Preface: Writers at SB Nation did a piece this morning on who they thought would be the top 100 players in the league would be when 2017 rolled around. Here are the three current Raptors that made the list:
We always talk about how this team, in general, will progress/regress in the coming years. I wanted to have the forum do something different: predict where the actual players will be in comparison to the rest of the league TALENT-WISE. Doesn't matter if you think they will be part of this organization or not.
Looking down the roster, what do you see from each player in 4 years?
93. Terrence Ross
Age in 2017: 26
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
2012-13 PER: 10.4
I was a big fan of Ross coming out of Washington, enough so that I'm not overly concerned about his underwhelming rookie numbers. He's got great size (6'7 and 200 pounds), he's a good outside shooter and he's a spectacular athlete. That's a solid foundation to build his game over the next few years. In 2017, he'll be 26, just coming into his prime. Getting minutes in Toronto may be tricky over the next few years, but I like him more than DeMar DeRozan, a shooting guard who can't shoot 3's. -TJARKS
Age in 2017: 26
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
2012-13 PER: 10.4
I was a big fan of Ross coming out of Washington, enough so that I'm not overly concerned about his underwhelming rookie numbers. He's got great size (6'7 and 200 pounds), he's a good outside shooter and he's a spectacular athlete. That's a solid foundation to build his game over the next few years. In 2017, he'll be 26, just coming into his prime. Getting minutes in Toronto may be tricky over the next few years, but I like him more than DeMar DeRozan, a shooting guard who can't shoot 3's. -TJARKS
90. Rudy Gay
Age in 2017: 31
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
2012-13 PER: 15.6
Gay will be 31 in 2017, so right at the edge of his peak. And this is thing I've always said about Rudy Gay: he's not awful. He's not even bad. He's bad for an $18 million contract. The argument has always been about his value to a team at that price point; folks who mark for him tend to make it about the fact that he obviously looks like an elite basketball player. He just doesn't perform like one, and that's where the issues arise.
That said, the 90th best player in the NBA would be on the 18th team All-NBA, and I'm comfortable with projecting Gay there in 2017. If this eyesight thing was actually a big deal, he'll be way higher. He's primarily discounted now because he's a scorer who can't shoot. -ZILLER
Age in 2017: 31
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
2012-13 PER: 15.6
Gay will be 31 in 2017, so right at the edge of his peak. And this is thing I've always said about Rudy Gay: he's not awful. He's not even bad. He's bad for an $18 million contract. The argument has always been about his value to a team at that price point; folks who mark for him tend to make it about the fact that he obviously looks like an elite basketball player. He just doesn't perform like one, and that's where the issues arise.
That said, the 90th best player in the NBA would be on the 18th team All-NBA, and I'm comfortable with projecting Gay there in 2017. If this eyesight thing was actually a big deal, he'll be way higher. He's primarily discounted now because he's a scorer who can't shoot. -ZILLER
18. Jonas Valanciunas
Age in 2017: 25
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
2012-13 PER: 15.6
I'm a little concerned about Valanciunas's rebounding, but he projects as an awesome defender and scorer. That's a rare combination for big men, and he'll be 25 in 2017, hitting his stride ... if all goes according to plan. -ZILLER
PRADA: This may seem like a reach, but I'd rather have Jonas than the next guy on this list in four years.
FLANNERY: Thought a lot about taking Jonas higher and I'll probably regret it in 2017 when we're all writing via telepathy.
O'DONNELL: Underrated factor in this pick: With Masai Ujiri on-board (and maybe even the recent influx of talent out of Canada), Valanciunas should have some awesome teammates around him.
Age in 2017: 25
Current Team: Toronto Raptors
2012-13 PER: 15.6
I'm a little concerned about Valanciunas's rebounding, but he projects as an awesome defender and scorer. That's a rare combination for big men, and he'll be 25 in 2017, hitting his stride ... if all goes according to plan. -ZILLER
PRADA: This may seem like a reach, but I'd rather have Jonas than the next guy on this list in four years.
FLANNERY: Thought a lot about taking Jonas higher and I'll probably regret it in 2017 when we're all writing via telepathy.
O'DONNELL: Underrated factor in this pick: With Masai Ujiri on-board (and maybe even the recent influx of talent out of Canada), Valanciunas should have some awesome teammates around him.
Looking down the roster, what do you see from each player in 4 years?
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