Snapbacks and Handshakes: The 2017 Draft (Raps pick #23)

[C_Money]

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It's odd that we worked out Dozier. I think we have enough guards that can't hit the 3.

[Wally West]

Also, can Ojeleye turn into a Jimmy Butler type player?

I'm going to say no on this one but I've been wrong before. If we do draft Semi though, I hope he changes the way I view guys that transferred from schools that didn't produce one and two don't play the passing lanes.

[Wally West]

Ellis is one of the reasons I miss the high school ball era, though I'm sure you don't. How a guy who led the nation in scoring as a senior wasn't picked by the end of the first round is beyond me. Just a gross oversight by NBA GMs that year.

If I remember correctly, Ellis tested out horribly during athletic testing. A gross oversight by NBA GM's indeed. You're suppose to use the athletic testing to confirm things, not negate a guy because he was in high school.

[PhilBlackson]

I never compared Duncan, Randolph or Aldridge to Rabb so I'm not sure where that's coming from. I'm comparing styles of play. They're all primarily post up guys, which just happens to be a dying asset in the NBA. People are undervaluing post up guys now much like they would if those 3 were declaring now.

Comparing players or styles of play, however you like to word it, is a poor premise.

You are talking about VASTLY superior players hence why I said Ferguson wouldnt be a gauge for Kobe or Jordan. Not to mention what caused you to bring up that point WAS the discussion around Rabb and again those players given their greater size and length would likely be considered Cs in todays league where as Rabb is a PF where the vast majority of PFs have become perimeter oriented that even calling a PF a stretch PF is almost pointless.

If you are an ELITE post big that is one thing because at least a team can count on you to get buckets, but when you are just a decent post big and thats your best quality in an age of perimeter play then you have a problem and that is the problem with Rabb. His post skills dont make up for all his other flaws and you are asking him to develop and adapt his game to a new generation when there a several other PFs that can already do that including be a better handler and passer.

[Wally West]

Anzejs Pasecniks is pretty intriguing. Damn, I wish we still had our pick that we traded lol. This is a pretty deep draft.

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If you believe he's more Porzingis than he is Ajinca I think you have to take this gamble at 23. 7'2" guys don't move this gracefully too often. The best way to beat small ball is to play bigs who can play small. For example, Thon Maker, Kristaps Porzingis, KAT, and maybe this kid... The problem is guys like that don't come around often, and this kid could flame out. Lumbering guys like JV just get exposed, especially if you don't use them on offense.

Why is he ranked so low with this skill set? I mean, a guy like Porzingis was ranked highly even though he was international. Even the likes of Bargnani was projected top-10.

It's probably because of his jumpshot being slow and his defense. For a guy that big, he could be a monster defensively but isn't.

[Wally West]

I think with the amount of talent available in the 2nd round we absolutely have to buy another pick. There's so many players mocked in the 2nd round who could be potential homeruns. Lyndon,Kuzma,Bell, brooks, bolden, swanigan, thronwell, hart, iwundu and even Dorsey any one of those players id be happy with (obviously depending on who we pick with the 23rd)

2nd round could potentially be loaded I agree. Crazy cuz looking at last year's draft, guys like McCaw, Onuaku, Diallo and Zagorac were all taken in the 2nd round and this year's 2nd round could potentially top that.

[PhilBlackson]

Also, can Ojeleye turn into a Jimmy Butler type player?

I'm going to say no on this one but I've been wrong before. If we do draft Semi though, I hope he changes the way I view guys that transferred from schools that didn't produce one and two don't play the passing lanes.

Not to mention people keep throwing out names like Tucker and Crowder when all the names listed WERE already great defenders.

I dont want to hear he couldnt because of carrying the scoring load because that is straight bs. The reality is throughout some portion of the season there had to be a few tight games and you are not asking your main scorer to be Kawhi Leonard and defend your butt off all game but like a LeBron, Paul George etc when the game is on the line and you need some stops those guys step up. If a player has the ability to stop the other team in a tight game, they will....Semi never did that.

I am not saying he is a poor, DeMar type of defender. From the games Ive seen he seems fairly average but a great defender like Tucker, Butler and a little lesser Crowder, he is not. But that does bring up a name I would be hopeful for him to become like and that is Jae Crowder because they are nearly identical size and length, should only be played as SFs (given their SG like length) and possibly Semi can learn defence to reach that level but all this hype of potentially being the next Butler or Draymond needs to chill because those guys were without doubt a million times better defenders at the same age.

[Wally West]

Glad they are bringing in PJ Dozier. He is clustered in a group that includes Terrence Ferguson, Semi Ojeleye, Wes Iwundu, and Sidarius Thornwell. All of them offer some offensive versatility and defensive potential. I have followed Dozier for along time because he was a top Rivals prospect in highschool and a McDonald's All-American, but he had a knee issue and played on a knee with almost no MCL for years.

Guys with knee issues worry me. but he seems to have recovered enough. In some ways he reminds me of Derozan. Just this hyped prospect from a good family and has a huge work ethic that should make him succeed. He is almost 6-7 and has a 6-11 wingspan so he is a good size for a wing, but will need to put on weight.

Why I lost faith in him is his shooting. He didn't hit his freethrows (59%) and his threes were below 30%. In the current NBA that is almost inexcusable for a wing. However, he does have some skill as a slasher and his size is great. Only 20 years-old so he still has some time, but as a sophomore I didn't see the statistical jump I would like. Maybe he could find a niche like Michael Kidd Gilchrist, or if his shooting improves, he could be like Trevor Ariza whose jumpshot came much later in his career.

Basically, if we draft this kid we believe that the development program could make him a viable scorer like Norman Powell experienced while in Toronto. I don't want to underestimate it, but Dozier has a very good basketball IQ that makes him intriguing.

I really like him. Worried about his knee though. Also, I was pretty high on Elfrid Payton his draft year and he hasn't lived up to his potential because he can't shoot. Just like Payton, Dozier can't shoot but I might project him to still having perennial all-star type talent like i did DeAndre Bembry last year. I'd like Dozier moved to point guard.

[mappiah19]

Kennedy Meeks is a bit intriguing. Solid rebounding and good passing skills. He can carve out a career like Zaza Pachulia. Would love to sign him as an undrafted player.

[HeadtopChunes]

Thornwell had fallen to 57 on Draftexpress. He probably gets drafted before that but I'd love to sign him as a FA

[PhilBlackson]

Thornwell had fallen to 57 on Draftexpress. He probably gets drafted before that but I'd love to sign him as a FA

Yup, love him as a 905 invite, not much else sorry lol

[HeadtopChunes]

Thornwell had fallen to 57 on Draftexpress. He probably gets drafted before that but I'd love to sign him as a FA

Yup, love him as a 905 invite, not much else sorry lol

You really enjoy apologizing don't you? Sorry lol

True Canadian here

[PhilBlackson]

Thornwell had fallen to 57 on Draftexpress. He probably gets drafted before that but I'd love to sign him as a FA

Yup, love him as a 905 invite, not much else sorry lol

You really enjoy apologizing don't you? Sorry lol

True Canadian here

LOL my bad EH?!

#nodoubtabootit

[Mark_83]

I know we won't but I wish we could add another pick to take this guy. I think he has really good 3 + D potential with his length, quickness, and athleticism. 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan and 35+ inch vertical. Just look at him move his feet and switch on the perimeter on guards. I doubt we'll consider him though seeing as he's similar (albeit better imo) than Masai's pet project Bruno.

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[Dalek]

Glad they are bringing in PJ Dozier. He is clustered in a group that includes Terrence Ferguson, Semi Ojeleye, Wes Iwundu, and Sidarius Thornwell. All of them offer some offensive versatility and defensive potential. I have followed Dozier for along time because he was a top Rivals prospect in highschool and a McDonald's All-American, but he had a knee issue and played on a knee with almost no MCL for years.

Guys with knee issues worry me. but he seems to have recovered enough. In some ways he reminds me of Derozan. Just this hyped prospect from a good family and has a huge work ethic that should make him succeed. He is almost 6-7 and has a 6-11 wingspan so he is a good size for a wing, but will need to put on weight.

Why I lost faith in him is his shooting. He didn't hit his freethrows (59%) and his threes were below 30%. In the current NBA that is almost inexcusable for a wing. However, he does have some skill as a slasher and his size is great. Only 20 years-old so he still has some time, but as a sophomore I didn't see the statistical jump I would like. Maybe he could find a niche like Michael Kidd Gilchrist, or if his shooting improves, he could be like Trevor Ariza whose jumpshot came much later in his career.

Basically, if we draft this kid we believe that the development program could make him a viable scorer like Norman Powell experienced while in Toronto. I don't want to underestimate it, but Dozier has a very good basketball IQ that makes him intriguing.

I really like him. Worried about his knee though. Also, I was pretty high on Elfrid Payton his draft year and he hasn't lived up to his potential because he can't shoot. Just like Payton, Dozier can't shoot but I might project him to still having perennial all-star type talent like i did DeAndre Bembry last year. I'd like Dozier moved to point guard.

My thing is that Dozier's jumpshot form does not look broken. Maybe he could become a good shooter with the development team in Toronto. Norman Powell made a huge progression as a shooter while in Toronto.

I really like the Bembry comparison but I hope he is better! Bembry had a terrible rookie year, and it is a good thing Dozier has two years on him being only 20.

Could Dozier play PG? I am not sure if he meant for that full time role, but I could see him playing a bench 2 role. I want to see him become a lockdown guy like the other PJ.

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

I know we won't but I wish we could add another pick to take this guy. I think he has really good 3 + D potential with his length, quickness, and athleticism. 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan and 35+ inch vertical. Just look at him move his feet and switch on the perimeter on guards. I doubt we'll consider him though seeing as he's similar (albeit better imo) than Masai's pet project Bruno.

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Devin Robinson and OG Anunoby are some impressive looking SF/PF types. Both guys look like they can be elite defensively.

[Risk101]

Highlights of a player always make me skeptical but after DX put Ferguson all the way down to our pick im kind of excited. If he has a Giannis type work ethic the skies the limit!

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[Mark_83]

I know we won't but I wish we could add another pick to take this guy. I think he has really good 3 + D potential with his length, quickness, and athleticism. 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan and 35+ inch vertical. Just look at him move his feet and switch on the perimeter on guards. I doubt we'll consider him though seeing as he's similar (albeit better imo) than Masai's pet project Bruno.

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Devin Robinson and OG Anunoby are some impressive looking SF/PF types. Both guys look like they can be elite defensively.

I think Robinson definitely has the tools to be good defensively. IQ and work ethic is usually necessary to make someone elite defensively as a wing. Not sure if Robinson has that but that's the kind of thing you only find out in interviews and workout settings. The tools are worth gambling on with an early second though if we can get one.

[HeadtopChunes]

Highlights of a player always make me skeptical but after DX put Ferguson all the way down to our pick im kind of excited. If he has a Giannis type work ethic the skies the limit!

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Professionals opinion

Terrance Ferguson

“He’s a very mature kid who's an athletic, jump-out-of-the-gym player,” a Southwest Division personnel man said. “He’s a lane-runner who wants to play in transition. Nice release jumper as he's streaky with shot – [he] has learned to play a slower pace with a purpose being in Australia. He learned to bang and get hit with mature pros as league and is solid.”

“He’s thin,” another Southwest executive says. “His body’s going to take some time. He’s never going to be big and bulky; he’s got to be wiry strong. It’s going to take him some time to physically mature. But he’s really athletic. He can play way above the rim. But he can’t put the ball on the floor real well. It’s mostly lobs and things like that where you see the athleticism, not him creating his own shot.

“He’s mostly a spot-up shooter. You can play him off of screens a little bit. And surprisingly, he posted a little bit in Australia, which is surprising for a guy who’s light in the (rear) like that. But he wasn’t bad. He’s a project because he’s young -- not a project like you’d think of a big. It’s just going to take some time.”

“He has great bounce, he’s skinny as hell, but he’s playing in (bleeping) Australia,” a Southeast Division executive said. “I heard Dante Exum was a point guard. No, he’s not. He has no left hand. He’s not a great shooter by any stretch of the imagination, and he’s not a creative player as a point guard. He was a perfect concoction of the trends of the day -- he was young, he was long, he had some athleticism, and he was the mystery man that nobody wanted to miss on. And now, he’s a backup on a team (Utah) that’s good. And they’re good. But they’re not good because of him.”

Good intangibles tho. Tries extremely hard on defense. Would be a nice indicator he's worth spending all that time developing him.

"TFerg is getting tougher every game. he may not be lighting up the stats sheet but he is playing hard, playing his role and he is hustling... great team first ball player...."


So in summary

Very athletic
Can shoot
Bad handles.
Can't create own shot
Doesn't show BBIQ
Good defensive effort
Very inconsistent
Very raw
Requires years of investment
Bad performance in Australia
Didn't get minutes in a league with minimal talent.

Might be worth it not sure tho.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I never compared Duncan, Randolph or Aldridge to Rabb so I'm not sure where that's coming from. I'm comparing styles of play. They're all primarily post up guys, which just happens to be a dying asset in the NBA. People are undervaluing post up guys now much like they would if those 3 were declaring now.

Comparing players or styles of play, however you like to word it, is a poor premise.

You are talking about VASTLY superior players hence why I said Ferguson wouldnt be a gauge for Kobe or Jordan. Not to mention what caused you to bring up that point WAS the discussion around Rabb and again those players given their greater size and length would likely be considered Cs in todays league where as Rabb is a PF where the vast majority of PFs have become perimeter oriented that even calling a PF a stretch PF is almost pointless.

If you are an ELITE post big that is one thing because at least a team can count on you to get buckets, but when you are just a decent post big and thats your best quality in an age of perimeter play then you have a problem and that is the problem with Rabb. His post skills dont make up for all his other flaws and you are asking him to develop and adapt his game to a new generation when there a several other PFs that can already do that including be a better handler and passer.

Thanks for taking the long way around to come back to what I originally said. If you can play, you can play.