Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Jared Sullinger

[raptor jesus]

Love is routinely breaking absurd records from yesteryear. The comparison is idealistic, much like Lillard/Rose. I liken his potential production to the man Love curb stomped. A less crafty Scola, but a better rebounder. BIg bodies that can both outwork and outwit opponents in the paint aren't exactly at a premium.

[DreamTeam09]

I don't think hes going to get his game off early in his career. He has a milsap / al jeff / horford / klove body and type of game and I don't think he'll be better than any of those guys. A notch below milsap isn't bad at all tho. He'll be better than ed davis tho, which sucks from our point of view.

[Landomar]

The combine results for Sullinger are definately bad. He had the slowest sprint time of anyone in the last four years, one of the worst agility scores (he slightly beat Alabi! ), and mediocre to bad results in everything else. Sullinger basically measured as slow, fat, and anchored to the ground. I don't think this should be all that surprising. It's well known that he is a below the rim player, and that he uses his large body and smarts to carve out space.

An interesting comparison for Sullinger's combine numbers is Greg Monroe:

Sullinger vs. Monroe

Weight: 268 vs. 247
Reach: 8'9.5" vs. 9'0.5"
Max Vert Reach: 11'4.5" vs. 11'5.5"
Bench: 9 vs. 15
Agility: 12.77 vs. 12.10
Sprint: 3.81 vs. 3.35

As with the Love comparison, Monroe tested better than Sullinger at pretty much everything, despite Monroe being regarded as an "average or worse" athlete. This means that just like with a Greg Monroe, you really need to believe in Sullinger's skill level and smarts to draft him, only even more so. I'm one of the people that does believe in Sullinger's skills, but I understand some of the concerns. He's not a guy that can run around like an idiot and get by on his athleticism (like, say, Javale McGee).

[BillyGM]

Turbo zone made signature for all of you Sullinger fans:

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

[BirdmanPresents]

People are just looking to the testings to argue why not to draft him. First it was the measurements, then he put those doubts to rest, now its his lack of athleticism. We all knew coming in he was slow, heavy and unathletics, I don't think the testing changes that.

At the end of the day he is still a very skilled, low post scorer. Once you work out, you drop weight, get stronger and get faster so I am not too worried after an NBA training camp, especially if that is your only concern going in.

[hankscorpioLA]

We all knew coming in he was slow, heavy and unathletics, I don't think the testing changes that.

The problem isn't that he measured slow and unathletic.

Its that he measured slow and unathletic compared to guys who are slow and unathletic.

[Dalek]

I see where people are coming from with the testing, but I don't think he is a finished product. He hasn't had an NBA nutritionist, and he hasn't lived in Canada where there just isn't as much crappy food. Maybe he can improve on his conditioning like Glen Davis, who turned around his body with the Celtics.

My main doubt is that Sully will cramp a team that wants to be uptempo. If the Raps are going in a direction to play at a faster pace, I don't know if Sullinger is the guy. I think that ultimately Casey is really a slow-it down, grind it out coach. Our defense was better last year because of it. In that case, Sullinger is a good fit because we become that much more punishing inside.

[BirdmanPresents]

We all knew coming in he was slow, heavy and unathletics, I don't think the testing changes that.

The problem isn't that he measured slow and unathletic.

Its that he measured slow and unathletic compared to guys who are slow and unathletic.

Who were the other guys we thought would be slower and less athletic then Sully? The only surprise to me is the bench.

I see where people are coming from with the testing, but I don't think he is a finished product. He hasn't had an NBA nutritionist, and he hasn't lived in Canada where there just isn't as much crappy food. Maybe he can improve on his conditioning like Glen Davis, who turned around his body with the Celtics.

My main doubt is that Sully will cramp a team that wants to be uptempo. If the Raps are going in a direction to play at a faster pace, I don't know if Sullinger is the guy. I think that ultimately Casey is really a slow-it down, grind it out coach. Our defense was better last year because of it. In that case, Sullinger is a good fit because we become that much more punishing inside.

Especially with Val now in the frontcourt, I could see this team being a more slow paced team. If we go this route, it would be a great fit for Sully. I also think having Lillard would create good oppourtunities in the half court setting so either pick I'd be happy with. If we can somehow land both, I'm ecstatic.

[S.W.A.N]

We all knew coming in he was slow, heavy and unathletics, I don't think the testing changes that.

The problem isn't that he measured slow and unathletic.

Its that he measured slow and unathletic compared to guys who are slow and unathletic.

Who were the other guys we thought would be slower and less athletic then Sully? The only surprise to me is the bench.

I see where people are coming from with the testing, but I don't think he is a finished product. He hasn't had an NBA nutritionist, and he hasn't lived in Canada where there just isn't as much crappy food. Maybe he can improve on his conditioning like Glen Davis, who turned around his body with the Celtics.

My main doubt is that Sully will cramp a team that wants to be uptempo. If the Raps are going in a direction to play at a faster pace, I don't know if Sullinger is the guy. I think that ultimately Casey is really a slow-it down, grind it out coach. Our defense was better last year because of it. In that case, Sullinger is a good fit because we become that much more punishing inside.

Especially with Val now in the frontcourt, I could see this team being a more slow paced team. If we go this route, it would be a great fit for Sully. I also think having Lillard would create good oppourtunities in the half court setting so either pick I'd be happy with. If we can somehow land both, I'm ecstatic.

Casey and BC both mentioned wanting to pick up the pace next season...

[Landomar]

Casey and BC both mentioned wanting to pick up the pace next season...

Well, Sullinger definitely wouldn't excel at filling a lane on a fast break. I was looking through sprint time data on draft express, and his time was slower than everybody in the last decade (that was considered an actual prospect). Slower than Aaron Gray, Bogut, Cousins, etc. Pick your favourite plodding center. Sullinger's sprint time was slower than that guy. He did outrun a few guys that were never actual NBA players, like Pavel Podkolzine, but not by much!

I still really like Sullinger, but he's a rebounder and a half court scorer. It would be a pleasant surprise if he ends up being a plus player in any other area.

[Vorticity]

Brandon (IN)
what do you think about Jared Sullinger's horrible combine numbers? how will he translate to the NBA? and Chad Ford has Sullinger going to N.O. in the 1st round, thoughts?


John Hollinger
Sullinger is going to put up numbers, the question is what kind of numbers his man will put up against him. That's the real dilemma with his combine numbers -- people know what he can do in terms of scoring and rebounding, but the ability to defend his position is suspect and the combine data won't help his case.

[Mehar]

I had to bump this thread. Some posters were saying that this guy could have gone possibly as high as 6 or 7, and that the Raptors should pick him at 8 earlier this month. Where are those posters now? I had stated that this guy was undersized and unathletic and another Michael Sweetney type player, and some posters stated I was an idiot, and that Sullinger would be a steal at 8. I read today that this guy is not even going to be invited to the draft and might fall to late teens and early twenties. I stated something similar, and some posters called me out saying I know nothing about basketball. Where are all you Sullinger lovers now who were arguing that even though he was 6 foot 7.5 inches barefoot, he could play Center for the Raptors? (LOL). This guy might turn out to be a good player, but I see Michael Sweetney Version 2. He made a huge mistake not declaring for the draft last year. Wish him the best though since he seems like a great guy, but he would have been a terrible pick for the Raptors at 8.

http://tracking.si.com/2012/06/25/repor ... -to-draft/

[OAKLEY_2]

Yes he has fallen but not because of the Mike Sweetney comparisons, not because of size, not because of athleticism - but because of back issues. If we make a trade and retain a lower pick in the mid to late teens and he's there I'd pick him for sure. I don't think those in the know think he is Mike Sweetney. He'll be a good power forward.

"He may not possess the elite athleticism that NBA General Managers salivate over, but those are the same qualities GM’s focus solely on that often find them in the unemployment line. I’m not saying Sullinger will be the next Wes Unseld, but he will have a place in the NBA. An All-Star? Maybe. An MVP? Probably not. But with his skill, determination and basketball IQ Sullinger will be more than okay – if his back holds up." -http://buckeyeempire.com

He could be a great pick if he is passed over by the first 15 or so teams.

[Dr Comeback]

Zach Randolph has made a long career of rebounding and scoring in the post without being able to jump over a phone book, Sully is completely capable of doing the same. I would take him over the poo poo platter of wing prospects, Waiters, Rivers and Lamb.