Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 4

Post #1321 » by **darth_federer** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:03 am

6. Donatas Motiejunas, International, PF/SF: Arguably the most NBA-ready prospect among international players. A 7-foot big man who can shoot, he's instant offense in the Nowitzki/Bargnani mold. Has excellent range to beyond the arc.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... o_sta.html

Through the eyes of Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Five years ago the All-Star center was conducting a Basketball Without Borders camp in his native Lithuania when a shy young camper approached him. "It was [Donatas] Motiejunas," recalled Ilgauskas, now the backup big man for the Miami Heat. "You could tell he was very talented."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... z1Ha3qHJM3

TheRealDeal · Post #1322 » by **TheRealDeal** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:03 am

So much for a Kyrie Irving vs. Kemba Walker match-up. The next time we'll be seeing Kyrie play is for the Raptors.

fredericklove · Post #1323 » by **fredericklove** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:03 am

Rapsobsessed7 wrote:Sunny is gonna flip lol

Im surprised he's disappeared the whole time, I think he's probably having a celebration party right now :lol:

tecumseh18 · Post #1324 » by **tecumseh18** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:03 am

MEDIC wrote:
Harry Palmer wrote:
MikeM wrote:Can't see why D-Will can't play SF. I mean, he's quicker than our current SF.

I think the concern is more reactive quickness than active quickness.

That's a good way of putting it. Lots of big guys can pick up speed end to end, but can they react quickly when a lighter, speedier player tries to go by them?

I don't think anyone has seen D-Will as anything but a PF. But his arms look long, if he measures well, he could go high. Hopefully before us, because we don't need another damn PF, especially not an undersized one.

Brinbe · Post #1325 » by **Brinbe** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:03 am

I think I'd still go Irving @ 1. No doubt.

MEDIC · Post #1326 » by **MEDIC** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:04 am

Well, put me officially on the Derrick Williams bandwagon.

Whether he's a SF or a PF, who cares. He's a basketball player & has great athleticism, size & skills.

I'd be happy to have him.

Makes me more excited about the upcoming draft to know this kind of talent is available.

Yeezus_ · Post #1327 » by **Yeezus_** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:04 am

dagger wrote:
TheRealDeal wrote:
dagger wrote:Williams or Barnes may end up going ahead of Irving. Barnes was projected originally to go ahead of Irving, and I think Kyrie would have had to show more to lock up #1 overall. He's shown he has the scoring part down, but then that's not unique, even with the guards in this draft. A good game or two from here on in could vault Williams, Barnes or Sullinger into the #1 slot.

It's definitely possible and what I've been hoping for all year. BUT once the hype dies down from the tournament, if a team that needs a PG has the #1 pick, then I think Kyrie still goes #1.

Well, if we got #1, it would be really challenging. Do we go for Irving, or if Barnes has a big windup, why not him. I've suggested the 2012 draft has more point guard depth anyway and a small forward with good shooting range would be more impactful. Heck, if Williams or Sullinger go all the way with the same kind of games, we could end up with the second or third pick and still face a PG/SF dilemma with Irving/Barnes.

A part of me wants the first pick, a part of me doesn't.

TheRealDeal · Post #1328 » by **TheRealDeal** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:05 am

fredericklove wrote:
Rapsobsessed7 wrote:Sunny is gonna flip lol

Im surprised he's disappeared the whole time, I think he's probably having a celebration party right now

he broke his comp when Duke was up by 9

fredericklove · Post #1329 » by **fredericklove** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:06 am

dagger wrote:
Well, if we got #1, it would be really challenging. Do we go for Irving, or if Barnes has a big windup, why not him. I've suggested the 2012 draft has more point guard depth anyway and a small forward with good shooting range would be more impactful. Heck, if Williams or Sullinger go all the way with the same kind of games, we could end up with the second or third pick and still face a PG/SF dilemma with Irving/Barnes.

Rationally raptors need a better point guard who can create who can score who can be active defensively. I like barnes, but we need someone who can control the game, have the ball in his hand the whole game. But judging from BC's perspective, he doesn't want to end his love affair with Jose so I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't take irving as number one pick.

Rapsfan07 · Post #1330 » by **Rapsfan07** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:06 am

Holy shi*t ! what a win!

Man this is gonna be BIG news ! If Irving's stock drops, I hope it's not too much to make him stay an extra year. Maybe we can snag him just like we snagged DeRozan and Davis.

Prestige · Post #1331 » by **Prestige** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:07 am

We're not good enough to draft based on position. If Williams is the highest rated prospect on the board when we draft, we take him. We can try him at SF, we can see if he's a better PF prospect than Ed, we might even bring him off the bench for a year. Who knows, perhaps Davis or Amir will be traded to shore up other positions. The best thing to do would be to collect good assets, than we can flip and deal once we know the value of each of them.

fredericklove · Post #1332 » by **fredericklove** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:07 am

TheRealDeal wrote:
fredericklove wrote:
Rapsobsessed7 wrote:Sunny is gonna flip lol

Im surprised he's disappeared the whole time, I think he's probably having a celebration party right now

he broke his comp when Duke was up by 9

probably was upset and chucked down a vodka bottle and passed out during halftime :lol:

Post #1333 » by **darth_federer** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:07 am

MEDIC wrote:Well, put me officially on the Derrick Williams bandwagon.

Whether he's a SF or a PF, who cares. He's a basketball player & has great athleticism, size & skills.

I'd be happy to have him.

Makes me more excited about the upcoming draft to know this kind of talent is available.

We dont need another PF. In fact I dont even know if I would draft a C. Between Amir, Ed and Andrea we either trade one for a C or one of them can end up playing it.

dagger · Post #1334 » by **dagger** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:07 am

chadfordinsider
Amazing game for Arizona and Derrick Williams. Hard to find the right comp for him. Better version of David West? Tougher Antawn Jamison?

Better than David West? Tougher than Jamison? That's not too far from perennial all-star territory.

TheRealDeal · Post #1335 » by **TheRealDeal** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:08 am

dagger wrote:
TheRealDeal wrote:
dagger wrote:Williams or Barnes may end up going ahead of Irving. Barnes was projected originally to go ahead of Irving, and I think Kyrie would have had to show more to lock up #1 overall. He's shown he has the scoring part down, but then that's not unique, even with the guards in this draft. A good game or two from here on in could vault Williams, Barnes or Sullinger into the #1 slot.

It's definitely possible and what I've been hoping for all year. BUT once the hype dies down from the tournament, if a team that needs a PG has the #1 pick, then I think Kyrie still goes #1.

Well, if we got #1, it would be really challenging. Do we go for Irving, or if Barnes has a big windup, why not him. I've suggested the 2012 draft has more point guard depth anyway and a small forward with good shooting range would be more impactful. Heck, if Williams or Sullinger go all the way with the same kind of games, we could end up with the second or third pick and still face a PG/SF dilemma with Irving/Barnes.

I know what you're saying but personally I'd still take Irving. Jose could possibly net us another nice piece this summer to get even younger.

Mr.Raptorsingh · Post #1336 » by **Mr.Raptorsingh** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:08 am

I'd go Irving at 1 as well. Dude just lost his 1st college game. Coach K absolutely raved about him, so he's got the accolades. I'd still take him, I think.

At 5 or 6 or whatever, I think we'll have a shot at Valanciunas, Perry Jones, Kanter, Knight, and Walker. Who would you choose out of that group?

Post #1337 » by **Harry Palmer** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:09 am

fredericklove wrote:
dagger wrote:
Well, if we got #1, it would be really challenging. Do we go for Irving, or if Barnes has a big windup, why not him. I've suggested the 2012 draft has more point guard depth anyway and a small forward with good shooting range would be more impactful. Heck, if Williams or Sullinger go all the way with the same kind of games, we could end up with the second or third pick and still face a PG/SF dilemma with Irving/Barnes.

Rationally raptors need a better point guard who can create who can score who can be active defensively. I like barnes, but we need someone who can control the game, have the ball in his hand the whole game. But judging from BC's perspective, he doesn't want to end his love affair with Jose so I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't take irving as number one pick.

To me it breaks down both ways. What we absolutely need more than anything is star talent. IMO there's just not much of that in this draft, with P. Jones probably having the most but having one of the lesser odds of maxing out.

So then you drop down a peg and ask: if none of these guys are real difference makers, who fits our needs most in the next tier?

In which case I think you can make an argument either way. I just hope we suck again/more next year and some actual star talent comes our way.

MEDIC · Post #1338 » by **MEDIC** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:09 am

tecumseh18 wrote:
MEDIC wrote:
Harry Palmer wrote:I think the concern is more reactive quickness than active quickness.

That's a good way of putting it. Lots of big guys can pick up speed end to end, but can they react quickly when a lighter, speedier player tries to go by them?

I don't think anyone has seen D-Will as anything but a PF. But his arms look long, if he measures well, he could go high. Hopefully before us, because we don't need another damn PF, especially not an undersized one.

That's my concern as well. DX has him slated as an NBA PF. They've seen a lot more of him than I have.

He's a heck of a basketball player though. He may be an undersized PF, but he seems to have the wingspan & hops to make up for it. Everyone would love to have Blake Griffin on their team.

Mr.Raptorsingh · Post #1339 » by **Mr.Raptorsingh** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:10 am

raptorsnation_5 wrote:
A part of me wants the first pick, a part of me doesn't.

I feel the same way.

Post #1340 » by **5DOM** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:11 am

PRESTIGE wrote:We're not good enough to draft based on position. If Williams is the highest rated prospect on the board when we draft, we take him. We can try him at SF, we can see if he's a better PF prospect than Ed, we might even bring him off the bench for a year. Who knows, perhaps Davis or Amir will be traded to shore up other positions. The best thing to do would be to collect good assets, than we can flip and deal once we know the value of each of them.

pretty much