2014 NBA Draft Prospects Thread #5 | Raps picking 20th

[ballislife]

Saric = slightly better Diaw?

Not sure about Leonard

I see Anderson being the most similar player to Diaw in this draft, and I see (based on their size/stats at the same age) Jeremy Grant being similar to Leonard.

I'm not incredibly high on Grant, but I wouldn't mind drafting him and working on his offensive skill. He has superb size for a SF... needs to work on his quickness and his jumpshot, but he's still very, very, young, so the potential is there if our improved staff works on him.

Are you so sure that Anderson can play D like Diaw did?

Well, like Pop said, Diaw is a very underrated defender... I think Anderson has that potential. He's obviously not as seasoned, and he doesn't have the same impact right now, but he has like a 7'2" wingspan and he finds a way to get in passing lanes with his size. He got a lot of steals for UCLA. Diaw is more of a physical player with his weight. He's also more witty on D, but that comes with seasoning in the league.

Again, Anderson's not there by any means, but I wouldn't write him off like most have. The potential is there.

[SkywalkerAC]

I see Anderson being the most similar player to Diaw in this draft, and I see (based on their size/stats at the same age) Jeremy Grant being similar to Leonard.

I'm not incredibly high on Grant, but I wouldn't mind drafting him and working on his offensive skill. He has superb size for a SF... needs to work on his quickness and his jumpshot, but he's still very, very, young, so the potential is there if our improved staff works on him.

Are you so sure that Anderson can play D like Diaw did?

Well, like Pop said, Diaw is a very underrated defender... I think Anderson has that potential. He's obviously not as seasoned, and he doesn't have the same impact right now, but he has like a 7'2" wingspan and he finds a way to get in passing lanes with his size. He got a lot of steals for UCLA. Diaw is more of a physical player with his weight. He's also more witty on D, but that comes with seasoning in the league.

Again, Anderson's not there by any means, but I wouldn't write him off like most have. The potential is there.

Exactly, people see the Slo-Mo label and a few bad burns on the draft express scouting vid and assume all is lost. For all we know he's a better system defender at the 3 than Jabari Parker. I probably wouldn't bet on it due to athleticism but if he's the student of the game that I think he is, he should be okay in the long run.

[hyper316]

we have a primary ball handler in lowry (assuming he signs) and a primary scorer with ball in hand with Demar. i dont see a big need for SF to be a ball handler. the team needs superb defensive at the 3 with some ability to stretch the floor.

[SkywalkerAC]

we have a primary ball handler in lowry (assuming he signs) and a primary scorer with ball in hand with Demar. i dont see a big need for SF to be a ball handler. the team needs superb defensive at the 3 with some ability to stretch the floor.

Despite being an great player at the 1, Lowry isn't really a pass-first point guard. Double him on the ball-screen and he has trouble making the defense pay. Vasquez is score first as well; he always opts for the floater over the oop to Jonas. In fact, everyone usually opts for the shot or a pass out over the assist in traffic - I'm sure they've been instructed to do so, but it's largely because they're not good enough passers. DeMar is getting better but he's still way more a finisher more than a facilitator. Don't get me started on our fast break.

Watching the Spurs pick the Heat defense apart has me wanting THAT. Every guy on the court making the right pass, on time and on point. We got better after Rudy left but we have a long way to go. Do you think Casey really wanted to play Salmons at the 3 or Vasquez at the 2? No, he had to for ball security, to control the flow of the game, and because they brought passing ability to the lineup. No more, I want players, with legit floor-game on the wing that will make others better and make the right basketball play.

[hyper316]

we have a primary ball handler in lowry (assuming he signs) and a primary scorer with ball in hand with Demar. i dont see a big need for SF to be a ball handler. the team needs superb defensive at the 3 with some ability to stretch the floor.

Despite being an great player at the 1, Lowry isn't really a pass-first point guard. Double him on the ball-screen and he has trouble making the defense pay. Vasquez is score first as well; he always opts for the floater over the oop to Jonas. In fact, everyone usually opts for the shot or a pass out over the assist in traffic - I'm sure they've been instructed to do so, but it's largely because they're not good enough passers. DeMar is getting better but he's still way more a finisher more than a facilitator. Don't get me started on our fast break.

Watching the Spurs pick the Heat defense apart has me wanting THAT. Every guy on the court making the right pass, on time and on point. We got better after Rudy left but we have a long way to go. Do you think Casey really wanted to play Salmons at the 3 or Vasquez at the 2? No, he had to for ball security, to control the flow of the game, and because they brought passing ability to the lineup.

if we're on the same page on building a team that mirrors the spurs, then Kawhi Leonard is the type of SF we would want. I think his defense and outside shooting are bigger strengths than his ability to handle the ball. are we on the same page?

[SkywalkerAC]

we have a primary ball handler in lowry (assuming he signs) and a primary scorer with ball in hand with Demar. i dont see a big need for SF to be a ball handler. the team needs superb defensive at the 3 with some ability to stretch the floor.

Despite being an great player at the 1, Lowry isn't really a pass-first point guard. Double him on the ball-screen and he has trouble making the defense pay. Vasquez is score first as well; he always opts for the floater over the oop to Jonas. In fact, everyone usually opts for the shot or a pass out over the assist in traffic - I'm sure they've been instructed to do so, but it's largely because they're not good enough passers. DeMar is getting better but he's still way more a finisher more than a facilitator. Don't get me started on our fast break.

Watching the Spurs pick the Heat defense apart has me wanting THAT. Every guy on the court making the right pass, on time and on point. We got better after Rudy left but we have a long way to go. Do you think Casey really wanted to play Salmons at the 3 or Vasquez at the 2? No, he had to for ball security, to control the flow of the game, and because they brought passing ability to the lineup.

if we're on the same page on building a team that mirrors the spurs, then Kawhi Leonard is the type of SF we would want. I think his defense and outside shooting are bigger strengths than his ability to handle the ball. are we on the same page?

Sure, I'd take Leonard of course, though he has a cerebral floor-game as well. Too bad he's not going to be at 20 in this draft.

The Spurs have Parker, Manu, Duncan, and Diaw with elite ability to think the game and pick you apart with passing and execution, in addition to all their role-players (Leonard, Green, Bellinelli, Splitter) that can basically do the same. Ross is our 3&D guy for now, and Demar is our scoring wing. Neither has anywhere close to elite floor-game. We have two score-first point guards that are passable in how they control the game. They basically need to be buttressed with a facilitating point forward.

We can add veteran 3&D guys no problem, albeit not on Leonard's level. What is more difficult is to find a superlative point forward that can bring synergy to the system. There just aren't many of them. Anderson might not be one either, maybe he does need the ball in his hands too much, but that's for Masai to decide and for us to find out.

[Undefeated]

I've seen Anderson make the kind of passes you're referring to. Difficult passes that aren't easy to make. Not necessarily flashy no-looks. Again, he's not Nash but he's not just backing the ball down and swinging it around the perimeter either.

But those types of passes don't happen often. I'm not saying all he does is reverse the ball side to side, but more so he makes simple drive-and-kick or drop off passes that DeMar can already do. Of course he's able to recognize these plays earlier because of his height, but these type of passes aren't anything special and it's underwhelming if Anderson is the primary ball-handler unable to probe the defense. Without a strength advantage where he could abuse smaller defender en route to the basket he'll have to rely more on being shifty with his handles and selling his moves. His inside-out dribble is weak, no one isn't going to bite on it. But this can be worked on.

[cammac]

we have a primary ball handler in lowry (assuming he signs) and a primary scorer with ball in hand with Demar. i dont see a big need for SF to be a ball handler. the team needs superb defensive at the 3 with some ability to stretch the floor.

Well I don't see Anderson replacing Ross as the starting SF so if your wish is a defensive SF we currently have one. Anderson would get his minutes on the second unit as the point forward @ SF and moving to PF as he bulks up. But if we draft Anderson we won't resign Vasquez rather go after a back-up PG like Livingston who is a better defender but not as good offensively especially with the 3pt. shot.
@ 20 my top picks would be Porzingis, Anderson, Capela, Payton & Ennis but Porzingis is now likely out of site would love to draft Ennis but see Payton as a better PG.

37th. Inglis , Adams, McDaniels, Bogdanovic, Bachynski while I'm not a fan of NBAdraft.net they have both Adams & McDaniels in the 2nd round with out many of the Euro's that DX have in the 1st. round? Seems Inglis will be there may be a hidden jewel in the draft?

59th Bachynski, Powell, Birch or Ejim in that order all could contribute immediately just wish we had a slightly higher pick to insure getting Bachynski. They all deserve to be drafted all seniors except Birch who missed one year so basically a senior.

[Volcano]

we have a primary ball handler in lowry (assuming he signs) and a primary scorer with ball in hand with Demar. i dont see a big need for SF to be a ball handler. the team needs superb defensive at the 3 with some ability to stretch the floor.

A line up with one ball handler isn't enough. My philosophy is to always have two (who can handle, run the offense, make plays) on the court as much as possible. You stop/limit one ball handler and the other one can help out. Otherwise your offense is too reliant on one guy and it becomes too predictable.

Lowry's not the best passing PG either. We need someone who can run a pick and roll and find our big men. We also need a slasher who can get to the rim easier and draw in the defenses. Lowry's a bit short and doesn't have the hops to finish consistently. He's not the best passer after slashing either. Derozan's a very average passer, he can make the simple plays..but that's not really enough. DD doesn't have the speed/explosiveness to get to the rim at will either and can be prevented from doing so 1v1 against good defenders..although sometimes he's able to beat good defense, it's not consistent or reliable.

We also need someone who can shoot three's and play defense to balance out Demar's deficiencies there.

Basically, we need Lebron.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

Trade up for Gordon.

[hyper316]

Why do people keep saying Lowry is not a good passing PG, he was top 8 in assist per game this past season.

Spurs' starting lineup is:

Parker
Green
Leonard
Duncan
Splitter

As I can see, I see only 1 ball handler in Parker. You can argue Duncan is a superb facilitator for a bigman.

Our version of the 3+D in Ross cannot guard big SFs (see Joe Johnson).

All I'm saying is I prioritize the need for a big defensive-minded SF, either draft or trade

[SargentBargs101]

Slowly waiting for wiggins draft workout vid...

[Dr Positivity]

I like Kyle Anderson but the fit on our team is not good. Where does he play if Amir and Pat are our PFs next year? Anderson at SF is not happening, honestly you could take some of the slowest bigs in the class like Vonleh and Austin and their lateral mobility is as good as Anderson's

[Volcano]

Why do people keep saying Lowry is not a good passing PG, he was top 8 in assist per game this past season.

Spurs' starting lineup is:

Parker
Green
Leonard
Duncan
Splitter

As I can see, I see only 1 ball handler in Parker. You can argue Duncan is a superb facilitator for a bigman.

Our version of the 3+D in Ross cannot guard big SFs (see Joe Johnson).

All I'm saying is I prioritize the need for a big defensive-minded SF, either draft or trade

Their big 3 has consisted of Ginobili for years. They've recently acquired Belinelli too. Duncan is also a facilitator like you said and you can run an offense through him. I shouldn't have used the term ball handler because I think adding someone like Horford would do as well if used properly.

Lowry is ok, but quoting his assists/game is a very superficial way of determining his passing abilities. It's not about racking up assists, it's about dictating the offense, running plays, facilitating ball movement, playing a 2 man game, etc. There's a reason why the offense flowed better when Lowry got injured and Jose replaced him in the line-up. But Jose's just good at distribution, covering the fundamentals and basic offense, he can't create something out of nothing against stronger defenses.

[Anatomize]

Atlanta loves themselves some stretch shooting big men with finesse/passing skills under Ferry (plays well into Budenholzer's system). I don't see Anderson getting past them at 15.

[DreamTeam09]

Kyle Anderson is not a big. Wasn't a big in ucla won't be a big in the Nba. He's a SF. His Nba position is SF. How the hell did he get a big man label???

Really? He's not a pf at all, noteven a stretch 4

[LoveMyRaps]

Cleanthony Early will workout with the Raptors today.

[yt_boi]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

McBob and Anderson are nothing alike, like there's not even one thing that they do that's similar.

McRoberts is a good to great passer at his position?

Just tell him it was a horrible comparison

[yt_boi]

At best, Kyle Anderson could be a rich man's Josh MacRoberts.

He could be a useful piece on some teams but doubt he is what the Raptors need...

I also see Denote Burton, E. Payton, Inglis etc all have higher upsides than Kyle Anderson has.

McBob and Anderson are nothing alike, like there's not even one thing that they do that's similar.

McRoberts is a good to great passer at his position?

Just tell him it was a horrible comparison

[McFurious1]

How's that Canadian C from India? He's working out today. Any good?

Sent from my SGH-I317M using RealGM Forums mobile app