Which one of these "scrubs" has impressed you the most?

[LoveMyRaps]

Key Notes about a few of these guys:


Orlando Robinson (24 years old):
- Has shown the ability to stretch the floor
- Continues to struggle with the floater but said he's working w/ Poeltl to improve it
- Asked Lowry to observe him before the game and offer feedback
- Has actually put up really good numbers in the G-League:
Averages (2022-24) - 27 games:
32.0 MPG, 22.1 PPG, 55.45% FG, 32.8% 3P, 65.5% FT, 4.2 ORB, 7.4 DRB, 11.6 TRB, 2.75 AST, 2.95 TO, 1.25 BLK, 1.8 STL


AJ Lawson (24 years old):
- Best player ever out of Brampton (Screw Tristan Thompson)
- LAWSANITY : Averaging 30ppg in his last 2 games
- Showing some 3&D potential
- Has also put up really good numbers in the G-League
- Raptors development staff has unlocked his 3pt shot - prior to joining the 905, he shot 32% from 3 in 108 games. With the 905, he's shooting 40% in 25 games


Jared Rhoden (25 years old):
- Has been the most consistent of the bunch
- A Swiss army knife type of guy, does a little bit of everything
- Another guy that has produced exceptionally well in the G-League


Worth noting that these guys are putting up big numbers against subpar competition. I'm not buying any shares of either guy quite yet. But if you had to bet on one of these guys, who do you think is the most likely to crack the rotation next year?

[RoteSchroder]

how do Rhoden and Lawson compare defensively?

Robinson looks a little slow. Should be a good 3rd string C if we ever get a back-up (or 2nd string while we wait for a C prospect to develop)

[LoveMyRaps]

how do Rhoden and Lawson compare defensively?

Robinson looks a little slow. Should be a good 3rd string C if we ever get a back-up (or 2nd string while we wait for a C prospect to develop)

They’re both the same level defensively IMO.

If Robinson was even an average finisher around the rim, we’d have something. He’s slowly getting better tho… made a couple nice hook shots today…

Said he’s been learning from Poeltl, who’s got one of the best floaters in the game for a big man.

[Raps in 4]

Honestly, I don't even know who's who.

[Thaddy]

Rhoden has the best defense. I'd rather have a 19 year old Maluach than Robinson.

[mrdressup]

Robinson isn't an NBA player. He has no touch 2-3 feet from the rim to serve as a base for any stretch he has in his game. The game looks hard for him at speed. His hand offs are infuriatingly broken and unsafe. He freezes on offense. He's a guy who'll make his coach go bald.

I can get behind any role player that plays with a lot of pace as long as they are not chuckers or turnover machines. Lawson gives me the "give me the ball and watch me try to score" vibe like RJ. The guy that has impressed me most is Castleton. He alters a lot of shots at the rim. He closes out really well. He can pass. He doesn't eat the ball. He rebounds. There's good flow to his game. He gets his hands on a lot of balls. He doesn't fumble the ball on catches. No great offense, but serviceable in the minor role he would get.

[kalel123]

None.

Robinson probably has best chance to make it to the team as a 3rd big in case of injuries. But most of these guys putting up big numbers now will all of a sudden look not so good when teams are trying again.

[ItsDanger]

Lawson has been better than expected. He competes on defense at least.

[deck]

Lawson. Of all the g-leaguers we've taken a flyer on in the past couple seasons (Dowtin, JFL) Lawson at least has NBA length for the SG position.

[Psubs]

Robinson isn't an NBA player. He has no touch 2-3 feet from the rim to serve as a base for any stretch he has in his game. The game looks hard for him at speed. His hand offs are infuriatingly broken and unsafe. He freezes on offense. He's a guy who'll make his coach go bald.

I can get behind any role player that plays with a lot of pace as long as they are not chuckers or turnover machines. Lawson gives me the "give me the ball and watch me try to score" vibe like RJ. The guy that has impressed me most is Castleton. He alters a lot of shots at the rim. He closes out really well. He can pass. He doesn't eat the ball. He rebounds. There's good flow to his game. He gets his hands on a lot of balls. He doesn't fumble the ball on catches. No great offense, but serviceable in the minor role he would get.

Ya, Robinson plays like Angel Reese but can hit the occasional 3. He will never be more than a 3rd C on a contender.

Lawson could be a 6th man microwave scorer and be MLE cost. I could see him carve out a 10 year career.

Castleton could become on say a Zach Collins level player without 3pt shooting. Not that mobile but can do most of the other things Zach does. Castleton only needs to hit the weight room. Really though, he could just become a cheap backup C that doesn't hurt a contending team playing 15-20 mpg.

[Psubs]

how do Rhoden and Lawson compare defensively?

Robinson looks a little slow. Should be a good 3rd string C if we ever get a back-up (or 2nd string while we wait for a C prospect to develop)

Not necessary next year with Chomche should be taking that role.

[Duffman100]

I think they're all 11-13 guys on our team next year, but I'd put Lawson as the guy who can crack and get a solid rotation spot.

Especially if we consolidate and trim a bit of the guard glut we have.

I like Rhoden. No standout skill but guy competes.

Robinson I'm torn on. I think he can be a 3rd center, but as someone else pointed out - if we draft Malauch/Newell/Queen, do you want just them and Robinson backing up Poeltl?

[Jerry Lucas]

But if you had to bet on one of these guys, who do you think is the most likely to crack the rotation next year?

I went with Rhoden, simply because he is already signed for next year while the other 2 aren't.

[YogurtProducer]

Rhoden has the best defense. I'd rather have a 19 year old Maluach than Robinson.

Why does every thread with some of you have to end up at the same place

Lawson to me has been the most impressive. 7/14 from 3 in a game shows there is some willingness to let them fly and hit them. Consistency is a different animal

[YogurtProducer]

I think they're all 11-13 guys on our team next year, but I'd put Lawson as the guy who can crack and get a solid rotation spot.

Especially if we consolidate and trim a bit of the guard glut we have.

I like Rhoden. No standout skill but guy competes.

Robinson I'm torn on. I think he can be a 3rd center, but as someone else pointed out - if we draft Malauch/Newell/Queen, do you want just them and Robinson backing up Poeltl?

I dont think we can keep all 3 unless we make some serious moves. We already got 11 guys under contract, 2 draft picks, + Chomche, and IMO Boucher is back. That is 15 guys already.

[Duffman100]

I think they're all 11-13 guys on our team next year, but I'd put Lawson as the guy who can crack and get a solid rotation spot.

Especially if we consolidate and trim a bit of the guard glut we have.

I like Rhoden. No standout skill but guy competes.

Robinson I'm torn on. I think he can be a 3rd center, but as someone else pointed out - if we draft Malauch/Newell/Queen, do you want just them and Robinson backing up Poeltl?

I dont think we can keep all 3 unless we make some serious moves. We already got 11 guys under contract, 2 draft picks, + Chomche, and IMO Boucher is back. That is 15 guys already.

Can we even afford Boucher?

[RoteSchroder]

how do Rhoden and Lawson compare defensively?

Robinson looks a little slow. Should be a good 3rd string C if we ever get a back-up (or 2nd string while we wait for a C prospect to develop)

Not necessary next year with Chomche should be taking that role.

I’m guessing Chomche never really becomes a rotation player. He’s struggling even off the bench in the G-league and looks lost half the time.

[TakeYourHeart]

I think Orlando Robinson has shown himself to be a servicable backup big. As I look around the league and see what bigs are coming off the bench, I think Robinson can hang with many on them. This has more to do with the dire state of bigs of the league, but still:

Suns: Mason Plumbee
Nuggets: Deandre Jordan
Lakers: Alex Len
Clippers: Drew Eubanks
SIxers: Drummond
Pacers: Thomas Bryant
Bucks: Jericho Sims
Magic: Wagner
Warriors: Looney
Kings: JV

Orlando Robinson is not the solution but he's playable and for that reason I'm impressed.

[Jerry Lucas]

I think they're all 11-13 guys on our team next year, but I'd put Lawson as the guy who can crack and get a solid rotation spot.

Especially if we consolidate and trim a bit of the guard glut we have.

I like Rhoden. No standout skill but guy competes.

Robinson I'm torn on. I think he can be a 3rd center, but as someone else pointed out - if we draft Malauch/Newell/Queen, do you want just them and Robinson backing up Poeltl?

I dont think we can keep all 3 unless we make some serious moves. We already got 11 guys under contract, 2 draft picks, + Chomche, and IMO Boucher is back. That is 15 guys already.

Can we even afford Boucher?

Pretty much depends on where the pick ends up after the lottery, and if he would even be willing to sign for the vet minimum. I would say he very likely won't be back, but it's not impossible.

[aminiaturebuddha]

how do Rhoden and Lawson compare defensively?

Robinson looks a little slow. Should be a good 3rd string C if we ever get a back-up (or 2nd string while we wait for a C prospect to develop)

Not necessary next year with Chomche should be taking that role.

I’m guessing Chomche never really becomes a rotation player. He’s struggling even off the bench in the G-league and looks lost half the time.

That wasn't what I was seeing. Sure, he obviously was still making mistakes as a just-turned-19-year old, but the second half of the G-League season, he was becoming real difference maker on the defensive side of the ball.

I don't know yet whether or not he'll become a long-term rotation guy in the league, and I think he probably needs another season down in the G-League before they try him out for regular NBA minutes, but I definitely wouldn't say he was struggling off the bench in the G-League. He was 4th in blocks, for example, and everyone else in the top 20 was 2-8 years older than him (most of them 5 or 6 years older). He was also 17th in rebounds. I'd say he's developing as expected.