Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 8

[Reignman]

I hope another team does pick Kanter over Williams. That would make me so happy if we stay at 3

I hope we get BPA. If it's Kanter then I want him, if it's D Will then I want him.

[Kevin Willis]

Bertans is interesting. I don't know about his rebounding ability but he's a shooter who can drive better than a Kapono. He can be a Miller-lite type of guy eventually. Funny that he's very different from Vesely at similar heights and position. He's more of a Euro-league shooter and Vesely is more of a skinny Griffin in his game.

I would draft him in the second-round since we need shooting.

Here's Leonard's report btw:

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Fin ... nard-3695/

I think he would fit in well with this team. But he doesn't strengthen our weakness in shooting.

We don't have 2nd round pick. We traded for Delfino (now Amir), which is worthy imo.
I am not high on him, I would prefer someone has quickness to come off the bench and break opponent defense.

And I don't think our shooting is that bad, but since no one can create for others, our shooting will suffer (no open looks). However, we are stacked at the PG/SG with no good passer/court vision player.

We can always buy a second so it's not impossible. We don't have any pure shooters that can stretch the floor without a penetrating guard. No Korver/Miller/Redd/J.Johnson/Allen/Pierce/House/Harden/etc. He wouldn't hurt for a second round guy.

[bboyskinnylegs]

^^ agreed, I'd much rather take the minimal risk (and much smaller salary hit) to see how this kid does... I think at the very least he can be a 3pt specialist off the bench... with the potential to be much more. If he doesn't pan out, the risk would be minimal with a late 1st or 2nd rounder, as opposed to overpaying someone or trading for a guy that makes a lot more like an Anthony Morrow/Kapono/Korver etc. Low-risk, high reward. If he pans out, you have a good player to build with, or a solid trading chip. If not, let him ride out his contract, or use him as salary filler in a trade, cut him, etc. We took the same kind of risk on Alabi, it doesn't look like he'll amount to anything, but it has virtually no effect on our salary cap and at the very least they're cheap guys to fill out your roster. I'd rather do that than hand out another Kleiza MLE deal.

I like him a lot more than Vesely... his skillset is much better suited to playing SF, and he actually addresses a specific need that we have with his shooting ... at the very least, I'd prefer seeing him as our backup SF than Kleiza/Weems.

Taking a chance like this is how teams end up with guys like Batum, Beaubois, Ibaka, Asik, Dragic (who played for the same team as Bertans)... of course you can also end up with guys like Ajinca and Belinelli as well, but I think it's still a justifiable risk with a late pick.

[Indeed]

Saying the Pistons had the most pedestrian cast to win the Championship may be unfair, but at the same time the make-up of that team was definitely the most unusual. You might say they had 5 all stars, but they weren't exactly your typical all stars either. East was pretty weak then as well

Yes, but he was traded to Cleveland, and didn't perform as great with LeBron.

What I am saying is BB might be a good prospect, but BB needs certain type of players to excel.
With our current players, our current players playing defense won't be dramatically improved. And BB needs offense surround him to make up his difference.
As posted above, without Ben Wallace in Detroit, their offense went up from 15th to 6th. Same for BB, he will need offensive players to hide his weaknesses, pairing Amir nor Davis with BB won't be enough for us to be a top 15th offensive team.

[Indeed]

Bertans is interesting. I don't know about his rebounding ability but he's a shooter who can drive better than a Kapono. He can be a Miller-lite type of guy eventually. Funny that he's very different from Vesely at similar heights and position. He's more of a Euro-league shooter and Vesely is more of a skinny Griffin in his game.

I would draft him in the second-round since we need shooting.

Here's Leonard's report btw:

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Fin ... nard-3695/

I think he would fit in well with this team. But he doesn't strengthen our weakness in shooting.

We don't have 2nd round pick. We traded for Delfino (now Amir), which is worthy imo.
I am not high on him, I would prefer someone has quickness to come off the bench and break opponent defense.

And I don't think our shooting is that bad, but since no one can create for others, our shooting will suffer (no open looks). However, we are stacked at the PG/SG with no good passer/court vision player.

We can always buy a second so it's not impossible. We don't have any pure shooters that can stretch the floor without a penetrating guard. No Korver/Miller/Redd/J.Johnson/Allen/Pierce/House/Harden/etc. He wouldn't hurt for a second round guy.

I don't think you can buy them directly, maybe in exchange for future 2nd pick. If that's the case, I would rather save it for next season. Since next year there are many good prospects gonna dropped to 2nd round due to the stacked 1st round talents.

[Kevin Willis]

That is true Indeed. Next year will have some good talent in the second round. And considering he's a second round pick in a weak draft that may not be encouraging for us.

I still like him though.

[gerrit4]

ok then let D.Will drop to us whoever picks Kanter above D-Will thats a huge mistake IMO

I really like Kanter as a prospect, but there's a lot of question marks around him compared to D-Will. I'd be thrilled to get D-Will at 3.

[Reignman]

ok then let D.Will drop to us whoever picks Kanter above D-Will thats a huge mistake IMO

I really like Kanter as a prospect, but there's a lot of question marks around him compared to D-Will. I'd be thrilled to get D-Will at 3.

Just a question but what if it turns out that D Will is a tweener or more suited to play PF? Would you still feel the same way?

[5DOM]

ok then let D.Will drop to us whoever picks Kanter above D-Will thats a huge mistake IMO

I really like Kanter as a prospect, but there's a lot of question marks around him compared to D-Will. I'd be thrilled to get D-Will at 3.

Just a question but what if it turns out that D Will is a tweener or more suited to play PF? Would you still feel the same way?

I think it's going to be hard to determine his position in the next 30 or so days, but even if he is a PF I'd still pick him and look to trade Amir. The question mark with Williams is smaller than that with Kanter IMO.

[Truthrising]

I really like Kanter as a prospect, but there's a lot of question marks around him compared to D-Will. I'd be thrilled to get D-Will at 3.

Just a question but what if it turns out that D Will is a tweener or more suited to play PF? Would you still feel the same way?

I think it's going to be hard to determine his position in the next 30 or so days, but even if he is a PF I'd still pick him and look to trade Amir. The question mark with Williams is smaller than that with Kanter IMO.

if D-Will can only play PF, so your suggesting to have Davis to come off the bench? or are you suggesting to have a D Will-Ed Davis front court? IMO we'd be extremely small and i'd doubt of us having chance of picking up a legit C since those type of players are extremely rare and we'd be fighting with other teams that are also in need of a legit C, I think we'd still be having the same problem and would bring our ball club back to square one where our priorities are to pickup a center and a PG.

[witnessraps]

I dunno about drafting D-will if he's a PF...I think we're set at that position with Ed/Amir unless we trade one.

[5DOM]

I just think Williams is a clear cut top 2 prospect in this draft and easily the BPA if Irving's off the board. The only concern with Williams is obviously his NBA position but compared to concerns with Kanter, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

[Reignman]

I just think Williams is a clear cut top 2 prospect in this draft and easily the BPA if Irving's off the board. The only concern with Williams is obviously his NBA position but compared to concerns with Kanter, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

What if the scouts don't agree with you? On the last page I posted an article and it seems that some scouts have Kanter ranked higher.

Now again, for me as a fan with no scouting experience I'd still say it's irving/dwill/kanter, but again, I'm no scout and it doesn't seem to be as cut and dried as you make it seem.

[gerrit4]

ok then let D.Will drop to us whoever picks Kanter above D-Will thats a huge mistake IMO

I really like Kanter as a prospect, but there's a lot of question marks around him compared to D-Will. I'd be thrilled to get D-Will at 3.

Just a question but what if it turns out that D Will is a tweener or more suited to play PF? Would you still feel the same way?

Yes.

If we were keeping Bosh last year, I would have rather drafted Ed Davis than Larry Sanders, Luke Babbit, Avery Bradley or even Eric Bledsoe - all of whom would have been less redundant than having Davis & Bosh. The same with how we'd all rather have had Aldridge than Bargnani or Morrison.

The way I see it, Williams is the clear cut 2nd best prospect right now. If we're able to draft him, we can figure out what to do with the logjam later on. In his first year he'd probably be playing both the 3 and 4 - we'd get a good chance to see how his skill-set translates to the NBA.

I understand why people see a need for fit - if you develop a player in the wrong position or in a logjammed position he may never develop into the player he has the potential to be. But in this case, he seems to be a much lower risk than any of the other players. Is he a great fit with Derozan, Bayless, Davis and Amir? I wouldn't say so, there's a lot of athleticism without a creator, center or pure shooters. But I don't think we're that close to being competitive anyways.

I'm not hating on Kanter, Jonas or even Byombo. If we draft any of those guys I'll be excited for their potential and what they can bring to this roster. If either of those three turn into good players, they'd fit in immediately. But they come with a lot question marks. D-Will comes with two - is he a versatile player or a tweener? and can he defend at the NBA level? Even if he's a tweener with so-so defense, he still may be the best player in this draft.

[TheDunc]

Every GM will regret passing on D-will. He might be a tweener but most of all hes a player. A damn good one too, hes a good version of michael beasley. Might not be the natural scorer that beasley is but he will only improve. I dont mind if D-will ends up being a PF, that way we can bring out a James Johnson,D-Will and bulked up Davis front court

That being said, i'd still prefer Kyrie irving. But D-will is the second best player in draft

[5DOM]

I just think Williams is a clear cut top 2 prospect in this draft and easily the BPA if Irving's off the board. The only concern with Williams is obviously his NBA position but compared to concerns with Kanter, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

What if the scouts don't agree with you? On the last page I posted an article and it seems that some scouts have Kanter ranked higher.

Now again, for me as a fan with no scouting experience I'd still say it's irving/dwill/kanter, but again, I'm no scout and it doesn't seem to be as cut and dried as you make it seem.

It's obviously just my opinion
That's why I always try to keep adding "I think". But do you honestly think there are bigger questions marks with Williams than with Kanter who no one here's basically seen for more than half an hour?
Besides, at least at this point, Irving and Williams seem to be the consensus top 2.

[Lionel Messi]

I think we're giving Williams too much credit by grouping him with Irving.

I think it's more like

Irving


Williams







etc.

[Basketball_Jones]

I think Kanter would be the right pick, either him or Donatas. A real C like those two beside Bargnani would be great.

[Indeed]

I really like Kanter as a prospect, but there's a lot of question marks around him compared to D-Will. I'd be thrilled to get D-Will at 3.

Just a question but what if it turns out that D Will is a tweener or more suited to play PF? Would you still feel the same way?

Yes.

If we were keeping Bosh last year, I would have rather drafted Ed Davis than Larry Sanders, Luke Babbit, Avery Bradley or even Eric Bledsoe - all of whom would have been less redundant than having Davis & Bosh. The same with how we'd all rather have had Aldridge than Bargnani or Morrison.

The way I see it, Williams is the clear cut 2nd best prospect right now. If we're able to draft him, we can figure out what to do with the logjam later on. In his first year he'd probably be playing both the 3 and 4 - we'd get a good chance to see how his skill-set translates to the NBA.

I understand why people see a need for fit - if you develop a player in the wrong position or in a logjammed position he may never develop into the player he has the potential to be. But in this case, he seems to be a much lower risk than any of the other players. Is he a great fit with Derozan, Bayless, Davis and Amir? I wouldn't say so, there's a lot of athleticism without a creator, center or pure shooters. But I don't think we're that close to being competitive anyways.

I'm not hating on Kanter, Jonas or even Byombo. If we draft any of those guys I'll be excited for their potential and what they can bring to this roster. If either of those three turn into good players, they'd fit in immediately. But they come with a lot question marks. D-Will comes with two - is he a versatile player or a tweener? and can he defend at the NBA level? Even if he's a tweener with so-so defense, he still may be the best player in this draft.

I am pretty sure Bosh doesn't want to play with a undersized PF at C. Bosh wants someone to play C for him and spread the floor, none of those attribute fits Davis. Monroe would be a good fit to Bosh, good passer, able to play on the perimeter, able to guard center.

[ansoncarter]

PLEASE no more pfs we already hold the record. We just drafted another one this year, traded for another one, signed another one out of europe. Every year we got pfs playing center for us, pfs playing small forward for us, please no more pfs