The Kawhi Leonard Bandwagon Thread

Post #21 » by **Next Coming** » Wed May 18, 2011 3:06 pm

I really like this kid because he's not really going to need the ball to be an effective player. I can totally see him turning into a very, very good defender on the perimeter.

He plays with energy, has all the athletic ability and has freakish long arms and hands and he loves the game. Everything I'm hearing about him is that he's a gym rat.

He and James Johnson can be a pretty good SF rotation with Leonard eventually starting.

Post #22 » by **Morris_Shatford** » Wed May 18, 2011 3:07 pm

Next Coming wrote:
He and James Johnson can be a pretty good SF rotation with Leonard eventually starting.

Two wing players who play defense and rebound?
In Toronto????

Wow!

Post #23 » by **Morris_Shatford** » Wed May 18, 2011 3:08 pm

Waylon Mercy wrote:Kind of reminds me of a young Latrell Sprewell....

Spree with a better work ethic, but a less developed offensive game IMO.

The Crash Wallace comparisons aren't too bad either.

Post #24 » by **Next Coming** » Wed May 18, 2011 3:11 pm

cosmostein wrote:
Next Coming wrote:
He and James Johnson can be a pretty good SF rotation with Leonard eventually starting.

Two wing players who play defense and rebound?
In Toronto????

Wow!

Right. As soon as Derozan develops 3pt range it'll even be a better fit.

Strategist1 · Post #25 » by **Strategist1** » Wed May 18, 2011 3:21 pm

I never, like many people here, ...looked at this guy more closely until now. After watching the videos,... I'm thinking I'd take this guy over the PG prospects of Knight and Kemba.

So yea... I'm now favoring

Biyombo or Leonard .... I think these two guys have all the tools; a combination of physical attributes, attitude, work ethic. Drafting one or both of these guys would help put the Raptors in the right direction.

C3SIUM · Post #26 » by **C3SIUM** » Wed May 18, 2011 3:34 pm

sign me up

J Dilla · Post #27 » by **J Dilla** » Wed May 18, 2011 3:35 pm

Right. As soon as Derozan develops 3pt range it'll even be a better fit.

I think Kawhi has a better chance than DeRozan of developing a 3 point shot.

gerrit4 · Post #28 » by **gerrit4** » Wed May 18, 2011 4:19 pm

He's one of my favourites for sure. I'm not sure what the upside is but he appears to be a legit versatile player who could guard both swing positions. If he can be a pretty good offensive player, then I think he's a great pick for us. We really haven't had a great defensive wing in a long time.

tkim01 · Post #29 » by **tkim01** » Wed May 18, 2011 4:27 pm

Strategist1 wrote:I never, like many people here, ...looked at this guy more closely until now. After watching the videos,... I'm thinking I'd take this guy over the PG prospects of Knight and Kemba.

So yea... I'm now favoring

Biyombo or Leonard .... I think these two guys have all the tools; a combination of physical attributes, attitude, work ethic. Drafting one or both of these guys would help put the Raptors in the right direction.

Agreed - these two guys can play significant roles in developing an identity for this team

Ill · Post #30 » by **Ill** » Wed May 18, 2011 4:32 pm

I am definitely on this bandwagon.

ItsDanger · Post #31 » by **ItsDanger** » Wed May 18, 2011 4:39 pm

Looks like Julian Wright 2.0

Raptor_Insider · Post #32 » by **Raptor_Insider** » Wed May 18, 2011 5:04 pm

leonard and biyombo are my pick for this draft
be amazing if bc somehows picks both of them up

plainballing · Post #33 » by **plainballing** » Wed May 18, 2011 5:30 pm

I like him but I rather trade away the pick if Leonard is the BPA when we draft.

ballocks · Post #34 » by **ballocks** » Wed May 18, 2011 6:03 pm

gerald wallace? are you kidding? i just hope those of you who think that have never actually seen kawhi play. if you watch him and draw that conclusion, i don't even know what to say. he'd be a good get at #15, but at #5 with quite possibly two or three playmakers still on the board? you'd have to drug me.

this team needs a leader. kawhi is passionate, but in the amir johnson sense. he won't carry your team. i'd almost rather take ken faried for the raps, and a faried fan i'm not. kawhi is a "nice little piece" who may or may not develop into a rotation pro within his first five years... or ever. you gon' take a flier on that at #5 overall?

gerald wallace he absolutely ain't.

peace

yayotube · Post #35 » by **yayotube** » Wed May 18, 2011 6:41 pm

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kawhi-Leonard-5821/

They have a good video of Leonard's strengths and weaknesses on that link

Keep in mind he's been working/improving his jumper so far which has him rising on draft boards

Post #36 » by **Morris_Shatford** » Wed May 18, 2011 6:43 pm

ballocks wrote:gerald wallace? are you kidding? i just hope those of you who think that have never actually seen kawhi play. if you watch him and draw that conclusion, i don't even know what to say. he'd be a good get at #15, but at #5 with quite possibly two or three playmakers still on the board? you'd have to drug me.

this team needs a leader. kawhi is passionate, but in the amir johnson sense. he won't carry your team. i'd almost rather take ken faried for the raps, and a faried fan i'm not. kawhi is a "nice little piece" who may or may not develop into a rotation pro within his first five years... or ever. you gon' take a flier on that at #5 overall?

gerald wallace he absolutely ain't.

Gerald Wallace carries his team? Really now.

Wallace plays an aggressive game on defense and under the basket out as a three.
Wallace doesn't get to the line, doesn't block you many shots, however has a much more developed offensive game.

The comparisons are certainly not unreasonable;

When Wallace was playing his college ball in Alabama he was a worse rebounder, scorer, shotblocker, and defender then Leonard is now.

totallyr · Post #37 » by **totallyr** » Wed May 18, 2011 7:00 pm

ballocks wrote:gerald wallace? are you kidding? i just hope those of you who think that have never actually seen kawhi play. if you watch him and draw that conclusion, i don't even know what to say. he'd be a good get at #15, but at #5 with quite possibly two or three playmakers still on the board? you'd have to drug me.

this team needs a leader. kawhi is passionate, but in the amir johnson sense. he won't carry your team. i'd almost rather take ken faried for the raps, and a faried fan i'm not. kawhi is a "nice little piece" who may or may not develop into a rotation pro within his first five years... or ever. you gon' take a flier on that at #5 overall?

gerald wallace he absolutely ain't.

peace

There is nobody where we draft that will carry this team, the only thing that i see certain in this draft is the D - League will have an influx of talent

Pooh_Jeter · Post #38 » by **Pooh_Jeter** » Wed May 18, 2011 7:08 pm

If we could trade down and get Leonard great, but I have a feeling after more workouts he will continue to rise.

If Brandon Knight is available at 5, you probably have to go for him, but other than that I don't see how Leonard is terrible value at #5 in this draft.

Vesely, Valanciunas, Biyombo, Kanter, and Motiejunas are far from sure things. All of those guys have major bust potential. After all these guys you mainly have a bunch of PF's available (Morris twins, Thompson and a SG in Burks).

Leonard has a SF body, size and athleticism. He may be a bit of a project in terms of his offensive game, but he can easily step on the court and play defense and rebound right now. The best part is that like a Shawn Marion he will be able to defend multiple positions. His offensive game is a work in progress, but look at what Demar has done because of his work ethic. Leonard in just a few months removed from the NCAA season has already improved a ton. Even if Leonard NEVER improves his offensive game, he is still a rotation guy. If he keeps improving his offensive game he is a long term starter at the 3. If he brings the best qualities of James Johnson, but a jump shot and the ability to guard 2's and potentially point guards whats not to love?

You shouldn't go for the "safe" pick in a draft, but considering what is left after the top 2, if you can get a long term starter at #5 I think you go home happy. A lot of scouts aren't sold on guys like Irving and Williams being all-stars, let alone the Euro guys and Biyombo.

AlvinWilliams_fan · Post #39 » by **AlvinWilliams_fan** » Wed May 18, 2011 7:23 pm

after watching the videos, something about him just has bust written all over him

Mr.Raptorsingh · Post #40 » by **Mr.Raptorsingh** » Wed May 18, 2011 7:30 pm

AlvinWilliams_fan wrote:after watching the videos, something about him just has bust written all over him

Every prospect in this draft, not named Irving or Williams, has been called a bust on this board at one point or another :lol: