Official Raptors 2011 NBA Draft Thread Part 9

[Brinbe]

Maaaannn, I'm a Walker fan, but would we really pass on Kanter? I don't think I would... and I really hope the Cavs are indeed locked on Val @ 4. One of Kanter or Knight would surely be ours in that scenario.

Anyway, argh, it's gonna be a long and arduous week of waiting now.

[7-Day Dray]

Maaaannn, I'm a Walker fan, but would we really pass on Kanter? I don't think I would... and I really hope the Cavs are indeed locked on Val @ 4. One of Kanter or Knight would surely be ours in that scenario.

Anyway, argh, it's gonna be a long and arduous week of waiting now.

Kanter is SO OVERRATED! In the footage I've seen him play in, he seems like a slow plodder, and he won't be able to score and rebound like he did when he was younger in the NBA because he will be going up against bigger and faster players. He reminds me of ZaZa Pachulia.

[jsmith]

man we really need to find a way to get a couple more high 2012 draft picks

[Los Manos]

Raptors Republic interview with Chris Denker of Nets Scouts Basketball. Lots of interesting talking points here:

- A complete breakdown of Vesely, who many think is the top European player on the Raptors big board. Can he play the 3 at the NBA or does he need to be a 4? Is he a project who is a few years away or can he contribute now? Do the Raptors need a “Finesse Four”?

- We talk about Valanciunas vs. Kanter – who does Cleveland like at #4, and more importantly, who is a better fit for the Raptors?

- Two inside scoops concerning Kanter’s age and Valanciunas’ buyout (why is he rising so fast in the charts despite having an apparently big buyout?)

- The Jorge Garbajosa of this year’s draft.

- The Benetton Treviso connection.

- The Adidas Eurocamp and the performance of Bismack Biyombo is scrutinized, why is he falling and where should he realistically be picked?

- Has Valanciunas hurt the draft stock of other players?

- Chris weighs in on the ever-going Kemba Walker vs. Brandon Knight debate.

- On the Raptors options if they trade down, or acquire a second first-round pick.

- Why the Raptors need to draft a big, and not a point guard.

http://raptorsrepublic.com/2011/06/16/r ... as-buyout/

[tecumseh18]

New expanded Givony mock for Yahoo here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... cn-8648301

Still has us taking Walker at 5.

But at least he makes it clear it's based on nothing but his own assessment on what our greatest need is. I can respect that, although as someone who wants to give Bayless more of a chance I strongly disagree.

6th - The Wizards would be ecstatic if Kanter fell to them here. He would solve what they perceive to be their biggest need – rebounding and interior toughness.

So Givony doesn't perceive that to be the Raps' "greatest need"?

[ATLTimekeeper]

Raptors Republic interview with Chris Denker of Nets Scouts Basketball. Lots of interesting talking points here:

- A complete breakdown of Vesely, who many think is the top European player on the Raptors big board. Can he play the 3 at the NBA or does he need to be a 4? Is he a project who is a few years away or can he contribute now? Do the Raptors need a “Finesse Four”?

- We talk about Valanciunas vs. Kanter – who does Cleveland like at #4, and more importantly, who is a better fit for the Raptors?

- Two inside scoops concerning Kanter’s age and Valanciunas’ buyout (why is he rising so fast in the charts despite having an apparently big buyout?)

- The Jorge Garbajosa of this year’s draft.

- The Benetton Treviso connection.

- The Adidas Eurocamp and the performance of Bismack Biyombo is scrutinized, why is he falling and where should he realistically be picked?

- Has Valanciunas hurt the draft stock of other players?

- Chris weighs in on the ever-going Kemba Walker vs. Brandon Knight debate.

- On the Raptors options if they trade down, or acquire a second first-round pick.

- Why the Raptors need to draft a big, and not a point guard.

http://raptorsrepublic.com/2011/06/16/r ... as-buyout/

The guy lost me when he started saying Kanter is 22 and that the fact that he was born in Switzerland and is Turkish was somehow a red flag.

[ballocks]

if some of the rumours we're hearing are true, and WAS is in deep with MIN about swapping 6 for 2, i won't survive the next week without a shotgun blast to the head. no, seriously. it's beyond words now.

if washington has the assets to trade up from 6 to 2 (without moving dice), i just don't know what i'm going to do. i might look something like this,



demand nothing, expect nothing, receive nothing.

(oh, but colangelo's apparently really high on jan vesely now? well gotdam! smoke 'em if you got 'em! )

peace

[turner10]

one week til the draft! #pumped

[Rhettmatic]

Chad Ford has posted his annual Tiers column.

It's Insider, so here's a summary:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft201 ... ers-110616

TIER 1:
No one. This tier is for surefire all-stars/franchise players and Chad says there aren't any in this draft.

TIER 2:
Kyrie Irving (Range: 1 to 2)
Derrick Williams (1 to 3)

TIER 3:
Enes Kanter (2 to 6)
Brandon Knight (3 to 7)
Kawhi Leonard (5 to 9)
Jonas Valanciunas (3 to 8)
Jan Vesely (3 to 10)
Kemba Walker (3 to 9)

These six have all-star potential, but also have significant weaknesses.

TIER 4:
Bismack Biyombo (8 to 20)
Alec Burks (10 to 17)
Jimmer Fredette (7 to 15)
Marcus Morris (9 to 15)
Chris Singleton (10 to 18)
Klay Thompson (9 to 17)
Tristan Thompson (6 to 16)

[Duffman100]

What channel is airing the NBA draft?

[TheAlchemist]

If Cleveland picks Williams at #1, do we go broke for Minesota's #2? Ed Davis + 5th? I wouldn't mind that to be honest, for irving.

However, if we don't do anything, we're SCREWED.

#1. Williams
#2. Kanter
#3. Irving
#4. Knight
#5. Kemba/Val

That's a sad scenario.

[Rhettmatic]

What channel is airing the NBA draft?

TSN2.

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn2/schedule/?channe ... -2011&tz=0

[Duffman100]

If Cleveland picks Williams at #1, do we go broke for Minesota's #2? Ed Davis + 5th? I wouldn't mind that to be honest, for irving.

However, if we don't do anything, we're SCREWED.

#1. Williams
#2. Kanter
#3. Irving
#4. Knight
#5. Kemba/Val

That's a sad scenario.

No, that's too much to spend. We trade down.

[Duffman100]

What channel is airing the NBA draft?

TSN2.

http://www.tsn.ca/tsn2/schedule/?channe ... -2011&tz=0

god damn it.

[TheAlchemist]

If Cleveland picks Williams at #1, do we go broke for Minesota's #2? Ed Davis + 5th? I wouldn't mind that to be honest, for irving.

However, if we don't do anything, we're SCREWED.

#1. Williams
#2. Kanter
#3. Irving
#4. Knight
#5. Kemba/Val

That's a sad scenario.

No, that's too much to spend. We trade down.

I don't get it. Who do we trade down for though?

[T_Biggums]

If we draft Valanciunas I'm done as a Raptor fan. I can't remember the last time a European player was drafted that high and made any real impact. The Euro game has taken a hit over the last, oh I don't know 8 years or so they don't produce the Dirks, Manu's, Parkers anymore. And I'm not a huge fan of the Euro role player

This doesn't really make sense. Of course there have been busts from Europe, but to say that Valanciunas is going to be a bust because he comes from that continent is silly.

Have you watched any games that he's played? Have you looked at any of his stats? It's not like he's some unknown, unscouted nobody with lots of question marks. There is a ton of gametape, the statistics come from unarguably the best league outside of the NBA, and he appears to be the type of player that is always in demand in the NBA.

He looks like a Joakim Noah/Tyson Chandler/Pau Gasol type of player. Big, long, good motor, good rebounder, high efficiency around the rim type of guy. And having a 91% free throw shooter from your center with those kinds of characteristics is basically impossible to find.

I don't rate the Euroleague very high so I take the stats and game film with a grain of salt.

[Duffman100]

If Cleveland picks Williams at #1, do we go broke for Minesota's #2? Ed Davis + 5th? I wouldn't mind that to be honest, for irving.

However, if we don't do anything, we're SCREWED.

#1. Williams
#2. Kanter
#3. Irving
#4. Knight
#5. Kemba/Val

That's a sad scenario.

No, that's too much to spend. We trade down.

I don't get it. Who do we trade down for though?

Burks, Kemba if he falls, Vesely. I really don't like giving up Ed Davis to get someone who MIGHT be better.

If we can package Bargs, then I say trade up. If not, stay pat or trade down.

[T_Biggums]

If we draft Valanciunas I'm done as a Raptor fan. I can't remember the last time a European player was drafted that high and made any real impact. The Euro game has taken a hit over the last, oh I don't know 8 years or so they don't produce the Dirks, Manu's, Parkers anymore. And I'm not a huge fan of the Euro role player

Ignorance for the win! Glad you aren't our GM. Who cares where a player is from. If they can play and have talent and are the best player available you take them.

The level of competition in the euroleague is suspect. It is very hard to get a read on players who play there

[NH]

if some of the rumours we're hearing are true, and WAS is in deep with MIN about swapping 6 for 2, i won't survive the next week without a shotgun blast to the head. no, seriously. it's beyond words now.

if washington has the assets to trade up from 6 to 2 (without moving dice), i just don't know what i'm going to do. i might look something like this,



demand nothing, expect nothing, receive nothing.

(oh, but colangelo's apparently really high on jan vesely now? well gotdam! smoke 'em if you got 'em! )

peace

Sorry but I am confused. If Wiz trade up to 2, why are you upset? it means they will overpay for Kanter, so D Williams will drop to 3-4. Irving will go to Jazz, and Cavs will have to pick Jonas. Which means Raps get Knight, unless you love Kanter or hate Knight... in fact, this will be a pretty good scenario.

[T_Biggums]

If Cleveland picks Williams at #1, do we go broke for Minesota's #2? Ed Davis + 5th? I wouldn't mind that to be honest, for irving.

However, if we don't do anything, we're SCREWED.

#1. Williams
#2. Kanter
#3. Irving
#4. Knight
#5. Kemba/Val

That's a sad scenario.

Too high a price to pay.