Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread, Part 8

Sanctuary123 · Post #621 » by **Sanctuary123** » Sat May 14, 2011 4:39 am

Youngblood you're right. Gasol is a good comparison. Gasol plays below the rim and is a completely solid C. If Kanter turned out as good as Gasol it would be a good pick at 3.

Reignman · Post #622 » by **Reignman** » Sat May 14, 2011 2:59 pm

I just want to reiterate that Kanter being a skilled offensive big does NOT mean he's bad on D. People need to get Bargnani out of their head. The goal is to get the best player and there is no evidence to suggest Kanter isn't a good two way C.

Since we don't have much footage of him on D we can only go by scouting reports that say he's a good positional defender and we already know he's a pretty good rebounder. The question is how his defense will stack up in the L and the brass is going to have to figure it out.

The beauty of drafting Kanter is that he's only 18, has played C his whole life, seems to have high IQ and also seems to be a hard worker. This is the type of prospect you can mould even if he might have some warts and if his game translates you have a very formidable front line with Kanter/Davis/Amir + 1 additional back up big (ideally a vet). Hell, you could even throw Bargs into the rotation (although I think $10 mil would be better spent at another position).

jrsmith · Post #623 » by **jrsmith** » Sat May 14, 2011 3:29 pm

Kanter, Davis, Amir doesn't sound like a "formidable" front court at all. Unless you take the best possible scenario for each of them but with so many unknowns I don't see how you could possibly say that.

But if we must head down path pair them up with dekobe and billups and that's an insanely formidable team right there, dirk could come off the bench.

More realistically they will combine their talents for another tank job, when we have the possibility of getting a real game changer next year.

Reignman · Post #624 » by **Reignman** » Sat May 14, 2011 3:35 pm

jrsmith wrote:Kanter, Davis, Amir doesn't sound like a "formidable" front court at all. Unless you take the best possible scenario for each of them but with so many unknowns I don't see how you could possibly say that.

But if we must head down path pair them up with dekobe and billups and that's an insanely formidable team right there, dirk could come off the bench.

More realistically they will combine their talents for another tank job, when we have the possibility of getting a real game changer next year.

Why? Obviously when I say formidable i don't mean tomorrow, I'm projecting based on skillsets and future development (like you have to do with any prospect).

IMO, a frontcourt needs to have defense, shotblocking, rebounding, post offense and the ability to face up.

Kanter provides Post offense, post defense, midrange game, rebounding and we need to determine his help side D. Davis provides, rebounding, PnR offense/defense, shotblocking and hopefully a midrange game.

I don't really see any glaring weaknesses. As long as Kanter can provide adequate help D in rotations and Davis continues to improve his offensive game I think that's a very solid frontcourt. Add in Amir off the bench and it just solidifies the rotation. A vet C would be gravy.

jrsmith · Post #625 » by **jrsmith** » Sat May 14, 2011 3:39 pm

Ah ok when I saw you mention how powerful and capable that group would be I assumed you meant in relation to actually winning games on the court.

But yes, one of the possible outcomes would dictate that they could anchor the paint someday, alongside many other scenarios.

Reignman · Post #626 » by **Reignman** » Sat May 14, 2011 3:45 pm

jrsmith wrote:Ah ok when I saw you mention how powerful and capable that group would be I assumed you meant in relation to actually winning games on the court.

But yes, one of the possible outcomes would dictate that they could anchor the paint someday, alongside many other scenarios.

Well, I hope if these guys do become solid two way bigs that eventually that would help towards the win column. Obviously you can't guarantee anything so this is just a projection.

ATLTimekeeper · Post #627 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Sat May 14, 2011 6:03 pm

Sanctuary123 wrote:I'm watching OKC and Grizz right now and trying to picture guys on the floor - you could see it with Knight, size and speed, Walker would help either team and is unguardable, but I have my doubts any of the Euros and Kanter could compete with the speed on display right now

Kanter looked good in that last work out video but we really need to see how fast he times out

Outside of Conley and maybe Arthur there is no speed/athleticism on Memphis, and they are going toe-to-toe with OKC.

Sanctuary123 · Post #628 » by **Sanctuary123** » Sun May 15, 2011 2:37 am

Tony Allen and Batier are good athletes. Memphis has good overall size includign Mayo etc. BKnight would fit the same profile.

CanadaB-Ball · Post #629 » by **CanadaB-Ball** » Sun May 15, 2011 2:55 am

Sanctuary123 wrote:Tony Allen and Batier are good athletes. Memphis has good overall size includign Mayo etc. BKnight would fit the same profile.

Mayo is undersized for his natural position at shooting guard.

Yeezus_ · Post #630 » by **Yeezus_** » Sun May 15, 2011 2:59 am

Reignman wrote:I just want to reiterate that Kanter being a skilled offensive big does NOT mean he's bad on D. People need to get Bargnani out of their head. The goal is to get the best player and there is no evidence to suggest Kanter isn't a good two way C.

Since we don't have much footage of him on D we can only go by scouting reports that say he's a good positional defender and we already know he's a pretty good rebounder. The question is how his defense will stack up in the L and the brass is going to have to figure it out.

The beauty of drafting Kanter is that he's only 18, has played C his whole life, seems to have high IQ and also seems to be a hard worker. This is the type of prospect you can mould even if he might have some warts and if his game translates you have a very formidable front line with Kanter/Davis/Amir + 1 additional back up big (ideally a vet). Hell, you could even throw Bargs into the rotation (although I think $10 mil would be better spent at another position).

You talk like Kanter is your sibling/agent.

ATLTimekeeper · Post #631 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Sun May 15, 2011 3:05 am

Sanctuary123 wrote:Tony Allen and Batier are good athletes. Memphis has good overall size includign Mayo etc. BKnight would fit the same profile.

Mayo is a 6"4 shooting guard. That's not good size for that position.

Tony Allen and Shane Battier are not good athletes by NBA standards. No way.

In terms of athletes in the lottery, it's like Biyombo, Vesely, Williams, Leonard, Walker, Thompson. Everyone else is just ok.

flatjacket1 · Post #632 » by **flatjacket1** » Sun May 15, 2011 3:35 am

ATLTimekeeper wrote:
Sanctuary123 wrote:Tony Allen and Batier are good athletes. Memphis has good overall size includign Mayo etc. BKnight would fit the same profile.

Mayo is a 6"4 shooting guard. That's not good size for that position.

Tony Allen and Shane Battier are not good athletes by NBA standards. No way.

In terms of athletes in the lottery, it's like Biyombo, Vesely, Williams, Leonard, Walker, Thompson. Everyone else is just ok.

6'4 is slightly large if anything.

When Kobe entered the league people made a big deal about him being an oversized shooting guard, at the pre draft testing results from 2002 to 2006 (I'm getting this from a book not the internet) the average height for SG's (no shoes) is 6'3.64, and the MAXIMUM height was 6'7.

I would argue that the position has gotten larger since then (Demar) but you can't hold 6'4 against a guard.

Mayo is actually 6'3.25 without shoes btw.

Post #633 » by **darth_federer** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:52 am

For what its worth, in our history we ve been the 4th best team drafting wise despite drafting almost nobody of value in the second round.

Post #634 » by **gojoorange** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:30 am

darth_federer wrote:For what its worth, in our history we ve been the 4th best team drafting wise despite drafting almost nobody of value in the second round.

It is interesting that the two teams BC has GM'd are in the top 4.

bboyskinnylegs · Post #635 » by **bboyskinnylegs** » Sun May 15, 2011 5:46 am

^^ that makes it seem like BC would be a great guy to have to use draft picks to rebuild a team, his track record is great. It's just the free agent signings that I'm a little unsure of.

NH · Post #636 » by NH » Sun May 15, 2011 2:13 pm

darth_federer wrote:For what its worth, in our history we ve been the 4th best team drafting wise despite drafting almost nobody of value in the second round.

Haha what is this on the basis of?

ansoncarter · Post #637 » by **ansoncarter** » Sun May 15, 2011 3:17 pm

darth_federer wrote:*big picture saying we're great drafting team*

how did they decide that?

can't imagine what metric would leave us as the 4th best drafting team. I think we're closer to 4th worse

Walid · Post #638 » by **Walid** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:39 pm

Kanter or Biyombo? Comparison please.

RocLaFamilia · Post #639 » by **RocLaFamilia** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:51 pm

ansoncarter wrote:
darth_federer wrote:*big picture saying we're great drafting team*

how did they decide that?

can't imagine what metric would leave us as the 4th best drafting team. I think we're closer to 4th worse

Drafting hasn't been the problem, its what happens to these players after we draft them is the problem. As a technicality we are pretty good at identifying talent, our problem is keeping the talent.

Basketball_Jones · Post #640 » by **Basketball_Jones** » Sun May 15, 2011 4:57 pm

ATLTimekeeper wrote:
Sanctuary123 wrote:Tony Allen and Batier are good athletes. Memphis has good overall size includign Mayo etc. BKnight would fit the same profile.

Mayo is a 6"4 shooting guard. That's not good size for that position.

Tony Allen and Shane Battier are not good athletes by NBA standards. No way.

In terms of athletes in the lottery, it's like Biyombo, Vesely, Williams, Leonard, Walker, Thompson. Everyone else is just ok.

Just thought I'd chime in. Tony Allen is definitely a good athlete, that's what he was known for coming into the league.