Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 6

[Moxie]

Assuming we don't land Irving, Perry Jones is my pick. I think he is being overlooked in general right now.

In a draft where EVERY lotto pick has some sort of red flag, his is whether or not he can develop the character and work ethic required in order to harness his elite-level talent. I'll take that over someone like Barnes, who seemingly has the work ethic and the character, but doesn't have the dynamic talent.

The question is how severe Jones' makeup problems are, but I think it's safe to say he doesn't look like he has a corrosive personality, or 'character' issues in that sense. It looks like he is passive, lazy and needs a bit of growing up.

I think Toronto would work well for him. And, as dirty as this makes me feel to say, should he prosper here, he seems like a pretty loyal dude.

And his name sounds like a pirate.

[s e n s i]

I don't get why it matters who is better than who now. They're both good players, I don't really have a preference for one over the other. If Kemba has a massive game on Saturday, and Knight the exact opposite, it still doesn't determine who will be the more worthy pick. I think they'll both end up being above-average players in the pros. Assessing their respective talent now, I don't think one will have a much more impressive career over the other to be terribly upset if your player of choice isn't picked. Yes, there's always a chance one turns into a HOFer and the other into a journeyman who struggles to keep a job, but what are the chances really.

I also don't know why everyone is so turned off at the fact that Kemba is a junior. It's not always a bad thing to refine your game in college to make for a smoother transition into the pros.

Either way though, I'm not sure I pick either player if we end up picking at 5 or higher.

[Reignman]

Assuming we don't land Irving, Perry Jones is my pick. I think he is being overlooked in general right now.

In a draft where EVERY lotto pick has some sort of red flag, his is whether or not he can develop the character and work ethic required in order to harness his elite-level talent. I'll take that over someone like Barnes, who seemingly has the work ethic and the character, but doesn't have the dynamic talent.

The question is how severe Jones' makeup problems are, but I think it's safe to say he doesn't look like he has a corrosive personality, or 'character' issues in that sense. It looks like he is passive, lazy and needs a bit of growing up.

I think Toronto would work well for him. And, as dirty as this makes me feel to say, should he prosper here, he seems like a pretty loyal dude.

And his name sounds like a pirate.

Personally, I think the biggest concern with PJ is his tweener status. Once the workouts happen and if the brass deems he's a SF then I'm extremely high on him, as a PF I don't think he'll reach his full potential because he has no big man traits from the games I've seen.

However, I take Barnes over him 10/10 times. I have PJ at #4 right now after Irving/Barnes/Knight

[FluLikeSymptoms]

I'm not too concerned about defense at the point guard spot to be honest. I'd still take Knight over Walker though.

I don't think that any of the elite PGs can really stay in front of one another these days, but the best defenders among them are the best gamblers and you need speed and length to be that. Knight has those qualities, Kemba doesn't.

[Reignman]

I don't get why it matters who is better than who now. They're both good players, I don't really have a preference for one over the other. If Kemba has a massive game on Saturday, and Knight the exact opposite, it still doesn't determine who will be the more worthy pick. I think they'll both end up being above-average players in the pros. Assessing their respective talent now, I don't think one will have a much more impressive career over the other to be terribly upset if your player of choice isn't picked. Yes, there's always a chance one turns into a HOFer and the other into a journeyman who struggles to keep a job, but what are the chances really.

I also don't know why everyone is so turned off at the fact that Kemba is a junior. It's not always a bad thing to refine your game in college to make for a smoother transition into the pros.

Either way though, I'm not sure I pick either player if we end up picking at 5 or higher.

I don't think it's a bad thing personally, I just think of Juniors and Seniors as more of a finished product (or close to it) whereas Freshmen still have more of that potential tag.

That's the reason I'd take Knight over Kemba.

[5DOM]

The biggest question when it comes to that will be whether Knight will be able to develop the skills Kemba possesses and of course how likely they will be able to develop the skills neither has right now.

[TheRealDeal]

Some of you didn't know that Kemba is a Junior? He was on the UConn Final Four team in '09 and made the cover of SI. I'm surprised to see that he's only 20 because it seems like he's been around forever. I guess experience is more important than age though. His game is pretty well developed from three seasons under Jim Calhoun while some of the frosh prospects might seem like they need more work.

[Reignman]

The biggest question when it comes to that will be whether Knight will be able to develop the skills Kemba possesses.

Pretty much but the gap really isn't that big. Knight already has the jumper, he just needs to find more consistency with it. Kemba hasn't really shown off his passing game all that much this season although he was more of a passer in the past. I think that's really where Knight needs to polish his game. Knight on the other hand has something Kemba likely never will have, the size and the ability to defend that position.

Let me pull up their stats for a closer look.

[Reignman]

In Kemba's rookie year he put up 8.9/2.9/3.5 with almost 2 TOs per game in 25 mins. He shot 47% from the field and 27% from 3.

Knight's stats this year are 17.3/4.2/4 with 3.2 TOs per game in almost 36 mins. He shot 43% from the field and over 38% from 3.

This year Kemba is putting up 24/4.5/5.3 with 2.2 TOs per game. He shot 43% from the filed and 34% from 3.

Basically, Knight's 1st year is somewhere between Kemba's sophmore year and junior year and I think that says a lot about his talent level at 18 years of age.

I think Knight's upside will be too hard to turn down for many teams after workouts considering he has elite PG size, above average athleticism and his ceiling seems to be much higher.

[5DOM]

I think at this point of their careers, Kemba's the better overall playmaker (for himself and others) and a much more explosive player. In that sense, I think he'll be the safer pick with a pretty high ceiling himself. To me, choosing between Kemba and Knight is a very hard one because it's hard to predict how much difference the size and age difference will make.

[Reignman]

I think at this point of their careers, Kemba's the better overall playmaker (for himself and others) and a much more explosive player. In that sense, I think he'll be the safer pick with a pretty high ceiling himself. To me, choosing between Kemba and Knight is a very hard one because it's hard to predict how much difference the size and age difference will make.

It will be a tough choice if a team has to decide between the two. And I hope nobody thinks i'm putting Kemba down, you can't just gloss over his performance this year because he has been absolutely dominant carrying his team to the final 4.

I'm just leary because of age, size and the lack of an all around game.

[5DOM]

In Kemba's rookie year he put up 8.9/2.9/3.5 with almost 2 TOs per game in 25 mins. He shot 47% from the field and 27% from 3.

Knight's stats this year are 17.3/4.2/4 with 3.2 TOs per game in almost 36 mins. He shot 43% from the field and over 38% from 3.

This year Kemba is putting up 24/4.5/5.3 with 2.2 TOs per game. He shot 43% from the filed and 34% from 3.

Basically, Knight's 1st year is somewhere between Kemba's sophmore year and junior year and I think that says a lot about his talent level at 18 years of age.

I think Knight's upside will be too hard to turn down for many teams after workouts considering he has elite PG size, above average athleticism and his ceiling seems to be much higher.

That kind of stats comparison doesn't mean too much for me really. Some players just develop later than others, while some just peak early. I think Kemba has decent upside himself and Kemba has a better chance of becoming a superstar than Knight tbh (although I woudln't bet on either becoming one). I really wouldn't mind either player, but I just hope we luck out and grab Irving.

[Reef]

I think at this point of their careers, Kemba's the better overall playmaker (for himself and others) and a much more explosive player. In that sense, I think he'll be the safer pick with a pretty high ceiling himself. To me, choosing between Kemba and Knight is a very hard one because it's hard to predict how much difference the size and age difference will make.

It will be a tough choice if a team has to decide between the two. And I hope nobody thinks i'm putting Kemba down, you can't just gloss over his performance this year because he has been absolutely dominant carrying his team to the final 4.

I'm just leary because of age, size and the lack of an all around game.

How does Kemba not have an all-around game? He averaged more assists, rebounds, points than Knight. 20 years old is very young still. It's not like he's a 23 year old senior.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

I think both will be All-star caliber players. I'd just have a hard time betting against Kemba Walker in the NBA

[JamesNaismith]

I think both will be All-star caliber players. I'd just have a hard time betting against Kemba Walker in the NBA

I'll bet neither end up all-star caliber.


It's hilarious reading Raptor fans get so excited about draft picks only to disappear as "fans" of these players when they don't amount to sh*t in the NBA. I don't think Kemba will struggle as much as Evan Turner has but I think he will disappoint all the same and Knight I suspect will be basically Lou Williams 2.0.


It's like Raptor fans just chose to ignore tons of analysts opinions on this being a WEAK draft, YET in this weak draft Kemba and Knight are STILL being projected in the 7-10 range...what does that say about them?? lol Some of you guys don't want to accept what most others see. In all likelyhood, neither will be anything special and it's ridiculous that most of you guys are fighting over which of the 2 you take with the #4 pick....the correct answer is NEITHER.

These are potential solid ROTATION players....top 4 picks shouldn't be based on role players but given RealGM posters' obsession with solid role players with the daily "Get 'er done BC!!!" the second one becomes avaiable I guess it's no surprise.

[Reignman]

I think at this point of their careers, Kemba's the better overall playmaker (for himself and others) and a much more explosive player. In that sense, I think he'll be the safer pick with a pretty high ceiling himself. To me, choosing between Kemba and Knight is a very hard one because it's hard to predict how much difference the size and age difference will make.

It will be a tough choice if a team has to decide between the two. And I hope nobody thinks i'm putting Kemba down, you can't just gloss over his performance this year because he has been absolutely dominant carrying his team to the final 4.

I'm just leary because of age, size and the lack of an all around game.

How does Kemba not have an all-around game? He averaged more assists, rebounds, points than Knight. 20 years old is very young still. It's not like he's a 23 year old senior.

I meant defensively. At his size he's going to have problems and it's not like he has been a great defender in college.

[5DOM]

Well if at least one of them becomes more than a rotation player which I suspect will happen, this won't be the first time the analysts are wrong.

[Dr Positivity]

Also being an all-star PG is hard as hell in today's NBA. Rose, Wall, Rondo, Wade + Deron if he stays in NJ which I think he will, are all guys that'll it'll take a star to budge. Irving can do it, I don't think Knight and Kemba will. I see Holliday and Lawson at best for those two who aren't all-stars

[HEDOBALL]

For some reason, every time I watch video and live games of kentucky, I can't get the comparison of Brandon Knight to Russell Westbrook out of my head.


I don't know if it's the body type, or style of college game but yea. Food for thought perhaps.

[Reignman]

I think both will be All-star caliber players. I'd just have a hard time betting against Kemba Walker in the NBA

I'll bet neither end up all-star caliber.


It's hilarious reading Raptor fans get so excited about draft picks only to disappear as "fans" of these players when they don't amount to sh*t in the NBA. I don't think Kemba will struggle as much as Evan Turner has but I think he will disappoint all the same and Knight I suspect will be basically Lou Williams 2.0.


It's like Raptor fans just chose to ignore tons of analysts opinions on this being a WEAK draft, YET in this weak draft Kemba and Knight are STILL being projected in the 7-10 range...what does that say about them?? lol Some of you guys don't want to accept what most others see. In all likelyhood, neither will be anything special and it's ridiculous that most of you guys are fighting over which of the 2 you take with the #4 pick....the correct answer is NEITHER.

These are potential solid ROTATION players....top 4 picks shouldn't be based on role players but given RealGM posters' obsession with solid role players with the daily "Get 'er done BC!!!" the second one becomes avaiable I guess it's no surprise.

I hear what you're saying but I wouldn't judge based on projections either. 90% of drafts in history are called weak at this time of year, it's the nature of things yet most years there are allstar calibre players not drafted #1. Also, DX is good but they aren't prophetic, they are

Calling these guys role players is just as much of a guess as calling them future allstars.

BTW, if you watched the tourney, some of the top prospects in this so-called "weak" draft were beasts.

Anyway, the goal is to make the best educated guess possible and hope that the guy we do end up drafting happens to be one of those all-star calibre players that this draft will most likely yield.