Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 7

Silk Wilkes · Post #121 » by **Silk Wilkes** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:52 pm

People simply don't get it. Do you actually believe Bryan would draft Williams to play Power Forward with Ed, Amir and Andrea here? Use common sense. If he picks Williams it's because he's confident Derrick can play small forward. Don't go using comparisons of Rob Babcock's previous picks as an example.

Scooter28 · Post #122 » by **Scooter28** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 7:59 pm

Hi I'm new and have been reading raptors forum for a long time.Anyways, I was just wondering why a lot of people like valunicunas?

Rejected · Post #123 » by **Rejected** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:01 pm

Youngblood wrote:People simply don't get it. Do you actually believe Bryan would draft Williams to play Power Forward with Ed, Amir and Andrea here? Use common sense. If he picks Williams it's because he's confident Derrick can play small forward. Don't go using comparisons of Rob Babcock's previous picks as an example.

No, I don't. But this draft sucks and if Williams is the BPA then you have to take him at this point with our team even if he is a PF, maybe then you try and move him or something. I think the talent really drops off after Irving and Williams assuming Barnes is out. If he is a SF then it'll work and I'll be fine with it, but if he is a PF and we have a chance to pick him and no one else is in his league then we take him regardless and figure out the next step after that. That is common sense. People who forget history are doomed to make the same mistakes again.

fame · Post #124 » by **fame** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:02 pm

I'm sure Derrick Williams can play the 3-spot in the same way that Marion has played it most of his career. Sure Marion was probably much more athletic but at the same time they're similar in size, ballhandling ablity, etc.

He might not be the best option to throw on some speedy small forwards, but an issue like that can be solved with an athletic defensive presence at Center to play some help D. Let's say we sign someone like DeAndre Jordan in the offseason. A starting lineup like this probably won't have as many issues defensively as the Raps have had in past seasons.

Jerryd Bayless
DeMar DeRozan
Derrick Williams
Ed Davis
DeAndre Jordan

Jordan and Davis both have enough shotblocking ablity and size to cover up some mishaps on D. We would have a pretty big rebounding advantage with a big frontline at the 3,4, and 5. Plus Bayless can hold his own much better than Calderon which will reduce the blow by's we usually give up at that position.

I don't think Williams is lazy enough to be a real liability on defense. He'd be no worse than Turk, Kleiza, and whoever else we had at that spot before. My only issue is if his three-point shot is consistant from NBA range. Since a starting lineup like that would be pretty weak from long range.

fredericklove · Post #125 » by **fredericklove** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:03 pm

Scooter28 wrote:Hi I'm new and have been reading raptors forum for a long time.Anyways, I was just wondering why a lot of people like valunicunas?

No idea either.

Long arms, block shots, rebounding ability, great hands, 6'11 & 240 lb frame, plays centre, and he's the 4th member of the jonas brothers.

Post #126 » by **FluLikeSymptoms** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:05 pm

DWill would be a pretty easy sell at #2 for fans of most teams post-draft, and even if he doesn't work out a GM could be more easily forgiven for taking him than a Euro who nobody except basketball nerds had heard of.

And if the NBA has a lockout, you'd REALLY have to sell your pissed-of fans on your product when the league starts up again. Good luck in pushing a long-term project as your saviour, possibly a year removed from a terrible season. I don't think there's going to be a fight for the unfamiliar at the top but I do see a lot of teams trying to goad BC into taking one. Why wouldn't you?

All of the franchises at the top of the draft are shaky, not just the teams. I would be pretty surprised to see DWill slip past #2, though I'm not crazy about his chances of transposing his game to the NBA arena, simply because he's a safe sell with legit promise. Think you have to plan on him being gone at #3.

DX has Kemba at #5, Knight at #6? Who knows, maybe Terrence Jones, Leonard and Burks, even the Morris brothers could also go higher than they otherwise might and the Intls will all slip. Trading from #3 to #10 could still get you Valanciunas or somebody plus the juice, and he'd have #10 expectations.

NH · Post #127 » by NH » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:07 pm

Rejected wrote:I really hope Barnes enters the draft. I'm not sold on Williams. I'm not a fan of having someone at that tweener position. If he is a small forward I think that can work but, I don't want him at PF. If he is a small forward he will be in the Jamison, Beasley, Marion roll. A bigger SF who will back defenders down more then break them down, but I don't think he can defend that position.

The PF positions is also probably already our greatest strength with Davis and Amir. I like those two much better at that spot for there help defense, shot blocking, rebounding, length, athleticism and hustle on the glass. Picking Williams to me will be like when we picked Charlie V when we already had Bosh and needed anything else (granger cough), Then we followed that by picking another pf in Bargs. Thank god we picked Derozen instead of like a Jordan Hill if he fell. Im sick of picking power forwards. We should definitely draft on talent, but I hope theres a better talent available at a different position when we pick.

Man if D Williams can be a SF on the same level as Jamison or Marion I will be jumping for joy. Those are all All-Star calibre players. This draft is damn weak so I will take a Marion clone and run. D Williams has the opportunity to beast it, while Barnes will be more of a potential pick.. Im tired of Raptors with potential.

Post #128 » by **5DOM** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:08 pm

Note Williams has a similar build to James Johnson who is playing decent D for us. And I agree that he would be an easy sell to the fans. He basically scored 20 ppg on a 70 TS%, and of course destroyed Duke in the tourney.

bboyskinnylegs · Post #129 » by **bboyskinnylegs** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:15 pm

Yeah I don't see why getting Williams means we have to deal either him or Ed. Personally I think he can be like a Melo-lite, or Beasley+ (more efficient though). They're all very similar size-wise, and Melo's freshman production was similar to Derrick's now (22.9/10 in 36.4mpg, averaging 6.8FTAs shooting 45% vs. Derrick's 19.5/8.3 in 30mpg, averaging 8.7FTA--Beasley was a monster).

If he can be an efficient 15-20+ppg scorer with good rebounding and passable defense, we'll be looking pretty solid rolling with Bayless/DeMar/Williams/Ed (with Amir/JJ off the bench), as long as we can find some good defense at the C position.

Silk Wilkes · Post #130 » by **Silk Wilkes** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:18 pm

bboyskinnylegs wrote:Yeah I don't see why getting Williams means we have to deal either him or Ed. Personally I think he can be like a Melo-lite, or Beasley+ (more efficient though). They're all very similar size-wise, and Melo's freshman production was similar to Derrick's now (22.9/10 in 36.4mpg, averaging 6.8FTAs shooting 45% vs. Derrick's 19.5/8.3 in 30mpg, averaging 8.7FTA--Beasley was a monster).

If he can be an efficient 15-20+ppg scorer with good rebounding and passable defense, we'll be looking pretty solid rolling with Bayless/DeMar/Williams/Ed (with Amir/JJ off the bench), as long as we can find some good defense at the C position.

Exactly. You get Williams and the majority of your free agent focus can move to Jordan or Gasol (hopefully Jordan imo). I didn't know jack about Williams a month ago yet he has completely sold me at this point after I did my homework. He's the type of guy that comes out of no where to make the NBA go gaga over him.

Post #131 » by **DG88** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:40 pm

I'd still want Irving and get a SF in next years draft, which will be in abundance. I still believe we'll get Irving, I've had that belief since the summer and things are looking good as of right now.

[SJJ] · Post #132 » by **[SJJ]** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:47 pm

DG88 wrote:I'd still want Irving and get a SF in next years draft, which will be in abundance. I still believe we'll get Irving, I've had that belief since the summer and things are looking good as of right now.

Oddly enough... same here

Post #133 » by **DG88** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:58 pm

[SJJ] wrote:
DG88 wrote:I'd still want Irving and get a SF in next years draft, which will be in abundance. I still believe we'll get Irving, I've had that belief since the summer and things are looking good as of right now.

Oddly enough... same here

Two minds think alike :wink:

Silk Wilkes · Post #134 » by **Silk Wilkes** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:02 pm

DG88 wrote:
[SJJ] wrote:
DG88 wrote:I'd still want Irving and get a SF in next years draft, which will be in abundance. I still believe we'll get Irving, I've had that belief since the summer and things are looking good as of right now.

Oddly enough... same here

Two minds think alike

I notice that you didn't mention those minds being great. Agreed :lol:

Anyways, another guy at small forward you can compare to DWill's defense is Paul Pierce. Just by looking at him you would think he'd be slow and easy to drive by. But his work ethic and heart have prevented that.

fredericklove · Post #135 » by **fredericklove** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:48 pm

DG88 wrote:I'd still want Irving and get a SF in next years draft, which will be in abundance. I still believe we'll get Irving, I've had that belief since the summer and things are looking good as of right now.

I actually had a short dream last night of Irving playing in the summer league in raptors uniform. Freaky eh? U know what they say about dreams can actually come true in reality...but there's no summer league next year ...so could it be Irving backing out in this draft and redeclaring next year??

yayotube · Post #136 » by **yayotube** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:51 pm

I really hope we win the lottery just so that this board can unanimously agree on something for once

Post #137 » by **Rhettmatic** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:52 pm

yayotube wrote:I really hope we win the lottery just so that this board can unanimously agree on something for once

I'm certain that if we do, a couple token Irving haters will emerge from the woodwork ready to troll any thread where he's mentioned. It's inevitable.

Silk Wilkes · Post #138 » by **Silk Wilkes** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:53 pm

fredericklove wrote:
DG88 wrote:I'd still want Irving and get a SF in next years draft, which will be in abundance. I still believe we'll get Irving, I've had that belief since the summer and things are looking good as of right now.

I actually had a short dream last night of Irving playing in the summer league in raptors uniform. Freaky eh? U know what they say about dreams can actually come true in reality...but there's no summer league next year ...so could it be Irving backing out in this draft and redeclaring next year??

Didn't he hire an agent? I don't think there is any backing out if that's the case.

Post #139 » by **DG88** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:56 pm

fredericklove wrote:
DG88 wrote:I'd still want Irving and get a SF in next years draft, which will be in abundance. I still believe we'll get Irving, I've had that belief since the summer and things are looking good as of right now.

I actually had a short dream last night of Irving playing in the summer league in raptors uniform. Freaky eh? U know what they say about dreams can actually come true in reality...but there's no summer league next year ...so could it be Irving backing out in this draft and redeclaring next year??

Irving has already sign with an agent he can't go back now

Steve Urkel · Post #140 » by **Steve Urkel** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:01 pm

Rhettmatic wrote:
yayotube wrote:I really hope we win the lottery just so that this board can unanimously agree on something for once

I'm certain that if we do, a couple token Irving haters will emerge from the woodwork ready to troll any thread where he's mentioned. It's inevitable.

666?