Official Raptors 2012 NBA Draft Thread, Part 10

Section 312 · Post #581 » by **Section 312** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 11:21 am

After watching Anthony Davis dominate a championship game without much offense, I'm hoping that the lottery gods smile upon the Raptors.

Here's a very interesting quote from ESPN.

Is Anthony Davis our answer for a SF?

BTW, most GMs think Anthony Davis is a 4 not a 5 in the NBA. A few think he could be a 3.

Post #582 » by **5DOM** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 11:49 am

Undefeated wrote:
baulderdash77 wrote:His offense is pretty poor at this point against any NBA caliber opponents so there's work to do there too.

Did you hear what John Calipari had said if Anthony Davis was allowed to take 20 shots a game instead of being the fifth guy with the most shot attempts on the team? What Coach Cal said to Andy Katz was that he truly believes Davis got much more to show offensively. It's not out of the realm either because if you think about it, Anthony Davis has shown glimpses of creating his own own offense in the post whether that'd be a turnaround jumper, a 5-foot jump hook over both shoulders with either hand, left or right, can pop the 15-foot jumper with fluidity, and handle the rock rim-to-rim gliding through a series of defenders in front of him before he gently finger rolls. Yeah, he had his turnaround jump hook rejected by Jeff Withey tonight, but when looking at the bigger picture, commentators and former NBA players have been raving about his offensive potential, especially that feathery touch on his jump hook. He gets great extension on his release over his shoulder which seldom gets blocked. We're talking about a prospect here who's only been playing in his 6'10" frame well under 2 years, and to see him show the kind of fundamentals you want from a big man? That's darn impressive.

While I agree with most of what you just said, baulderdash did say that "at this point" Davis' offense is pretty poor and needs more work. I don't think you can argue with that tbh. Davis has shown glimpses but that's all they are at the moment.

augustine · Post #583 » by **augustine** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 12:55 pm

totallyr wrote:I'm good with Terrence Jones, if we drop trade down for him based on where he's slotted

I've been saying T Jones too - but I don't mind if we draft him at our position. I don't know why Toronto fans are sleeping on him. With bargs at the 4 we need a 'big' 3. Jones defends on the perimeter and post, blocks, steals, can shoot the 3 and is quick enough to penetrate from the perimeter (example, his one move in the final game from outside the 3 point line leading to a dunk).

Turbo_Zone · Post #584 » by **Turbo_Zone** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 1:11 pm

Link: http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx14 ... nson_2.jpg

Link: http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx14 ... binson.jpg

Oldies:

Link: http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx14 ... ones_I.jpg

Link: http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx14 ... es_III.jpg

SkywalkerAC · Post #585 » by **SkywalkerAC** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 1:27 pm

If we fall a bit T-Jones will have to be looked at closely. Pretty solid potential as a two-way player. Already impressive skill-package will continue to get better. Great size and athleticism for a 3. His attitude gets questioned but he's been very productive and he's won a lot of games in his two seasons with the Wildcats.

DatHomieYouHaTe · Post #586 » by **DatHomieYouHaTe** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 1:51 pm

Why is everyone sleeping on Andre Drummond? once he does a few workouts he'll be the number two pick.. He has major superstar potential... His dunks will make Blake griffin look silly. You can't teach that length either.

Post #587 » by **DG88** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 2:00 pm

DatHomieYouHaTe wrote:Why is everyone sleeping on Andre Drummond? once he does a few workouts he'll be the number two pick.. He has major superstar potential... His dunks will make Blake griffin look silly. You can't teach that length either.

He has no fundamentals for a big man and that scares the crap out people here

Kevin Willis · Post #588 » by **Kevin Willis** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 2:13 pm

1. The more you see a player the easier it is to critique them. MKG went to the finals so ppl can pick apart his every possession. Doesn't take away the fact he's the youngest player in the NCAA who helped a stacked Kentucky team win a final four game. We saw him drive for layups, put back dunks, hit outside shots, play solid man-to-man D and block a key shot. And still ppl are complaing? How would an older Barnes perform?

2. T-Rob looks really good because of the above reason and people are now saying wow this guy is good. He was always good. He's not Blake Griffin though. He missed a couple of dunks that Blake would put a hole in the floor with. They're on a similar level and if we choose either one we would be fine. But we all know who has more 'potential'.

3. Kentucky is a team. Kansas has a star. Because of that you have to look statistical comparisons differently like Bosh on the Raptors and Bosh on the Heat. If one man doesn't dominate for a half someone else will pick them up. If they switch their guarding scheme then it may be reverse. So I don't know how anyone can say T-Rob is better than MKG based off of this game. The only thing we can say is Davis is a freak of nature.

Ari_Emanuel · Post #589 » by **Ari_Emanuel** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 2:56 pm

DreamTeam09 wrote:T-rob had a slow 1st half but picked it up in the 2nd. I'm not sure where to put him at or who to compare him to. He's not blake griffen but he has more bounce than west. T-rob is those Tristan Thompsn, hickson, Jason thompson types. I think his max is Amare. AD will look real good on a good team. The better the players around him, the better he'll look. My opinion on MKG hasn't changed. Tjones will be a good player too. Said that last yr.

Tristan Robinson doesn't possess the physical stature that Robinson has. Hickson isn't nearly as skilled and is on a lower tier athletically as well. Jason Thompson I won't even comment on.
Please give me a break. Trob dragged a mediocre team no one was expecting to make noise all the way to within a few possessions of the national championship!

Amare is a poor comparison because he is a poor rebounder and is apathetic, unlike Robinson who is an elite rebounder and a warrior. MKG could be a better player in the long run but there is considerably more risk that he doesn't reach his potential.

Mark my words, after the combine Robinson will be the consensus number 2 pick.

sunny · Post #590 » by **sunny** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 2:57 pm

Anthony Davis is going to be I believe the first player in history to get the sweep. 5/5.

Freshman of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Final Four MOP
#1 pick in the draft

Ari_Emanuel · Post #591 » by **Ari_Emanuel** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:01 pm

Kevin Willis wrote:1. The more you see a player the easier it is to critique them. MKG went to the finals so ppl can pick apart his every possession. Doesn't take away the fact he's the youngest player in the NCAA who helped a stacked Kentucky team win a final four game. We saw him drive for layups, put back dunks, hit outside shots, play solid man-to-man D and block a key shot. And still ppl are complaing? How would an older Barnes perform?

2. T-Rob looks really good because of the above reason and people are now saying wow this guy is good. He was always good. He's not Blake Griffin though. He missed a couple of dunks that Blake would put a hole in the floor with. They're on a similar level and if we choose either one we would be fine. But we all know who has more 'potential'.

3. Kentucky is a team. Kansas has a star. Because of that you have to look statistical comparisons differently like Bosh on the Raptors and Bosh on the Heat. If one man doesn't dominate for a half someone else will pick them up. If they switch their guarding scheme then it may be reverse. So I don't know how anyone can say T-Rob is better than MKG based off of this game. The only thing we can say is Davis is a freak of nature.

Pretty much agree with this post except that
1) I want to highlight that although Blake is a better dunker/finisher with better hops, he isn't as long as trob and will decline rapidly if he sustains another injury as well as when he approaches 30. Also, Trob is a better shooter and has more potential on the defensive end. Some major differences but Blake is still the best comparison at the moment. Trob can definitely be better overall when all is said and done.

2) MKG might have better long run potential, but there is also more long term risk that he doesn't reach his potential. The risk-reward tradeoff is one that GMs will have to make and will certainly result in one GM losing his job a few years from now unless both MKG and Trob become all-stars.

Post #592 » by **Next Coming** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:03 pm

Had a hard time watching last night's game knowing some other team is going to get lucky and we aren't. Valanciunas and Davis are 2 parts of a Championship level team for a decade.

bballsparkin · Post #593 » by **bballsparkin** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:03 pm

MKG went down hard at the beginning and got up and shook off the pain. You got to love that. Sure it's telling that he sat at key offensive possessions, but Kentucky is stacked. So it's not that big of a slight.

Wasp · Post #594 » by **Wasp** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:30 pm

I have no idea where this whole "Anthony Davis might be a 3" movement is coming from. There's no way you waste that type of rebounding and defense at the 3. It's really one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while.

Post #595 » by **Double Helix** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:32 pm

The more I look at this draft the more I realize just how incredibly deep it is. This is definitely going to be a draft where you'll see some really solid third banana types going as late as 15-20 that in weaker drafts would be knocking on the door of the lottery.

Well past the lottery there will be a lot of really interesting high risk/high reward types mixed in with some guys who, at worst, will probably end up being very solid NBA players. Any time you have 18-20 interesting prospects available in the first round it's a good draft year. Teams with two draft picks stand a good shot at doing some interesting things.

DRAFT TIER 1 - Davis
DRAFT TIER 2 - Probably 5-6 players
DRAFT TIER 3 - Could be as high as 10-12 players.

ash_k · Post #596 » by **ash_k** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:35 pm

Wasp wrote:I have no idea where this whole "Anthony Davis might be a 3" movement is coming from. There's no way you waste that type of rebounding and defense at the 3. It's really one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while.

I agree, but I think it is just Calipari trying to tell folks " AD has to sacrifice a lot for the others and didnt get to show all of his skills.
While knowing damn well that AD is a 4 and with added strength and bulk ala Camby could cover the 5.

JamesNaismith · Post #597 » by **JamesNaismith** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:43 pm

I think TRob earned the title of #2 in the draft BUT if we were 2nd overall I believe Colangelo drafts a wing....most likely Beal imo.

freamon · Post #598 » by **freamon** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:47 pm

DG88 wrote:
DatHomieYouHaTe wrote:Why is everyone sleeping on Andre Drummond? once he does a few workouts he'll be the number two pick.. He has major superstar potential... His dunks will make Blake griffin look silly. You can't teach that length either.

He has no fundamentals for a big man and that scares the crap out people here

Different franchises have different risk tolerances given their circumstances. Given that we're heading into the last year of BC's contract and we've been terrible and selling hope for so long, I just don't think the Raptors are going to have the stomach to take a high-risk, high-reward guy like Drummond.

We're not talking about drafting for need in terms of position, ie. passing on Drummond because we have Bargs, Amir, Jonas, and Ed. We're talking about drafting based on the franchise's need to hit the ground running next year and to actually pull out of this tanking pattern they're in asap. We absolutely can not Araujo this pick, ie. take a risk and end up with nothing, setting the franchise back years. Nothing is guaranteed -- look at Greg Oden -- but they have to make solid contact and hope the ball carries. No wild swinging for the fences.

deeps6x · Post #599 » by **deeps6x** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:52 pm

fredericklove wrote:I think its amusing that alot of us want Beal or T-Rob cos of the playmaking/shot-creating ability (Beal) and rebounding/toughness (T-Rob) needed for this team..., Bargs and Demar are definitely the reasons why.

Of course. When was the last time you saw DD grab an offensive rebound?

While I would like T-Robb on the team down the road, he isn't better than Amir now. He may never be better than Amir (or be far better). But most importantly, I'd rather draft a SG/SF to fill a greater need.

freamon · Post #600 » by **freamon** » Tue Apr 3, 2012 3:54 pm

JamesNaismith wrote:I think TRob earned the title of #2 in the draft BUT if we were 2nd overall I believe Colangelo drafts a wing....most likely Beal imo.

Not sure about TRob really deserving to be #2. People over-rate the tournament. It's such a small sample size -- so few games, but we give them so much significance! To wit: would Kemba Walker still be in the top 10 if we had last year's draft to do over again? It's like saying the Cardinals were the best team in Baseball last year... obviously not -- they just got hot at the right time. The best baseball teams emerge over a long season; same with the best college basketball players.

That's why I'm convinced, especially if we fall out of the top 5, we're going to get our man Barnes. Disappointing tourney performance = draft bargain!

If Anthony Davis goes #1 and the Raps get the # 2 pick, who gets drafted?