN, 15.3 PPG, 4.2 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .338 3PT (6.9 ATT), .793 FT (4.5 ATT), .524 TS, 30.8 USG, 5.6 BPM

Almost carbon copy

[OAKLEY_2]

Freshman seasons at Baylor

J Walter 32.3 MIN, 14.5 PPG, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .341 3PT (6.3 ATT), .792 FT (5.2 ATT), .541 TS, 23.4 USG, 5.8 BPM
K George 28.6 MIN, 15.3 PPG, 4.2 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .338 3PT (6.9 ATT), .793 FT (4.5 ATT), .524 TS, 30.8 USG, 5.6 BPM

Almost carbon copy

On eye test alone Walter is a vastly better athlete.

[OAKLEY_2]

Freshman seasons at Baylor

J Walter 32.3 MIN, 14.5 PPG, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .341 3PT (6.3 ATT), .792 FT (5.2 ATT), .541 TS, 23.4 USG, 5.8 BPM
K George 28.6 MIN, 15.3 PPG, 4.2 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .338 3PT (6.9 ATT), .793 FT (4.5 ATT), .524 TS, 30.8 USG, 5.6 BPM

Interesting when you compare to Mitchell's 3 seasons at Baylor.

We might conclude the Walter ceiling is 6th man and Mitchell's is an on ball point guard who might help the bench to get stops or bring energy to replacing struggling starters.

[Jerry Lucas]

Freshman seasons at Baylor

J Walter 32.3 MIN, 14.5 PPG, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .341 3PT (6.3 ATT), .792 FT (5.2 ATT), .541 TS, 23.4 USG, 5.8 BPM
K George 28.6 MIN, 15.3 PPG, 4.2 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .338 3PT (6.9 ATT), .793 FT (4.5 ATT), .524 TS, 30.8 USG, 5.6 BPM

Almost carbon copy

The upside of Ja'Kobe Walter blows Keyonte George's out of the water. George never even had a mini stretch at Baylor as dominant as Ja'Kobe's 1st half of the season last year.

The likelihood of reaching said upside though, is another story.

[DreamTeam09]

We finally have a Lou will type of 6moy SG, I feel like he's gonna be electric

[LoveMyRaps]

Freshman seasons at Baylor

J Walter 32.3 MIN, 14.5 PPG, 4.4 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .341 3PT (6.3 ATT), .792 FT (5.2 ATT), .541 TS, 23.4 USG, 5.8 BPM
K George 28.6 MIN, 15.3 PPG, 4.2 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.1 STL, .376 FG, .338 3PT (6.9 ATT), .793 FT (4.5 ATT), .524 TS, 30.8 USG, 5.6 BPM

Almost carbon copy

On eye test alone Walter is a vastly better athlete.

Simply not true.

[OAKLEY_2]

Almost carbon copy

On eye test alone Walter is a vastly better athlete.

Simply not true.

Kyshawn, Keyontae, Paul or Devean George?

[LoveMyRaps]

On eye test alone Walter is a vastly better athlete.

Simply not true.

Kyshawn, Keyontae, Paul or Devean George?

Keyonte was/is the better athlete.

[YelloC]

Funny thing I noticed while doing a post draft deep dive on Ja’Kobe was while comparing him to Mathurin as a recent draftee:
Ja’Kobe at 6’ 4.25 barefoot was described as having good size for a wing.
Mathurin at 6’ 4.50 barefoot was described as having tremendous size for a wing while giving up an inch in wingspan and weighing 7 pounds more. He was also listed at 6’ 7 on the initial bio.
Ja’ Kobe’s perceived size deficiency seems to be getting over exaggerated among draft pundits.

[raincityraptors]

Funny thing I noticed while doing a post draft deep dive on Ja’Kobe was while comparing him to Mathurin as a recent draftee:
Ja’Kobe at 6’ 4.25 barefoot was described as having good size for a wing.
Mathurin at 6’ 4.50 barefoot was described as having tremendous size for a wing while giving up an inch in wingspan and weighing 7 pounds more. He was also listed at 6’ 7 on the initial bio.
Ja’ Kobe’s perceived size deficiency seems to be getting over exaggerated among draft pundits.

Even though Dick was in a better draft, I think Ja'kobe could be just as good or better.

That said, the difference between him and Mathurin is probably strength.

Once he gets stronger - which may take a year or 2 - and he learns how to use it on both ends, he'll be a steal at 19.

[WuTang_CMB]

Nice clips

https://youtu.be/ZANLa5tRxGE?si=_rCL5BNxIp5EGzNL

https://youtu.be/j048vmYJ0r0?si=PE0BNlS9MljFBzJM

[Duffman100]

Reminds me a bit of Anthony morrow. A bit more fluid.

[Loso04]

Nice clips

https://youtu.be/ZANLa5tRxGE?si=_rCL5BNxIp5EGzNL

https://youtu.be/j048vmYJ0r0?si=PE0BNlS9MljFBzJM

Coming off those curls like Ray and Klay

[LoveMyRaps]

Reminds me a bit of Anthony morrow. A bit more fluid.

Reminds me a bit of Anthony Parker.

[OAKLEY_2]

Simply not true.

Kyshawn, Keyontae, Paul or Devean George?

Keyonte was/is the better athlete.

I thought you were referring to Kyshawn and I took issue with that. I haven't seen really any of Keyonte this past year nor Sensabaugh as Team Danny Ainge flies under the radar. I wonder if fans there actually want to keep Markanen...? I guess we will have competition for 2025 draft assets and capital if Markanen is sent packing. What a drag to lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. The decomposition of the Jazz looks just like us but Ainge went for the wrecking ball much faster.

[Chandan]

Nice clips

https://youtu.be/ZANLa5tRxGE?si=_rCL5BNxIp5EGzNL

https://youtu.be/j048vmYJ0r0?si=PE0BNlS9MljFBzJM

He plays like a taller, less quick IQ
Their movements are similiar too.

[raincityraptors]

Nice clips

https://youtu.be/ZANLa5tRxGE?si=_rCL5BNxIp5EGzNL

https://youtu.be/j048vmYJ0r0?si=PE0BNlS9MljFBzJM

He plays like a taller, less quick IQ
Their movements are similiar too.

I think he's got really good feel for drawing fouls already, but IQ has way better ball handling.

If he is able to add more muscle and strength, he has the potential to be a much better on the ball defender thanks to his added length.

With IQ as a mentor, Ja'Kobe has a chance to become a good one. He is a blue chipper for a reason.

[Chalky_White]

There's a chance that Bruce Brown still being on the team to start the season results in Ja'Kobe being out of the rotation initially, which would be quite the own goal.

Assuming RJ and Gradey as the wing starters, Bruce/Ochai/Ja'kobe will be competing for two spots.

[C_Money]

There's a chance that Bruce Brown still being on the team to start the season results in Ja'Kobe being out of the rotation initially, which would be quite the own goal.

Assuming RJ and Gradey as the wing starters, Bruce/Ochai/Ja'kobe will be competing for two spots.

There’s no need for Ochai to be playing. Ideally Bruce Brown will get traded though.