Thank Nation! Raptors Pick 9th (PART 5)

[BoyzNTheHood]

Does anyone else thing Damian Jones could sneak into the top 10? With that athleticism and more space I'd bet he's a better pro than college player.

[TRex520]

I got a feeling that Masai will trade 27th pick and future picks, move up to teens and grab Thon Maker. Maker is the type of guy Masai likes... I really don't mind Maker at teens, but please not at 9th.

[super_balls]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPAeyfInV0g[/youtube]

I hate how intriguing this kid gets every day.. He does not sound like Ross at all. This was a very, very good interview. That windmill was so effortless my goodness. Honestly, I'll be happy with 1 of the 3.

1. Davis
2. Chriss
3. Skal

Yeah, that was a great interview. He's very articulate. Most guys can barely get 4 words out of their mouth. He actually comes across as very thoughtful and intelligent. He's also confident yet humble at the same time.

Love what he's saying about joining a good organization / a good team. If I'm him, I'd look at the Raptors as a great fit. Strong organization, winning team, big gaping hole at the 4-spot. If Boston doesn't take him at number 3, if I were him, I'd be angling downward to end up on the Raps at 9. Certainly better than any of the crappy teams from 4-8.

I really like how humble and thoughtful he is as well. In Jaylen Brown's interview, I got the impression that he felt smarter than everyone else. I don't get that with this kid at all.

[WeTheNorth123]

Does anyone else thing Damian Jones could sneak into the top 10? With that athleticism and more space I'd bet he's a better pro than college player.

i wish he was a better rebounder......but i like his phyiscal profile (measurements) and athleticism

[S ID]

I hate how intriguing this kid gets every day.. He does not sound like Ross at all. This was a very, very good interview. That windmill was so effortless my goodness. Honestly, I'll be happy with 1 of the 3.

1. Davis
2. Chriss
3. Skal

Yeah, that was a great interview. He's very articulate. Most guys can barely get 4 words out of their mouth. He actually comes across as very thoughtful and intelligent. He's also confident yet humble at the same time.

Love what he's saying about joining a good organization / a good team. If I'm him, I'd look at the Raptors as a great fit. Strong organization, winning team, big gaping hole at the 4-spot. If Boston doesn't take him at number 3, if I were him, I'd be angling downward to end up on the Raps at 9. Certainly better than any of the crappy teams from 4-8.

I really like how humble and thoughtful he is as well. In Jaylen Brown's interview, I got the impression that he felt smarter than everyone else. I don't get that with this kid at all.

I read an article where scouts were saying Brown came off as arrogant in his interviews. Maybe there's some truth to that?

[CoachJReturns]

Has there been any word on where Luwawu is expected to be picked? Still have him as one of my top 5 for us. Possibly top 3.

[WeTheNorth123]

I like what i hear...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRGyXhq4oX8[/youtube]

[Clutch0z24]

Hield is, by far, the most overrated player in this draft. He projects as a shooter off the bench in the NBA. Wouldn't even touch him at #9.

It's funny how people completely dismiss Ellenson as a shooter based on his freshman percentages, and then praise the 22 year old Hield as the 2nd coming of Ray Allen. FYI: Hield's freshman 3p%: 23.8%

Just because Hield worked to become a better shooter doesn't mean Ellenson will be able to match that. Hield is the best shooter in the draft. He can create his own shot, use his dribble to get to the rim, and has good size for a wing. He's the most NBA ready player in the draft, in my opinion.

Lol. My point is: you are comparing a highly skilled 19-year-old freshman to a 22-year-old senior who needed four years of college to enter the first-round conversation.

Hield has good size for a wing? 6' 3.75 without shoes is piss poor size. Throw in his average-at-best athleticism and you have a problem. Who is he guarding in the NBA? Nobody. Throw a decent NBA defender on Hield and he will pretty much be useless.

Comparing Ellenson to Hield is laughable ...They play 2 different positions and Ellenson is a much worse shooter then Hield so if you are comparing on Jumpshooting alone Hield has him beat there by a long shot as well its not even close....

Hield will surely have the better Career then Ellenson will have and i would bet my house on that.

[Clutch0z24]

I Like what i see from Davis but i got to say right now Chriss is above him for me...Only reason is the lateral movement and foot speed alone...Davis is a big guy so its normal for him to move slow and robotic...Chriss Just moves so much better then Davis...

Idk yet if Davis will be able to jump out at 3pt shooters on defense and have the foot speed to control them off the dribble..

[super_balls]

I like what i hear...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRGyXhq4oX8[/youtube]

Reminds me a lot of Bismack, loves the game and loves to work hard with a chip on his shoulder. Can he have the same impact defensively as Biz? Doubt it, too skinny of a frame but he tested out amazing athletically. Offensively, this kid would have all star level potential if didn't have stone hands like Biz.

I wouldn't be surprised if Masai doesn't get his guy at 9 (Chriss or Murray dropping), he will trade down with Denver for the 15 and 19 (grabbing Thon @ 15)

Trade the 19th to Atlanta (with Ross, Patterson) for Millsap.

27th Draft and Stash (Hernangomez)

[BoyzNTheHood]

I like what i hear...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRGyXhq4oX8[/youtube]

One thing this kid has going for him is that he'll work. The last thing you need a guy with his tools to be is lazy. So I'd put his worst case scenario in that Jason Thompson/Andray Blatche range. But his best case scenario probably hasn't played in the league yet so the closest guys I can think of are possibly Amare Stoudamire or Kevin Garnett (wishful thinking).

What Thon needs to realize (if he hasn't already), is that he has a chance to be special. He has God given tools and one of the strongest foundations to build on that we've ever seen. Now it's on him to start putting the puzzle pieces together. I really hope he does well. He's a good kid and he's not at fault for what burden the media and scouts put on his shoulders. But after disappointing quite a bit I hope he shocks the world and lives up to his massive potential. It would not only be great for his team, it would be great for basketball.

[Blood Orange]

had a dream we drafted Skal at 9th.

Had the same one, I think Skal turned out to be Anthony Davis after his first year and won ROY, then I woke up

[LJKO]

had a dream we drafted Skal at 9th.

Had the same one, I think Skal turned out to be Anthony Davis after his first year and won ROY, then I woke up

I would take Skal too if Chriss is gone T_T

[TheGoodDoctor]

had a dream we drafted Skal at 9th.

Had the same one, I think Skal turned out to be Anthony Davis after his first year and won ROY, then I woke up

lol

Definitely just a dream...don't get me wrong I'll be very happy if we select any of Chriss, Luwawu or Skal (in that order) but the biggest thing that holds Skal back from being elite imo is his ballhandling skills which is what really sets AD and KAT apart from the pack. Those 2 are the future of PFs and Cs respectively and they handle the rock like SG/SFs. In order for both Chriss and Skal to really be at the next level they will need to tighten up their handles because all the other physical and skill prerequisites are there. I just have more faith in Chriss because he only took on the sport a few years ago and is still only 18 y/o so it speaks to how quickly he's already picked up other skills. But if he's gone like I said I'm happy with Skal or Timmy Luw

My next notch down would be any of Davis, Valentine, Korkmaz, Beasley which I would just ok with but disappointed to some degree that I feel the other guys had more potential but they could surprise me. Where as either of Poeltl or Sabonis will cause my blood to boil to Coin Toss levels.

[Brinbe]

lol everyone climbing on the Chriss bandwagon now. I've been hyping dude for months. Too bad he isn't dropping to nine. Time to accept that L now. Sigh, too bad Masai couldn't just hide him away like he did with Bruno lol.

[S ID]

lol everyone climbing on the Chriss bandwagon now. I've been hyping dude for months. Too bad he isn't dropping to nine. Time to accept that L now. Sigh, too bad Masai couldn't just hide him away like he did with Bruno lol.

I'm okay with Chriss going higher as long as someone from the top 7 drops us. But if he were to go 8th and the top 7 stay put, I'll probably kms. I hope to the basketball gods Vivek reaches

[Clutch0z24]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTKQ86C9bA[/youtube]

Masai better not pick him lol

[Troubadour]

Hield is, by far, the most overrated player in this draft. He projects as a shooter off the bench in the NBA. Wouldn't even touch him at #9.

It's funny how people completely dismiss Ellenson as a shooter based on his freshman percentages, and then praise the 22 year old Hield as the 2nd coming of Ray Allen. FYI: Hield's freshman 3p%: 23.8%

Just because Hield worked to become a better shooter doesn't mean Ellenson will be able to match that. Hield is the best shooter in the draft. He can create his own shot, use his dribble to get to the rim, and has good size for a wing. He's the most NBA ready player in the draft, in my opinion.

Lol. My point is: you are comparing a highly skilled 19-year-old freshman to a 22-year-old senior who needed four years of college to enter the first-round conversation.

Hield has good size for a wing? 6' 3.75 without shoes is piss poor size. Throw in his average-at-best athleticism and you have a problem. Who is he guarding in the NBA? Nobody. Throw a decent NBA defender on Hield and he will pretty much be useless.

If the point of the draft is to acquire the best player available, wouldn't it follow that getting a 22 year old Buddy Hield on a rookie scale contract from ages 22 to 26 when he has already done a lot of his own development make the most sense?

He's the same size at JJ Redick, CJ McCollum, and Steph Curry - all of whom get their shot off in the NBA no problem. Hield isn't Jimmer Fredette or Adam Morrison. He has good size 6'4" with 6'9" wingspan and has enough athleticism to have his game translate.

[DreamTeam09]

had a dream we drafted Skal at 9th.

Had the same one, I think Skal turned out to be Anthony Davis after his first year and won ROY, then I woke up

lol

Definitely just a dream...don't get me wrong I'll be very happy if we select any of Chriss, Luwawu or Skal (in that order) but the biggest thing that holds Skal back from being elite imo is his ballhandling skills which is what really sets AD and KAT apart from the pack. Those 2 are the future of PFs and Cs respectively and they handle the rock like SG/SFs. In order for both Chriss and Skal to really be at the next level they will need to tighten up their handles because all the other physical and skill prerequisites are there. I just have more faith in Chriss because he only took on the sport a few years ago and is still only 18 y/o so it speaks to how quickly he's already picked up other skills. But if he's gone like I said I'm happy with Skal or Timmy Luw

My next notch down would be any of Davis, Valentine, Korkmaz, Beasley which I would just ok with but disappointed to some degree that I feel the other guys had more potential but they could surprise me. Where as either of Poeltl or Sabonis will cause my blood to boil to Coin Toss levels.

Well Skal really only started in the 8th grade after going to the US from Haiti. 1yr out of college too. He's fairly new to the sport and very raw

[God Squad]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTKQ86C9bA[/youtube]

Masai better not pick him lol

He sounds great in his interview. But I'd much rather go with one of the other bigs.