Rookie Rankings 2010-2011 Crystal Ball

[Hotshot]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...kings-20100701

10. Ed Davis(notes), Toronto Raptors

Last Week: NR | Drafted: 13
With Chris Bosh most likely headed out of town, the Raptors will need Davis to step in and produce immediately. He brings a defensive presence in the middle (Davis led the ACC with 2.8 blocks per game in his sophomore season) and should become a double-digit rebounder. He may never become a big-time scorer, but he has the potential to become an All-Star down the road. For now, the Raptors will settle for a player with double-double potential.

Being a top ten rookie is not a bad thing at all for Davis

[Tim W.]

The list includes Blake Griffin, too, so it's actually saying he was the 9th best pick. At least for next season. Interestingly, the Clippers other big rookie, Aminu, isn't on the list. Maybe he's assuming he'll suffer a season ending injury.

[Realist]

The list includes Blake Griffin, too, so it's actually saying he was the 9th best pick. At least for next season. Interestingly, the Clippers other big rookie, Aminu, isn't on the list. Maybe he's assuming he'll suffer a season ending injury.

Well Davis was a consensus Top 10 pick, and shocked everyone that he fell. His upside is immense, He could be 7 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks his first season and that would be great for us. We have enough scorers.

[Tim W.]

Well Davis was a consensus Top 10 pick, and shocked everyone that he fell. His upside is immense, He could be 7 points, 8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks his first season and that would be great for us. We have enough scorers.

Personally, I had him as the 6th best rookie in the draft, which is one reason I was so thrilled when he dropped.

[Buddahfan]

The reality is is that Davis right now is behind Reggie on the depth chart. Reggie has indicated that he is now fully healed from his ankle injury and ready to kick ass in 2010-11. I think he will probably start with the rookies in October.

[Apollo]

I really enjoyed watching Bosh start out as a rookie and develop into a potential MVP candidate. Same with Carter. Hopefully we'll get to see Ed Davis mature into an all-star as well. A kid who we can all cheer for as he works and develops into a polished NBA vet. Davis possesses some attributes that Carter and Bosh lacked. He loves defense and he never takes plays off. Can't wait to see him hit the floor even if he struggles at first. Two good drafts in a row for Colangelo. Davis, DeRozan, these are the kind of prospects teams need to bring in to grow strong from the inside out.

The reality is is that Davis right now is behind Reggie on the depth chart. Reggie has indicated that he is now fully healed from his ankle injury and ready to kick ass in 2010-11. I think he will probably start with the rookies in October.

I totally disagree. This team is in rebuild mode now. Reggie Evans isn't part of the plan long term and he may not even make it through the summer or next season as a Raptor. Ed Davis is the future and Ed Davis will be battling Amir Johnson for the starting spot come camp.

[Buddahfan]

Ed Davis will be battling Amir Johnson for the starting spot come camp.

Okay if you say so.

If Davis winds up starting then I will personally go and kick Amir's butt all the way back to Los Angeles. LOL

[Apollo]

If you can explain to me how it makes sense for Reggie Evans to be ahead of Amir or Ed in the depth chart I would be thrilled to hear it. Ed is the biggest threat to Amir's PT and spotlight this coming season.

[Quixotic]

If you can explain to me how it makes sense for Reggie Evans to be ahead of Amir or Ed in the depth chart I would be thrilled to hear it. Ed is the biggest threat to Amir's PT and spotlight this coming season.

Definitely. If Evans plays more than a lick each game, it will either be because Davis is adjusting poorly or to showcase Evans for a trade. No way you play someone like Evans (no upside, little more than a hard-working rebounder, and a complete offensive liability) ahead of Davis otherwise.

[Buddahfan]

If you can explain to me how it makes sense for Reggie Evans to be ahead of Amir or Ed in the depth chart I would be thrilled to hear it. Ed is the biggest threat to Amir's PT and spotlight this coming season.

The Depth Chart is

Center - Bargnani/?
PF - Johnson/Evans

[Buddahfan]

I think most Raptors fans are in dream land about Davis. You guys/gals complained all season about DeRozan, some of it definitely justified, and Davis is not near as talented as DeRozan.

I am willing to bet that no one on this forum has seen him play more than a handful of games at the most.

I am not saying that some day he might be a good defender in the NBA, but I doubt that he will every have an offense, just like people are still doubting that Johnson will ever have an offense.

Right now I see Alabi with more upside than Davis and more likely to become a starter in the NBA than Davis.

[Quixotic]

I think most Raptors fans are in dream land about Davis. You guys/gals complained all season about DeRozan, some of it definitely justified, and Davis is not near as talented as DeRozan.

I am willing to bet that no one on this forum has seen him play more than a handful of games at the most.

I am not saying that some day he might be a good defender in the NBA, but I doubt that he will every have an offense, just like people are still doubting that Johnson will ever have an offense.

Right now I see Alabi with more upside than Davis and more likely to become a starter in the NBA than Davis.

For the record, I have never, ever complained about DeRozan, and I am certainly not in dreamland with either player. Even if DeRozan has more upside than Davis, Davis has qualities that we will find useful going forward. Even if he isn't as good a rebounder as Evans right now, at least Davis has the potential to be a better defender than Evans and in other areas as well. That is the biggest reason you play him ahead of an old, expiring contract. Neither player will make this a .500+ team next year.

The thing I like most about the word upside is it usually means unfulfilled potential. Upside is nice and gives you hope and all that, but it is useless if it's never actualized. Bargnani has immense upside, but little hope of reaching it. DeRozan has excellent upside, but based on what? I think Alabi has more upside than Davis as well due to his size, but that's about it. And I will frankly disagree with you that Alabi is more likely to become a legit NBA starter, unless you mean simply displace Bargnani for defense purposes, in which case that hardly means anything. :-p

[FromTOtoVAN]

I think most Raptors fans are in dream land about Davis. You guys/gals complained all season about DeRozan, some of it definitely justified, and Davis is not near as talented as DeRozan.

I am willing to bet that no one on this forum has seen him play more than a handful of games at the most.

I am not saying that some day he might be a good defender in the NBA, but I doubt that he will every have an offense, just like people are still doubting that Johnson will ever have an offense.

Right now I see Alabi with more upside than Davis and more likely to become a starter in the NBA than Davis.

lol thats pretty funny davis might be a starter by the middle of this season but it would be interesting to see alabi at center and bargs at pf and turk at sf thats a huge front court.. also wanted to mention BC is never in rebuild mode and amir johnson got paid way to much for a player that has basically proven nothing.. he will always be an energy guy off the bench who gets shut down against good defensive teams.. he should of got paid what hes worth 4 years 20 million

[Hassan]

does ed davis have the potential to be as good as bosh?

[FromTOtoVAN]

not even close he has the potential of becoming as good as maybe al horford?

[Quixotic]

does ed davis have the potential to be as good as bosh?

Um, judging from where Bosh was at at the same age, Davis is way behind Bosh offensively (probably safe to say Davis is as much Bosh as Bargnani is Nowitzki), though he certainly has the potential to be better on defense. IMO, he can be a defensively responsible double double machine, but not a superstar/quasi-franchise player/1st or 2nd option on offense.

[Apollo]

I think most Raptors fans are in dream land about Davis. You guys/gals complained all season about DeRozan, some of it definitely justified, and Davis is not near as talented as DeRozan.

I am willing to bet that no one on this forum has seen him play more than a handful of games at the most.

I'll take your bet. How much? Belittling posters is your best rebuttal?

[Brain Colangelo]

The Depth Chart is

Center - Bargnani/?
PF - Johnson/Evans

Evans should end up behind Davis, possibly Dorsey as well. Dorsey may do everything Reggie does on the floor as well as Reggie does or better. Reggie was only a good pickup when you consider that by getting him we got rid of Kapono.

[Tim W.]

The Depth Chart is

Center - Bargnani/?
PF - Johnson/Evans

You don't even factor in the 13th pick in the draft? His upside is not what DeRozan's is, and he's probably more raw offensively, but he's ahead of where DeRozan was defensively and will only be asked to play defense and rebound at first. I'm pretty sure he can handle that.

After DeRozan was forcefed minutes last year when the team was actually trying to compete, why you think they wouldn't try and give Davis some minutes when the team is probably going to be concentrating on developing the youngsters, is beyond me.

[Apollo]

Tim, some people are very high on Ed. Draft Express is giving him a best case Al Horford, worst case a better version of Udonis Haslem.

he's probably more raw offensively, but he's ahead of where DeRozan was defensively and will only be asked to play defense and rebound at first.

I agree and everyone remember this, even with Bosh out of the lineup last season the Raptors could still score the ball, maybe not down the stretch as easily but overall they were fine. So fine that they averaged the same PPG with Bosh out of the lineup as with him playing; that's good for 5th in the league. With Bosh in the lineup they gave up 105 PPG, with him out they gave up 107 PPG; that's good(or should I say bad?) for 27th and 29th in the league respectively. Defense and rebounding have been their biggest problems since Davis, Oakley, JYD and Clark left Toronto. Colangelo is finally making strides to fix that long term with the likes of Davis and Johnson. Ed Davis is very limited on offense but that part of his game is not needed. All he needs to do is try to finish open looks close and when theirs nothing there, kick it back out. He could do that in college and it's something that Reggie Evans shown us, in limited time, he wasn't able to do and in the case of the kick out, not willing to do. Then there's the fact that Reggie's days are probably numbered in Toronto.

After DeRozan was forcefed minutes last year when the team was actually trying to compete, why you think they wouldn't try and give Davis some minutes when the team is probably going to be concentrating on developing the youngsters, is beyond me.

Another excellent point that I've been trying to explain. I like your explanation more than mine.