Official Raptors 2012 NBA Draft Thread, Part 4

[nahom1319]

Honestly I hate to make up my mind this early but I think we need to draft one of Andre Drummond or Jeremy Lamb. I would give up Demar and Ed to grab both.

A core of Jonas, Andre + Lamb on the wing. With Bargnani as trade bait.....ugh fap fap fap

I want to see Drummond and Bargnani play together at least one game. That frontcourt would have better ball handling skills than our backcourt.

Better passing too

[sunny]

this may seem stupid, but do you guys see Drummond as a centre or a pf?

For the past few years, I always thought of him as a C but apparently there are some who disagree. Thoughts?

[Marlo Stanfield]

this may seem stupid, but do you guys see Drummond as a centre or a pf?

For the past few years, I always thought of him as a C but apparently there are some who disagree. Thoughts?

If we drafted him it would be as a Power Forward. He has the size of a C but the game of a PF. Plus, Jonas is the C of the future at least right now.

[CunningLinguist]

this may seem stupid, but do you guys see Drummond as a centre or a pf?

For the past few years, I always thought of him as a C but apparently there are some who disagree. Thoughts?

I think he can defend either position in the NBA, but he will be able to utilize his ballhandling skills better at PF.

[sunny]

thanks. Its interesting to note how this forum completely ignores Sullinger who is a fantastic basketball player. I always attributed this to people on here not wanting a pf, but I guess its sort of different if the pf is perceived to be a tier above (although I do not know if that is necessarily the case).

[silverhill27]

thanks. Its interesting to note how this forum completely ignores Sullinger who is a fantastic basketball player. I always attributed this to people on here not wanting a pf, but I guess its sort of different if the pf is perceived to be a tier above (although I do not know if that is necessarily the case).

I think he's really under-rated on this board too. He's 6"10 and 260 so he could definitely play center.

[Rapsfan07]

I'd play Drummond at the PF. He's got advanced handling passing and post moves for his age. If for example we landed the No. 3 pick, I would gladly package our pick + one of Bargnani/Ed Davis to move up to grab Drummond. Then deal the remaining piece (Bargs or Ed) for a SF...probably Miller. I like DeRozan and don't really wanna trade him but every game he doesn't do well, Lamb and Beal look better and better...and not in just one area either. They're both better defenders, rebounders, playmakers and shooters than DeMar. Picking up Marshall, Kabongo or Wroten with a late pick from a Barbosa deal would be amazing too. A man can dream can't he?

Realistically though, I'd give Drummond a hard look, draft an SF in either Barnes or Miller and deal Barbosa for a pick and use that pick to either help move up to get Drummond or draft Wroten or Kabongo.

[NH]

thanks. Its interesting to note how this forum completely ignores Sullinger who is a fantastic basketball player. I always attributed this to people on here not wanting a pf, but I guess its sort of different if the pf is perceived to be a tier above (although I do not know if that is necessarily the case).

I think he's really under-rated on this board too. He's 6"10 and 260 so he could definitely play center.

Sullinger is more 6'8 than 6'10. He reminds me too much of Boozer. Plus if there is one spot we don't have to focus on too much right now, it is the PF spot. Rather focus on PG/SF

[Al_Oliver]

Chad Ford posted a new article about Thomas Robinson rising to the conversation for 2nd/3rd with Andre Drummond, Harrison Barnes and Perry Jones III (they all trail Davis)

Interesting quotes

"I've been a skeptic," one GM said. "I've always felt like he was a NBA player. But when you talk about a top pick like that, you are looking for a guy who can turn a franchise around, not an energy guy who may or may not start on a good team. But I'm sold. I didn't think he could handle the double teams. I didn't think he could handle being the focus point on offense. When I saw him in Maui, I was still hesitant. Now? He's gotten better. He's gotten more disciplined. He's improving skill wise, especially with his footwork in the post. And to me, he's become a true leader. He set the pace against Baylor. He took it right to Jones. He's not afraid. I just don't see how he fails."

"I love Jones," one NBA GM said. "He's a good kid. A hard worker. He's super skilled. You put him in the right system and he'll be a very good NBA player. I'm just one of those guys that is skeptical that you can teach a player to play like Thomas Robinson plays. If Jones did that, he'd be the No. 1 pick. But he doesn't play like that, and I doubt he ever will. It doesn't mean he won't be very good or even great. But it does mean the road to get there is harder. You've got to have an edge in our league if you want to be the best. Robinson has the edge. Jones does not."

I like Robinson but he's a factory made case of the player that makes huge jump in the draft from November to June. A guy with a prototypical NBA build who plays as hard as he can in college, and who's skill level isn't great but enough for GMs to look at him like Michaelangelo's rock and say they can turn him into a star with the ball, but you can't teach his effort level and athletic tools. Everyone has caught onto rebounding numbers translating almost perfectly from college, he has that too. People are going to be talking about Robinson as Amare and Griffin 2 soon. He'll destroy the workout stage. Etc. Not to mention he's a pitch perfect fit for Washington, Sacramento, and Detroit's needs, plus New Orleans needs everything but SG so they're in the mix for Robinson too. Robinson is going top 5 and there's still time for him to go all Derrick Williams in hype (Williams didn't establish himself as #2 instead of 6-10 guy until like Maruch)

He played behind the Morris twins. He's pretty good. I think you cut him some slack last year, having his mom and 2 other family members dying within a month of each other.

[Undefeated]

What’s great about the potential frontcourt tandem of Andre Drummond and Jonas Valanciunas is they can interchange between either the PF and C position depending on matchups because of their mobility. In the end, I don’t think it matters whether Drummond is a PF or C due to his intricate post game which big men today lack. There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be one of the top back to the basket scorers right off the bat.

[tdotrep2]

T Rob reminds me of jj

[Undefeated]

Be on the look out for B.J. Young tonight - dropped 28 points against UConn like it was nothing about a month ago. Should be an interesting match up between Marquis Teague and B.J. Young. Both were top 5 PG prospect out of HS.

[FluLikeSymptoms]

Drummond's combination of size, power, speed, agility and hands gives him max potential at both ends. He's got the physical tools to dominate inside like nobody since Shaq, though not like that. Would not be surprised to see him go number 1 if he has one big tournament game. He's scary on a couple levels, though.

thanks. Its interesting to note how this forum completely ignores Sullinger who is a fantastic basketball player. I always attributed this to people on here not wanting a pf, but I guess its sort of different if the pf is perceived to be a tier above (although I do not know if that is necessarily the case).

I think he's really under-rated on this board too. He's 6"10 and 260 so he could definitely play center.

Sullinger is more 6'8 than 6'10. He reminds me too much of Boozer. Plus if there is one spot we don't have to focus on too much right now, it is the PF spot. Rather focus on PG/SF

Is Sullinger fast enough to play the 4? 6'8 max. I don't think he'll be able to guard either big spot in the NBA or get his game off, he should stay in school 4 years and live it up.

[fredericklove]

Not fast enough but I think Sully is big enough to play 4, despite the height problem hes just so damn big so freaking strong but I dont look to draft him for his defense cos hes weak in that one. But he has the potential to score 20 and 10 and hes got good leadership quality, very vocal and pass pretty good for his position.

[fredericklove]

Get ready for some wildcats guys! Its on baby!

[Man of Steel]

DeMar's continuously poor performance has made Beal and Lamb look so much more draft worthy. If not for that, I'd have to say MKG get's my vote hands down.

[fredericklove]

Freaking love MKG's defense.

[Undefeated]

Nice play sequence by MKG. First the lob pass to Anthony Davis then the block running back on defense.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

In comes B.J. Young, AKA Jason Terry Jr.

[fredericklove]

oh crap MKG picked up his 2nd foul