The Raptors and the 2015 Draft

[mcHAPPY]

David Aldridge breaks down SG prospects:

David Aldridge's Big Board 2015: Shooting Guards

RANK | NAME | SCHOOL/TEAM | CLASS/AGE | HT | WT > PROJECTED

1. Mario Hezonja | FC Barcelona | 20 | 6-6 | 218 > High-Mid Lottery

2. Devin Booker | Kentucky | Freshman | 6-6 | 206 > Mid First

3. R. J. Hunter | Georgia State | Junior| 6-6 | 190 > Mid-Late First

4. Buddy Hield | Oklahoma | Junior | 6-4 | 212 > Late First

5. Michael Qualls | Arkansas | Junior | 6-6 | 205 > Late First/Early Second

6. Caris LeVert | Michigan | Junior | 6-7 | 200 > Late First/Early Second

7. Justin Anderson | Virginia | Junior | 6-6 | 228 > Second Round

8. Tyler Harvey | E. Washington | Junior | 6-4 | 185 > Second Round

9. Norman Powell | UCLA | Senior | 6-4 | 215 > Second Round

10. Ron Baker | Wichita State | Junior | 6-6 | 220 > Second Round

Honorable Mention: E.C. Matthews (SO), 6-5, 190, Rhode Island; Dez Wells, 6-5, 215, Maryland; Timothe Luwawu (19), 6-6, 220, Antibes Sharks (France)

Sleepers: Wesley Saunders, 6-5, 215, Harvard; Mateusz Pontika (21), 6-5, 204, Telenet BC Oostunde (Belgium)

Some Scouts Like: James Blackman, Jr. (FR), 6-4, 195, Indiana; Aaron Harrison (SO), 6-6, 212, Kentucky; Wayne Selden (SO), 6-5, 230, Kansas; Rashad Vaughn (FR), 6-6, 210, UNLV; Treveon Graham, 6-6, 220, VCU

http://www.nba.com/news/features/dav...015-nba-draft/

[octothorp]

I was a fan of Harrell last year, but he really failed to take a step forward this year... he's still basically the same raw athlete he was a year ago, which makes me doubt how much he's going to learn. I've also had a change of heart in priorities since then; based on the current Raptors composition (particularly in terms of young players), I really think that we need to take basketball IQ into account, and Harrell is not a high IQ player at all. I don't want a team of freak athletes and wingspan guys who don't really understand the game. None of the young guys on the team (Ross, Valanciunas, Bruno, Caboclo, Daniels) are high IQ guys, and we need to think about getting players that will make the players around them better. I do not have confidence that a combination of JV & Harrell & any of Ross/Caboclo/Daniels would have a high defensive upside... it's hard to imagine them working well together.
At PF, I want a guy who'll be able to anchor the defense, not simply in terms of defending his own man, but more about barking out orders and QBing the defense like KG would. Myles Turner would be perfect if you believe he can play PF at the next level, but is unlikely to be there when we pick, so he would require us moving up in the draft (someone else in this thread mentioned moving the NYK pick to get him... I'd be very tempted). JV and Turner together would be a near perfect compliment of skills at both ends of the court.
But if there isn't a guy who fits that mold at PF when we draft (and honestly I don't see any PFs in our range that I like), I'd rather see us target a different position and look for a 'makes those around him better' player there... like Caris LeVert if we were going for a guard.

[Axel]

Harrell has a better NCAA stat line than Faried had at Morehead State, all things considered. We are talking about the ACC, the best conference versus the Ohio Valley, not even your average mid major.

Harrell 15.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 55.6 fg%, 1.2 blocks.

ACC the best conference?

[Axel]

David Aldridge breaks down SG prospects:




http://www.nba.com/news/features/dav...015-nba-draft/

Can't say I'm impressed with the SG prospects this year. As a crop, fairly weak imo.

[grindhouse]

my problem with him is he doesnt have a elite nba skill. another thing I dont see a improvement over GV or lou williams.

[grindhouse]

Can't say I'm impressed with the SG prospects this year. As a crop, fairly weak imo.

I would add dekker to that list I think he can play both 2 and 3

[MixxAOR]

MU probably gonna draft Korean MJ next

[Axel]

I would add dekker to that list I think he can play both 2 and 3

Probably. With his size, I expect he'll mostly be at the 3.

[007]

MU probably gonna draft Korean MJ next

Nigerian Tim Duncan

[GinobilisBaldSpot]

Aaaaand Kevon Looney has officially declared for the 2015 NBA draft!

[stretch]

ACC the best conference?

The best.

[The Great One]

I'm in love with Devin Booker's game. Can't remember the last time i got this excitef for a guy who's projected to go mid 1st round. He reminds me a lot of Klay Thompson. He's so smooth.

And i know i'm going get a lot of criticism here for this and i don't care but i would trade DeRozan or Lowry or maybe package this year's 1st + next yr's Denver pick for Booker. That's how HIGH i am with this kid.

PS - He hasn't officially declared yet. I'd be surprised if he returns to school though.

[Mindlessness]

I'm in love with Devin Booker's game. Can't remember the last time i got this excitef for a guy who's projected to go mid 1st round. He reminds me a lot of Klay Thompson. He's so smooth.

And i know i'm going get a lot of criticism here for this and i don't care but i would trade DeRozan or Lowry or maybe package this year's 1st + next yr's Denver pick for Booker. That's how HIGH i am with this kid.

PS - He hasn't officially declared yet. I'd be surprised if he returns to school though.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can't just trade DeMar like that, that's crazy talk man.

[mcHAPPY]

I'm in love with Devin Booker's game. Can't remember the last time i got this excitef for a guy who's projected to go mid 1st round. He reminds me a lot of Klay Thompson. He's so smooth.

And i know i'm going get a lot of criticism here for this and i don't care but i would trade DeRozan or Lowry or maybe package this year's 1st + next yr's Denver pick for Booker. That's how HIGH i am with this kid.

PS - He hasn't officially declared yet. I'd be surprised if he returns to school though.

LOL

I wouldn't even trade DeMar for that.

[The Great One]

LOL

I wouldn't even trade DeMar for that.

Roles reversed

But yeah i'm pretty high on Booker.