Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 6

[Silk Wilkes]

It doesn't matter how bad this draft is if we end up with a top 3 pick. If the draft really is 3-4 players deep then this was the perfect year to tank. The returning players will just add more options for 2012.The lottery this year will be huge!

I agree to some degree, let's all pray the lottery draft doesn't f us over. If Barnes doesn't declare then it's going to be Dwill (he'll declare, has to), Irving and ...Kanter (??) at the top 3 pick. ANd pretty sure we'll suck again next year to get someone nice!

We gotta hope and pray we don't drop past 3rd. Like you said, Irving, Williams and Kanter are the cream of the crop. As long as one of those are on the board we got a shot. Anything else and we just threw a year away.

[Yeezus_]

Brandon Knight intrigues me a lot, but I dont think he is worth reaching for.

[bboyskinnylegs]

with Perry dropping out, we had better hope we can win the 3rd spot outright. Even if we manage to win #3 outright, we can still move down to #6 in the lotto, and there's really only 5 prospects left that I'd really want (and who I'd definitely want to start here). Kyrie/Barnes/Williams/Kanter/Val ... the only other players I like are Biyombo (whose stock is rising but still looks like a reach with that high of a pick), or possibly Knight/Walker. Otherwise we're looking at guys like Terrence Jones, Vesely, Fredette...meh.

Please don't let anyone else drop out

[wanker]

I also dont understand the people complaining about tanking this year.
The top players who we were looking to draft will still be there. Had we finished somewhere around 8-14th, we would have been disadvantaged much more than we are currently.

Wtf are you talking about? Assuming Barnes returns to school, that would leave only three of the top 6 prospects in the draft. (With the exception of Kanter, there was really no debate about the top 6 being (in no particular order): Irving, Barnes, Williams, Sullinger, Perry Jones, Kanter). So unless the Raptors win the lottery and draft Irving, the rest of their "big board" basically disappeared.

[fredericklove]

with Perry dropping out, we had better hope we can win the 3rd spot outright. Even if we manage to win #3 outright, we can still move down to #6 in the lotto, and there's really only 5 prospects left that I'd really want (and who I'd definitely want to start here). Kyrie/Barnes/Williams/Kanter/Val ... the only other players I like are Biyombo (whose stock is rising but still looks like a reach with that high of a pick), or possibly Knight/Walker. Otherwise we're looking at guys like Terrence Jones, Vesely, Fredette...meh.

Please don't let anyone else drop out

I will seriously LOL if we use our 3rd pick on Terrence Jones

[fredericklove]

It doesn't matter how bad this draft is if we end up with a top 3 pick. If the draft really is 3-4 players deep then this was the perfect year to tank. The returning players will just add more options for 2012.The lottery this year will be huge!

I agree to some degree, let's all pray the lottery draft doesn't f us over. If Barnes doesn't declare then it's going to be Dwill (he'll declare, has to), Irving and ...Kanter (??) at the top 3 pick. ANd pretty sure we'll suck again next year to get someone nice!

We gotta hope and pray we don't drop past 3rd. Like you said, Irving, Williams and Kanter are the cream of the crop. As long as one of those are on the board we got a shot. Anything else and we just threw a year away.

If HB's not declaring and we don't get Irving this year and we drop down to 6th spot, what the hell we should do then?

My wild idea is to trade the damn pick (somehow!!) to get another lottery pick next year. Trade Bargnani for a decent value plus the lottery protected-pick (don't think any team will offer lottery pick in a trade) and other assets etc (so we get someone at 15th-20 pick). Get 2 lottery picks and a 15th-20th pick next year in that stacked draft.

[Truthrising]

If HB's not declaring and we don't get Irving this year and we drop down to 6th spot, what the hell we should do then?

My wild idea is to trade the damn pick (somehow!!) to get another lottery pick next year. Trade Bargnani for a decent value plus the lottery protected-pick (don't think any team will offer lottery pick in a trade) and other assets etc (so we get someone at 15th-20 pick). Get 2 lottery picks and a 15th-20th pick next year in that stacked draft.

[Silk Wilkes]

I agree to some degree, let's all pray the lottery draft doesn't f us over. If Barnes doesn't declare then it's going to be Dwill (he'll declare, has to), Irving and ...Kanter (??) at the top 3 pick. ANd pretty sure we'll suck again next year to get someone nice!

We gotta hope and pray we don't drop past 3rd. Like you said, Irving, Williams and Kanter are the cream of the crop. As long as one of those are on the board we got a shot. Anything else and we just threw a year away.

If HB's not declaring and we don't get Irving this year and we drop down to 6th spot, what the hell we should do then?

My wild idea is to trade the damn pick (somehow!!) to get another lottery pick next year. Trade Bargnani for a decent value plus the lottery protected-pick (don't think any team will offer lottery pick in a trade) and other assets etc (so we get someone at 15th-20 pick). Get 2 lottery picks and a 15th-20th pick next year in that stacked draft.

Agreed, if we drop moving the pick is the best idea.

[fredericklove]

2012 draft (not in particular order)

1. Harrison Barnes
2. Perry Jones
3. Jared Sullinger
4. Austin River
5. Anthony Davis
6. Michael Gilchrist
7. Quincy Miller
8. James McAdoo
9. Lebryan Nash
10. Myck Kabongo
11. John Henson
12. Brad Beal
13. Jeremy Lamb
14. Marquis Teague

Top 10 prospects are damn talented.

[dagger]

2012 draft (not in particular order)

1. Harrison Barnes
2. Perry Jones
3. Jared Sullinger
4. Austin River
5. Anthony Davis
6. Michael Gilchrist
7. Quincy Miller
8. James McAdoo
9. Lebryan Nash
10. Myck Kabongo
11. John Henson
12. Brad Beal
13. Jeremy Lamb
14. Marquis Teague

Top 10 prospects are damn talented.

Except if the NBA goes to a two year age limit, as increasingly rumored, then scratch ALL of those one and done guys. The top of the next draft because this year's returning freshmen.

[Eliowns]

This year's draft just keep getting worse and worse, disappointing!
As long as we land top 3, we might end up with Kyrie/Enes/Val or possibly Kemba(who I wouldn't mind drafting if Perry/Barnes don't declare).

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

2012 draft (not in particular order)

1. Harrison Barnes
2. Perry Jones
3. Jared Sullinger
4. Austin River
5. Anthony Davis
6. Michael Gilchrist
7. Quincy Miller
8. James McAdoo
9. Lebryan Nash
10. Myck Kabongo
11. John Henson
12. Brad Beal
13. Jeremy Lamb
14. Marquis Teague

Top 10 prospects are damn talented.

Austin rivers is the guy to get

[bboyskinnylegs]

here's an article/video highlighting Biyombo's performance at the Hoop Summit:
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/4/10/2102154/bismack-biyombo-nike-hoop-summit-nba-draft-lottery

I like the comment that he can play NBA-calibre defense right now.

[CanadaB-Ball]

2012 draft (not in particular order)

1. Harrison Barnes
2. Perry Jones
3. Jared Sullinger
4. Austin River
5. Anthony Davis
6. Michael Gilchrist
7. Quincy Miller
8. James McAdoo
9. Lebryan Nash
10. Myck Kabongo
11. John Henson
12. Brad Beal
13. Jeremy Lamb
14. Marquis Teague

Top 10 prospects are damn talented.

Austin rivers is the guy to get

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

Just imagine...

[careful]

Biyombo is definitely an intriguing prospect. I like the fact that he's playing at a high level in the ACB already. Not sure if he projects to be more of a PF than C, like an Ibaka type.

[sunny]

Austin Rivers is overhyped because of who his dad is and the fact that he is going to Duke. He never was the top prospect from his class; infact, it is very arguable that he isnt even top 3-5.

A draft a year away will always look great. Just look at how the 2011 draft appeared last April. Things change. How many of you guys have watched these guys play in highschool or AAU games (I'm leaving out all star games n what not because they show very little about players)?

As I stated earlier: there is no reason to blindly assume Harrison Barnes will return to UNC. We were never going to draft Sullinger, and likely not Perry Jones aswell.
If there is a season next year, it will be extremely short; something that does not bode well for the raptors. The 2012 draft has a very good chance at being beyond awful due to the likely 2 n done rule. However, if the age rule stays the same or gets abolished, it is likely the raptors will have an extremely highpick.

[darth_federer]

There are concerns about Rivers and his sub par athleticism. Atleast thats what scouts are saying according to lots of articles. But hes very very talented though no doubt.

[Troubadour]

If we don't end up in a position to draft Kyrie Irving, we should probably trade down for Biyombo. He feels a need and you don't pass up on Serge Ibaka-type players.

[CanadaB-Ball]

Austin Rivers is overhyped because of who his dad is and the fact that he is going to Duke. He never was the top prospect from his class; infact, it is very arguable that he isnt even top 3-5.

A draft a year away will always look great. Just look at how the 2011 draft appeared last April. Things change. How many of you guys have watched these guys play in highschool or AAU games (I'm leaving out all star games n what not because they show very little about players)?

As I stated earlier: there is no reason to blindly assume Harrison Barnes will return to UNC. We were never going to draft Sullinger, and likely not Perry Jones aswell.
If there is a season next year, it will be extremely short; something that does not bode well for the raptors. The 2012 draft has a very good chance at being beyond awful due to the likely 2 n done rule. However, if the age rule stays the same or gets abolished, it is likely the raptors will have an extremely highpick.

The 2011 draft never really appeared to be that great outside of Harrison Barnes.

The 2012 draft could be absolutely horrible if this two and done rule is put in place however, if it is not, it looks to be very, very strong.

[CanadaB-Ball]

There are concerns about Rivers and his sub par athleticism. Atleast thats what scouts are saying according to lots of articles. But hes very very talented though no doubt.

Lack of athleticism? I thought he was considered extremely athletic?

Not saying you're wrong, just wondering where you read this.