2011 NBA Draft - Who should be pick + International Players

[Introcollapse]

I'd just like to point out that we're told every year will be a "weak" draft, and that's rarely the case. For example, last year's draft was supposedly weak. But we got Wall, Turner, Cousins, Bledsoe, Fields, and Paul George among others that will all be very solid players for years to come. Already 4 stars-in-the-making. Probably more.

[Raúl]

I'm not a big fan of the NCAA and I can't watch any game in my country, but as always I can say a thing or two about the international players.

About Donatas Motiejunas, he was expected to be the next big star coming out from Europe, but he's development is taking too much time. A lot has been written about him, but the fact that he didn't make the Lithuanian National Team for the last World Cup, was a surprise, because except for Kleiza, the rest of the team was absent.

Jan Vesely had a excelent season last year with Partizan, taking the team to the final four with a weak roster compared to some powerhouses like CSKA, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Olympiacos. He can do about everything and he's everywhere on the floor, but he's not the type of player that will surprise every one with his talent.

I saw Jonas Valanciunas for the first time last Friday agains Barcelona. He's very young (Born in 1992) but I liked very much what I saw. He show flashes of a Marcin Gortat type of player. Plays near the basket, needs to be feed by a good passer in order to be productive. But to play at that level, at this young age and making 11 points and just a few mistakes, is something to remember.

He's foul prone but that could be because his young age and the lack of respect of the referees. He's body is not that weak as scouts say. He adeed some muscle in the summer a has a lot of potential to grow much more. He's a typical center, doesn't have the range of Bargs or Montiejunas but could be a potential beast in defense and rebouding. That being said, I don't think he'll end up as a lottery pick (if he enters the draft). If he and his team don't have a outstanding season this year (and no one expect them to have) he'll be a late mid first round, maybe we could add him with a draft day trade. Very interesnting prospect

[Raptorsss]

Montiejunas he's compared to possibly being a poor man's Bargnani. Is that really a top 5 or lottery skill set, especially with some character issues (dude doesn't play defense or rebound).
As long as the raptors don't get number 1, then they will draft a point guard, maybe two.

So my top 5. 1.Harrison Barnes
2a. Kyrie Irving
2b.Brandon Knight (I hope the kid is a one and done, he's going to Kentucky after all).
4.Josh Selby (maybe like Westbrook can be converted to a PG in the NBA)
5.Malcolm Lee. A number of good front court players, but the Raptors should pass.

[Tim W.]

4.Josh Selby (maybe like Westbrook can be converted to a PG in the NBA)

I can't tell you how much that phrase brings me chills. The success rate of trying to convert SGs to PGs is so low it's scary. Westbrook actually played a lot of PG throughout his career before the NBA, so he's not actually a good example. Playing the PG position is a completely different skill set that is incredibly hard to learn. It's a complete change of mindset. Most simply fail and become undersized shooting guards. Bench players. That's if they stay in the league. The one's that make the transition, and it's a very low percentage, usually end up struggling for years, usually changing teams, before they are able to do it. Drafting a guy in the lottery and expecting to convert him would be a disaster waiting to happen. It's the main reason I was so against drafting Avery Bradley. As a late first rounder, or second rounder, you don't mind taking the gamble because if he just ends up being a 3rd or 4th guard, it's not a big deal. In the lottery, though, you can't make that big a gamble.

I remember thinking what a mistake it was drafting Jerryd Bayless so high. Portland has now given up on him and it's now on New Orleans, who doesn't have nearly the investment that Portland did. He might still end up being a good player, but his career has already gone the way most undersized SGs who were drafted to be converted to PG have gone.

[Introcollapse]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Cory Joseph. His name is mentioned in the same sentence as Irving and Selby. Good point guard...and wait for it...HE'S FROM TORONTO.

[Shantz]

Kyrie Irving is the prospect who appeals to me the most. He strikes me as a fantastic blend of skills and seems to be a down to earth guy from the interviews I have watched with him. Forecasting right now, I would take him over any one else. In his first game for Duke, Kyrie dropped the following line:

17 points/9assists/4rebounds/1turnover/2steals/1block. He shot 4-10, 3/6 from three point, and 6/6 from the line. Oh yeah, he did all of this in only 25 minutes on the court.

I know that is a small sample size, but those are great numbers. He lead the team in assists and tied for lead in rebounds...a PG who controls the flow, scores when needed, and rebounds well. Those are some really nice numbers.

Enes Kanter also intrigues me. I am hoping we can move up in the draft and potentially get both of them. If we could walk away with a PG and Center to build around, the 2011 Draft could be the best day in Toronto Raptors history...not the hardest task, but still a brilliant day.

[Tim W.]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Cory Joseph. His name is mentioned in the same sentence as Irving and Selby. Good point guard...and wait for it...HE'S FROM TORONTO.

At this point, I haven't seen Joseph rank as even a lottery pick next year. I'd love for him to be a great player, but let's wait and see what he does. Besides, I don't know if you really want to make him the first ever Canadian player playing in his hometown. Great for the fans, bad for Joseph. Too many distractions.

[Ruuuuu]

I was thinking about this the other day too...

What if the Raps are in a position at the draft where Donatas Motiejunas is clearly the best player on the board, would they draft him? (eg. if they drafted 8-9th, and he is touted to be a 4-5th pick leading to the draft, but falls on draft day).

Normally I am 100% into "Draft the best player available" especially for teams that are so far away like the Raps. But this is one case where I think they should pass no matter what. The guy is described as a Bargs clone by nbadraft.net, with the same glaring weaknesses. Plus all the negativity there would be "oh not this again" would just make things worse. Even lets say hypothetically he pans out and becomes Bargs exactly (which would actually be a sucess all things considered) can you imagine 2 bargs on the floor? So my conclusion, do not draft that guy EVEN IF HE FALLS TO THE 2ND PICK (approx 25).

I would not say that Raps should not draft an international though. That Kanter kid looks alright. If they are in a position where he is the BPA, I say go for it.

[grindhouse]

josh selby would be my pick he looks like someone who would fit nicely with the pieces we already have. You pick barnes is your going for the best player in the draft which at this point looks weak with no real centers. Brandon knight looks like he may have another level to his game.

I am also keeping a eye out for Jordan Omogbehin who is going to usf next year.

[Trife76]

Ummmm Ed Davis was never projected to be a top 5 player in the 2010 draft...stop making shit up..

[MangoKid]

Ummmm Ed Davis was never projected to be a top 5 player in the 2010 draft...stop making shit up..

Most mocks had Davis a top-5 pick up until his injury.

[MangoKid]

Joseph's not a bad player - I just don't think he's on the same level as Irving, Selby or Knight. I don't think he'll be a one and done player thought - with Thompson on the team now and Kabongo on the way, I think those 3 might want to stay a year or two together and soaking up the college life.

[Tim W.]

Ummmm Ed Davis was never projected to be a top 5 player in the 2010 draft...stop making shit up..

No one is making anything up.As MangoKid stated, Davis was in the top 5 in several mock drafts early in the season, last year. Stop accusing people of making stuff up.

[Shantz]

I am hoping to catch some college games on TV this year in order to actually be able to get a look at some of the top prospects (reading about them only takes you so far...). Does anyone know what channels show NCAA games here in Canada?

[MangoKid]

I am hoping to catch some college games on TV this year in order to actually be able to get a look at some of the top prospects (reading about them only takes you so far...). Does anyone know what channels show NCAA games here in Canada?

Rogers usually has those specialty channels (I think it's like $30/month) that show college ball games. Doesn't MTS offer the same channels? I thought they would.

[Shantz]

Rogers usually has those specialty channels (I think it's like $30/month) that show college ball games. Doesn't MTS offer the same channels? I thought they would.

My hope was that channels like The Score, TSN, or even CBS would be showing a number of games.

[chris]

I am hoping to catch some college games on TV this year in order to actually be able to get a look at some of the top prospects (reading about them only takes you so far...). Does anyone know what channels show NCAA games here in Canada?

ABC and CBS usually start broadcasting the saturday games once college football season is over. the score carries all of the tournament, and a lot of the ESPN regular season games. often on wednesday nights, packaged before or after court surfing. they might get some thursday night games now too since it looks like the TNT NBA games have been picked up by sportsnet or TSN/TSN2.

apart from that, yeah, specialty channels. big ten network shows big ten games. in vancouver (shaw) we'll get games on channel 47 (peachtree, which shows SEC games) and 64 (no idea what network that is but they show ACC games), again, once college football season is over.

[chris]

Kyrie Irving is the prospect who appeals to me the most. He strikes me as a fantastic blend of skills and seems to be a down to earth guy from the interviews I have watched with him. Forecasting right now, I would take him over any one else. In his first game for Duke, Kyrie dropped the following line:

17 points/9assists/4rebounds/1turnover/2steals/1block. He shot 4-10, 3/6 from three point, and 6/6 from the line. Oh yeah, he did all of this in only 25 minutes on the court.

I know that is a small sample size, but those are great numbers. He lead the team in assists and tied for lead in rebounds...a PG who controls the flow, scores when needed, and rebounds well. Those are some really nice numbers.

i have not yet seen a single game by any of these prospects you guys are talking about (and i suspect most of you are in the same boat)... but having said that, yeah, i'm behind everything you said about irving.

the biggest factors for me are that 1) from what i've read, he's the most highly touted recruit at puke in a long time, and, as much as i hate them, they seem to be a reasonably successful program. and 2) he's starting ahead of seth curry*, who led his league in scoring at liberty as a freshman and whom many scouts think has the potential to be better than his brother.

*side note - if we drop in the draft, and if curry comes out, i'd really like it if we nabbed him, provided he shows anything resembling that potential scouts are so excited about. because his brother's already one of my favourite players in the NBA, who i think will be one of the best guards of his generation.

[Shantz]

@Chris Thanks!

[chris]

At this point, I haven't seen Joseph rank as even a lottery pick next year. I'd love for him to be a great player, but let's wait and see what he does. Besides, I don't know if you really want to make him the first ever Canadian player playing in his hometown. Great for the fans, bad for Joseph. Too many distractions.

re: playing in your hometown - depends on the player. if the kid has his head screwed on right i don't think it matters at all, seems to be working out alright for rose and roy (not quite his hometown but close enough). though if you're talking about the enormous PRESSURE lumped on him of being the first canadian on the raps by toronto's ridiculous media, then i might be inclined to agree.

also agree that being canadian should be the last on our list of credentials for drafting a player.