Will Toronto go big or small?
As a raptor fan i dont recall there ever being a rumor that raptors wanted Donatas... but BC has mentioned Jonas's name on several ocations and there was a rumor that they wore really interested at Knight with the 5th pick
I hope Utah doesnt pick Knight and he falls to the raptors (might be unlikely) (dought cavs will pick him and Kyrie)
I definetly dont want Donatas as he is too similar to bargnani and is lazy (according to what i have read)
i also dont Jonas as he is probobly not going to come to the nba this year which is bad since the raptors are rebuilding and have oprtunity to give a rookie minutes...
My Target for the raptors would be (in order)
1)Enas Kanter
2) Brandon Knight
--------- if these two players arent available i would look to package the trade the pick for (Chris Kamen, Brandon Jennings ect) ----
3) Kemba walker
4) Bismack Biambo
5) Kawhi Lenord
I think they go small, last year they drafted Ed Davis, and within the last year or two they extended the contracts of Amir Johnson and Andrea Bargnani, so they've invested alot into big men recently, and I think Calderons days in Toronto are number, but i've also said that like the last 3 seasons, so you never know..
My Pick: Kawhi Leanord
Kawhi is everything we need! Hes a great rebounder for a Small forward, he plays tough defense, and hes getting better from long range.
Raptors lack both rebounding, toughness, defense.
I know people would say they rather take Knight, Or Walker, Or maybe Kanter ( but hes prob gone by 5th pick) but why use a pick on a point guard when we have a young talented point guard in Bayless, he needs to be givin a chance. And Kawhi brings what we really need.
Line up: Bayless, Derozan, Leanord, Davis, ??? Center? who knows if they are going to trade bargnani
but in the end my ranks for picks would be
(Realisticly cuz obviously irving, williams, kanter r gone)
1) Kawhi Leanord 2) Brandon Knight 3) Kemba Walker 4) Jonas
^^^^
good point i havent really watched leanord play but his stats indiacate that he can be good rebounder... dont really know about his defence nbadraft.net gives 7/10 which is not that good.....Chris Singleton on the other hand gets 10/10 - he is kind of similar to Lendord in the sence that he is sf/pf type player...he is not as fast but his defensive outstanding ===maybe the raptors can move down for him
Toronto has extremely huge holes at SF and C picking a PG is a bad idea. I know BPA, and Knights tremendous upside but at some point you need to fill your roster spots and with Kanter, Valanciunas, Leonard, and Vesely available you need to fill the void. Even if Totonto does go PGI think Brandon Knight is the wrong PG for this team to select. He is a great player but really take a look at the Raptors team.
The Raptors best vocal leader on the team is Reggie Evans, yet he most likely will not be around next year. After that Jerryd Bayless is their best leader. Toronto's team is plagued with light hearted, relaxed guys. Knights demeanor is the same. Having a team of passive players is a bad idea imo. That is not only why I like Bayless much more then Knight, but also why I like Walker alot more. Toronto definitely needs some fire in that lineup, someone who can immediatly lead, challenge, and get into his teammates. Also I think in the right organization Kemba has the chance to be great.
This is my Toronto Raptors draft board.
1-Kyrie Irving
2-Enes Kanter
3-Derrick Williams
4-Jonas Valanciunas
5-Kemba Walker
6-Jan Vesely
7-Kawhi Leonard
8-Brandon Knight
9-Bismack Biyambo
10-Tristan Thompson
anyone who is a real raps fan will agree with me 100% when i say the last thing we need is another soft euro player, sorry but if u watch them as much as I do then you'll know this, Although Kanter is a euro he doesnt play like a stereotypical one so he would be my first chocie and he will be long gone by the raps pick so i hope they take a guy like knight, hes very young, great potential and isnt afraid of the big shot.
In my mock I have them taking Leonard too. I think he brings athleticisim, defense and rebounding to a team that sorely needs its.The combo of Derozan and Leonard is better then Knight, Derozan would be.With Knight showing up shorter and smaller then expected and already having limited PG abilitys I see them passing on him. I think Kawhi can be a Gerald Wallace/Shawn Marion type player.
Toronto needs a point guard for the future, a true center, and an upgrade at small forward. I think center is the most immediate need right now as we have 3 quality power forwars in Bargnani, Davis, and Amir who have to play out of position most of the time in the 5 spot. A future point guard would be nice to have so he can learn under Jose for a while but Jose does have a contract for 2 more years and he will still have to play and there is also Bayless and Barbosa who play spot time at point guard. Small forward isn't a big need in my mind as James Johnson looks good and there is also Weems and even DeRozan can play there. So I say look for center first, then pg and then sf while looking at BPA and how guys fit.
My draft board for Toronto would look like:
1) Irving
2) Kanter
3) Williams
4) Jonas
5) Knight
6) Leonard
7) Vesely
8) Walker
Knight will be ideal for them. Put him next to Derozan in the backcourt for years, and that is a formidable duo. Calderon has got to go, someone will probably go for a starting caliber PG. Unless they break up the mess of long term contracts that engulf their big man situation, then drafting Kanter if he's available or a European big man is pointless. Knight is the ideal pick.
There was reports of them really liking Jonas and Donatas and now there is a report of them liking Knight. Which direction do you think they'd go assuming all 3 are on the board?