Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Jeremy Lamb (HOU)

[fredericklove]

If both Lillard and Lamb are available at our pick, I think Lillard is the BPA. Lamb might be better than Derozan in shooting, rebounding and defense, but to me he doesn't look like to be a big time scorer who Lillard could be

Lamb has all the tools to be a big time scorer especially how he is able to get his shots off in every possible way you can think of. Lillard scores good against non elite teams so don't overrate him as if he is scoring machine against any level.

[fredericklove]

This is beautiful.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4cCDuF81JQ[/youtube]

[Garmfay]

Theres a reason why Lamb is rated so low man. Can't wait for the Lamb lovers to want BC's head when he passes on him

[nahom1319]

Can someone tell me if Lamb is really a bad passer, or because of two ball-hogging guards forcing him to change his role to just "scoring" instead of getting everyone involves?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqqOP53bE-4[/youtube]

I'm just jumping in here but i hope the argument isn't that Lamb is a great creator for his teamates. I saw alot of dump off passes and a few heaves downcourt to a sprinting Kemba. The ball certainly isn't glued to his hands but he isn't a guy you want initiating your offense either.

[nahom1319]

Theres a reason why Lamb is rated so low man.

Agreed, he has the mental makeup of Vince Carter. He also has the length of t-mac and the game of kevin martin, which is why I think he would be a good 6th man.

There are few prospects I would actually use a pick on in this draft but Lamb is on that short list. Doesn't mean I love the prospect or even like him all that much but he makes the cut.

[Undefeated]

Nothing about Jeremy Lamb, but it's an interesting read nonetheless which can be applied to Lamb.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/41687/the-men-with-no-conscience

I guess there's a reason why Lamb settles for too many jumpers because he just knows he can make them. His shot does look almost unblockable/incontestable at times.

[Mister Ze]

David Aldridge has Austin Rivers before Lamb on his billboard.

[StMikes31]

Mock drafts don't mean anything at this point. Once we get into the combine and individual workouts they will get more interesting.

I really hope we don't get F*****D and get stuck with the left overs (Sullinger, Rivers)

[MEDIC]

D.Casey would do wonders for this kid.

That's what I keep thinking. We have the coaching staff to get the most out of this kid. I think it would be a great place for him to land. If he ends of somewhere like Sacramento, it might kill his career.

Casey knows how to push guys & get the most out of them. That's why i have no problem with them taking a risk on Lamb.

[Crazy-Canuck]

If lamb were to drop, Id make a serious push to move back into the draft by dangling Ed and our 2nd rounders. I would even consider packaging DD or Bargs is we are assured of lamb and other assets (future picks or young promising player).

Id be ecstatic if we came out of this with Barnes and Lamb.

[Double Helix]

Check out where his elbow's at. I really think he's going to climb after workouts. Some GMs are going to be surprised by his individual skill level, wing span and athleticism.

Hard to imagine him not being top 10 when it's all said and done.

[Double Helix]

[Double Helix]

Was thinking some more about Lamb and Brandon Rush popped into my mind. I realize Lamb has been more dominant at a younger age but there are some similarities I wanted to point out.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0QR48nF4-I[/youtube]

Both guys are around 6'5 with extremely long arms and mini-fros. Just joking about the hair. Well, sort of. Both guys went to good schools where they were members of NCAA championship winning teams. I say members because even though Rush was the MVP of that Kansas team during the finals he still wasn't an especially dominant offensive force his final year in school. There was talk back then that Rush had more to show and that he was just being a good teammate at Kansas but we've yet to see that extra gear from him as a pro. Some now speculate the same thing with Jeremy Lamb. Anyway, both guys were extremely skilled and highly touted as prep stars. Like Rush, Draft Express seems to think Lamb's more of a late lottery pick and they were correct about the range where Rush was eventually taken.

Brandon Rush is now 26 and his best PER (this season) was 15.2 (considered average). Can anybody list some good reasons why this happened with Rush and why it won't with Lamb? And again, I realize that Lamb's sophomore numbers are better even than Rush's Junior numbers but Lamb as a Sophomore is hovering around 21 PER and Rush was similarly efficient in college (PER 20.0) the year he left. They also had fairly similar strengths and weaknesses (Shooting ability, individual skill, solid athleticism, defensive potential, etc).

[Kid Canada]

Rush isn't a bad player. Lamb I think has more potential on defense and better handles.

[The Chucker]

LMAO @ comparing Lamb to Rush. im now convinced u havent watch lamb play. always brining up stats helix.

[deeps6x]

1. Davis
2. Robinson
3. Beal
4. MKG
5. Drummond
6. Barnes

If the Raps pick 7th we either get Lamb or one of those guys. Yall acting like we're picking 10th

Maybe because there is a zero percent chance that the Raptors pic seventh.

[Double Helix]

LMAO @ comparing Lamb to Rush. im now convinced u havent watch lamb play. always brining up stats helix.

No two players are exactly alike, man, but you have to admit there are some similarities here:

Brandon Rush was the 13th ranked HS recruit in the nation according to Rivals.
Jeremy Lamb by contrast was ranked 76th.

Brandon Rush gets recruited to a big school with other NBA talent (Cole Aldrich and Mario Chalmers).
Jeremy Lamb gets recruited to a big school with other NBA talent (Kemba Walker and Andre Drummond)

Both guys are the same height with similar wingspans.
Both guys are known for being solid shooters from both mid-range and deep.
Both guys have above average athleticism.
Neither guy was a 1 and done.
Both guys have faced criticism that they're too comfortable just "fitting in" and that they're not aggressive enough.
Both guys have won titles and because of that the defence for Rush is similar to the defence for Lamb right now: "He had to share too much with teammates."
DX predicted Rush would be a late lotto pick and he did. Many thought he was a steal when he was taken. That hasn't been the case. He's not bad but he's just "average" at the moment.
DX has Lamb ranked 12th. Ford has him ranked later.

I know they're not clones obviously but many of the same complaints have held true for Rush. Rush is 26 now and he's merely average. What makes Lamb so different as a prospect that he will overcome these same criticisms? Rather than dismissing the comparisons with a snide remark about how you think I haven't seen him play enough... why don't you tell me why you think he will overcome some of these criticisms and point out why Rush has failed where Lamb won't?

[Rhettmatic]

Hmm, personally I don't like that comparison much DH. I just don't think they're very similar aside from some very surface-level comparisons.

Lamb is a much more dynamic offensive player as a sophomore than Rush was at the same age (and Rush posted a 17.7 PER in his second year to Lamb's 21.9.)

Lamb is much better at handling the ball. Rush was stronger and bigger -- I can't imagine Lamb ever making a living strictly as a defensive roleplayer, for instance.

I just don't see them as being all that similar, personally. Most people who want Lamb look at the athleticism and skill level and think he's capable of doing more than he's shown. I think Brandon Rush entered the league more or less a finished product.

[deeps6x]

Chad Ford and DX both put TJ over Lamb on their draft boards and I think the Raptors should do the same. TJ is a 6'9 SF/PF who can handle the ball, rebound, and block shots with his 7'2 wingspan. No star potential, but surely improves the team overall.

Lamb is a good secondary scorer, has a long wingspan, good perimeter defender, but scouts say he settles for too many jumpers and doesn't attack the basket often enough. It would be a tough call but TJ seems like a much better fit.

Who the F is TJ?

If we don't fall, either Lamb, or Perry Jones, or both will be available at 8th. Either would be acceptable to me. However, I would have much rather had a choice at 3rd or 5th if those fools had just lost one or two of the first games vs Cleveland.

[s e n s i]

brandon rush and jeremy lamb are nowhere near alike. only comparable attribute is their skin complexion, and even that is off by a few pigments.

lamb is much more fluid with the ball, more skilled, and has a release on his jump shot that will not limit him to being just a spot-up shooter. his wirey, athletic frame is much more translatable at the pro level.

lamb can be a kerry kittles type SG/F...overall package is pretty comparable to paul george imo, albeit a few inches shorter. rush on the other hand had bench fodder written all over him, or else he woulda gone much higher in his draft than 13 - which is still a bit of a reach in hindsight.