[WizardofOzParticipant]

The guy was strokin’ today, and he’s been playing great ever since he’s been inserted into the starting lineup. He’s clearly a better player when he’s starting, and I think he should be starting over Calderon. Earlier, his shot wasn’t falling, but I think it was because lack of confidence and he’s clearly been gaining more and more confidence each game.

What do you guys think his future in Toronto is like: Starting PG of the furture, 6th man, other. I especially want to hear from Raptor fans. But if I was the Raptors GM, he definitely wouldn’t prevent me from taking Irving.

[sheltwon3Participant]

I think he is showing that if he is given time that he can be a pretty solid starter.  He may need to continue to work on his point guard skills but he seems to be getting a decent amount of assists.

[OhCanada-Participant]

About a week ago I made a post stating the fact that he would start getting minutes due to a Calderon injury, turns out Barbosa would get injured too and hes ballin. 24-pts, 6-asssists, 3-rebounds, 1-steal and just 1-turnover per game over his last 5. Not to mention he is playing about 34-mpg, and shooting well over 50% from the field and exactly 50% from 3.

He is also apparently this teams vocal leader along with Evans. He is playing great basketball but it should all be taken with a grain of salt as the Raptors are not winning despite his efforts. He is doing this on a team that is currently 3rd worst in the league.

During this stretch with Bayless starting Calderon, Barbosa and Bargnani out Derozan has also played great offensively averaging 26-ppg, 6-rpg, 2-apg. and 1-spg. Ed Davis has found his jumpshot and is hitting mid range jumpers with confidence. Looks like a nice young core of Bayless, Derozan, and Davis moving forward.

[EGbball3Participant]

He’s screwed if the Raptors get Irving.

[Tha_PrinceParticipant]

 Agreed with your statement about still taking Irving, i would not hesitate to draft him despite his strong play.

As for Bayless, the thing I’m most impressed is with his decision making on the court. I knew he could score coming in but he’s doing at the right times (ex. When the teams on a scoring drought or late game situations). His play making skills have also taken a minor growth with the steady minutes he’s starting to get.

This gives me hope for his future with the Raps but will he be a starter next year? This is possible but I’d need to see more of him. He’ll need a big off-season to polish his game but it wouldn’t be unheard of for him to have a break out year next season (nothing too crazy stats wise though). 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 So if you had the choice between Kanter and Irving who would you take? I would think Kanter because the Raptors have been needing a center since before Bargs was drafted, I think. But has Bayless convinced you enough that you rather keep him then draft Irving and risk Bayless’ minutes going down and thus his production as well? I once noticed this outburst from Bayless and I began to put Kanter in my mock over Irving and everyone on this site laughed at me, and said that Bayless would do better as their 6th man over Barbosa. I do not doubt that he would be better, but do you still think he would be a better 6th man than a starter? And would diminish his role to a 6th man by taking Irving when Kanter is still on the board?

[TeamShowtimeLakersParticipant]

i think if he keeps playing ball like this he can easily be their point guard of the future…and if they get irving, im pretty sure somebody would quickly jump to get bayless…cuz i kno i would because i love his potential and believe he can be a all-star caliber guard.

[QuazedUnicornParticipant]

I would draft Kyrie and try to sign someone like dalembert. I feel that kanter is a good prospect and could help the raps but ive noticed by watching the nba over the years a good point guard helps the rebuilding process. Look at Ok city they drafted westbrook instead of a big man early now have acguired perkins and D-rose all these examples. Also i like dalembert is he has canadian citizenship and ive heard hed love maybe playing in canada. I just feel after watching the raps these years we need great players but also players that want to play in toronto

[OhCanada-Participant]

I dont even know if I would want Irving over both Bayless and Kanter. Your not just giving up Kanter when you drat Irving, your also giving up Bayless because he is not interested in being a bench player just like Ward stated. What he is interested in is leading his team, having the ball in his hands in crucial moments, and knowing he is going to be involved in the game and in a position to help his team win. Bayless has been showing very bright signs, if he puts the work in this summer and it is apparent he is improving before the time of the draft then I would pass on Irving for Kanter, or Barnes even. Also Kanter would have to show me some great workouts to be drafted that high, which Im sure he will, hs medical has to come through nicely too.

 

[Toronto16Participant]

 If Raptors get a chance to chance to draft Irving, you don’t hesitate.  But Bayless is showing he could be this teams starting PG of the future, I would be happy with Barnes too.

[shermParticipant]

I very much want Bayless to be the Raps starter next season.  I would actually rather draft Irving, D. Williams or P. Jones over Kanter.  There are many C’s in the offseason to pick up, especially since we have enough cap space.  I hope we get rid of Bargnani this offseason/draft day for a 2012 first rounder and some assets.  Bayless has been going off this month of April and hes been very tough to stop.  The guy wasnt a lottery pick and a 25 PPG player on Arizona for nothing.  That being said, we should not pass up getting Irving if he is available, I believe everyone here agrees with that lol.  If we dont get Irving, we need to draft P.Jones or Derrick Williams imo. 

I love to have this backcourt of Bayless/DeRozan or Irving/DeRozan.  Offensively, they would be very tough to stop and they would possibly be the most athletic backcourt in the league. 

If we dont sign a solid Center this offseason I believe we could trade for one using Bargnani on draft day.  Imagine trading to get a McGee, DeAndre Jordan or possibly Noah (although I doubt Chicago would trade him).

[PHILA9Participant]

 This is good for the Raptors because this is the type of pointgaurds that are taking over the league. 

[scoutguruParticipant]

 I’ve said it before, if Bayless would’ve been thrusted into the point guard role similar to Westbrook and allowed the opportunity and time to grow into the position, I have no doubt he’d be a solid starting pg. He’s obviously a guy who’s looking more for his shot, but there’s nothing wrong with that as seen with Westbrook and Rose. But his decision making would naturally get better with playing time and he’d improve. He just was drafted to a team that didn’t really need what he brought to the table, but now he’s finally getting to show what he could do. So yeah, it’ll be a tough decision, but I see them going the route Memphis went in the ’09 draft, passing up on that point guard crop, which basically showed they had confidence in Conley, and going with a big.

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