Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 7

[careful]

Outside of Kyrie and maybe Williams, it looks about as good as the 2000 draft.

[Lionel Messi]

Outside of Kyrie and maybe Williams, it looks about as good as the 2000 draft.

Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the top 3 ends up being comprised of Kyrie and then 2 later first round picks (or like Veseley and a late pick).

[kingkyrie]

I may be part of the minority, but this draft does look decent after the top 2 as it reminds me a bit of the 05 draft. A lot of athletic players as well as shooters that can be very important how the game is changing.

[fredericklove]

Outside of Kyrie and maybe Williams, it looks about as good as the 2000 draft.

It should be better than the 2000 though, most of the lottery picks in 2000 such as swift, miles, fizer and moiso ended up MIA but I doubt picks such as Kanter, Kemba, Knight, Donut or even Jimmer could end up worst than anything, they could be role players or first player off the bench.

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

Outside of Kyrie and maybe Williams, it looks about as good as the 2000 draft.

Agreed. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the top 3 ends up being comprised of Kyrie and then 2 later first round picks (or like Veseley and a late pick).

Not a chance. 2000 cannot be topped.

[ATLTimekeeper]

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/david_aldridge/05/02/big-board-power-forwards/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

David Aldridge did a run down on Power Forward prospects in this year's draft. He lists Derrick Williams as a PF, and he tops the list. He also had a lot of scout quotes that said that Vesely was the real deal and a top 5 pick in this year's draft.

Givony is tweeting nasty things about that Aldridge column.

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
This David Aldridge article is like a parody of NBA draft article. Could people have really told him that Motiejunas plays against midgets?
14 minutes ago

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
"Motiejunas entered his name in last year's Draft but pulled out after being unable to secure a top-12 guarantee" - I must have missed that?
15 minutes ago

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
Like Iguodala, Williams went to Arizona. Unlike Iguodala...everything else about him as a basketball player?
19 minutes ago

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
Actual quote (from a supposed NBA draft analyst): "Derrick Williams draws comparisons to small forwards like Andre Iguodala"
19 minutes ago

I think Givony seems pretty bitter sometimes. This isn't really Aldridge's forte, but it looks like a decently researched piece. There's so much hot air this time of year, I'm sure Givony falls victim to it as well.

[RaptorReloaded]

Via the wire-tap 20 teams attended the Kentucky Combine many being the team's actual GMs. Any word if BC is one of those GM's?

[God Squad]

I'm sure Bryan Colangelo is one of the many GM's there. Remember he has a top 3 pick maybe. He better be going his job.

[Comeatme_Bro]

BC is probably in Europe scouting for the next big thing.

[DG88]

Kyrie or bust

[Hassassin]

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/david_aldridge/05/02/big-board-power-forwards/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

David Aldridge did a run down on Power Forward prospects in this year's draft. He lists Derrick Williams as a PF, and he tops the list. He also had a lot of scout quotes that said that Vesely was the real deal and a top 5 pick in this year's draft.

Givony is tweeting nasty things about that Aldridge column.

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
This David Aldridge article is like a parody of NBA draft article. Could people have really told him that Motiejunas plays against midgets?
14 minutes ago

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
"Motiejunas entered his name in last year's Draft but pulled out after being unable to secure a top-12 guarantee" - I must have missed that?
15 minutes ago

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
Like Iguodala, Williams went to Arizona. Unlike Iguodala...everything else about him as a basketball player?
19 minutes ago

DraftExpress Jonathan Givony
Actual quote (from a supposed NBA draft analyst): "Derrick Williams draws comparisons to small forwards like Andre Iguodala"
19 minutes ago

Why does Givony sound like he is butthurt?

[dagger]

I'm sure Bryan Colangelo is one of the many GM's there. Remember he has a top 3 pick maybe. He better be going his job.

Except none of the players at the combine are even top 10 prospects in the mock drafts. I don't know if he is there or not, but this combine has attracted mainly players who will go in the second round. None that are considered lottery picks.

[wanker]

I'm sure Bryan Colangelo is one of the many GM's there. Remember he has a top 3 pick maybe. He better be going his job.

Except none of the players at the combine are even top 10 prospects in the mock drafts. I don't know if he is there or not, but this combine has attracted mainly players who will go in the second round. None that are considered lottery picks.

I believe the combine in question is that orchestrated by Calipari to exclusively showcase Knight, Jones, Liggins and Harrelson. I would assume BC and/or Co. would attend as Knight and Jones are legitimate prospects in the 4-6 range. I realize most mocks currently have Jones in the 9-12 range, but he is not dropping this low.

[Hassassin]

From the Aldridge article

"His athleticism is off the charts," an Atlantic Division personnel man said. "He runs the floor. Does a lot of things that are factors in the game. Has personality on the court. When he dunks the ball, you know he dunks the ball."

Said a Northwest Division executive: "He plays hard and he cuts off the ball. He's going to survive because of that. He plays like (Andrei) Kirilenko when he was super athletic."

Vesely's European team hasn't been quite as good this season as last, when he first became known as a top NBA propsect. But that doesn't deter his supporters in the least. "Right now I would say forget the mock drafts," the Atlantic Division man said. "I still say, talent-wise, he's a top five pick."

There is only one Atlantic division team in the lottery.

[5DOM]

Vesely sounds interesting.
This is his scouting report from a year ago: http://www.in-the-game.org/?p=6979

He probably improved quite a bit considering he won the Young Player of the Year award in Euroleague. Not sure why he can't make the FTs though

[Basketball_Jones]

From the Aldridge article

"His athleticism is off the charts," an Atlantic Division personnel man said. "He runs the floor. Does a lot of things that are factors in the game. Has personality on the court. When he dunks the ball, you know he dunks the ball."

Said a Northwest Division executive: "He plays hard and he cuts off the ball. He's going to survive because of that. He plays like (Andrei) Kirilenko when he was super athletic."

Vesely's European team hasn't been quite as good this season as last, when he first became known as a top NBA propsect. But that doesn't deter his supporters in the least. "Right now I would say forget the mock drafts," the Atlantic Division man said. "I still say, talent-wise, he's a top five pick."

There is only one Atlantic division team in the lottery.

oh god

[hsb]

There is only one Atlantic division team in the lottery.

The Nets are in the lottery as well.

[5DOM]

There is only one Atlantic division team in the lottery.

The Nets are in the lottery as well.

but they aren't picking

[Brinbe]

From the Aldridge article

"His athleticism is off the charts," an Atlantic Division personnel man said. "He runs the floor. Does a lot of things that are factors in the game. Has personality on the court. When he dunks the ball, you know he dunks the ball."

Said a Northwest Division executive: "He plays hard and he cuts off the ball. He's going to survive because of that. He plays like (Andrei) Kirilenko when he was super athletic."

Vesely's European team hasn't been quite as good this season as last, when he first became known as a top NBA propsect. But that doesn't deter his supporters in the least. "Right now I would say forget the mock drafts," the Atlantic Division man said. "I still say, talent-wise, he's a top five pick."

There is only one Atlantic division team in the lottery.

Well, we may well drop to fourth (maybe even fifth if we were really unlucky?), so I wouldn't be surprised if he were the pick in that case. Fills a need, and fits what we're seemingly looking for with his combo of athleticism/versatility/defense.

[hsb]

There is only one Atlantic division team in the lottery.

The Nets are in the lottery as well.

but they aren't picking

Oh, good catch.