Official Ochai Agbaji Thread - Welcome to Toronto, Ochai!

Got Nuffin · Post #821 » by **Got Nuffin** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:26 am

LoveMyRaps wrote:Wish there was a tag/call out posters on this thread.

Making a loooooottta posters look foolish right now lol

29th pick? He is starting to look like a long term piece. If he can figure his shot out he’s a potential starter.

Raps in 4 · Post #822 » by **Raps in 4** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 10:05 am

Ainge in shambles right now.

youngRAPZ · Post #823 » by **youngRAPZ** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:00 pm

But but he’s not 20. How is he improving? This is insane it’s impossible this is happening it’s his 3rd year after 4 years in college.

NinjaBro · Post #824 » by **NinjaBro** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:03 pm

Looking awesome to start the season!!! One of my favorite raptor

"We need to trade Siakam for AJ Griffin before it's too late!" - PhilBlackson

tecumseh18 · Post #825 » by **tecumseh18** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:07 pm

youngRAPZ wrote:But but he’s not 20. How is he improving? This is insane it’s impossible this is happening it’s his 3rd year after 4 years in college.

It's like Norman Powell (also a 4-year guy who shot worse than Ochai in college) never happened.

But Ochai is bigger and stronger than Norm.

Post #826 » by **Duffman100** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:11 pm

there's just no patience...

YogurtProducer · Post #827 » by **YogurtProducer** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 2:28 pm

tecumseh18 wrote:
youngRAPZ wrote:But but he’s not 20. How is he improving? This is insane it’s impossible this is happening it’s his 3rd year after 4 years in college.

It's like Norman Powell (also a 4-year guy who shot worse than Ochai in college) never happened.

But Ochai is bigger and stronger than Norm.

For a team who developed:

FVV
Siakam
Powell
Delon
Poeltl (was still 21 when a rookie)
Boucher

and now Ochai / Shead / Mogbo / Battle all looking like maybe there is something there,

You would think this board would understand you don't gotta be 19 to be a guy you can develop.

raptorforlife88 · Post #828 » by **raptorforlife88** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 3:48 pm

Given how he looked in Summer League and last year, this start from him is definitely unexpected. He's been better than anyone would have thought.

It's all really going to come down to that corner 3. If he can really hit it at a good rate, then he's entirely playable on this roster and we can certainly keep him around as a piece with his transition play and defense. Good plug and play backup 3+D. And if you watched this roster for the past four years, you know that is a valuable piece on the bench.

SFour · Post #829 » by **SFour** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 3:57 pm

LoveMyRaps wrote:Wish there was a tag/call out posters on this thread.

to be fair he was looking like a bust, but so was Dick.....lesson should be learned by this point

nikster · Post #830 » by **nikster** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 4:36 pm

YogurtProducer wrote:
tecumseh18 wrote:
youngRAPZ wrote:But but he’s not 20. How is he improving? This is insane it’s impossible this is happening it’s his 3rd year after 4 years in college.

It's like Norman Powell (also a 4-year guy who shot worse than Ochai in college) never happened.

But Ochai is bigger and stronger than Norm.

For a team who developed:

FVV
Siakam
Powell
Delon
Poeltl (was still 21 when a rookie)
Boucher

and now Ochai / Shead / Mogbo / Battle all looking like maybe there is something there,

You would think this board would understand you don't gotta be 19 to be a guy you can develop.

I think you can add Derozan, who was a high pick but spent his entire career expanding his game to that list. Lowry was also 27 when he turned his career around

GLF · Post #831 » by **GLF** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 4:46 pm

I also hope this is bit of a reminder that summer league means literally nothing. You should never take much from it and you should never have that determine how a player will look in the NBA. Especially since in summer league guys are playing alongside other rookies and non NBA players. Role players need to play alongside other good NBA players who can attract attention and make up for their flaws

Post #832 » by **HiJiNX** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:12 pm

I was wrong. And I’m happy that I was. Ochai is looking great!

Tha Cynic · Post #833 » by **Tha Cynic** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:14 pm

He's kind of playing like a young OG or even Siakam before he developed all those offensive skills. If he can keep working on his 3 pointer, her had shot at being a very valuable 3+D player.

OakleyDokely · Post #834 » by **OakleyDokely** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:20 pm

What I like about Ochai is that he's a pretty smart player and plays under control. He might miss some shots, but the shots he takes are generally the ones you need him to take.

ForeverTFC · Post #835 » by **ForeverTFC** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:22 pm

LoveMyRaps wrote:Wish there was a tag/call out posters on this thread.

As much as I'd like to see some of these guys humbled, I think it's important that we stay level headed here. Ochai is still a gamble by the FO. We have to remember that he was called untouchable in Utah after his first year and then Danny soured on him half a season later. So we know he's capable of looking like a guy worth investing in and that he's capable of falling out of favor quickly.

Now is the time for Ochai to become consistent in his contributions, so that the same thing doesn't happen here. He obviously won't hold up these shooting numbers, but as long as he keeps contributing and being a positive on the court, he will have an NBA career ahead of him. I'm also curious to see what he looks like coming off the bench, once that happens.

Post #836 » by **Duffman100** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:23 pm

ForeverTFC wrote:
LoveMyRaps wrote:Wish there was a tag/call out posters on this thread.

As much as I'd like to see some of these guys humbled, I think it's important that we stay level headed here. Ochai is still a gamble by the FO. We have to remember that he was called untouchable in Utah after his first year and then Danny soured on him half a season later. So we know he's capable of looking like a guy worth investing in and that he's capable of falling out of favor quickly.

Now is the time for Ochai to become consistent in his contributions, so that the same thing doesn't happen here. He obviously won't hold up these shooting numbers, but as long as he keeps contributing and being a positive on the court, he will have an NBA career ahead of him. I'm also curious to see what he looks like coming off the bench, once that happens.

Yeah I think both ways everyone needs to take a more Macro view of every take.

Los_29 · Post #837 » by **Los_29** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:28 pm

Still very early but I like what I’m seeing. He’s playing smart basketball. I like all of our young players right now. Shead has Lowry/FVV traits and I’m not just saying that because of his height. The guy plays super hard out there and wants to win. Gradey has a higher ceiling than I thought. Mogbo has shown flashes.

ItsDanger · Post #838 » by **ItsDanger** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:34 pm

Realistically, this season is his best chance to show that he can be a rotation SG. Ideally, his role is a bench guy. Odds are that Raps will get a top pick and right now that might project to be a SG as well. At that point, his role will be diminished a lot. But he can still carve out a spot somewhere else also.

bluerap23 · Post #839 » by **bluerap23** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 5:56 pm

Zeno wrote:
Duffman100 wrote:
bluerap23 wrote:
This is ridiculous logic, even for here.

Masai is always lucky

Not only that he is expected to make the optimal pick(if Dunn even turns out to be that) with every selection. It isn’t enough even if all of Walter, Mogbo, Shead and Battle are future rotation pieces which would be historic but they need to be better than every other player selected after them.

Not only that but he is expected to have somehow picked a player at 29 that was taken at 28!?!?

Scase · Post #840 » by **Scase** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 6:11 pm

Duffman100 wrote:
ForeverTFC wrote:
LoveMyRaps wrote:Wish there was a tag/call out posters on this thread.

As much as I'd like to see some of these guys humbled, I think it's important that we stay level headed here. Ochai is still a gamble by the FO. We have to remember that he was called untouchable in Utah after his first year and then Danny soured on him half a season later. So we know he's capable of looking like a guy worth investing in and that he's capable of falling out of favor quickly.

Now is the time for Ochai to become consistent in his contributions, so that the same thing doesn't happen here. He obviously won't hold up these shooting numbers, but as long as he keeps contributing and being a positive on the court, he will have an NBA career ahead of him. I'm also curious to see what he looks like coming off the bench, once that happens.

Yeah I think both ways everyone needs to take a more Macro view of every take.

Injuries have been a huge benefit to him getting increased burn, if we had a fully healthy roster I think he doesn't get to showcase enough of his play this season.

I have been pleasantly surprised by his play, and really have only had complaints about him taking ATB 3's and occasional brain farts in HC sets. Night and day from last year which is great. I've really liked his cuts and generally how he plays in transition.

But the rational part of my brain still says it's only been a few games, we've seen guys go on longer stretches with better play, and then crash back down to earth. So all I'll say for now, is that what I've seen is promising, and I hope he keeps it up, it would be nice to have a solid 3+D since we lost OG.