Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Austin Rivers (NOH)

[Trianoball]

Im starting to have this strong gut feeling that Rivers is our pick.

He seems like the kind of character guy Colangelo cherishes...(good background/family/etc.)

On top of that, he has the "swagger" that this team has been sorely lacking for a long time.

I really think he's going to be the annual gem out of the late lottery selections.

[Raptorfan2012]

I see a big redflag on his drives.. when he drives left he dribbles left but finished right!?! Don't kids already know from a young age that if you drive left, you finish/layup with your left hand?? That to me is very troubling.

[fredericklove]

I see a big redflag on his drives.. when he drives left he dribbles left but finished right!?! Don't kids already know from a young age that if you drive left, you finish/layup with your left hand?? That to me is very troubling.

If he can pull off those Rondo type right hand finish layup to the left then that's no problem, but he is no rondo so...

[McFurious1]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrbrarSldxo&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[Saciid11]

Positives

Can create his own shot
Can shoot the ball
Can get to the rim at will
Very good ball handler for two guard
Mentally tough

Negative

Bit to selfish at times
little bit too small for two guard
Might be defensive liability
Other then scoring he doesn't do much

Best comparism .... Shooting guard version of Sthephen Curry

[Peezy]

Im starting to have this strong gut feeling that Rivers is our pick.

He seems like the kind of character guy Colangelo cherishes...(good background/family/etc.)

On top of that, he has the "swagger" that this team has been sorely lacking for a long time.

I really think he's going to be the annual gem out of the late lottery selections.

I agree, i was starting to think we would take Lillard. But something about the fact that both Waiters and Rivers received draft promises and the Raptors and Suns were linked to these promises tell me something is going on that we will see on draft day.

Possibly Toronto picks Waiters and Phoenix picks Rivers and some sort of a trade happens with other pieces.

[JamesNaismith]

Im starting to have this strong gut feeling that Rivers is our pick.

He seems like the kind of character guy Colangelo cherishes...(good background/family/etc.)

On top of that, he has the "swagger" that this team has been sorely lacking for a long time.

I really think he's going to be the annual gem out of the late lottery selections.

I agree, i was starting to think we would take Lillard. But something about the fact that both Waiters and Rivers received draft promises and the Raptors and Suns were linked to these promises tell me something is going on that we will see on draft day.

Possibly Toronto picks Waiters and Phoenix picks Rivers and some sort of a trade happens with other pieces.

Yeah I actually get that vibe too (unfortunately...as I wanted Lamb here).

Nash and Rivers will certainly help sell tickets and bring some media attetion.

[Peezy]

Im starting to have this strong gut feeling that Rivers is our pick.

He seems like the kind of character guy Colangelo cherishes...(good background/family/etc.)

On top of that, he has the "swagger" that this team has been sorely lacking for a long time.

I really think he's going to be the annual gem out of the late lottery selections.

I agree, i was starting to think we would take Lillard. But something about the fact that both Waiters and Rivers received draft promises and the Raptors and Suns were linked to these promises tell me something is going on that we will see on draft day.

Possibly Toronto picks Waiters and Phoenix picks Rivers and some sort of a trade happens with other pieces.

Yeah I actually get that vibe too (unfortunately...as I wanted Lamb here).

Rivers would give Nash a very nice back up point guard to mentor for a year or two. Rivers definitely has the "IT" factor. He could turn out to be a solid PG in the future. What I love most is his fire as a player, willingness to be great, BBALL IQ from his dad and his handles are great. With Nash's help he could be a stud. Its great that Austin and his father both think Toronto his a good fit from a player stand point and coaching wise. The only thing that would worry me is that in 3 years after Austin becomes special he signs for whatever team his dad plays for.

Nash and Rivers will certainly help sell tickets and bring some media attetion.

[Superchunk]

I have the same gut feeling about Rivers being at the top of our list (outside of guys who will likely be gone). I think, at this point, I'm pretty happy about that. I have a feeling he's going to make it as a pro, and if he makes it, his "it" will be pretty darn good. He just has NBA style moves, attitude and athleticism - he strikes me as the kind of guy who will get his shots off and will find lanes (unlike, say, Demar).

[JamesNaismith]

I really don't see Rivers being a PG at all.

[ThemCrookedRefs]

I don't know if I would call Rivers a very good 3-point shooter because 36.5% from 3-point isn't lighting it up, but I guess you can call him decent. My concern regarding his shooting is that he isn't a very good spot-up shooter nor can he shot off of the catch immediately. He's more of a guy who needs the ball in his hands to get the feel for the ball before stepping into a jumper. So, what happens when Rivers doesn't have the ball in his hands to work his way into the game? But I guess with the reps in he'll get adjusted to his new role where he isn't the man anymore since there will be a bigger emphasis on sharing the ball. We'll see, though.

If he isn't a good 3-point shooter then what are Barnes (35.8%), Lamb (33.6%), and Beal (33.9%)? Aren't they all considered to be good/very good 3-point shooters? I share your other concerns though.

At the end of the day I think it will come down to Lamb, Rivers, and Waiters. This team desperately needs a shooter from the SG spot (I highly doubt DeRozan will ever be a 3-point threat). I'll be happy with either Lamb or Rivers, not so sure about Waiters.

[SwiftyV]

I really don't see Rivers being a PG at all.

Thank God you and at least a few others agree. I keep seeing a lot of people in various threads claiming he has to learn to play PG...but he just isn't that. He's just a straight up scoring SG. Can he handle the ball? Yea he can...he could bring the ball up the court a few times a game but he isn't a PG. He can drive and kick a bit but he doesn't have PG vision.

[starvinmarvin17]

anyone else want boston rivers besides me. I'm not completely sold on lillard yet

[IMAN5]

I am all over this, if we pass on him we will be passing either:

1. an all star
2. a very good scorer

I look at his pick like Brandon Jennings, everyone was worried about his attitude but he led the team to the playoffs, can light up a team, and score. He is playing in one of the crappiest cities of milauwakee and yet he embraces the team. Fear the Deer was inspired by BJ and his play.

People need to get over the "he has a huge ego" so does Lebron Fxkin James, would you guys not pick him up?

[fredericklove]

It's not the ego he has that concerns us, otherwise we all love his ego because we need a confident swagger personality on the floor to lead this club. It's his tunnel vision and his undersized combo guard issue that we can't get over with.

[cookieman]

It's funny how the chucker tag has stuck with Rivers. He ranked 126th in FGA. Harrison Barnes, considered a team player by comparison, took 120 more shots than Rivers, good for 9th.

And then there's Jeremy Lamb, who people say never got the ball because of Napier and Boatwright. Well, the man they say is overly passive took 50+ more shots than Rivers, good for 53rd in the NCAA. Lamb played more minutes than Rivers, so the numbers per minute are likely close, but the stigma sure isn't.

It gets really interesting when you look at Beal's numbers. Many people believe Beal could play some point, and is by no means a chucker, but his shot attempts are nearly identical to Rivers (Beal actually shot more 3's than perceived gunslinger Rivers) and their assist percentage is also nearly identical (Rivers had the slight edge here).

I'm not saying Rivers is a better prospect, or that stats are the be all and end all, but I do think that highlights of a guy jacking threes from 26 feet tend to give you a certain impression, and the numbers simply don't bear it out. How ball dominant can you be and not be in the top 400 in usage?

There are serious questions about Rivers but I think it's interesting how stats =/= stigma.

[fredericklove]

In skillset-wise, Beal is the better passer and will be the better passer than River in the long run. You can sig bet that if you want, I'll put my life on this bet.

[Dalek]

Maybe a daydream, but here is how I could see Austin Rivers work out...If I would project who he would do well with, I would say you pair him with Raymond Felton. It would be similar to a Baron Davis and Monta Ellis combination.

Back in 2007 you had the Warriors peak with:

Baron Davis
Monta Ellis
Stephen Jackson
Al Harrington
Andris Biedrins

Toronto Raptors 2012 could look like:

Raymond Felton
Austin Rivers
Demar Derozan
Bargnani
JV

The teams are almost the same with Bargnani almost exactly like Harrington (volume shooter at PF) and Beans like JV (defense, p n' r finisher, hustle guy), Austin Rivers a duplicate of Monta Ellis (lethal scorer and secondary ball handler), and Felton as Davis (aging PG who resurrects his career by being counted on as a leader of a young team). Derozan is no Stephen Jackson, but maybe he along with another signing like Brandon Rush could offer good production at the wing.

[HolyMage110]

I really don't see Rivers being a PG at all.

Thank God you and at least a few others agree. I keep seeing a lot of people in various threads claiming he has to learn to play PG...but he just isn't that. He's just a straight up scoring SG. Can he handle the ball? Yea he can...he could bring the ball up the court a few times a game but he isn't a PG. He can drive and kick a bit but he doesn't have PG vision.

its because he plays similar to westbrook

[nowayguy]

It's funny how the chucker tag has stuck with Rivers. He ranked 126th in FGA. Harrison Barnes, considered a team player by comparison, took 120 more shots than Rivers, good for 9th.

And then there's Jeremy Lamb, who people say never got the ball because of Napier and Boatwright. Well, the man they say is overly passive took 50+ more shots than Rivers, good for 53rd in the NCAA. Lamb played more minutes than Rivers, so the numbers per minute are likely close, but the stigma sure isn't.

It gets really interesting when you look at Beal's numbers. Many people believe Beal could play some point, and is by no means a chucker, but his shot attempts are nearly identical to Rivers (Beal actually shot more 3's than perceived gunslinger Rivers) and their assist percentage is also nearly identical (Rivers had the slight edge here).

I'm not saying Rivers is a better prospect, or that stats are the be all and end all, but I do think that highlights of a guy jacking threes from 26 feet tend to give you a certain impression, and the numbers simply don't bear it out. How ball dominant can you be and not be in the top 400 in usage?

There are serious questions about Rivers but I think it's interesting how stats =/= stigma.

Who called Barnes a team player? Anyone who watched UNC play knew he chucked up shots like no other. The problem with Rivers is his terrible shot selection, not just how many shots he takes. It's not like Rivers waits for the right opportunity to take a shot, he'll go for a deep three whenever he feels like it. He'll have someone draped all over him and he'll still go for a deep two instead of passing it off to a teammate. If he were hitting the shots, then no one would complain but he missed a lot of them.