Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 2

[Cool-Hand-Luke]

Wut do you expect, he`s 280 lb

I wasn't aware of his weight. Just know he is listed at PF. So he likes his cheeseburgers.

I think he changed from double bacon cheeseburger to just cheeseburger. He lost alot of weight, he used to be over 300 pounds in high school

[fredericklove]

No jokes yeah he was super fat. Ohio is really lucky getting Aaron Craft...not many teams have a very productive back up point guard like him. If UNC has Aaron Craft as their starter they`ll be in final four ::lol

[TheRealDeal]

Very proud of my guy Barnes today, really showed his true colors. Look for his stock to rise near the end of the year although I'm still not convinced that he declares.

Anyone else think the Ohio connection makes it extremely likely that the Cavs pick Jared Sullinger? They need something to reinvigorate that franchise badly. What would be better than a Ohio native who attended Ohio State while they were #1 in the nation?

I can see it now. The homeless man with the golden voice Ted Williams "Introducing, a 6'9'' forward from THE Ohio State University. #0 JAAAAAAREDDD SULLINGERRRRR"

[HSOB SIRHC]

I don't know if the Cavs need Sullinger, they already have JJ Hickson.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

^Yeah, I can see Cleveland taking Sullinger if they don't land Irving. I mean, when you look at it, it's either going to be Perry Jones or Sullinger for them, assuming that they don't fall out of the top 3 entirely.

If they land, say, the 4th pick in the draft, they'll still have a shot at Sully, but I think they'll go with Barnes or T. Jones.

It all really depends on the lottery, and what teams pick where.

[fredericklove]

Very proud of my guy Barnes today, really showed his true colors. Look for his stock to rise near the end of the year although I'm still not convinced that he declares.

Anyone else think the Ohio connection makes it extremely likely that the Cavs pick Jared Sullinger? They need something to reinvigorate that franchise badly. What would be better than a Ohio native who attended Ohio State while they were #1 in the nation?

I can see it now. The homeless man with the golden voice Ted Williams "Introducing, a 6'9'' forward from THE Ohio State University. #0 JAAAAAAREDDD SULLINGERRRRR"

I think they will take Sully ...just to rub it in Queen James`s face. Telling him Sully will be loyal to cavs.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

And Sullinger is a guy with great character as well, not to mention a pretty good player in his own right. He'd be the logical (or sentimental) pick, I'd think. Then, they could use Hickson as a trade asset to get better at other positions.

[5DOM]

Cleveland's going to need more than one player to save the franchise and I think taking Sullinger would be a nice start and good PR move for them. [/clevelandpleasedontdraftkyrie]

[RomaniaLuvTR]

Very proud of my guy Barnes today, really showed his true colors. Look for his stock to rise near the end of the year although I'm still not convinced that he declares.

Anyone else think the Ohio connection makes it extremely likely that the Cavs pick Jared Sullinger? They need something to reinvigorate that franchise badly. What would be better than a Ohio native who attended Ohio State while they were #1 in the nation?

I can see it now. The homeless man with the golden voice Ted Williams "Introducing, a 6'9'' forward from THE Ohio State University. #0 JAAAAAAREDDD SULLINGERRRRR"

i really realy hope we end up with him if welose irving..i still have faith in this guy

[Kingsforlife]

Perry Jones is an intriguing prospect. His having a good game right now. handles for his size are unbelievable and his jumper is smooth.

Some people say he's going to be a SF. Watching him play right now he looks exactly like Stromile Swift. Exactly the same looking game.

I agree too

[sunny]

dwill has a sprained finger - playing right now vs usc

[sunny]

he is playing only using his left hand right now and dominating early

haha please go watch!

BEAR DOWN

[baulderdash77]

Perry Jones is an intriguing prospect. His having a good game right now. handles for his size are unbelievable and his jumper is smooth.

Some people say he's going to be a SF. Watching him play right now he looks exactly like Stromile Swift. Exactly the same looking game.

I agree too

Lol- Stro Show. No seriously he does look atlot like Tyson Chandler. From what I saw in him in a game he's not worth the 2nd overall pick.

Anyone who say's he's a SF is just parroting what Chad Ford or DraftExpress is talking about him. Maybe in HS he played a different position- I don't know.

He's playing Center right now not PF, not SF- Center. On every defensive posession he sets up in the center of the paint then moves with the zone. On every offensive posession he sets up on the left low post waiting for an entry pass.

I don't see him blowing by guys when he gets it. Mostly it's lobs, put backs or a hook shot.

On the defensive side he's not blocking anybody and he's the 2nd best rebounder on his team.

He "looks" really athletic out there and it may hurt peoples feelings to hear it but- he doesn't know how to use his athleticism to his advantage.

[sunny]

literally playing with 1 hand, Derrick Williams scored 20 points on 6 shots.
3/3 from three

[yayotube]

literally playing with 1 hand, Derrick Williams scored 20 points on 6 shots.
3/3 from three

I've only seen YouTube highlights and stuff, but can he play SF or is he projected to be a PF at the NBA level? I googled around and the general sentiment seems to be he's stuck in between both positions, being a bit undersized to be a PF (we have enough of those anyway) but yet he's not quick enough to guard the SF position in the NBA.

I honestly hope he can become an NBA SF, more variety for us to choose from. And if he can throw down dunks like that 360 for no reason, sign me up

[sunny]

in HS he played the 3
in college due to arizona's lack of bigs and abundance of wings, he is mostly playing the 4 and 5.

He is extremely athletic, has range and can get to the basket at will.
He is also everything you want an in a player on your team. Extremely hard worker, team guy, and fan favourite.

[yayotube]

Thanks he's having a great year so far, so we'll only be hearing more and more of him.

[Waylon Mercy]

Ehhhhhh what do you know we had a Harrison Barnes sighting today....

This draft is so depressingly bad that if Barnes tears it up from this point on
he could still be the number 1 pick.

If Irving doesn't play another game this season and declares for the draft hes almost a lock
to still be the Number 1 pick.

Its smarter for him to declare this year where hes almost guaranteed Ist pick over all money
as opposed to taking his chances next year where the draft is deeper.

[CunningLinguist]

If we end up drafting 6th (I'm just saying if), and that once Irving, the jones brother, barnes and sullinger are off on the radar...and we are left with no choice but to choose one of those soft euros, then yes, I can totally see a judgment day happening on realgm.

At the rate Barnes is falling, he will not only be available, he might be available at 15. He has to work big time to just to put an end to his free fall.

As for the best pick at #4, if that were our lot, there is a reason DraftX is holding rock solid on Valanciunas at #3 and it's time we focus a little more on why.

The kid is 18, 6'11 in bare feet, with a 9-4 wingspan. But he's not the Bargnani type of skilled big man with no aggression, or Ajinca type whose size is under-utilized - he's more assertive/aggressive in a more North American kind of way. First off, as an 18 year old on a Euroleague team, he doesn't get minutes like the veterans so when he gets into a game, he attacked the offensive boards to make an impression. He's got a strong face the basket game, and a lot of what he does can be described as high energy grappling in the paint. He's a good defensive rebounder, a very promising shot blocker and intimidator. He very much needs to develop a back to the basket game, but we're talking about an 18 year old - there's time.

Oh, and he's a 90 percent free throw shooter, so he will not get hacked, at least not deliberately because on the offensive boards in particular, it's like giving up a high percentage three point play.

He's passionate about the NBA, but might have to wait until the 2012-13 season to come over. On the face of it, thats a negative, but could be great for us in two ways - first, if there is a lockout, he keeps playing at a high level so of his development isn't lost. Secondly, if there isn't a lockout, it helps us suck enough to get another high pick - so for 2012-13 we'd have two very high picks arrive at the same time, which would be a compelling thing to watch and would clearly mark the start of the way back up.

I track all his game. He gets real minutes, usually in the first half. In his last game on Wednesday, which was an upset win for Rytas in the Euroleague Round of 16, he had eight points (4-6) and seven boards (3 offensive) in 16 minutes. His numbers are larger in the Lithuanian League games, played on weekends.

I'm not picking draft favorites yet, but this kid has as much right to be in the draft conversation as any other 18 or 19 year old on the board and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand because of his skin color or nationality. He does play a position of need, comes out of a country with a history of developing good big men, is playing in higher competition than a lot of NCAA prospects, and seems to have the kind of mental makeup that one would want in a high pick. And think any big who practices 200 free throws a day is dedicated to being the best possible pro.

Just watch him, don't commit to him, don't exclude him, just don't ignore him.

Good points. Other than the anti-Euro whackjobs, I think the problem for some is that it's difficult to assess a player they haven't seen. This usually results in two camps: those that make negative assumptions and those that assume greatness in a player because they cannot identify their faults. I don't think think either position is reasonable.

The challenge for me is that I watch several hundred college games a year and will get to assess the pros and cons of someone like Terrence Jones based on seeing him play 20 or so games before the year is out. To draft someone over a player you've actually seen and been impressed with is akin to choosing what's behind door #3 on Let's Make a Deal.

[SkywalkerAC]

der-will might work as a power 3?

Bay
DD
Der-will
AB
Amir

some athleticism there to be sure. it's more than a little light on ball skills but there are some attack skills.

i wonder if perry jones could play as an interior point forward with AB at the 5... is the defensive potential not there?

OT - i really don't mind Julian Wright that much. would like keep him around on a bargain basement contract. weems too.

we need to continue adding athletes and playmakers. preferably we get a guy that can do both. still hoping T-jones is that guy. who's got the best chance of being a stopper at the 3?