Jerry Lucas wrote:I'm not saying it's 100% impossible that the Raptors draft an international prospect with the FRP, but just keep in mind everyone, that Masai hasn't drafted outside of the NCAA with a FRP since the Bruno mistake in 2014. We're talking about a sample size since then, of 7 actual FRPs, and 2 very early SRPs (pick 31 Mogbo and pick 33 Koloko), all being NCAA prospects.
The likelihood of that just being random is very low. NCAA production is by far the easiest to project forward to the the next level, and the Raptors being a front office that incorporates analytics heavily into their draft process, definitely know this too. The risk factor of whiffing on the pick is far lower when selecting prospects from the NCAA.
In saying this though, if Giannis was hypothetically a 2025 draft prospect instead of 2013, Masai would take him 1st overall. So that's why I'm saying it's not 100% impossible. But if it happens that probably means whoever the pick is, the Raptors are extremely high on their potential. Even Bruno, who ended up being a big miss, Masai was very high on his potential, and decided to gamble with that pick.
Toronto puts a lot of equity into thinking differently. Yes, analytics plays a part, but they are invested in Africa and Europe on the developmental level with different camps they organize and support.
Also, they have Darko who grew up with European coaching approaches, and they have Ivo Simovic another European whose primary role was to recruit European stars to UCLA. I think this is the first true year of full-on Darko ball and we see the outline of what will work: players with defensive activity, unselfish and can read the floor, and hopefully can shoot it although they believe they can teach players to shoot like Mogbo and Shead.
I think at some point we have to tap into Europe, especially French or Serbian players as there are so many skilled players that could translate to the NBA. I think we probably would have drafted Bilal Coulibaly but I think people were a bit surpised he went that high. But that athletic, long-armed defender type has to be a fit here. It's why I think productive guys like Essengue and Beringer will be on our radar.
Markovic fits with our playmaking big man. I see how Darko likes his inverted pick and rolls and having a skilled big seems to keep popping up in guys we test out including Olynyk, Jontay Porter and Colin Castleton.