[KingslayerParticipant]

Well last night was a bummer! I can just picture the now-famous Maple Leaf Square crowd looking collectively stunned… Bruno freaking Caboclo.

I was really hoping for a solid option like Payne or Ennis to fall.  The team clearly wanted Ennis at 20, and had made a promise to Caboclo at 37.  They obviously didn’t want to miss out on both.  The Raps failed to trade into the lottery last year to draft the Greek Freak, so they swung for the fences on possibly the rawest first rounder ever.  I’m not going to speculate on if or when the “Brazilian Durant” will ever make an impact in the NBA.

Moving forward, the Raps’ offseason To-do list is fairly straightforward.  The roster is set except for Lowry and the 2 restricted free agents (Vasquez/Patterson).  All 3 were vital members of the team’s success last season, and staying the course for another year until more cap space clears out is probably the best move. Assuming they cut Salmons and use the team option on Amir Johnson, they have a little over 49 million in cap commitments next year.  The luxury tax threshold is estimated to increase to 77 million in 14/15, leaving plenty of room to re-sign all 3.  Hopefully Vasquez and PatPat can be had for no more than 10 million combined in restricted free agency.  The best barometer for Lowry is probably Ty Lawson’s 12 million/year salary.  Toronto must resign Kyle.  This is one of the rare instances where overpaying is necessary. The chemistry, positivity, and success of this team would take a steep hit and the Raps have space to pay a little extra this year.

Assuming the Raps can pull all of that off, they will be set up very well for the future, with only about $45 million in 2015/16 commitments to this group of talented and improving players (for the most part): Lowry, Derozan, JV, Ross, Vasquez, PatPat and Steve Novak.

After swinging for the fences in the draft, Ujiri needs to play it safe and stay the course in free agency this summer. Don’t screw it up "Messiah"

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I wasnt bummed by the selection. People need to be optimistic and have confidence in what thisstaff has done. The cohersion they have and the effort they put into thier work. Ujiris scouts saw him in Brazil, Ujiri went to see him 3 times, Ujiri and his management staff brought this information back to Casey his coaching staff and player development personnel, Casey and his staff tgen went to his workout with Masai. They watched him play and were impressed and content with his abillities. The scouts gave the nod, Ujiri gave the nod, his staff gave the nod, Casey gave the nod, his staff gave the nod, Ennis wasnt available at 20 and they made the pick before another team could take the risk, criticisim, backlash and of course potential rewards.

Im happy we have a staff that is bold enough to choose who they think is the best. Not worried about job security or fan support. Tim Liewike isnt gonna be upset. Everybody is a team and they have confidence in eachother.

Bold pick. Good pick? Remains to be seen. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I wasnt bummed by the selection. People need to be optimistic and have confidence in what thisstaff has done. The cohersion they have and the effort they put into thier work. Ujiris scouts saw him in Brazil, Ujiri went to see him 3 times, Ujiri and his management staff brought this information back to Casey his coaching staff and player development personnel, Casey and his staff tgen went to his workout with Masai. They watched him play and were impressed and content with his abillities. The scouts gave the nod, Ujiri gave the nod, his staff gave the nod, Casey gave the nod, his staff gave the nod, Ennis wasnt available at 20 and they made the pick before another team could take the risk, criticisim, backlash and of course potential rewards.

Im happy we have a staff that is bold enough to choose who they think is the best. Not worried about job security or fan support. Tim Liewike isnt gonna be upset. Everybody is a team and they have confidence in eachother.

Bold pick. Good pick? Remains to be seen. 

[teamcb3Participant]

The Suns and Jazz were both rumored to have high interest in Caboclo, too, but I feel that every time a team "reaches" for a player reports always leak out that other teams wanted him just as badly.  I have also heard reports ranging anywhere from the he is two years away from being two years away that we heard last night, to he will be in America this year.  The nature of the draft is we don’t really know who is going to work out, and who doesn’t.  If Caboclo turns out to be a bust, but so does someone like Rodney Hood does that still make this a worse pick because it was more unknown?  Sometimes when you swing for the fences you strike out, but you are never going to knock one out of the park without taking that swing.

[teamcb3Participant]

The Suns and Jazz were both rumored to have high interest in Caboclo, too, but I feel that every time a team "reaches" for a player reports always leak out that other teams wanted him just as badly.  I have also heard reports ranging anywhere from the he is two years away from being two years away that we heard last night, to he will be in America this year.  The nature of the draft is we don’t really know who is going to work out, and who doesn’t.  If Caboclo turns out to be a bust, but so does someone like Rodney Hood does that still make this a worse pick because it was more unknown?  Sometimes when you swing for the fences you strike out, but you are never going to knock one out of the park without taking that swing.

[BallinmvpParticipant]

I could understand the pick more if the raptors were rebuilding and were not competing. They could have used the pick on an immediate contributor

[BallinmvpParticipant]

I could understand the pick more if the raptors were rebuilding and were not competing. They could have used the pick on an immediate contributor

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