Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Perry Jones

[ballislife]

Personally, I'd draft him over anyone besides Davis, Beal, and MKG if he showed that he's determined to become the best SF he can. Also, if he shows that he's not as immature as he was last season. He has a ton of growing up to do.

This is all impossible to tell as all prospects are going to give the answers they think teams want to hear and Perry already has the physical gifts necessary to shine...also PJ has been saying the same thing about becoming more dominant every year since highschool; his words are as meaningless as they get.

What Perry becomes will be based on what the coach and his staff get out of him because Jones has already proven that he's not going to do it on his own.

I agree with you 100%. I also think that Dwane Casey would be one of the best coaches for him. He's no non-sense and demands the best out of his guys no matter what. If you're not working, you're not playing. That's the kind of coach PJIII needs. I actually think PJ would appreciate that if Casey uses him the right way as a SF. PJIII's still a few years away from competing in the NBA though.

[Anatomize]

It's really hit or miss (with the scale tipping toward the latter) with prospects that have their mental/attitude questioned. Funny enough, those prospects often come with the same labels (supreme athleticism, huge upside - raw talent). You can look at guys like JR smith for example who since highschool was touted as a great prospect, but he clashed with his head coach (Scott), placed in the doghouse, and has often showed a lackadaisical approach to playing as well as a spoiled attitude. Then you have your Cousins' of the league (who despite having a defiant personality, has a fiery passion for the game).

I'm not sure which side Perry Jones will fall on, but I think if you have someone who's more proven with a good head on his shoulders you should take that player any day over a 'monster upside' guy with huge question marks regarding his mental makeup.

[bboyskinnylegs]

^^ Perry Jones' issues are nothing like either JR Smith or Cousins. He doesn't clash with his coach, and he doesn't have a defiant personality -- if anything he can be too unselfish at times and not as assertive as you'd like to see him be. His problem is he doesn't consistently take over and dominate the college game the way his skillset, size, and athleticism would suggest that he should.

[CoachJReturns]

Personally, I'd draft him over anyone besides Davis, Beal, and MKG if he showed that he's determined to become the best SF he can. Also, if he shows that he's not as immature as he was last season. He has a ton of growing up to do.

This is all impossible to tell as all prospects are going to give the answers they think teams want to hear and Perry already has the physical gifts necessary to shine...also PJ has been saying the same thing about becoming more dominant every year since highschool; his words are as meaningless as they get.

What Perry becomes will be based on what the coach and his staff get out of him because Jones has already proven that he's not going to do it on his own.

I agree with you 100%. I also think that Dwane Casey would be one of the best coaches for him. He's no non-sense and demands the best out of his guys no matter what. If you're not working, you're not playing. That's the kind of coach PJIII needs. I actually think PJ would appreciate that if Casey uses him the right way as a SF. PJIII's still a few years away from competing in the NBA though.

If Lamb is gone, I'm okay with Jones. He definitely needs the right coach to get to where he's actually using his talent. He's a gamble, but I wouldn't be furious about it. If he can really ever play small forward, it'd be like when we got T Mac. Just a freak athlete, with a ton of upside coming off the bench. Besides, I'm not sold on Lillard and the wings left over after Beal, MKG, Barnes and Lamb are gone. I'd be cool with Wroten with a later pick, but that's about it.

[brownbobcat]

He is more like Lamar Odom than many people think. Good ball handling ability, shaky work ethics...

It took Odom several years to be a consistent player in the NBA, so perhaps it could happen with Jones as well.

I don't think his playmaking and overall skill level is anywhere near Odom's. At the swing and guard positions, it doesn't seem like potential based only on athleticism ever works out - you need skill. Much easier to mold an athlete into a basketball player at the 4/5.

[Wone]

uggghh I feel myself getting sucked back into deceiving workout hype, especially with photos like that. Perry Jones just looks like such a great practice player, great body, fluid and yet watching him this year was just so unbelievably frustrating.

I had written him off but I'm getting that soft spot back for a player who clearly has so much talent. It's such a gamble to take him but you win huge if he can turn a corner mentally. I think it's clear from this season that if he had come out a year ago it could have been a potentially disastrous mistake and fractured an already brittle confidence. If Perry Jones has hit a point in his maturity where he really starts believing he can be be a special player then it could be the right time. I'm still not entirely convinced but clearly some players just need an extra year or two. If he is really ready now to mentally take on the responsibilities of being a pro then he could be special if he spends the first few years under a great coach.

I'm coming round to Perry Jones III again but even if the top 4 SG/SF's are off the board I'm still not convinced enough to take him over a handful of other players.

workouts don't lie. workouts are the reason russell westbrook shot all the way up to 4 and jerryd bayless went all the way down to 11. they give a good picture of how that player would fare against nba competition.

oh yea and workouts are the reason tyreke evans went all the way up to 4, he supposedly killed his draft workouts.

[niQ]

How good is he at blocking shots?

*edit, even with that much hops he doesn't appear to be much of a shotblocker... only 0.6 bpg?

[pharring]

I'm inching closer to this bandwagon. There's evidence here of a potentially trancendent talent. I'm not seeing that kind of evidence regarding Lamb, Waiters or Lillard.

If the big names are all gone (Davis, MKG, Drummond, Barnes, Beal, T-Rob), then PJIII is probably the best talent available. Though I would note that there are six names ahead of him (could even add Sullinger to that pack), the Raptors draft eighth, and there is ALWAYS somebody that drops on draft day.

[pharring]

How good is he at blocking shots?

*edit, even with that much hops he doesn't appear to be much of a shotblocker... only 0.6 bpg?

Baylor played zone. His defensive stats will be lower because of that, but that doesn't make him a poor defender. Similar situation for most Syracuse players.

[brownbobcat]

workouts don't lie. workouts are the reason russell westbrook shot all the way up to 4 and jerryd bayless went all the way down to 11. they give a good picture of how that player would fare against nba competition.

oh yea and workouts are the reason tyreke evans went all the way up to 4, he supposedly killed his draft workouts.

Workouts lie all the time, look at Joe Alexander and Joey Graham. You can't tell how a player will perform 5-on-5 based only on their measurements.

[Marlo Stanfield]

How good is he at blocking shots?

*edit, even with that much hops he doesn't appear to be much of a shotblocker... only 0.6 bpg?

Baylor played zone. His defensive stats will be lower because of that, but that doesn't make him a poor defender. Similar situation for most Syracuse players.

When's the last time Syracuse produced even a mediocre defender?

[Al_Oliver]

How good is he at blocking shots?

*edit, even with that much hops he doesn't appear to be much of a shotblocker... only 0.6 bpg?

Baylor played zone. His defensive stats will be lower because of that, but that doesn't make him a poor defender. Similar situation for most Syracuse players.

When's the last time Syracuse produced even a mediocre defender?

etan thomas?

[Undefeated]

How good is he at blocking shots?

*edit, even with that much hops he doesn't appear to be much of a shotblocker... only 0.6 bpg?

Baylor played zone. His defensive stats will be lower because of that, but that doesn't make him a poor defender. Similar situation for most Syracuse players.

It still doesn't explain for his poor shot-blocking numbers given his athleticism and length. It's true zone defenses tend to force perimeter shots, but Baylor throw different coverages at their opponent with a little bit of man-to-man defense to throw them off. PJ3 and Quincy Acy were usually in the back line of that 2-3 or box-and-1 zone defense, so they were often in a prime position to block shots. It's not like they have to help and recover all the time in a man-to-man defense. I mean, Quincy Acy who's at least 3-inches shorter averaged 1.8 bpg, so it doesn't give PJ3 any excuses that he doesn't block shots because of the zone defense.

[Wone]

workouts don't lie. workouts are the reason russell westbrook shot all the way up to 4 and jerryd bayless went all the way down to 11. they give a good picture of how that player would fare against nba competition.

oh yea and workouts are the reason tyreke evans went all the way up to 4, he supposedly killed his draft workouts.

Workouts lie all the time, look at Joe Alexander and Joey Graham. You can't tell how a player will perform 5-on-5 based only on their measurements.

perry jones is way more skilled than those two. it's an insult to compare him to them really. those guys had very little basketball skill, they were just athletes. perry is not like that. he's a highly skilled player with tremendous potential due to that skill and his athleticism as well. he's a good finisher and ball handler. he can shoot and rebound as well although his shot is far from perfect. perry's problem is inside his mind. he was highly inconsistent and didn't seem to improve all that much upon his freshman year. i just think he really didn't give a f. i just think that his upside is so high that you have to take a chance on him simply because guys like perry don't come very often.

[Undefeated]

Seriously, people need to stop overrating how skilled of a player PJ3 is. He's NOT that skilled.

[JN]

How good is he at blocking shots?

*edit, even with that much hops he doesn't appear to be much of a shotblocker... only 0.6 bpg?

Baylor played zone. His defensive stats will be lower because of that, but that doesn't make him a poor defender. Similar situation for most Syracuse players.

When's the last time Syracuse produced even a mediocre defender?

Etan Thomas and Jason Hart who both stayed in the league due to defence,

Since then, basically the only players to play any minutes in the NBA -- Melo, Warrick, Johnson, Flynn... poor defenders.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Baylor played zone. His defensive stats will be lower because of that, but that doesn't make him a poor defender. Similar situation for most Syracuse players.

When's the last time Syracuse produced even a mediocre defender?

etan thomas?

Baylor played zone. His defensive stats will be lower because of that, but that doesn't make him a poor defender. Similar situation for most Syracuse players.

When's the last time Syracuse produced even a mediocre defender?

Etan Thomas and Jason Hart who both stayed in the league due to defence,

Since then, basically the only players to play any minutes in the NBA -- Melo, Warrick, Johnson, Flynn... poor defenders.

Exactamundo!

[Reignman]

Seriously, people need to stop overrating how skilled of a player PJ3 is. He's NOT that skilled.

You should check out his game when he returned from his suspension, for those first few games he shows off his skills.

PJ's issue isn't with his skill, size or athleticism, it's with his motor. If he can go full bore consistently then he can be a beast.

Also, Baylor miscast him as a big man when his game screams SF. Also, judging by his comments he doesn't seem to want to play big and would prefer to be a 3.

Definitely some flags but a coach like Casey might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

[BillyGM]

If PJ3 prooves that he is SF, he will be the no. 1 prospect on our board.

[Man of Steel]

If PJ3 prooves that he is SF, he will be the no. 1 prospect on our board.

Sadly, if he does prove to be an SF chances are he'll be taken before 8. Not unlikely he drops, but if he really impresses in workouts what are the odds that other GMs don't think along the same lines as BC?