Moderators: Morris_Shatford, 7 Footer, DG88, niQ, Duffman100, tsherkin, Reeko, lebron stopper, HiJiNX
Paul Reed has the tools to be the best defensive player in this draft class. It’s looking less and less likely he will be there for the Grizzlies on draft night, but if he is on the board with the 40th pick for the Grizzlies (or they trade up) he could end up as a Brandon Clarke-level steal. Reed has an NBA ready body, great instincts, and the defensive versatilty to be able to stay on the court as a rookie.
Like Ja Morant and John Konchar, Paul Reed was asked to do almost everything for the Blue Demons with mixed results. DePaul was not a great basketball team last year, going 16-16 and finishing 10th in the Big East while dropping eight straght conference games. Even so, the one constant for DePaul was Paul Reed brought it defensively every night.
Syd-TK3 wrote:Just a personal bias for me but I'm not really a fan of any big that isn't a great defender
Sir-Swish-A-Lot wrote:Hoops Hype https://hoopshype.com/2020/05/26/nba-mock-draft-killian-hayes-deni-avdija-theo-maledon/
1. G Killian Hayes
2. F Deni Avdija
3. G Abdoulaye N’Doye
4. C Aleksej Pokusevski
5. F Leandro Bolmaro
6. F Theo Maledon
casual_raps_fan wrote:Syd-TK3 wrote:Just a personal bias for me but I'm not really a fan of any big that isn't a great defender
Ya definitely!
I think all of our (raptors fans) standards have risen to the point of no non defenders. The only exception is if the player could be a complete game changer on the offensive end.
Edit: also no players who have no potential for a jumper.
casual_raps_fan wrote:Player roles that we need to fill.
Backup forward - This player would replace RHJ and/or Chris Boucher's role. He would ideally be able to defend 2 positions (3,4, or 5) and also hit open 3s. If they have potential to do more on offence (ball handling, playmaking, scoring), gravy. Targets may include Jaden McDaniels, Patrick Williams, Saddiq Bey, Paul Reed, Robert Woodard, Tyler Bey.
Primary Ball Handler - Our best guards will be hitting free agency and our best guard is old. We also lack depth with primary ball handlers and struggle when one of our guys are injured (Fred, Kyle). Size to defend the 2 or 3 would be ideal since our 2 best guards are short. Targets may include Theo Maledon, Leandro Bolmaro, Desmond Bane, Devon Dotson, Grant Riller, and more (this draft is stacked with guards).
Center prospect - Our two centers are hitting free agency. One is old and the other is getting there. We would need our center to have potential as a defensive anchor while being able to hit jumpers and/or move the ball well. Targets may include Isaiah Stewart, Xavier Tillman, Jalen Smith, Daniel Oturu (it looks like this draft is weak with centers).
The bare minimum for any player we draft is to have a motor, compete on both ends of the floor, potential to be a plus defender, and potential to hit 3s.
Psubs wrote:casual_raps_fan wrote:Player roles that we need to fill.
Backup forward - This player would replace RHJ and/or Chris Boucher's role. He would ideally be able to defend 2 positions (3,4, or 5) and also hit open 3s. If they have potential to do more on offence (ball handling, playmaking, scoring), gravy. Targets may include Jaden McDaniels, Patrick Williams, Saddiq Bey, Paul Reed, Robert Woodard, Tyler Bey.
Primary Ball Handler - Our best guards will be hitting free agency and our best guard is old. We also lack depth with primary ball handlers and struggle when one of our guys are injured (Fred, Kyle). Size to defend the 2 or 3 would be ideal since our 2 best guards are short. Targets may include Theo Maledon, Leandro Bolmaro, Desmond Bane, Devon Dotson, Grant Riller, and more (this draft is stacked with guards).
Center prospect - Our two centers are hitting free agency. One is old and the other is getting there. We would need our center to have potential as a defensive anchor while being able to hit jumpers and/or move the ball well. Targets may include Isaiah Stewart, Xavier Tillman, Jalen Smith, Daniel Oturu (it looks like this draft is weak with centers).
The bare minimum for any player we draft is to have a motor, compete on both ends of the floor, potential to be a plus defender, and potential to hit 3s.
Primary ball-handler is the easiest to fill, as there are so many of them. Some teams like Houston run 4 guards. We can just keep on finding another FVV or Terence Davis.
What about Joel Ayayi from Gonzaga with #58? He might go back to Gonzaga for hi junior year, so likely a current senior like FVV and TD.
Sam Merrill from Utah State (#2 behind San Diego State and Malachi Flynn). He might be a ball-handling Matt Thomas. 6'5 Joe Ingles?
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/sam-merrill-1.html
He hit the game winning 3 to beat San Diego State in the conference tourney for an automatic bid into March Madness (which was cancelled). Watch the last 30s for Flynn missing the 3 then Merrill hitting his with the defender all over him.
Myles Powell may drop to #58.
Marcus Howard could drop like Isiah Thomas did to #60.
Syd-TK3 wrote:Just a personal bias for me but I'm not really a fan of any big that isn't a great defender
casual_raps_fan wrote:Syd-TK3 wrote:Just a personal bias for me but I'm not really a fan of any big that isn't a great defender
Ya definitely!
I think all of our (raptors fans) standards have risen to the point of no non defenders. The only exception is if the player could be a complete game changer on the offensive end.
Edit: also no players who have no potential for a jumper.
casual_raps_fan wrote:I will be completely honest with you that I am not willing to do my homework at the 58th pick.
You are right though. Primary ball handler is an easy role to fill. Considering there are a ton of guards in the draft this year, if we don't draft a guard with our first round pick, we can expect to pick up a guard with our second rounder or sign an undrafted player.
This thought brings me to Fred and TD but it blows my mind that we were able to get them as undrafted players. Especially TD. He is oozing of potential and it just doesn't make any sense.
Dalek wrote:I am looking at a few pairings that kind of make sense to me:
small/big draft combo
28 Grant Riller/Jalen Harris - two very talented scorers; Harris is lesser known but he is bigger and defends better than Riller.
58 Yves Pons / Killian Tillie - two very different bigs but both are rotation worthy. Killie is an injury risk but worth it at 58.
big/small draft combo
28 Isiah Stewart / Jalen Smith - both are energy bigs, with Smith being stretchier, and Stewart being a better bruiser
58 Jared Butler / Ayo Dosunnmu / Joel Ayayi / Karim Mane - Butler is a going to be a back-up PG right out of the gate. Ayo, Mane and Ayayi are all projects with upside to be back-ups.
Wings are less of a need, but a huge trade commodity in the NBA
28 Precious Achiuwa / Paul Reed / Chris Davis - any of these guys would fit Toronto, but each has flaws.
58 Nate Hinton / Lamar Stevens - these would be high level defenders that could come in and surprise and play rotation minutes. Both might get drafted higher than what I have projected but in current mocks they look possible.
Obviously other guys might drop that would throw everything out of whack. Patrick Williams, Saddiq Bey or Kyra Lewis would be top drop guys on my list.
nabbs wrote:Dalek wrote:I am looking at a few pairings that kind of make sense to me:
small/big draft combo
28 Grant Riller/Jalen Harris - two very talented scorers; Harris is lesser known but he is bigger and defends better than Riller.
58 Yves Pons / Killian Tillie - two very different bigs but both are rotation worthy. Killie is an injury risk but worth it at 58.
big/small draft combo
28 Isiah Stewart / Jalen Smith - both are energy bigs, with Smith being stretchier, and Stewart being a better bruiser
58 Jared Butler / Ayo Dosunnmu / Joel Ayayi / Karim Mane - Butler is a going to be a back-up PG right out of the gate. Ayo, Mane and Ayayi are all projects with upside to be back-ups.
Wings are less of a need, but a huge trade commodity in the NBA
28 Precious Achiuwa / Paul Reed / Chris Davis - any of these guys would fit Toronto, but each has flaws.
58 Nate Hinton / Lamar Stevens - these would be high level defenders that could come in and surprise and play rotation minutes. Both might get drafted higher than what I have projected but in current mocks they look possible.
Obviously other guys might drop that would throw everything out of whack. Patrick Williams, Saddiq Bey or Kyra Lewis would be top drop guys on my list.
Yeah this is how I feel. A big man, guard combo is what we should roll with. I think we need one more 2/3 prospect to take a flier on and develop because Fred and Norm aren't going to be on the team together past 2021. Norm is going to get a good offer from a team.
Skylar Mays is a guy that intrigues me quite a bit in the second round. Real good feel, can handle, shoot and defend adequately. Sign me up
nabbs wrote:Dalek wrote:I am looking at a few pairings that kind of make sense to me:
small/big draft combo
28 Grant Riller/Jalen Harris - two very talented scorers; Harris is lesser known but he is bigger and defends better than Riller.
58 Yves Pons / Killian Tillie - two very different bigs but both are rotation worthy. Killie is an injury risk but worth it at 58.
big/small draft combo
28 Isiah Stewart / Jalen Smith - both are energy bigs, with Smith being stretchier, and Stewart being a better bruiser
58 Jared Butler / Ayo Dosunnmu / Joel Ayayi / Karim Mane - Butler is a going to be a back-up PG right out of the gate. Ayo, Mane and Ayayi are all projects with upside to be back-ups.
Wings are less of a need, but a huge trade commodity in the NBA
28 Precious Achiuwa / Paul Reed / Chris Davis - any of these guys would fit Toronto, but each has flaws.
58 Nate Hinton / Lamar Stevens - these would be high level defenders that could come in and surprise and play rotation minutes. Both might get drafted higher than what I have projected but in current mocks they look possible.
Obviously other guys might drop that would throw everything out of whack. Patrick Williams, Saddiq Bey or Kyra Lewis would be top drop guys on my list.
Yeah this is how I feel. A big man, guard combo is what we should roll with. I think we need one more 2/3 prospect to take a flier on and develop because Fred and Norm aren't going to be on the team together past 2021. Norm is going to get a good offer from a team.
Skylar Mays is a guy that intrigues me quite a bit in the second round. Real good feel, can handle, shoot and defend adequately. Sign me up
Mark_83 wrote:Syd-TK3 wrote:Just a personal bias for me but I'm not really a fan of any big that isn't a great defender
That's why I'm such a big fan of Tillman. A big who can defend in space or in the post, and with some offensive utility is great value at 28. I can't help but think if his wingspan was 2-3 inches longer he'd be talked about in the teens.
nabbs wrote:Dalek wrote:I am looking at a few pairings that kind of make sense to me:
small/big draft combo
28 Grant Riller/Jalen Harris - two very talented scorers; Harris is lesser known but he is bigger and defends better than Riller.
58 Yves Pons / Killian Tillie - two very different bigs but both are rotation worthy. Killie is an injury risk but worth it at 58.
big/small draft combo
28 Isiah Stewart / Jalen Smith - both are energy bigs, with Smith being stretchier, and Stewart being a better bruiser
58 Jared Butler / Ayo Dosunnmu / Joel Ayayi / Karim Mane - Butler is a going to be a back-up PG right out of the gate. Ayo, Mane and Ayayi are all projects with upside to be back-ups.
Wings are less of a need, but a huge trade commodity in the NBA
28 Precious Achiuwa / Paul Reed / Chris Davis - any of these guys would fit Toronto, but each has flaws.
58 Nate Hinton / Lamar Stevens - these would be high level defenders that could come in and surprise and play rotation minutes. Both might get drafted higher than what I have projected but in current mocks they look possible.
Obviously other guys might drop that would throw everything out of whack. Patrick Williams, Saddiq Bey or Kyra Lewis would be top drop guys on my list.
Yeah this is how I feel. A big man, guard combo is what we should roll with. I think we need one more 2/3 prospect to take a flier on and develop because Fred and Norm aren't going to be on the team together past 2021. Norm is going to get a good offer from a team.
Skylar Mays is a guy that intrigues me quite a bit in the second round. Real good feel, can handle, shoot and defend adequately. Sign me up
