Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 4

[dagger]

IOW, this would imo be a horrible year to play it safe in the draft and prioritize 'pro-ready'.

I'd say some teams will look at Valanciunas that way since he'd likely stay overseas if there is a lockout. That way he wouldn't even be available if play resumes in January but would arrive with our 2012 first rounder.

[Silk Wilkes]

Let's look at it like this; TAKE THE BEST NBA PLAYER AVAILABLE! It sounds cliche but let's go back to 2006 as an example. Would you have taken Paul Millsap in the first round? Probably not. However, look at it now and he could go top-5 which would've been a HUGE reach according to the "experts" at that time but you would say it was a great pick now. Just take the best NBA prospect available. In other words, don't go with the Adam Morrison's of the world, go with the Derrick Williams', Kyrie Irving's, Kemba Walker's etc and live with a solid pick at worst.

[dagger]

Let's look at it like this; TAKE THE BEST NBA PLAYER AVAILABLE! It sounds cliche but let's go back to 2006 as an example. Would you have taken Paul Millsap in the first round? Probably not. However, look at it now and he could go top-5 which would've been a HUGE reach according to the "experts" at that time but you would say it was a great pick now. Just take the best NBA prospect available. In other words, don't go with the Adam Morrison's of the world, go with the Derrick Williams', Kyrie Irving's, Kemba Walker's etc and live with a solid pick at worst.

I'm with Harry for once. I'm not into solid. I'm into upside in this draft.

[Harry Palmer]

I'd say some teams will look at Valanciunas that way since he'd likely stay overseas if there is a lockout. That way he wouldn't even be available if play resumes in January but would arrive with our 2012 first rounder.

You'll laugh, but I was just having a debate with myself if based on what we thought at the time of the draft I'd pick Bargs over the guys available this year, and I almost convinced myself I would. Not with what we know now, but at the time I think Bargs might have had a higher ceiling than the top guys in this draft, possibly excepting Jones.

[Silk Wilkes]

Let's look at it like this; TAKE THE BEST NBA PLAYER AVAILABLE! It sounds cliche but let's go back to 2006 as an example. Would you have taken Paul Millsap in the first round? Probably not. However, look at it now and he could go top-5 which would've been a HUGE reach according to the "experts" at that time but you would say it was a great pick now. Just take the best NBA prospect available. In other words, don't go with the Adam Morrison's of the world, go with the Derrick Williams', Kyrie Irving's, Kemba Walker's etc and live with a solid pick at worst.

I'm with Harry for once. I'm not into solid. I'm into upside in this draft.

So you're on the Perry Jones bandwagon?

[Rapsfan07]

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.

In that case, i hope we get irving as a sure fire positional need for the raptors because there are more options on SF in next year's draft. I know they haven't played a single game in college yet but I want Michael Gilchrist badddd in next yr's draft. He's my favorite player out of the draft, his versatility and defense are what intriguing me the most

Here's another consideration: IF BC is actually committed to rebuilding long-term and IF the top end talent all maxes out around the same, this might actually be a good year to look at a project.

Less chance he helps us so much as a rookie that it takes us out of star talent range in the next draft AND potentially has a higher chance to be a star or almost star longer term.

IOW, this would imo be a horrible year to play it safe in the draft and prioritize 'pro-ready'.

+ 1

This is a year you draft on potential. No two ways about it.

[darth_federer]

Minnesota putting their tank in high gear. They re going to shut down Love for the rest of the year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6255690

[Rapsfan07]

Minnesota putting their tank in high gear. They re going to shut down Love for the rest of the year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6255690

This is what we should have been doing with Barbosa, Calderon and Evans. I hope BC shuts them down now that we're "officially" out of the playoff race. A few extra wins is not worth it when it would end up costing us a top 5 pick.

[dagger]

Minnesota putting their tank in high gear. They re going to shut down Love for the rest of the year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6255690

So Anthony Randolph has a career high tonight. That's the strange thing about bad teams. A guy who couldn't get on the court in an offensive minded New York lineup gets to be the Next Big Thing in Minny. Too bad all of these next big things don't add up to wins.

[TheRealDeal]

I'd say some teams will look at Valanciunas that way since he'd likely stay overseas if there is a lockout. That way he wouldn't even be available if play resumes in January but would arrive with our 2012 first rounder.

That's a good plan. Let Triano coach with DeMar, Andrea and Ed running the team for another year. Use the 2012 lotto pick on a PG. In 2013 we can bring in a new head coach, a lottery pick that plays the 5, a lottery pick that's our future PG and we'll have traded Jose by then. Maybe that situation would be attractive enough to sign a legitimate free agent as well.

[mango2209]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIqjtKJhgic[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5pZUjIhJS8[/youtube]

woah! Gimme Derek!! (if Kyrie and Harrison are gone)

[bboyskinnylegs]

Let's look at it like this; TAKE THE BEST NBA PLAYER AVAILABLE! It sounds cliche but let's go back to 2006 as an example. Would you have taken Paul Millsap in the first round? Probably not. However, look at it now and he could go top-5 which would've been a HUGE reach according to the "experts" at that time but you would say it was a great pick now. Just take the best NBA prospect available. In other words, don't go with the Adam Morrison's of the world, go with the Derrick Williams', Kyrie Irving's, Kemba Walker's etc and live with a solid pick at worst.

I'm with Harry for once. I'm not into solid. I'm into upside in this draft.

So you're on the Perry Jones bandwagon?

I'd definitely consider drafting him (especially where we are now), I still see more upside in him than anyone else in this draft. The criticisms ppl have of his game are that he can't be a great big man (his rebounding and shotblocking aren't elite for a 5-- which is where he was being played out of position), and he doesn't have the mindset to just take over games on his own. No one questions his elite athleticism and physical tools, or his versatility/skillset. But we would be playing him at the position he wants to play at--the 3--not as a big man. So then the biggest question marks about him playing at the 3 would be whether he can effectively defend his position, and his shooting range. I think drafting Jones this year would be very similar to drafting Favors last year-- not for the finished product that he is, but for what you hope he can become in the future-- which in Jones' case could be a versatile do-it-all wing with elite length and athleticism. He could very well turn out to be a bust, but the only way we'll get a franchise changer (especially at #5) is to take some risks.

[Harry Palmer]

I'd definitely consider drafting him (especially where we are now), I still see more upside in him than anyone else in this draft. The criticisms ppl have of his game are that he can't be a great big man (his rebounding and shotblocking aren't elite for a 5-- which is where he was being played out of position), and he doesn't have the mindset to just take over games on his own. No one questions his elite athleticism and physical tools, or his versatility/skillset. But we would be playing him at the position he wants to play at--the 3--not as a big man. So then the biggest question marks about him playing at the 3 would be whether he can effectively defend his position, and his shooting range. I think drafting Jones this year would be very similar to drafting Favors last year-- not for the finished product that he is, but for what you hope he can become in the future-- which in Jones' case could be a versatile do-it-all wing with elite length and athleticism. He could very well turn out to be a bust, but the only way we'll get a franchise changer (especially at #5) is to take some risks.

Pretty much.

I've been disappointed that he has actually shown more to support the Tim Thomas et al question marks than I had hoped he would...or at least has left them unanswered...but he's still the one guy in this draft I think has it in him to be a real difference maker at the next level.

I wouldn't be happy having to bet my job on him doing it or anything, but this draft imo just doesn't have that kind of player.

[wazabifuzz]

if we are at 5, all knight, irvin, d-will, jones are gone, I'd take tyus or harrison or fredette. I think fredette could be good role player like reddick

[Rapsobsessed7]

knowing this board though some will advocate taking that risk but 3 years later blame management for taking the risk when the better/safer player was available.

I dont even think P.Jones can play the 3

[dagger]

Former NBA scout Clarence Gaines with this observation on Williams

ClarenceGaines2
Derrick Williams is what I call a Power 3. Think Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, Anthony Mason. Where he plays will be dictated by teammates

[/quote]

[Harry Palmer]

Former NBA scout Clarence Gaines with this observation on Williams

ClarenceGaines2
Derrick Williams is what I call a Power 3. Think Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, Anthony Mason. Where he plays will be dictated by teammates

[/quote]

I thought a bit of LJ earlier, but more so saw...who was the UNLV guy a few years after LJ? Went in the Kenyon Martin draft, I think.

Edit: never mind. I looked up who I was thinking of...got the school wrong..and once it clicked (Fizer) the comparison faded.

[MikeM]

No point in drafting Perry if Triano's still the coach.

"Hey Perry, can you please work on your jumper, possibly, I mean... when you have some time of course."

[bboyskinnylegs]

Former NBA scout Clarence Gaines with this observation on Williams

ClarenceGaines2
Derrick Williams is what I call a Power 3. Think Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, Anthony Mason. Where he plays will be dictated by teammates

I thought a bit of LJ earlier, but more so saw...who was the UNLV guy a few years after LJ? Went in the Kenyon Martin draft, I think.[/quote]
Ed O'Bannon? Who everyone seemed to want in the Raps' 1st draft in 95?

[MEDIC]

knowing this board though some will advocate taking that risk but 3 years later blame management for taking the risk when the better/safer player was available.

I dont even think P.Jones can play the 3

Agreed. We can't afford another draft bust. We took a big risk taking Bargnani at #1 & look at this board now. It's a mess.....

We've missed out on too many "safe" picks (Iggy, Granger, Maggette, Artest).

If you don't have at least decent assets, you've got nothing to trade.

Everyone seems to have this idea that we need a championship team, or nothing. I'd be happy with a team that competes in the playoffs year in & year out.