With the 39th pick, the Raptors select Alijah Martin!

[Stromile12]

is he our deuce mcbride

[Orange Balls]

Defense is overrated in today's NBA. This was a draft and tanking disaster.

The Thunder won the title from a best in class defence that frequently was outshot by better shooting teams. Including in the Finals but their ability to turn teams over and get extra possessions became a huge problem for the league.

Chet wasn’t even that great on O this year as a third guy for them in the playoff run either. He was bigger on defence. They rode SGA and Jalen and then wrecked teams defensively. In their close out game in that third quarter their defence went supernova.

Don’t forget. As the whistle is used slightly less in the Finals for ticky tack stuff that might get called in the reg season more it helps to have physical defenders.

They have an offensive superstar. That changes everything about how they can build a team. They aren't that great really either. We both know how close they came to blowing it against the 4th seed in the weak east. Defense also matters a bit more in the playoffs I'll admit but offense rules the NBA now and a hot team can smoke any defense. We could have done much better this draft than 2 low ceiling guys that can't score.

[Orange Balls]

Defense is overrated in today's NBA. This was a draft and tanking disaster.

Not sure how you could conclude this after the playoffs we just watched

There was too many injuries in the league to have a real playoffs this year.

[ConSarnit]

Wondering if Martin can handle the ball and make the right read at the pg spot. If he does he would become the ideal pg for us.

Seems unlikely. His ast% was 10% in college. That is usually the number of a 3+D player. Shead was at 30% in college. Davion Mitchell (who is not really a great playmaker) was at 23% in college.

He seems like a straight 3+D guy, which could be ok given we should get well above average playmaking from our forwards in Barnes, BI and CMB.

[OakleyDokely]

Defense and offense are overrated. Mostly about those insta likes.

[DreamTeam09]

Defense is overrated in today's NBA. This was a draft and tanking disaster.

Not sure how you could conclude this after the playoffs we just watched

If defense is overrated, that must mean offense is way to go & the highpoint, which makes DEFENSE even more important. I hate these one line catchphrases that ppl live by

[RapsFanInOhio]

I like the pick. I’m a little surprised we didnt go younger here, but on the flip side, hes probably good enough right now that he can step in and play minutes at point if IQ or Shead miss time. He’s a combo guard so he’s not creating but he can hit an open shot and can play off the ball with Scottie or Ingram, so there’s a role for him.

This FO’s allergy to the center position is a tradition unlike any other. That’s not knocking this pick at all - he seems like a very hard worker who is going to fit right in. I don’t think Chomche is ultimately a center so I’m a bit disappointed that they didn’t target someone they could develop there. It was either going to be a smaller guard here or a center and I get this - it gives some IQ/Shead insurance. But centers take forever to develop and I thought they should have gotten one on the roster in this draft.

[Public_Enemy101]

God damnit. This was more reason to get Walter Clayton Jr.

Gator boys would have been a fun dual to watch for the Raptors.

[TimeForChange]

Read on Twitter

[Westside Gunn]

lol raptors PR putting these players in awkward situations
let em come in and give a good old press conference

[WuTang_OG]

Read on Twitter

[Westside Gunn]

God damnit. This was more reason to get Walter Clayton Jr.

Gator boys would have been a fun dual to watch for the Raptors.

They should've drafted clayton just for his mom

Players really stepped up with the moms this year in the draft

[WuTang_OG]

Watch on YouTube

[ConSarnit]

I like the pick. I’m a little surprised we didnt go younger here, but on the flip side, hes probably good enough right now that he can step in and play minutes at point if IQ or Shead miss time. He’s a combo guard so he’s not creating but he can hit an open shot and can play off the ball with Scottie or Ingram, so there’s a role for him.

This FO’s allergy to the center position is a tradition unlike any other. That’s not knocking this pick at all - he seems like a very hard worker who is going to fit right in. I don’t think Chomche is ultimately a center so I’m a bit disappointed that they didn’t target someone they could develop there. It was either going to be a smaller guard here or a center and I get this - it gives some IQ/Shead insurance. But centers take forever to develop and I thought they should have gotten one on the roster in this draft.

As far as 2nd round centers go the pickings are usually slim. After pick 40 I counted 3 centers that would be considered at least “backup level” taken in the past decade.

[manjusaka]

Wondering if Martin can handle the ball and make the right read at the pg spot. If he does he would become the ideal pg for us.

Seems unlikely. His ast% was 10% in college. That is usually the number of a 3+D player. Shead was at 30% in college. Davion Mitchell (who is not really a great playmaker) was at 23% in college.

He seems like a straight 3+D guy, which could be ok given we should get well above average playmaking from our forwards in Barnes, BI and CMB.

Suggs was playing off the ball in gonza. Assuming in the future SB and CMB will play together on the court. Our pg doesn’t need to running the offence set regularly. He just needs to handle the ball not turning it over, and make the right decision at the right time.

With Martin everything else is already given: defence, toughness, fire, off ball cut, catch and shoot. Love the pick.

[Dalek]

I fell out of my chair when we drafted Alijah Martin, but the first time I fell out of my chair was this moment.

Watch on YouTube

[Dalek]

Give him #15, man has VC type ups. I love dunkers and we haven't had one like this in ages.

[Tripod]

I like the pick. I’m a little surprised we didnt go younger here, but on the flip side, hes probably good enough right now that he can step in and play minutes at point if IQ or Shead miss time. He’s a combo guard so he’s not creating but he can hit an open shot and can play off the ball with Scottie or Ingram, so there’s a role for him.

This FO’s allergy to the center position is a tradition unlike any other. That’s not knocking this pick at all - he seems like a very hard worker who is going to fit right in. I don’t think Chomche is ultimately a center so I’m a bit disappointed that they didn’t target someone they could develop there. It was either going to be a smaller guard here or a center and I get this - it gives some IQ/Shead insurance. But centers take forever to develop and I thought they should have gotten one on the roster in this draft.

As far as 2nd round centers go the pickings are usually slim. After pick 40 I counted 3 centers that would be considered at least “backup level” taken in the past decade.

They made it clear C's take awhile to develop.

We are going to add a LEGIT backup C already in the league.

[WuTang_OG]

Read on Twitter

[RaptorPride]

I fell out of my chair when we drafted Alijah Martin, but the first time I fell out of my chair was this moment.

Watch on YouTube

calling the shortest guy on the floor "Big Fella".
Gonna be a beast