Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 7

[CanadaB-Ball]

the overyhype of the 2012 draft is nuts.
There will likely be a new age restriction making it quite possibly be the worst draft of the past 25 years.

I keep hearing over and over again how Myck and Austin Rivers will be all star talents and potential franchise changers... to this, I can't do anything other than laugh.

I don't think he'll be a franchise changer, but I think Myck will be very good.

His court vision and handles are very good, as is his overall speed and quickness.

He can get to the rim at will, but definetly needs to learn how to finish when he gets there.

He also has a very good three-point shot, although that's in high-school so it will be interesting to see how he fairs with that in college.

He definetly needs to cut down on turnovers though.

Saying that, I would not at all be surprised if he were a lottery pick in 2012. Assuming, of course, that the age limit stays the same.

[Dr Positivity]

Agreed, I don't see Rivers living up to his hype. Undersized volume SG, meh.

I think the 2011 draft when it had Barnes, Perry, Sullinger, Henson, etc. was > 2012. Now that those guys have shifted 2012 might have the edge but it's not a huge difference and IMO 2011 is likely to be just as good at the top

If the age restriction is changed, then the draft will be awful.

If not, it will be much, much better than this draft class. Not so much for top-tier talent, but the overall depth is undeniable.

But if we're talking about trading away Derrick Williams for the Minnesota pick, depth doesn't really matter. The only prospects better than D Will in 2012 will be going top 3.

When you have the chance to draft a STAR like Derrick Williams, you don't trade him away for a mystery box that could easily be a 8th or 9th pick as much a top 3 one, just so you can have Al-Farouq Aminu

[sunny]

the 2012 draft will have a lot of depth due barnes, jones, sullinger (am I missing anyone?).
However, it does not have great star power.

anthony davis has the potential to be a franchise player. Beal and Miller (depending on how he recovers) IMO might as well. With that said, the draft is a year away and will likely look far different than any of us can imagine. I was just pointing out how there will likely be no lebrons blakes or durants in the draft.

All I see is if the age limit doesnt change, a 3-5 pick in this years draft would be similar to a 5-8 pick in next years draft.

[Dr Positivity]

the overyhype of the 2012 draft is nuts.
There will likely be a new age restriction making it quite possibly be the worst draft of the past 25 years.

I keep hearing over and over again how Myck and Austin Rivers will be all star talents and potential franchise changers... to this, I can't do anything other than laugh.

think about it like this, the 2011 draft hasn't gone the way ANY Raptors fan would hope for, many prospects dropping out and questions surrounding the others.

Typically, the fanbase like players that have been hyped since HS, dominate in college and then get picked in the draft. This draft hasn't gone that way so people are obviously expecting big things from the unknown 2012 draft.

Well there's only 1 or 2 prospects like that every draft with all those boxes checkmarked. Wall, Griffin, Rose, Durant. Cousins had everything but 'sanity' checkmarked but probably should've gone #2 anyways. The rest are split up into great talents that weren't ready to dominate in college like Favors and Monroe, and high school unknowns who put up star stats a few years in like Turner or Kemba, who still might be legit.

I don't think this draft is too different

Dominated high school/college as freshman/has all the tools:
Irving

Went from unknown to dominant:
Williams
Kemba

Great tools, hasn't shown elite production yet:
Knight
Biyombo
Valanciunas
Vesely

???
Kanter

[OAKLEY_2]

When you have the chance to draft a STAR like Derrick Williams, you don't trade him away for a mystery box that could easily be a 8th or 9th pick as much a top 3 one, just so you can have Al-Farouq Aminu

Who knows. Lots of centres next year. There is Lebryan (LBY). Another crack at Barnes. Austin Rivers who does project to be a player.

So lets say we stand pat, get lucky and land D-will/Austin Rivers
or the Dagger idea
Aminu, Jones III and Kabongo.

Put in those terms we have assets to move getting us our coveted but never-come-to-be defensive stopper centre.

In the second scenario Bargnani hits the road but not until 2012 at the earliest and either Davis or Amir could be moved or Jones III could be flipped. It gives us more tradeable assets something we do not have right now. All of a sudden holes can be filled and while we might not draft for position we can certainly trade for it.

[Dr Positivity]

D Will/Austin Rivers >>> Aminu, Jones III and Kabongo if I had to choose right now. And I don't even like Austin Rivers.

[Dr Positivity]

I wouldn't even trade Derrick Williams for Anthony Davis. Davis is the latest of many raw and athletic big men who likely won't show much but defense and instincts their freshman year but still get the hype

I'm guessing McAdoo, Miller and Gilchrist will be at the top a year from now. McAdoo and Miller should fill it, Gilchrist is just powerful

[Dr Positivity]

Also, Anthony Davis is the nerdiest looking NBA prospect I've ever seen.



Compare him to James McAdoo:



It is quite the mismatch

I'm only 70% joking. I do think star NBA players carry themselves like one and believe they are one. When I see pictures of Davis, I see a kid who's physical body makes him less cool instead of more. If he was invested in carrying himself like a star he'd shave that unibrow. An NBA star should always feel like he's the king of the room. I don't see that in Davis. I see a gigantic nerd.

[OhCanada]

The most dominant player in this draft is Kanter, that cannot be questioned. Bismack Biyambo is one of the most overrated prospects ever and you people thinking he deserves to be drafted by Toronto should be ashamed. Do your homework.

1-Kyrie Irving- Top class PG, very good floor management, no real weakness throughout his game, good at everything including perimeter defence.

2-Derrick Williams-Gives defense effort, is a great athlete and a versatile forward who can give minutes at the 3 and 4. Andrea Bargnani practically plays a SF role on offense by coasting on the perimeter and driving to the rim sometimes posting as well. Williams could play that role while driving more often, and posting more often, and also while gaurding the oppositions SF, and having Ed Davis and hopefully a true C on the floor. Williams gives the Raptors no let up in trading Bargnani and actaully is a better fit for the system.

3-Enes Kanter-The most dominate Euro player at his age quite arguably ever. If he played in college this season there is little to no doubt in my mind Kentucky would have been NCAA Champs and Kanters name would be called 1st overall. The issues with Kanter are the fact that he would prefer to play PF as the only reason is he is listed as a C is a recent growth spurt. Kanter has not played much basketball in the last 2 years at a competitive level so he has not quite adjusted to his hieght and people question if he has matured his game. Kanter has had tendonitis and knee surgery which makes him an injury risk of some sort.

4-Jan Vesely-People on this site may not know but this may even be a better fit then Williams. Toronto has a strong need for a SF who is willing to play some defense, stick shots, get out on the fastbreak and really just make intangible reads and hustle plays. Thats what Vesely is all about. Just ask any Jazz fan how valueable Andrei Kirelenko is too that team because that is his draft comparison. With so many available C's in free agency taking a unsure shot at a possibly injury prone Kanter, an unready Valanciunas, a overrated Biyambo may not a good idea.

5-Jonas Valanciunas-For a kid his age he shows great potential. Soft hands, great shooting touch, and excellent hustle. He is like Marcin Gortat or an offensively polished Andris Beidrins (potentially). he could easily be another Euro prospect who does not fulfill his potential.

[phailing101]

I think the 2 year age limit is too big a risk to pass on our draft pick this year.

We need to take what we can and let them develop instead of drawing this out any further.

[Reignman]

Just to clarify, I don't think Kanter ever said he "prefers" to play PF, from what I've read he said he CAN play PF.

Anyway, considering he has the skills, we'll play him wherever the **** we think is best for our team.

Word.

[OhCanada]

Word.

But he did say that Im too lazy to find the link and Im not sure if Im aloud to post links like that on this site am I?

[Reignman]

Word.

But he did say that Im too lazy to find the link and Im not sure if Im aloud to post links like that on this site am I?

If you can find it (I've been trying) post it. This board is pretty cool with people providing information and quite frankly, we need all the info in a draft like this.

[5DOM]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1028020

Q: Do you believe that you can play as forward?
A: I never wanted to be center. I love playing as a Small Forward. And I believe that I can do it if I work hard. Calipari believes that too and he promised me. Because he thinks that I have SF ability and he tells me that he will play me as SF in college.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvko4VUYuKQ[/youtube]

00:30

[HSOB SIRHC]

Also, Anthony Davis is the nerdiest looking NBA prospect I've ever seen.

When did Candace Parker and Quincy Douby hook up?

[Silk Wilkes]

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1028020

Q: Do you believe that you can play as forward?
A: I never wanted to be center. I love playing as a Small Forward. And I believe that I can do it if I work hard. Calipari believes that too and he promised me. Because he thinks that I have SF ability and he tells me that he will play me as SF in college.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvko4VUYuKQ[/youtube]

00:30

*Power Forward

And this means nothing. He just wants to "showcase his face up game" and he can do that no problem with Ed Davis being perimeter challenged at this point.

[Reignman]

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1028020

Q: Do you believe that you can play as forward?
A: I never wanted to be center. I love playing as a Small Forward. And I believe that I can do it if I work hard. Calipari believes that too and he promised me. Because he thinks that I have SF ability and he tells me that he will play me as SF in college.

LOL, all these **** want to take the easy way out it seems. He's going to have to be the anchor to the D just like he's been his whole career. He's 6'11" with a 7'1" wingspan (at 260+ lbs), he ain't beating NBA PFs on speed and his size will be mitigated.

We'll see, if the brass thinks he's bitcing about being a C then **** him too. I'm done with these clowns. If he really thinks he's a PF then he's going to have hard time breaking into the league with such a large influx of PFs already in it.

Yo, can you imagine Kanter D'ing up against the Bosh's, the Amare's, the ZBo's of the league? LOL, know your roll rookIe and if you can't play it then **** off. THE TORONTO RAPTORS NEED A C BIATTCHHHH.

[fredericklove]

Yeah, it's a shame that the recurring terrible luck of this franchise prevented us from drafting Oden. Although I'm sure our excellent scouting department would have sussed out his problems beforehand and opted for Durant.

I don't know why they don't just phase these types of changes in in 3-month (over four years) or 6-month (over two years) stages. That way, we'd still get half the one and done draft class - subject to the Malcolm Gladwell hypothesis.

Maybe Oden would have played his game more differently for us and condition himself better and could have been a 15-17 pts, 9-10 and 2 + blk and dominate defensive presence for us

I find that his injuries were resulted from incidents where he could have avoided and his "game" always gets him in bad spot, everytime he sees a man running at him he'll try to jump as high as possible to block a dude's shots and landing on the floor carelessly. With his long arm frame he can just jump slightly bit and still capable of blocking someone easily, no need to jump this high cmon. He just doesn't play the game more careful enough.

[5DOM]

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1028020

Q: Do you believe that you can play as forward?
A: I never wanted to be center. I love playing as a Small Forward. And I believe that I can do it if I work hard. Calipari believes that too and he promised me. Because he thinks that I have SF ability and he tells me that he will play me as SF in college.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvko4VUYuKQ[/youtube]

00:30

*Power Forward

And this means nothing. He just wants to "showcase his face up game" and he can do that no problem with Ed Davis being perimeter challenged at this point.

Not sure if he meant SF or PF in the first interview but I have to assume the translator made a mistake. And that it means nothing is what we want to believe. We'll know soon enough what he thinks his position will be.

I do agree with Reignman though. I think his potential is the highest a the C position and he SHOULD play C whether he likes it or not if he comes here because 1) we have Davis at PF and 2) I see no reason why he can't play C.

[Silk Wilkes]

Not sure if he meant SF or PF in the first interview but I have to assume the translator made a mistake. And that it means nothing is what we want to believe. We'll know soon enough what he thinks his position will be.

I do agree with Reignman though. I think his potential is the highest a the C position and he SHOULD play C whether he likes it or not if he comes here because 1) we have Davis at PF and 2) I see no reason why he can't play C.

If he meant small forward he's on drugs. As for Centre, I'm sure all of us would be drafting him as one.