Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 7

[fredericklove]

Average stats from the two games they played against each other at the European U18's:

Enes Kanter:

28.5 points, FG% 60, FT% 67, 5.5 offensive rebounds, 15.5 total rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 2 steals, 2 PFs

Jonas Valanciunas:

17 points, FG% 76, FT% 89, 2 offensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, 3 blocks, 0 steals, 4 PFs

Wow, looks like someone got dominated.

[gerrit4]

One thing I must say that I love about Jonas, is that he keeps the ball very high in the post. Doesn't bring it down (which as a post player, I always make the mistake of doing). Reminds me in that sense of Bynum - they both really use their length.

I think if we miss out on the top 2 I'm down for either Kanter or Val. They could both be very good players for this team if they pan out. Bismack is obviously intriguing as he could change us into a defensive team if he pans out - I just think it's a little too risky this year.

[Silk Wilkes]

Those videos of Enes shows a little different side. He's running, jumping and defending. Just sold me further (although it's only highlights which could make anyone look good). I also haven't seen a bad stat line from the guy.

[darth_federer]

Thorpe says that Irving will never be a superstar but he has a chance to be a pretty good player. He says that only Holiday and Curry have a comparable jumper and 3 point shot to him. He also says that Irving can become a very good defender in the NBA

[wanker]

Looks like Calipari is going to be holding his own draft workout for the Kentucky prospects.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... ft-combine

[Silk Wilkes]

Looks like Calipari is going to be holding his own draft workout for the Kentucky prospects.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketba ... ft-combine

The Kentucky Combine, as Calipari is calling it, will allow Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, DeAndre Liggins and senior Josh Harrellson an opportunity to work out with NBA personnel, and every NBA team has been invited to the Kentucky campus next week to attend the event. Two days of private workouts are scheduled with accompanying one-on-one interviews with the players after they attend classes.

Enes Kanter?

[Hassassin]

Average stats from the two games they played against each other at the European U18's:

Enes Kanter:

28.5 points, FG% 60, FT% 67, 5.5 offensive rebounds, 15.5 total rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 2 steals, 2 PFs

Jonas Valanciunas:

17 points, FG% 76, FT% 89, 2 offensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, 3 blocks, 0 steals, 4 PFs

Barring a huge difference in the minutes, this looks one-sided.

Kanter: 34.5 MPG
Valanciunas: 27 MPG

[Silk Wilkes]

Average stats from the two games they played against each other at the European U18's:

Enes Kanter:

28.5 points, FG% 60, FT% 67, 5.5 offensive rebounds, 15.5 total rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 2 steals, 2 PFs

Jonas Valanciunas:

17 points, FG% 76, FT% 89, 2 offensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, 3 blocks, 0 steals, 4 PFs

Barring a huge difference in the minutes, this looks one-sided.

Kanter: 34.5 MPG
Valanciunas: 27 MPG

Difference = 7.5 Minutes, 11.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, 2 steals

= DOMINATION!

[5DOM]

I wouldn't put too much stock in Valanciunas and Kanter's head-to-head stats because 1) they were from 2-3 years ago and 2) what everyone likes about Valanciunas is his potential rather than his NBA readiness anyway. Valanciunas' stats doesn't even look that bad either considering he never had the developed body like Kanter.

[Silk Wilkes]

I wouldn't put too much stock in Valanciunas and Kanter's head-to-head stats because 1) they were from 2-3 years ago and 2) what everyone likes about Valanciunas is his potential rather than his NBA readiness anyway. Valanciunas' stats doesn't even look that bad either considering he never had the developed body like Kanter.

Yea but Enes is younger and hes more developed. It's like taking the guy who did it from the start over the late-bloomer. Personally, I never take the late-bloomer in this spot.

[fredericklove]

Thorpe says that Irving will never be a superstar but he has a chance to be a pretty good player. He says that only Holiday and Curry have a comparable jumper and 3 point shot to him. He also says that Irving can become a very good defender in the NBA

I find using B-Roy as comparison is weird but I get what he's saying. With Irving's skillset he would be capable of putting up seasons like what Damon Stoudamire had in his first 3 seasons with the Raptors.

19 pts 9.3 ast
20 pts 8.8 ast
17.3 pts 8.2 ast

Not sure if Irving can put up that stat in the rookie year but he's capable of that after 1st two seasons.

[ty123]

I wouldn't put too much stock in Valanciunas and Kanter's head-to-head stats because 1) they were from 2-3 years ago and 2) what everyone likes about Valanciunas is his potential rather than his NBA readiness anyway. Valanciunas' stats doesn't even look that bad either considering he never had the developed body like Kanter.

How do you know if his frame can hold that mass like Kanter? If we're taking Valanciunas on potential than why would we gamble on a guy whose not particularly athletic, and not particularly quick. From what I have seen from Valanciunas, he's not getting the baskets in the NBA that he gets in Euroleague. And he averages freaking 8.2 fouls per game per 40 almost. 8.2. If you thought Amir Johnson was bad, wait till you see this guy.

[5DOM]

Yea but Enes is younger and hes more developed. It's like taking the guy who did it from the start over the late-bloomer. Personally, I never take the late-bloomer in this spot.

How do you know if his frame can hold that mass like Kanter? If we're taking Valanciunas on potential than why would we gamble on a guy whose not particularly athletic, and not particularly quick. From what I have seen from Valanciunas, he's not getting the baskets in the NBA that he gets in Euroleague. And he averages freaking 8.2 fouls per game per 40 almost. 8.2. If you thought Amir Johnson was bad, wait till you see this guy.

Obviously, if we pick Valanciunas on potential, it's going to be with the hopes that he can develop his body. If you think he can't, obviously Kanter takes this easily. I wouldn't mind the late-bloomer if he actually does bloom.

Why pick Valanciunas? Because he seems to have elite length, good mobility, great touch around the rim, good P&R game, toughness and developing jumper/FT. His ceiling is undoubtedly high. He looks like the least NBA-ready prospect though

[Silk Wilkes]

The only reason Enes' potential isn't seen as higher is because of perceived measurements. The fact is, he's been highly developed from a young age to the point where he has less to add onto his game. It's a situation like an NBA vet of 4 or 5 years who has developed somewhat and only needs minor tweaks to take that step to stardom. I could be off base, but that's what it seems like to me. The guy knows how to play with those shortcomings.

[MEDIC]

I wouldn't put too much stock in Valanciunas and Kanter's head-to-head stats because 1) they were from 2-3 years ago and 2) what everyone likes about Valanciunas is his potential rather than his NBA readiness anyway. Valanciunas' stats doesn't even look that bad either considering he never had the developed body like Kanter.

Yea but Enes is younger and hes more developed.

The fact that Kanter has been able to develop his game so advanced for a player his age speaks volumes about who he is as a person & as a player.

- High IQ
- Natural feel for athletics/ sports in general
- Hard working
- Competitive
- Motivated

The psychological aspect of sports trumps all in my books. I'll take a hard working guy that understands what he has to do to get a competitive advantage.

None of these other guys have proven that they have the psychological strength to get anywhere. They are simply relying on their natural physical talents to get where they are at this point.

[dagger]

Some of the names in next week's group workout for all 30 teams. From Chad Ford.


Players confirmed at workout include Reggie Jackson, Tyler Honeycutt, Darius Morris, Tu Holloway, Corey Joseph, Isaiah Thomas, Scotty Hopson

Players who DECLINED: Kawhi Leonard, Nolan Smith, Josh Selby, Klay Thompson, Tobias Harris, Chris Singleton, Justin Harper

[dagger]

Also up next week, the best of seven Lithuanian League finals, Rytas vs Zilgaris, both Euroleague teams so 4-7 more chances to evaluate Valanciunas against elite competition.

[fredericklove]

Yea but Enes is younger and hes more developed.

The fact that Kanter has been able to develop his game so advanced for a player his age speaks volumes about who he is as a person & as a player.

- High IQ
- Natural feel for athletics/ sports in general
- Hard working
- Competitive
- Motivated

The psychological aspect of sports trumps all in my books. I'll take a hard working guy that understands what he has to do to get a competitive advantage.

None of these other guys have proven that they have the psychological strength to get anywhere. They are simply relying on their natural physical talents to get where they are at this point.

And I think it's very silly to compare him to Hoffa. Hoffa only uses his physical strength without any post skills knowledge. Kanter on the other hand, has shown alot of variety of go-to-moves and very very patient under the rim, and he's a 260 lb heavyweight. A good defender in the post doesn't mean he has to block every shot attempt, you just need to know how to play your position effectively.

[wanker]

Thank the Lord for sanity:

http://www.nba.com/jazz/features/draft2 ... iunas.html (a scouting report on Valanciunas)

Valanciunas is listed as the #3 prospect by NBA Draft Express. He is listed as #4 by Chad Ford. After watching the first game I didn’t see it..

He has very little lift. He plays smaller than his size despite all the talk about his great length. He didn’t make a single play that made me think NBA. His offensive game was rolling to the basket on a pick and roll and nothing else. Defensively, he makes an effort and he moves, but I didn’t think he was impactful.

QUICK SYNOPSIS
In my opinion he lacks the athleticism to be a front line NBA player. Has good hands and plays the game fundamentally correct which will allow him to be an NBA player in a team’s rotation.

PROJECTIONS
Best Case Scenario: 10 points 10 rebounds
Likely Case Scenario: Tiago Splitter
Worst Case Scenario: Kosta Koufas

There is hope for the world!

[Reignman]

His "quick synopsis" actually makes him seem like a pretty good prospect. You don't need athleticism when you have his height/length, especially when you are "fundamentally correct".

I don't know, his quick synopsis doesn't quite jive with the rest of his analysis.