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

[Psubs]

Yep just look at this upcoming Free Agent class, nobody has any money but look at all the centers.

Marc/Serge, Noel, Poeltl, Dwight, Javale, Cousins, Whiteside, Tristain Thompson, Baynes, Len, Meyer Leonard, WCS ,etc

How many of these guys will be starters the following season? Maybe 3? The rest are backups and there's not much money to go around. This is the replacement level for backup big.

I know this is a draft thread but damn, you know my pick is Jakob Poeltl. You obviously re-sign Serge and Marc on hefty short-term deals to match up with Lowry, but Poeltl as the back-up big would be great.

Imagine how bad the Kawhi trade would look in retrospect if all the Spurs got out of it was a few crappy years with DeRozan and the Raptors got a championship AND got Poeltl back anyway.

As for this discussion about Cs, the only "big" in our range I've kinda liked so far has been Yves Pons. More and more teams will have success playing guys like him at C soon enough.

Well the Spurs did get Keldon Johnson.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnske04.html

[Sir-Swish-A-Lot]

Do you or have you ever lived in the state of Washington?

Matter of fact I played HS basket at the same HS that Masai Ujiri went to (Nathan Hale HS) under the same coach- John Burnley Jr. I knew Masai before he was the Masai of today...

Elleby does not have elite wingspan at 6'7, and he is unlikely being a good defender like Davis who has every measurement better than Elleby except for height and share the same standing reach (eg. bigger hand size, quicker laterally, longer, etc.).

If we are drafting him to play behind Davis, then I can understand.

Wingspan doesn't equate to being a good defender. There are a lot of long armed prospects that couldn't guard a house on the NBA level. All you stats guys that most likely never played the game at a high level kill me with your measurement balderdash. How do you measure a players heart? How do you measure a player's will? How do you measure a player's desire? How do you measure a player's willingness to put in the work needed to improve?

Defense is a combination of intelligence, desire and physical ability. CJ Elleby has shown in college that he can play solid defense and will only improve on that facet of his game as he matures and works at it. CJ did lead the Pac-12 in total steals and steals per game while guarding 1-4 very effectively for his team. And rebounded (7.8 rpg) well for his size against bigger players. CJ has all the intangibles needed to be a very solid defender at the NBA level.

I place no development limits on any prospect. CJ is only 19 years old who knows what he will look like in 2-3 seasons after being in a NBA environment able to concentrate on basketball 100% of the time. He has the physical talent needed to eventually be a starter in the NBA with some hard work...he is a gym rat like DeMar DeRozan.

Watch on YouTube

[Indeed]

Matter of fact I played HS basket at the same HS that Masai Ujiri went to (Nathan Hale HS) under the same coach- John Burnley Jr. I knew Masai before he was the Masai of today...

Elleby does not have elite wingspan at 6'7, and he is unlikely being a good defender like Davis who has every measurement better than Elleby except for height and share the same standing reach (eg. bigger hand size, quicker laterally, longer, etc.).

If we are drafting him to play behind Davis, then I can understand.

Wingspan doesn't equate to being a good defender. There are a lot of long armed prospects that couldn't guard a house on the NBA level. All you stats guys that most likely never played the game at a high level kill me with your measurement balderdash. How do you measure a players heart? How do you measure a player's will? How do you measure a player's desire? How do you measure a player's willingness to put in the work needed to improve?

Defense is a combination of intelligence, desire and physical ability. CJ Elleby has shown in college that he can play solid defense and will only improve on that facet of his game as he matures and works at it. CJ did lead the Pac-12 in total steals and steals per game while guarding 1-4 very effectively for his team. And rebounded (7.8 rpg) well for his size against bigger players. CJ has all the intangibles needed to be a very solid defender at the NBA level.

I place no development limits on any prospect. CJ is only 19 years old who knows what he will look like in 2-3 seasons after being in a NBA environment able to concentrate on basketball 100% of the time. He has the physical talent needed to eventually be a starter in the NBA with some hard work...he is a gym rat like DeMar DeRozan.

He will be behind Davis, therefore, I don't see him as a starter.

[casual_raps_fan]

Yep just look at this upcoming Free Agent class, nobody has any money but look at all the centers.

Marc/Serge, Noel, Poeltl, Dwight, Javale, Cousins, Whiteside, Tristain Thompson, Baynes, Len, Meyer Leonard, WCS ,etc

How many of these guys will be starters the following season? Maybe 3? The rest are backups and there's not much money to go around. This is the replacement level for backup big.

I know this is a draft thread but damn, you know my pick is Jakob Poeltl. You obviously re-sign Serge and Marc on hefty short-term deals to match up with Lowry, but Poeltl as the back-up big would be great.

Home him bring!

Him and Pascal together again would be dynamite.

If we can only bring back one of Serge and Gasol, sign me up for Poeltl.

[Sir-Swish-A-Lot]

Elleby does not have elite wingspan at 6'7, and he is unlikely being a good defender like Davis who has every measurement better than Elleby except for height and share the same standing reach (eg. bigger hand size, quicker laterally, longer, etc.).

If we are drafting him to play behind Davis, then I can understand.

Wingspan doesn't equate to being a good defender. There are a lot of long armed prospects that couldn't guard a house on the NBA level. All you stats guys that most likely never played the game at a high level kill me with your measurement balderdash. How do you measure a players heart? How do you measure a player's will? How do you measure a player's desire? How do you measure a player's willingness to put in the work needed to improve?

Defense is a combination of intelligence, desire and physical ability. CJ Elleby has shown in college that he can play solid defense and will only improve on that facet of his game as he matures and works at it. CJ did lead the Pac-12 in total steals and steals per game while guarding 1-4 very effectively for his team. And rebounded (7.8 rpg) well for his size against bigger players. CJ has all the intangibles needed to be a very solid defender at the NBA level.

I place no development limits on any prospect. CJ is only 19 years old who knows what he will look like in 2-3 seasons after being in a NBA environment able to concentrate on basketball 100% of the time. He has the physical talent needed to eventually be a starter in the NBA with some hard work...he is a gym rat like DeMar DeRozan.

He will be behind Davis, therefore, I don't see him as a starter.

CJ hasn't been drafted by the Raptors so he won't be behind anyone as of yet.

Watch on YouTube

[Psubs]

He will be behind Davis, therefore, I don't see him as a starter.

https://gleague.nba.com/news/2019-nba-g-league-elite-camp-player-measurements-and-testing-results-draft-eligible/

Davis showed well at this last year. So did Dewan, that's why I guess we got him. Elleby did not so that's why he went back to college.

Chris Clemons ... oh he's 5'9 but got a guaranteed deal from the Rockets!

Hmmmm, Myles Powell showed well but went back to college. Oh he didn't have as good a senior year. Maybe undrafted invite?

Instead nab Markus Howard if he drops to #58?

[Psubs]

I know this is a draft thread but damn, you know my pick is Jakob Poeltl. You obviously re-sign Serge and Marc on hefty short-term deals to match up with Lowry, but Poeltl as the back-up big would be great.

Home him bring!

Him and Pascal together again would be dynamite.

If we can only bring back one of Serge and Gasol, sign me up for Poeltl.

Poeltl for the full MLE for 4 years? I think Spurs still might match it for his prime years.

[casual_raps_fan]

Watch on YouTube

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

Ya. For back court players in our range, Bolmaro and Dotson are my favourites.

edit: I haven't necessarily soured on Tillman but I don't think he's worth our 1st round pick since he doesn't project to be a starter level player. If he drops to our second or if we get a second, I'd love to select him.

[casual_raps_fan]

Home him bring!

Him and Pascal together again would be dynamite.

If we can only bring back one of Serge and Gasol, sign me up for Poeltl.

Poeltl for the full MLE for 4 years? I think Spurs still might match it for his prime years.

Ya that would make sense. Aldridge is only getting older.

If we retain both Serge and Gasol, I guess it doesn't matter.

[Mark_83]

He will be behind Davis, therefore, I don't see him as a starter.

https://gleague.nba.com/news/2019-nba-g-league-elite-camp-player-measurements-and-testing-results-draft-eligible/

Davis showed well at this last year. So did Dewan, that's why I guess we got him. Elleby did not so that's why he went back to college.

Chris Clemons ... oh he's 5'9 but got a guaranteed deal from the Rockets!

Hmmmm, Myles Powell showed well but went back to college. Oh he didn't have as good a senior year. Maybe undrafted invite?

Instead nab Markus Howard if he drops to #58?

Howard's shot-making ability would be lethal on our team.

[BoyzNTheHood]

He will be behind Davis, therefore, I don't see him as a starter.

https://gleague.nba.com/news/2019-nba-g-league-elite-camp-player-measurements-and-testing-results-draft-eligible/

Davis showed well at this last year. So did Dewan, that's why I guess we got him. Elleby did not so that's why he went back to college.

Chris Clemons ... oh he's 5'9 but got a guaranteed deal from the Rockets!

Hmmmm, Myles Powell showed well but went back to college. Oh he didn't have as good a senior year. Maybe undrafted invite?

Instead nab Markus Howard if he drops to #58?

Howard's shot-making ability would be lethal on our team.

Howard is definitely an NBA player in my opinion. He's listed at 5'11" and has elite shot making ability like you say. In the modern NBA I don't see how smaller players get left undrafted.

[Mark_83]

https://gleague.nba.com/news/2019-nba-g-league-elite-camp-player-measurements-and-testing-results-draft-eligible/

Davis showed well at this last year. So did Dewan, that's why I guess we got him. Elleby did not so that's why he went back to college.

Chris Clemons ... oh he's 5'9 but got a guaranteed deal from the Rockets!

Hmmmm, Myles Powell showed well but went back to college. Oh he didn't have as good a senior year. Maybe undrafted invite?

Instead nab Markus Howard if he drops to #58?

Howard's shot-making ability would be lethal on our team.

Howard is definitely an NBA player in my opinion. He's listed at 5'11" and has elite shot making ability like you say. In the modern NBA I don't see how smaller players get left undrafted.

Definitely. We don't have many tough shot makers like him on the team. How is his defense though? I assume its better than Thomas, but Thomas doesn't get much play. He has to be at least average I think for Masai to go for him.

[LoveMyRaps]

Watch on YouTube

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This kid is super skilled. Apparently he can play 1-5 (probably 3-5 in the NBA).

Watch on YouTube

Has a good feel for the game. I wouldn't mind gambling on him. Could be an interesting project.

[BoyzNTheHood]

Howard's shot-making ability would be lethal on our team.

Howard is definitely an NBA player in my opinion. He's listed at 5'11" and has elite shot making ability like you say. In the modern NBA I don't see how smaller players get left undrafted.

Definitely. We don't have many tough shot makers like him on the team. How is his defense though? I assume its better than Thomas, but Thomas doesn't get much play. He has to be at least average I think for Masai to go for him.

Defensively any guy with his size will be more exploitable than others, but guys like KLow and FVV know a few tricks that they could teach him.

[Psubs]

Watch on YouTube

;feature=emb_title

This kid is super skilled. Apparently he can play 1-5 (probably 3-5 in the NBA).

Watch on YouTube

Has a good feel for the game. I wouldn't mind gambling on him. Could be an interesting project.

His passing looks like it could develop into Marc Gasol level.

Also he doesn't turn 19 until December!

Really though is he going to be any better than Dragan Bender?

[HeadtopChunes]

Home him bring!

Him and Pascal together again would be dynamite.

If we can only bring back one of Serge and Gasol, sign me up for Poeltl.

Poeltl for the full MLE for 4 years? I think Spurs still might match it for his prime years.

Full MLE might be too much but I'd love to bring back Yak and Skills that was a fun pairing. Poeltl is interesting to me since he's a smart player but his lack of strength holds him back. Casey was 100% confident that Yak would shoot 3s one day but that hasn't came yet. I wonder if he can be developed into an old Marc type of player?

[HeadtopChunes]

Watch on YouTube

;feature=emb_title

This kid is super skilled. Apparently he can play 1-5 (probably 3-5 in the NBA).

Watch on YouTube

Has a good feel for the game. I wouldn't mind gambling on him. Could be an interesting project.

This is a guy I wouldn't mind gambling on with our strong development system, but I don't think he's a center. He's more in that Jon Isaac/ Andrei Kirilenko mold.

Potential to be a crazy stocks guy, with shooting and passing. Great role player type.

[HeadtopChunes]

Thinking about a top 3 for each position at #28

Gaurd
Bolmaro
Kira Lewis
Dotson

Wing
Pat Will
Saddiq Bey
Desmond Bane

Big
Pokusevski
Tillman
Naji

[Tofubeque]

This video had a more balanced look at Pokusevski and it really turned me off him. He has zero base, unengaged on defense, and not a good decision maker. His competition level looks like a joke also.

Watch on YouTube

[dagger]

The draft lottery has been postponed indefinitely, same thing likely for the draft itself.