Targeting Kelly Olynyk (Canadian) in the draft can be a good move

[Employee]

I hear what you're saying and fully respect your position. But the notion that a perennial draft lottery team without any bonafide all-star has any other need than the best talent available seems ludicrous to me. So even hypothetically speaking that Monroe and Drummond can't co-exist (although it's very early to judge that), don't you think that both of those guys are highly valued trade commodities that can be easily flipped for a 'need'?

I mean the Raps have already done this. Babcock drafted Charlie V, even when the Raps had an all-star PF (Bosh). CV actually had a good enough rookie year to become valuable enough asset to trade for a 'need', TJ Ford, who was considered a pretty good player at the time. Then immediately, they draft yet another PF, Bargs, who can't play with anybody. Still, up until this season, Bargs could have fetched a nice 'need' piece, yet for BC's man crush.

The Terrence Ross pick is so disappointing from the 'drafting for need' standpoint. I recall Casey being interviewed right after the draft. He looked so contented, saying stuff along the lines of, 'Ross is a shooter and we need shooting'. This is in my mind as a watch Ross airball a shot past the rim, and miss wide open threes consistently.

I agree on some level. You hear GM's say all the time that they're gonna draft the best player available. And I think that should be the rule (there's exceptions) for most picks in the top ten. The thing is the lines get fuzzy after the top ten and fifteen picks. It's going to be a combination of both. After the 15th pick it's not so clear who the top picks are.

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Excerpt from Chad Ford's chat in the NBA draft pertaining to Olynyk:

Brandon (Fl)


why is kelly olynyk not in your top 10,and what does he have to do

Chad Ford (1:22 PM)


He's at No. 15 on our Big Board and rising. Scouts want to see him play against better competition than what Gonzaga typically faced in the WCC. He'll get his chance in the NCAA Tournament. If he's as efficient there as he was all season for Gonzaga, I think he'll end up being a Top 10 pick.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/47360

[joey_hesketh]

Are people seriously saying they'd take Kabongo or Pangos over KO?? Unreal. KO is one of 5 players likely to be up for the Wooden Award. Which makes him a Top 5 Player in the NCAA ...

From ESPN:
Among Division I players this season, Olynyk has the highest Player Efficiency Rating (which is the overall rating of a player's per-minute statistical production) and ranks third in Win Shares (which estimates of the number of wins contributed by a player due to his offense and defense). Olynyk’s 8.6 Win Shares are the highest among the Wooden Award finalists.

I'd KO over almost anyone else in the draft! Assuming Gonzaga has the type of tournament I expect them too, I see KO going in the Top 3 of this years Draft. No way we get KO.


On a side note, NBADRAFT.net continues their trend of saying players are similar based solely off of how they look.
Case and point, KO and Fabricio Oberto:

[Nilanka]

Are people seriously saying they'd take Kabongo or Pangos over KO?? Unreal. KO is one of 5 players likely to be up for the Wooden Award. Which makes him a Top 5 Player in the NCAA ...



I'd KO over almost anyone else in the draft! Assuming Gonzaga has the type of tournament I expect them too, I see KO going in the Top 3 of this years Draft. No way we get KO.


On a side note, NBADRAFT.net continues their trend of saying players are similar based solely off of how they look.
Case and point, KO and Fabricio Oberto:

There have been a lot of notable Wooden award winners in the past (including Bird, Robinson and Jordon), but over the past 10 years, the award has also been given to Jameer Nelson, JJ Reddick, Tyler Hansborough, Evan Turner and Jimmer Fredette.

Sometimes great college careers don't translate into great NBA careers.

[Eric Montross 00]

Pick Olynyk would be a stupid move, first we already got Jonas Valanciunas, second we don't have the pick we have to trade for the pick, what Raptors truly need at this point is one more young, promising starting point guard (Damian Lillard like) which I believe both Kabongo and Mccollum has the potential to become, and then veterans. We need an all star caliber veteran that has low post and rebounding that gives you 15+8 very night, best example is Al Horford, not only gives you an anchor in the middle and also would have a profound influence on Jonas Valanciunas's development. I would trade lowry+bargnani+ross for Horford.

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The Raptors could use a super hero in the lineup.

[TRex]

The only Cdn player that i would take ahead of Pangos is Wiggins.

[joey_hesketh]

There have been a lot of notable Wooden award winners in the past (including Bird, Robinson and Jordon), but over the past 10 years, the award has also been given to Jameer Nelson, JJ Reddick, Tyler Hansborough, Evan Turner and Jimmer Fredette.

Sometimes great college careers don't translate into great NBA careers.

Fair enough. But I guess not mentioning Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis in that list was convenient? :P Lol

And I'm not saying we should take KO. Far from it. But if given the choice between taking him, Pangos or Kabongo, I'd certainly think long and hard about taking the 7-Footer with legit game.

[heinz57]

he reminds me of Jay from Clerks



so obviously... i want him on the team

[Soft Euro]

he reminds me of Jay from Clerks



so obviously... i want him on the team

fixed

[heinz57]

i cant figure out what you fixed.... but, thanks?

[Soft Euro]

i cant figure out what you fixed.... but, thanks?

The picture isn't visible in your post; at least for me.

[Chr1s1anL]

Fair enough. But I guess not mentioning Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis in that list was convenient? :P Lol

And I'm not saying we should take KO. Far from it. But if given the choice between taking him, Pangos or Kabongo, I'd certainly think long and hard about taking the 7-Footer with legit game.

All those player are athletic. After Adam Morrison I would not take another chance on a skilled player missing NBA acthelism.

[joey_hesketh]

All those player are athletic. After Adam Morrison I would not take another chance on a skilled player missing NBA acthelism.

Who says Olynyk is lacking athleticism? For a guy of his size, I'd say he's plenty athletic.

[Nilanka]

Fair enough. But I guess not mentioning Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis in that list was convenient? :P Lol

And I'm not saying we should take KO. Far from it. But if given the choice between taking him, Pangos or Kabongo, I'd certainly think long and hard about taking the 7-Footer with legit game.

It wasn't a convenient omission (I figured Jordan and Bird were better examples).

Either way, the point still remains that the Wooden award (or in this case, simply being nominated) isn't enough to conclude that a successful NBA career awaits.

[joey_hesketh]

Either way, the point still remains that the Wooden award (or in this case, simply being nominated) isn't enough to conclude that a successful NBA career awaits.

It'll look better on a resume than anything either Kabongo or Pangos have offered up ...
As will his WCC Player of the Year.

Once again, don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Kabongo fan and he's still got a chance, but he realistically hasn't done ANYTHING to show us he is going to have a successful NBA career; at least KO has proven himself a daily-difference maker, and is the #1 Player on the #1 Ranked Team in the Country.

[Chr1s1anL]

Who says Olynyk is lacking athleticism? For a guy of his size, I'd say he's plenty athletic.

Really? He just barely got that dunk over the rim. Andrea would put this dude to shame.

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Kabongo's play this year in just 5 games (he's again playing tonight) has shown improvement in all areas against some stiff competition as the games were all Big 12 Conference games. He has NBA promise as he is naturally fast with long arms so he is a safe bet to go in the first round this year considering the level of talent in a weak draft.

[Chr1s1anL]

It'll look better on a resume than anything either Kabongo or Pangos have offered up ...
As will his WCC Player of the Year.

Once again, don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Kabongo fan and he's still got a chance, but he realistically hasn't done ANYTHING to show us he is going to have a successful NBA career; at least KO has proven himself a daily-difference maker, and is the #1 Player on the #1 Ranked Team in the Country.

Neither did Russell Westbrook.

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Really? He just barely got that dunk over the rim. Andrea would put this dude to shame.

Olynyk was obviously fouled going to the rim though no call was made.