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

[agkagk]

Ja’kobe is giving me poor man’s McGrady vibes.

I mean that in a good way!

He's not that tall or athletic. Dybansta gives me TMac vibes. In this draft, Egor Demin might be more like TMac; though maybe more like Franz Wagner ultimately.

Jakobe is more like Dejounte Murray lanky and SGA smooth.

The way he likes to sort of juke before getting to his spots.

Im thinking more how he reads the game and what he’s trying to do.


Definitely doesn’t have Tracy’s natural tools.


Except maybe his eye.


Ps: Murray’s an interesting comparison!


Pps: on this note; can anyone confirm ja’kobe’s measurements?

I’m hearing/reading everything from 6’3 and a 65” wingspan to 6’5 and 73”

That’s a pretty huge swing

[GreatWhiteStiff]

I'm pretty sure he has a big wingspan, not sure what it is exactly but I doubt it's close to +2.

He really hasn't been getting too much from the line, but last game he had 5 FGA and 10 Free Throws, which just in itself is going to lead to a lot of super efficient nights. The 2ptA to FTA ratio hasn't been there like it has in his college season, but let's see how it goes from here.

His 2pt% HAS been solid/impressive, and that was an area of concern entering the nba from college. Very strange in a way, big jump in efficiency there.

[ArthurVandelay]

I'm pretty sure he has a big wingspan, not sure what it is exactly but I doubt it's close to +2.

He really hasn't been getting too much from the line, but last game he had 5 FGA and 10 Free Throws, which just in itself is going to lead to a lot of super efficient nights. The 2ptA to FTA ratio hasn't been there like it has in his college season, but let's see how it goes from here.

His 2pt% HAS been solid/impressive, and that was an area of concern entering the nba from college. Very strange in a way, big jump in efficiency there.

He was playing on an injured knee last year from Christmas on.

It tanked his efficiency which tanked his draft stock…to the Raptors benefit.

[Thaddy]

I'm pretty sure he has a big wingspan, not sure what it is exactly but I doubt it's close to +2.

He really hasn't been getting too much from the line, but last game he had 5 FGA and 10 Free Throws, which just in itself is going to lead to a lot of super efficient nights. The 2ptA to FTA ratio hasn't been there like it has in his college season, but let's see how it goes from here.

His 2pt% HAS been solid/impressive, and that was an area of concern entering the nba from college. Very strange in a way, big jump in efficiency there.

He should have gone top 5. His injury was a big reason he dropped. Him dropping was bigger than Knecht dropping. We had an incredible 2024 draft. Walter is going to show he's better than Dick by the end of this season. Watch out.

[HumbleRen]

Read on Twitter

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[LoveMyRaps]

The rook plays well and coach Darko decides to glue him to the bench.

[Thaddy]

He had a bad game but I like his defense and ability to move without the ball. I'd like to see him get more shots up in the mid range and focus on corner 3s. He looks better than Agbaji did when he first arrived here.

[RoteSchroder]

looks like a potential future bench player to me

[Psubs]

The rook plays well and coach Darko decides to glue him to the bench.

Now he's slumpling, pressing too much. I guess it was mandated to let Bruce Brown play heavy minutes and he's shown to be a really good asset.

I think they know what they have in Battle so give him no minutes. They are keeping him so not showcasing.

I think Olynyk was showcased well and now has right calf tightness. So getting massages until he's traded.

[Thaddy]

We have chosen him over Agbaji. Agbaji is on the trade block and Walter isn't. I think that speaks a lot to how we're internally ranking them.

[youngRAPZ]

We have chosen him over Agbaji. Agbaji is on the trade block and Walter isn't. I think that speaks a lot to how we're internally ranking them.

I think you just make up narratives in your head. You gotta slow down.

[Thaddy]

We have chosen him over Agbaji. Agbaji is on the trade block and Walter isn't. I think that speaks a lot to how we're internally ranking them.

I think you just make up narratives in your head. You gotta slow down.

He's our oldest prospect and we're rebuilding. We have a lot of shooting guards who, talent wise, would be internally ranked:

Brown
Agbaji
Dick
Walter

We need to trade 2 of them. Dick and Walter are our big bang for buck contracts while Brown and Agbaji will need new contracts sooner.

Agbaji is a good candidate to attach to a contract like Boucher, Mitchell and even Brown to consolidate into a good piece. I would guess that's why we're linked to players like Ingram, or at least low balling for him.

I would guess that package was Olynyk, Brown, and Agbaji for Ingram and Antonio Reeves.

Poeltl / Robinson
Barnes / Mogbo
Ingram / Walter
Barrett / Dick
Quickely / Mitchell / Shead

Much more balanced and the average age is still the same if not lower.

[youngRAPZ]

We have chosen him over Agbaji. Agbaji is on the trade block and Walter isn't. I think that speaks a lot to how we're internally ranking them.

I think you just make up narratives in your head. You gotta slow down.

He's our oldest prospect and we're rebuilding. We have a lot of shooting guards who, talent wise, would be internally ranked:

Brown
Agbaji
Dick
Walter

We need to trade 2 of them. Dick and Walter are our big bang for buck contracts while Brown and Agbaji will need new contracts sooner.

Agbaji is a good candidate to attach to a contract like Boucher, Mitchell and even Brown to consolidate into a good piece. I would guess that's why we're linked to players like Ingram, or at least low balling for him.

I would guess that package was Olynyk, Brown, and Agbaji for Ingram and Antonio Reeves.

Poeltl / Robinson
Barnes / Mogbo
Ingram / Walter
Barrett / Dick
Quickely / Mitchell / Shead

Much more balanced and the average age is still the same if not lower.

Why do we “need” to trade 2? You do realize injuries happen? So when we trade 2 and dick gets injured and we struggle next year with only Walter as a capable sg, will you then complain how management can’t put together a deep team?

Not to mention the obvious fact that all 3 of those players can play SF as well

[Thaddy]

I think you just make up narratives in your head. You gotta slow down.

He's our oldest prospect and we're rebuilding. We have a lot of shooting guards who, talent wise, would be internally ranked:

Brown
Agbaji
Dick
Walter

We need to trade 2 of them. Dick and Walter are our big bang for buck contracts while Brown and Agbaji will need new contracts sooner.

Agbaji is a good candidate to attach to a contract like Boucher, Mitchell and even Brown to consolidate into a good piece. I would guess that's why we're linked to players like Ingram, or at least low balling for him.

I would guess that package was Olynyk, Brown, and Agbaji for Ingram and Antonio Reeves.

Poeltl / Robinson
Barnes / Mogbo
Ingram / Walter
Barrett / Dick
Quickely / Mitchell / Shead

Much more balanced and the average age is still the same if not lower.

Why do we “need” to trade 2? You do realize injuries happen? So when we trade 2 and dick gets injured and we struggle next year with only Walter as a capable sg, will you then complain how management can’t put together a deep team?

Not to mention the obvious fact that all 3 of those players can play SF as well

We'll probably draft another guard in the draft. We have to make space. A revolving door for the 3rd stringer will keep internal competition healthy and allow us to turnover assets for flexibility until we're buyers and ready to contend.

[MEDIC]

I still believe in Walter. He has two way skills & works hard.

Having said that, right now he has tWo way skills, so he needs to go down to the 905 & get a ton of reps.

Walter seems like the type of prospect that needs to re-assess/ reflect in the offseason, put in the work & come back as an improved player.

Psychologically, he seems to have the right approach to the game. It's mostly timing and skill (shooting) from what I see.

He looked better earlier in the season. Struggling now.

[bonjovi0308]

He just needs consistent playing time, whether it's with the big club or in 905. If you want to win now then demote Walter to play at the 905 for weeks, not keep yo yo ing him up and down

[Indeed]

He's our oldest prospect and we're rebuilding. We have a lot of shooting guards who, talent wise, would be internally ranked:

Brown
Agbaji
Dick
Walter

We need to trade 2 of them. Dick and Walter are our big bang for buck contracts while Brown and Agbaji will need new contracts sooner.

Agbaji is a good candidate to attach to a contract like Boucher, Mitchell and even Brown to consolidate into a good piece. I would guess that's why we're linked to players like Ingram, or at least low balling for him.

I would guess that package was Olynyk, Brown, and Agbaji for Ingram and Antonio Reeves.

Poeltl / Robinson
Barnes / Mogbo
Ingram / Walter
Barrett / Dick
Quickely / Mitchell / Shead

Much more balanced and the average age is still the same if not lower.

Why do we “need” to trade 2? You do realize injuries happen? So when we trade 2 and dick gets injured and we struggle next year with only Walter as a capable sg, will you then complain how management can’t put together a deep team?

Not to mention the obvious fact that all 3 of those players can play SF as well

We'll probably draft another guard in the draft. We have to make space. A revolving door for the 3rd stringer will keep internal competition healthy and allow us to turnover assets for flexibility until we're buyers and ready to contend.

And we also have needs at other positions. Having 5 SG while the team lacked size doesn't seem to work.

[KillaSham23]

It's kind of weird to see how bad he is shooting 3s. Hopefully he'll fix that with leg strength or something. If he learns how to cut from Bruce Brown that will be a good way to see minutes.

[Indeed]

The rook plays well and coach Darko decides to glue him to the bench.

Now he's slumpling, pressing too much. I guess it was mandated to let Bruce Brown play heavy minutes and he's shown to be a really good asset.

I think they know what they have in Battle so give him no minutes. They are keeping him so not showcasing.

I think Olynyk was showcased well and now has right calf tightness. So getting massages until he's traded.

My concern is how Darko asks our players to defend. Shead, Mogbo and Walter have their fair share of fouling opposing player, and seems the approach is to hack (overly physical, pressed and to cheat against the refs not calling them). If you don't have a big shot blocker, I don't see this approach works, while having a big shot blocker behind, our offense isn't going to be good.

I am really unsure the approach from Darko is right.

[Psubs]

The rook plays well and coach Darko decides to glue him to the bench.

Now he's slumpling, pressing too much. I guess it was mandated to let Bruce Brown play heavy minutes and he's shown to be a really good asset.

I think they know what they have in Battle so give him no minutes. They are keeping him so not showcasing.

I think Olynyk was showcased well and now has right calf tightness. So getting massages until he's traded.

My concern is how Darko asks our players to defend. Shead, Mogbo and Walter have their fair share of fouling opposing player, and seems the approach is to hack (overly physical, pressed and to cheat against the refs not calling them). If you don't have a big shot blocker, I don't see this approach works, while having a big shot blocker behind, our offense isn't going to be good.

I am really unsure the approach from Darko is right.

I think as long as not reaching but playing ultra physical defense is prepping them for playoff level defense. Don't be lazy but slide and try to beat players to the spot seems good. Things will eventually slow down for them on defense.

Don't care about steal numbers, care about what film shows.