Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Austin Rivers (NOH)

[LittleOzzy]

NBADraft.net: http://nbadraft.net/players/austin-rivers

DraftExpress.com: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Austin-Rivers-5743/

This thread will be open at the conclusion of the season.

[arbsn]

Rivers is super underrated on this board and in general by scouts

Considering he's been coached every step of the way by top coaches not to mention his dad is one of the best coaches in the NBA, there is no way this guy flops.

He's this draft's Steph Curry (8th pick). To pass on him over a guy like Lillard/Sullinger/Marshell would be a devastating error.

Only worry is that he's a tweener but he can become our 6th man and hopefully develop PG skills

Only guys I take over him w the 7th/8th pick is Barnes (unlikely he slides), or Lamb

[fredericklove]

I don't mind having this guy at 8th. If he learns to get teammates involved, then I'll be happy.

[fatal9]

Steph Curry had a top tier skill (one of the best pure shooters in history), Rivers has none. The best thing going for him is his handles and first step, but his tunnel vision and poor finishing at rim (not an elite athlete, and this is going to get even worse with NBA big men in the lane) will make sure he will never be an elite slasher. He's going to have major efficiency issues at this level, a guy who is a streaky shooter at best, mediocre from the FT line and doesn't have the athleticism or size to finish well in the lane.

As for him playing PG, LOL. I don't know how anyone who has watched him play can think this. On top of all this, his defense is going to get him lit up every night. He'll be a good change of pace/inconsistent guard who can maybe carve out a nice 6th man role on a good team for himself, but not someone you can depend on both ends night in night out. And I'm not a River hater either, want him to do well, liked watching him play this year, love his confidence but he is not that special.

[Snakeyes]

Yeah, let's just grab this guy for the hell of it. He's got the intangibles and should at least turn out decent. Plus he'll get the team some coverage because of his background.

[redred9]

he's intriguing because he had some much hype behind him in high school. Did he really regress so much? Maybe he just picked the wrong school.

Lamb or Rivers? I'd probably still go Lamb from what I've seen of the two.

[JamesNaismith]

OJ Mayo without the defence.....not Curry with a wack attitude.

[Undefeated]

Glorified 6th Man at best.

[DG88]

6th man at best no way do I want apart of drafting Austin Rivers yuck

[Waylon Mercy]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksSPZTZES0&ob=av2e[/youtube]

[dballislife]

jason terry right here

[nelabai]

this guy is not a pg at all, what minutes and what position will he be playing for us?

[Brinbe]

Not a fan at all. Ego outsizes his actual ability.

[RaptaFan4Life]

he's 6'5 200lbs according to dx good size for a SG. Rivers can shoot and has a great handle. If davis, t-rob, drummond, mkg, beal, lamb, and barnes are gone who else would you rather take than Rivers? Two guys who will seriously climb the mocks are Lamb and Rivers.

[Relentless88]

Terrible. Please stay away from Rivers.

[Live Free]

Rivers and Barnes have been my guys since day 1. People like to overlook his talent and potential because of his ego but his intangibles are undeniable and I have no doubts he will rise during combine.

One of Rivers, PJ3, Lamb will be a Raptor

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU8h6S58UGs&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM2v_NSSTuY&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUvyxubLkGo&feature=fvwrel[/youtube]

[GreatWhiteStiff]

rivers son

[Waylon Mercy]

From David Aldridge on nba.com
http://www.nba.com/news/features/david_ ... index.html

SHOOTING GUARDS
Rank Name School/Team Class/Age Height Weight Likely drafted
1 Bradley Beal Florida Freshman 6-3 207 High Lottery
2 Austin Rivers Duke Freshman 6-4 200 Mid-late lottery
3 Jeremy Lamb Connecticut Sophomore 6-5 180 Mid first
4 Dion Waiters Syracuse Sophomore 6-4 215 Mid/late first
5 Evan Fournier Poitiers Basket (France) 19 6-6 195 Mid/late first
6 John Jenkins Vanderbilt Junior 6-4 215 Late first/early second
7 Terrence Ross Washington Sophomore 6-6 195 Late first/early second
8 Jared Cunningham Oregon St. Junior 6-4 194 Early second
9 Will Barton Memphis Sophomore 6-6 175 Second round
10 Doron Lamb Kentucky Sophomore 6-4 210 Second round

Austin Rivers made an impression in his one season at Durham. The son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers made some big shots -- including the game-winner in a stunning Blue Devils comeback in Chapel Hill to beat North Carolina in February. And he is expected to go high in the first round after declaring for the Draft. While he can handle the ball some, most scouts don't think he's going to be a one in the NBA -- though he could handle the ball and initiate offense some.
Scouts expects Rivers to be able to get to the basket and to the foul line in the pros, no matter what position he plays.
"I have him as a guard," said a Southwest Division executive. "The role is a starter/scorer, come off the bench and score. It's a nice way of saying he's not a one. But the way the rules are, with the lane opening up a little bit more, his game is more conducive to our rules. His mindset is not really to organize a group, think for the team, (but to) break a team down and get to the rim."
Said a Northwest scout: "Right now, I think he's a two. He's a talented kid. He's a head scratcher. He sees the floor. But does he really make his teammates better? I don't know that yet. And he's so young, and now you have to make a judgment, which all of us are going to have to do. When you watch him play, he's looking to score, but you can't teach too many guys to see like he can. It's not a picture-perfect shot, but it goes in there. He's got talent. But we've got to figure out what he is."
Rivers led the Blue Devils in scoring (15.5 per game), and because he was the only Duke player who could consistently break down defenses, he probably shot more than he had to. He struggled to find his shot early in the season, but became more assertive as the season wore on.
"Mike (Krzyzewski) utilized him right for where he was, but he's got some growing to do as a scorer and facilitator," said a longtime coach with ACC ties.
Defensively, Rivers isn't a great athlete. But neither was his father, Doc, who was smart, tough and physical enough to become a top-notch NBA defender. But that was 20 years ago, when the NBA's rules allowed hand-to-hand combat between guards. Austin Rivers won't have that luxury. Against Lehigh in the NCAA tournament, Rivers -- and, to be fair, all of Duke's other guards -- couldn't stay in front of C.J. McCollum, who scored 30 points in Lehigh's 79-75 win.

Mostly known as a scorer at Duke, Austin Rivers may be asked to run a few plays in the NBA.
Courtesy Duke University
"His size is the biggest issue for me," a Northwest scout said of Austin Rivers. "If he was 6-foot-5 you could live with it. I'm curious to see what he measures at. They list him at 6-foot-4 and I'm not convinced ... he has to guard those guys, too, like Ray Allen and Dwyane Wade and Landry Fields and Rip Hamilton, big guys like that. And he's smaller than that."
Rivers' pedigree as the son of a solid pro player and outstanding NBA coach is a blessing, but could also be a burden. Scouts aren't certain whether Rivers' confidence will serve him well at the next level or put a target on his back that may be difficult to escape. If Rivers, who is likely to go in the lottery, somehow slipped down to where Boston is drafting -- somewhere in the 20s -- it could provide an agonizing call for the Celtics' organization.
"He's got a lot of maturing to do," said a Southwest Division scout. "It's gonna be interesting to see how he handles an NBA locker room. Guys aren't gonna care who he is."
Said another Northwest scout: "He's probably somewhat spoiled. He's got the mindset of Michael (Jordan), where he knows how good he is -- or he thinks he knows how good he is -- and he thinks he can knock down shots any time he wants to ... I don't think he's close to anybody, but I don't think Kobe (Bryant) was close to anybody coming out of high school.
"He's got a high opinion of himself. He's Doc's son. He's grown up around the NBA. He went to a very good high school, and he went to Duke ... but the times I've talked to him, and they were brief, he seemed fine to me."
.

[God Squad]

Rivers and Barnes have been my guys since day 1. People like to overlook his talent and potential because of his ego but his intangibles are undeniable and I have no doubts he will rise during combine.

One of Rivers, PJ3, Lamb will be a Raptor

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU8h6S58UGs&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM2v_NSSTuY&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUvyxubLkGo&feature=fvwrel[/youtube]

I'm down with Pj3 and Lamb. I'm a little iffy on Rivers. Whats his position? Sg? If so do you think he can guard them?

[fredericklove]

...looks like I'm solo now...sure, River time. What's he good at? Penetrating, and firing shots,...and...thats it. And I still take him, idk why.