Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 5

TiKusDom · Post #901 » by **TiKusDom** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:03 am

100/100 you take Brandon Knight over Kemba Walker if you have the choice . Knight is light years ahead of Kemba Walker at the same age, in fact you could argue he is just as good if not better than Walker right now, even though Walker is 2 years older and a junior. Brandon Knight's natural ability and learning curve is far head of Walkers at this point. It is hard to understand why people dont see this. Walker is not be as good of an NBA prospect as Knight is

Comeatme_Bro · Post #902 » by **Comeatme_Bro** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:08 am

I definitely think Knight is a better nba prospect but one thing kemba has over him is his handles and ball handling. His crossover is just so quick and a thing of beauty.

Reef · Post #903 » by **Reef** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:10 am

TiKusDom wrote:100/100 you take Brandon Knight over Kemba Walker if you have the choice . Knight is light years ahead of Kemba Walker at the same age, in fact you could argue he is just as good if not better than Walker right now, even though Walker is 2 years older and a junior. Brandon Knight's natural ability and learning curve is far head of Walkers at this point. It is hard to understand why people dont see this. Walker is not be as good of an NBA prospect as Knight is

The big question mark is can Knight create like Kemba can? Can he create off the dribble and split double teams when there doesn't seem to be any shot available. I don't think UCONN would get as far as they have if you put Knight on that team instead of Walker.

JN · Post #904 » by JN » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:20 am

Why do people have such an emotional attachment to an NBA prospect, the most prominent being Harrison Barnes. People are discussing prospects strengths / weaknesses and called "haters"??

CunningLinguist · Post #905 » by **CunningLinguist** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:30 am

Rhettmatic wrote:I still don't love Knight's offensive game, but given his apparently amazing work ethic, his physical profile, his defensive ability and his age, I would have no problem drafting him really high in this putrid draft. There's bust potential, sure, but he has a pretty high ceiling.

I don't think the system he's in allows him to show his complete offensive repertoire.

Mr.Raptorsingh · Post #906 » by **Mr.Raptorsingh** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:35 am

CunningLinguist wrote:
Rhettmatic wrote:I still don't love Knight's offensive game, but given his apparently amazing work ethic, his physical profile, his defensive ability and his age, I would have no problem drafting him really high in this putrid draft. There's bust potential, sure, but he has a pretty high ceiling.

I don't think the system he's in allows him to show his complete offensive repertoire.

Cunning, since I know you're keen on both Walker and Knight, which of the two do you prefer for the Raptors?

wanker · Post #907 » by **wanker** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:39 am

Walker trying to guard Knight is going to be a real knee-slapper. Hopefully once peoples' knees start hurting they will realize how atrocious Walker will be in the NBA.

ItsDanger · Post #908 » by **ItsDanger** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:45 am

JN wrote:Why do people have such an emotional attachment to an NBA prospect, the most prominent being Harrison Barnes. People are discussing prospects strengths / weaknesses and called "haters"??

You know the answer already probably. Most draft prospects are flawed in one or more areas outside of the legit franchise players (Id say this draft has none). Its hard to say if they will improve their games, its really up to how bad the player wants it. People who cant see the shortcomings just lack experience in these areas. Most players do not realize their potential. The key is to figure out which ones they are. Id rather look for reasons not to draft someone as opposed to reason to draft a player. Might save you from an Oden type mistake.

CunningLinguist · Post #909 » by **CunningLinguist** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:52 am

Mr.Raptorsingh wrote:
CunningLinguist wrote:
Rhettmatic wrote:I still don't love Knight's offensive game, but given his apparently amazing work ethic, his physical profile, his defensive ability and his age, I would have no problem drafting him really high in this putrid draft. There's bust potential, sure, but he has a pretty high ceiling.

I don't think the system he's in allows him to show his complete offensive repertoire.

Cunning, since I know you're keen on both Walker and Knight, which of the two do you prefer for the Raptors?

I've been struggling with this question for some time. If you asked me in November, I'd have said Walker. At that time, Knight had a very loose handle and was playing out of control. He's really improved his ballhandling and floor game over the course of the season. I think today's game proved that he's a point guard rather than the combo guard everyone paints him as. Somebody in this thread compared him to Rondo with a jumpshot and I had the same mental comparison. In terms of size/quickness/athleticism he's similar to Devin Harris, but with better point guard skills and shooting.

The dribble drive game that Calipari uses doesn't fully allow him to employ his penetration skills. I think he can be an end of the shotclock creator at the next level.

Walker is the superior ballhandler, with a quicker first step. His passing vision might be a bit better at this point.

Obviously Knight has superior size which could help him on the defensive end, though Walker is an underrated defender.

When you factor in the age difference as well, I prefer Knight. I think they'll both have very good careers and when you add those two to Irving, this is shaping up to be a strong point guard class.

raptor jesus · Post #910 » by **raptor jesus** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:55 am

Offensively, I see some Calderon in Knight - HERE ME OUT! Intelligent, good size, outside shooting, not exactly a blow-by-break-you-down kind of guard - of course that could change with Knight.

I'd be content if we drafted him, but he seems like a no-brainer pick for the Kings. He's the perfect fit beside Tyreke (not entirely ball dominant and can keep the D honest with his J). Whoa! The Kings are suddenly ahead of us actually!

10DeRozan10 · Post #911 » by **10DeRozan10** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:57 am

ItsDanger wrote:
JN wrote:Why do people have such an emotional attachment to an NBA prospect, the most prominent being Harrison Barnes. People are discussing prospects strengths / weaknesses and called "haters"??

You know the answer already probably. Most draft prospects are flawed in one or more areas outside of the legit franchise players (Id say this draft has none). Its hard to say if they will improve their games, its really up to how bad the player wants it. People who cant see the shortcomings just lack experience in these areas. Most players do not realize their potential. The key is to figure out which ones they are. Id rather look for reasons not to draft someone as opposed to reason to draft a player. Might save you from an Oden type mistake.

I'm not sure I understand?

Are you refering to Oden's injury problems, because technically his knees weren't an issue when he was drafted.

If he could have stayed injury free the kid would have been an absolute beast.

delaney8 · Post #912 » by **delaney8** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:58 am

wanker wrote:Walker trying to guard Knight is going to be a real knee-slapper. Hopefully once peoples' knees start hurting they will realize how atrocious Walker will be in the NBA.

I don't know about that. Kemba is Fast and while Knight is quick and long I think Kemba will make a mark. Calipari may double him anyway just to keep the ball away from him some.

That being said, if I was drafting one of the two I'd pick Knight because I like his pro potential more than Kemba's. That's what we should be evaluating here. A lot of people in these threads seem to get caught up in a one-three game performance against college guys...

shmito17 · Post #913 » by **shmito17** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:00 am

delaney8 wrote:
wanker wrote:Walker trying to guard Knight is going to be a real knee-slapper. Hopefully once peoples' knees start hurting they will realize how atrocious Walker will be in the NBA.

I don't know about that. Kemba is Fast and while Knight is quick and long I think Kemba will make a mark. Calipari may double him anyway just to keep the ball away from him some.

That being said, if I was drafting one of the two I'd pick Knight because I like his pro potential more than Kemba's. That's what we should be evaluating here. A lot of people in these threads seem to get caught up in a one-three game performance against college guys...

+1

Mr.Raptorsingh · Post #914 » by **Mr.Raptorsingh** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:05 am

CunningLinguist wrote:
Mr.Raptorsingh wrote:Cunning, since I know you're keen on both Walker and Knight, which of the two do you prefer for the Raptors?

I've been struggling with this question for some time. If you asked me in November, I'd have said Walker. At that time, Knight had a very loose handle and was playing out of control. He's really improved his ballhandling and floor game over the course of the season. I think today's game proved that he's a point guard rather than the combo guard everyone paints him as. Somebody in this thread compared him to Rondo with a jumpshot and I had the same mental comparison. In terms of size/quickness/athleticism he's similar to Devin Harris, but with better point guard skills and shooting.

The dribble drive game that Calipari uses doesn't fully allow him to employ his penetration skills. I think he can be an end of the shotclock creator at the next level.

Walker is the superior ballhandler, with a quicker first step. His passing vision might be a bit better at this point.

Obviously Knight has superior size which could help him on the defensive end, though Walker is an underrated defender.

When you factor in the age difference as well, I prefer Knight. I think they'll both have very good careers and when you add those two to Irving, this is shaping up to be a strong point guard class.

Yeah, for me it was Kemba, up until the last week or so, where I actually had a chance to watch Brandon Knight, and to me, he seems like the type of player the Raptors have been looking for over the last two drafts. We've been rumored to be interested in Avery Bradley, Jrue Holiday, and Knight profiles as a similar prospect to those two.

I like Kemba Walker a lot though. I think he may be even underrated as a pro prospect. Some of the things he does, you just can't teach.

dagger · Post #915 » by **dagger** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:17 am

Well, since a lot of people on this board want to throw Jose under the bus, we better get a point guard who can set up Ed and Amir and James Johnson because Lord knows they can't create their own shot. Ir's not enough to have a scoring point. He better have a good sense about how to run a team, and find guys in their preferred spots.

ItsDanger · Post #916 » by **ItsDanger** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:18 am

10DeRozan10 wrote:I'm not sure I understand?

Are you refering to Oden's injury problems, because technically his knees weren't an issue when he was drafted.

If he could have stayed injury free the kid would have been an absolute beast.

At the time, there were questions about his durability. Not unlike Davis but for different reasons. Oden's legs are not symmetrical which caused an unusual stride which may have contributed to his later injuries. But as it turned, he was just injury prone. Some guys are like that, dont try to explain it, just accept it and move on.

Salted Meat · Post #917 » by **Salted Meat** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:19 am

I love Kemba Walker's game, but if it's between him and Knight at our pick, I'm picking Knight every time.

If there's a lockout, Kemba won't see his first full season in the NBA until he's 22, and if the lockout lasts a full season, it'll basically be like Walker's coming in after his senior year. Right now, Knight is only 18, and even with a year-long lockout, won't turn 20 until well into his first full NBA season. On a young team like ours, one that's still in rebuilding mode, we need to take someone who we can develop, and who can grow within our (holding back laughter) "system."

In terms of upside, youth, and development opportunity, it has to be Knight. Walker is fantastic, but long-term the choice is Knight.

10DeRozan10 · Post #918 » by **10DeRozan10** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:22 am

ItsDanger wrote:
10DeRozan10 wrote:I'm not sure I understand?

Are you refering to Oden's injury problems, because technically his knees weren't an issue when he was drafted.

If he could have stayed injury free the kid would have been an absolute beast.

At the time, there were questions about his durability. Not unlike Davis but for different reasons. Oden's legs are not symmetrical which caused an unusual stride which may have contributed to his later injuries. But as it turned, he was just injury prone. Some guys are like that, dont try to explain it, just accept it and move on.

No, I agree.

I just wasn't sure what you were trying too get across in your original post.

10DeRozan10 · Post #919 » by **10DeRozan10** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:26 am

Salted Meat wrote:I love Kemba Walker's game, but if it's between him and Knight at our pick, I'm picking Knight every time.

If there's a lockout, Kemba won't see his first full season in the NBA until he's 22, and if the lockout lasts a full season, it'll basically be like Walker's coming in after his senior year. Right now, Knight is only 18, and even with a year-long lockout, won't turn 20 until well into his first full NBA season. On a young team like ours, one that's still in rebuilding mode, we need to take someone who we can develop, and who can grow within our (holding back laughter) "system."

In terms of upside, youth, and development opportunity, it has to be Knight. Walker is fantastic, but long-term the choice is Knight.

I agree, but Knight is 19, and would be 20/21 in his first year in the NBA if next year is in fact a lockout.

Good post, just a small error I thought that I'd mention.

God Squad · Post #920 » by **God Squad** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:42 am

Knight is lookin' real good at 5. I'm at the point if Kryie Irving, Harrison Barnes, Derrick Williams, Brandon Knight are all gone I'll be pissed. At that point you take Kemba, Kanter, Val?