Raps 2020 Picks (Prospect Watch, Update: Vecenie Mock Released)

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Latvian Navarro

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Do you mean La Bomba? He was an combo-guard who couldn't make it here.

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AJ Brodeur is a guy I'm looking at for our undrafted rookie pool, or even at #58. He's just solid and reminds me a bit of Luis Scola.

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He's worth a summer league invite to see if he can impress there. He's like a poor man's less-athletic Henry Ellenson.

[BoyzNTheHood]

AJ Brodeur is a guy I'm looking at for our undrafted rookie pool, or even at #58. He's just solid and reminds me a bit of Luis Scola.

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He's worth a summer league invite to see if he can impress there. He's like a poor man's less-athletic Henry Ellenson.

He isn't similar to Ellenson at all, but yes he's worth an invite.

[LoveMyRaps]

I know there's been some talk about this kid in this thread. But I'm honestly not that intrigued by the players projected to be drafted in the late first round. That's why I think we should take a flier on this kid. His potential intrigues me so much, I think he's gonna be special.

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Well spoken Canadian kid. Great measurements.
Always embraces his African roots + speaks French (no problem bonding Ibaka & Siakam)

Would become the first player to make the leap from CEGEP to the NBA.
This is what his coach had to say about him:

“I think what makes him such a great player is his work ethic and determination,” Hertzog said. “I've been coaching altogether 42 years, 32 at this school, and I've never seen a kid develop so rapidly in my life. He's got the physical tools. He's a 6-5, 6-5 1/2 point guard with a 7-foot wingspan. He's very athletic, he's long, he's very explosive, he's got a great first step and can be just about anybody off the dribble.

He's no secret tho and I suspect will be a hot commodity come draft night:

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I see him as a Jrue Holiday/Frank Jackson hybrid.

[BoyzNTheHood]

I know there's been some talk about this kid in this thread. But I'm honestly not that intrigued by the players projected to be drafted in the late first round. That's why I think we should take a flier on this kid. His potential intrigues me so much, I think he's gonna be special.

Watch on YouTube

Well spoken Canadian kid. Great measurements.
Always embraces his African roots + speaks French (no problem bonding Ibaka & Siakam)

Would become the first player to make the leap from CEGEP to the NBA.
This is what his coach had to say about him:

“I think what makes him such a great player is his work ethic and determination,” Hertzog said. “I've been coaching altogether 42 years, 32 at this school, and I've never seen a kid develop so rapidly in my life. He's got the physical tools. He's a 6-5, 6-5 1/2 point guard with a 7-foot wingspan. He's very athletic, he's long, he's very explosive, he's got a great first step and can be just about anybody off the dribble.

He's no secret tho and I suspect will be a hot commodity come draft night:

Read on Twitter

Watch on YouTube

I see him as a Jrue Holiday/Frank Jackson hybrid.

There's no such thing as a bust at pick #28 so I wouldn't mind. I have faith that even if Masai reached at 28 he'd probably be able to get a useful player at 58 or even undrafted.

[Syd-TK3]

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A few mocks had us taking him at one point

I didn't notice him before because most mocks have him kinda low but the stats seem good, he's skilled offensively, can stretch the floor aside from his age what's the negatives?

Also he's Nigerian so ofcourse he could be Masai target lol

Undersized, average athlete, didn't pass at all, okay shooter, needs the ball in his hands.

I could see a rotation player maybe but probably not a starter imo

Although I like his attitude

Yeah looked him up a bit more and he's not very athletic and definitely has a turnover problem.

[Syd-TK3]

I know there's been some talk about this kid in this thread. But I'm honestly not that intrigued by the players projected to be drafted in the late first round. That's why I think we should take a flier on this kid. His potential intrigues me so much, I think he's gonna be special.


Well spoken Canadian kid. Great measurements.
Always embraces his African roots + speaks French (no problem bonding Ibaka & Siakam)

Would become the first player to make the leap from CEGEP to the NBA.
This is what his coach had to say about him:

“I think what makes him such a great player is his work ethic and determination,” Hertzog said. “I've been coaching altogether 42 years, 32 at this school, and I've never seen a kid develop so rapidly in my life. He's got the physical tools. He's a 6-5, 6-5 1/2 point guard with a 7-foot wingspan. He's very athletic, he's long, he's very explosive, he's got a great first step and can be just about anybody off the dribble.

He's no secret tho and I suspect will be a hot commodity come draft night:

I see him as a Jrue Holiday/Frank Jackson hybrid.

There's no such thing as a bust at pick #28 so I wouldn't mind. I have faith that even if Masai reached at 28 he'd probably be able to get a useful player at 58 or even undrafted.

More than likely we are gonna resign Fred and have him take over for Lowry. So even though there may be point guards who I like better in this draft I think if we do draft one getting a taller more versatile one with a different playstyle that would allow him to play with fred is important.
Mane would definitely allow that.

If masai were to take him I'd trust in his decision

[Psubs]

I know there's been some talk about this kid in this thread. But I'm honestly not that intrigued by the players projected to be drafted in the late first round. That's why I think we should take a flier on this kid. His potential intrigues me so much, I think he's gonna be special.


Well spoken Canadian kid. Great measurements.
Always embraces his African roots + speaks French (no problem bonding Ibaka & Siakam)

Would become the first player to make the leap from CEGEP to the NBA.
This is what his coach had to say about him:


He's no secret tho and I suspect will be a hot commodity come draft night:

I see him as a Jrue Holiday/Frank Jackson hybrid.

There's no such thing as a bust at pick #28 so I wouldn't mind. I have faith that even if Masai reached at 28 he'd probably be able to get a useful player at 58 or even undrafted.

More than likely we are gonna resign Fred and have him take over for Lowry. So even though there may be point guards who I like better in this draft I think if we do draft one getting a taller more versatile one with a different playstyle that would allow him to play with fred is important.
Mane would definitely allow that.

If masai were to take him I'd trust in his decision

I think we have a Sith situation at PG. Lowry - FVV - TD - 19/20 year old

[HeadtopChunes]

I think TD will be able to play 1-3 in his prime. So you could fit another guard into the core.

Fred is 26 and if he stays will probably sign a 2-4 year deal. You could still draft a PG to back him and Kyle up and groom him as a replacement if Fred ever leaves at the end of his next contract.

The roster is wide open imo, you can justify drafting any position

[Psubs]

http://www.sportetudiant-stats.com/collegial/basketball-m-d1/stats/1819/van.htm#team.ind

Seems like Mane has as many turnovers as assists. So he's probably a SG only.

I'd rather take Cassius Stanley with his elite athleticism if we're taking a SG. Stanley turns 21 this summer but Mane turns 20 next month and played in Canada vs playing for Duke.

[BoyzNTheHood]

http://www.sportetudiant-stats.com/collegial/basketball-m-d1/stats/1819/van.htm#team.ind

Seems like Mane has as many turnovers as assists. So he's probably a SG only.

I'd rather take Cassius Stanley with his elite athleticism if we're taking a SG. Stanley turns 21 this summer but Mane turns 20 next month and played in Canada vs playing for Duke.

Stanley is okay if you'll throw him lobs and potentially as a catch-and-shoot guy, but his ability to create is severely limited by his handles at the college level which means in the NBA he'll be destroyed if he tries to do to much. I don't see him becoming more than Shannon Brown, which isn't terrible, but I feel like there are better options we can have.

[LoveMyRaps]

http://www.sportetudiant-stats.com/collegial/basketball-m-d1/stats/1819/van.htm#team.ind

Seems like Mane has as many turnovers as assists. So he's probably a SG only.

I'd rather take Cassius Stanley with his elite athleticism if we're taking a SG. Stanley turns 21 this summer but Mane turns 20 next month and played in Canada vs playing for Duke.

Stanley's assist to TO ratio is 1.0 - 1.9 . Yikes.
I don't see anything special about him. Yeah he can jump outta the gym, but so can DJJ. Shannon Brown is another good comp as made by the poster above.

[Sir-Swish-A-Lot]

I'm not gonna clip every time he showed his mediocre vert explosiveness, show me one time he dunked on a guy w/ size in the halfcourt.

Max Vert allows you load time, his standing vert is low and slow. This means he can jump okay with space and time but not without it, which is why he plays below the rim.

Isaiah played in a zone it inflates block % because all he has to do is stand under the rim and block college kids. He won't be able to do that in the NBA especially at 6'9. He does have a long wingspan and seems engaged but again being good in college =/ being good in the NBA.

He did outmuscle Okongwu in the USC game, but Okongwu will be playing 4/5 in the NBA. Because he's the same size as Pascal. Even in this game look how many times players just scored right over him

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Almost all his shots in the paint are hooks or putbacks. Both things that he will get a much lower amount of in the NBA, teams aren't going to run a low post offense through him especially since he's not a passer.

Not to say Stewart doesn't have value, he can run the floor, plays hard, will probably be a decent shooter, and moves decently. But he looks like a backup big to me and I wouldn't draft a backup big with a first.

Isaiah is smart enough, talent enough to adapt his game to fit his strengths at the NBA level. Plus he is a gym rat that will only improve being able to focus on basketball 100% of the time with no classes to worry about. He is far from a finished product at 18 years of age. In 2-3 seasons he will be much improved as he will be in 3-5 seasons barring injuries.

Stewart can pass the ball but at the UW that wasn't what was asked of him to do they wanted him to shoot the ball when he got it in the post. Their entire game plan revolved around getting Stewart the ball in the post. And when he got it they wanted him to shoot it. And if you watch this video you will see examples of him dunking on some people in the paint and will notice that he has an excellent soft touch on the basketball while finishing with his right or left hand in the paint

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Who ever the Raptors draft at #28 is going to be a backup regardless of their position. If Stewart is there at #28 the Raptors will have lucked out to be in a position to add him to their roster depth chart. The Raptors have often had issues with rebounding the basketball on both ends of the court and Stewart would go a long ways in solving those issues. Plus, he has the body to be a top level screen setter freeing up players like FVV on the perimeter and rolling hard to the hoop in the P'R game.

[Psubs]

http://www.sportetudiant-stats.com/collegial/basketball-m-d1/stats/1819/van.htm#team.ind

Seems like Mane has as many turnovers as assists. So he's probably a SG only.

I'd rather take Cassius Stanley with his elite athleticism if we're taking a SG. Stanley turns 21 this summer but Mane turns 20 next month and played in Canada vs playing for Duke.

Stanley is okay if you'll throw him lobs and potentially as a catch-and-shoot guy, but his ability to create is severely limited by his handles at the college level which means in the NBA he'll be destroyed if he tries to do to much. I don't see him becoming more than Shannon Brown, which isn't terrible, but I feel like there are better options we can have.

I'm thinking Desmond Mason with short arms. I think his floor is Pat Connaughton.

[casual_raps_fan]

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[HeadtopChunes]

Isaiah is smart enough, talent enough to adapt his game to fit his strengths at the NBA level. Plus he is a gym rat that will only improve being able to focus on basketball 100% of the time with no classes to worry about. He is far from a finished product at 18 years of age. In 2-3 seasons he will be much improved as he will be in 3-5 seasons barring injuries.

You can say this about almost any player, every player who is drafted will improve some more than other sure. But given the unexpected nature of this stuff it really doesn't mean anything.

Stewart can pass the ball but at the UW that wasn't what was asked of him to do they wanted him to shoot the ball when he got it in the post. Their entire game plan revolved around getting Stewart the ball in the post. And when he got it they wanted him to shoot it. And if you watch this video you will see examples of him dunking on some people in the paint and will notice that he has an excellent soft touch on the basketball while finishing with his right or left hand in the paint

He didn't dunk on anybody in that video (even missed a dunk due to his low vert at 1:15) I do agree he's got great touch since most of his offense comes off those tough hooks. But if that's his primary value I don't think it's worth it. Stewart showed bad vision in college. Would fail to pass out of contested paint pretty often. USC game is a good indicator of this
for example There are zero teams ever that don't want a pass out of a double or in this situation

Who ever the Raptors draft at #28 is going to be a backup regardless of their position. If Stewart is there at #28 the Raptors will have lucked out to be in a position to add him to their roster depth chart. The Raptors have often had issues with rebounding the basketball on both ends of the court and Stewart would go a long ways in solving those issues. Plus, he has the body to be a top level screen setter freeing up players like FVV on the perimeter and rolling hard to the hoop in the P'R game

Considering the Raptors drafted an All Nba player at #27 just a couple years ago, I do not share your pessimism the guy we draft being necessarily only a backup. My point about positional value still stands, why would I draft Stewart at 28 for screen setting, rebounding and being a roller when I can draft someone like Azubuike or Nic Richards at 58? Or just simply sign Javale Mcgee for the minimum?

IMO the draft should be used to acquire high-value players you can't get easily elsewhere. Not replaceable guys like Backup bigs (the most replaceable position in the league)

[HeadtopChunes]

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Seems like everyone in that video besides Tille has been discussed in this thread already.

Tillie is really good but he has knees made of paper. It would be a 2nd round steal if our med staff can keep him functioning.

Bolmaro is still my favorite target at this moment

[Dalek]

http://www.sportetudiant-stats.com/collegial/basketball-m-d1/stats/1819/van.htm#team.ind

Seems like Mane has as many turnovers as assists. So he's probably a SG only.

I'd rather take Cassius Stanley with his elite athleticism if we're taking a SG. Stanley turns 21 this summer but Mane turns 20 next month and played in Canada vs playing for Duke.

Stanley is okay if you'll throw him lobs and potentially as a catch-and-shoot guy, but his ability to create is severely limited by his handles at the college level which means in the NBA he'll be destroyed if he tries to do to much. I don't see him becoming more than Shannon Brown, which isn't terrible, but I feel like there are better options we can have.

I'm thinking Desmond Mason with short arms. I think his floor is Pat Connaughton.

From last summer at Rico Hines. I think he is a bit of a combo guard. Either way he looks like he belongs.

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[God Squad]

I've always thought that Ibaka would be a tremendous mentor for Oturu. Similar skillset & attitude.

Oturu/Jalen Smith/Reed - all are on the board who do you draft? Whos potential seems higher? Who's likely to reach their ceiling? Oturu is the player I'm least educated on. But they all seem to have similar skillsets and all should be able to stretch the floor.

Of that group I’m taking Jalen Smith. I think he’s got the best potential as a stretch big, plus he’s more mobile than Oturu and bigger than Reed

Smiths my guy also. Ibaka potential. Although I like Reeds year/year improvement. But Smith's potential looks impressive.

[God Squad]

I've always thought that Ibaka would be a tremendous mentor for Oturu. Similar skillset & attitude.

Oturu/Jalen Smith/Reed - all are on the board who do you draft? Whos potential seems higher? Who's likely to reach their ceiling? Oturu is the player I'm least educated on. But they all seem to have similar skillsets and all should be able to stretch the floor.

Oturu is a hometown kid that went to Minnesota. He should be okay with playing in Toronto and may not bolt a la Kawhi.

Oturu (7'3" wingspan) could be Elton Brand with 3-pt range. He's the beefiest of the 3 and can definitely play C.

Jalen Smith (7"1.5 wingspan) could be Kevin Willis with 3-pt range. Smith has 1 less turnover per game than Oturu.

Reed is likely only a PF with backup C minutes. With Siakam, Oturu or Smith would probably be the better choice.

Most mocks have Oturu in the lottery (since he put up 20/10) so Smith is the more realistic target.

Raptors have Dewan Hernandez and Sabaga Konate as potential C's coming up through the G-League, so have flexibility to take Reed.

I'll dig a little deeper into Oturu.