2011 Draft Rumors & Discussion

[Chr1s1anL]

he main topic: Jonas Valanciunas of Lithuania. He is considered by most teams to be the most intriguing of the bunch. At 6-11, with a reported 7-6 wingspan and a Joakim Noah(notes)-type motor, he's the type of prospect NBA teams have a difficult time getting their hands on outside of the draft. He has repeatedly indicated his desire to move to the NBA and only the NBA, which separates him from the Ricky Rubios and Fran Vazquezes of the world.

Seeing solid playing time for a BC Lietuvos Rytas team that made the top 16 of the Euroleague, and leading the competition in rebounding per minute, he's been seen by everyone. For him, it's his buyout, or lack thereof, that has teams worried.

Rytas has taken a major step forward in resolving the buyout issue in recent days by hiring a European lawyer with significant experience in NBA buyout negotiations. According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Rytas will attempt to structure the buyout on a sliding scale depending on where he gets picked, and are willing to be flexible with Valanciunas on when he can leave the team in case of an NBA lockout, even giving him the opportunity to stay with the team until he signs his rookie contract.

If his buyout situation will be resolved in a timely fashion, look for Valanciunas to be drafted somewhere between Nos. 3 and 8 overall. He's ahead of Enes Kanter on both Cleveland and Toronto's boards according to reports and has huge fans in Detroit's front office as well.

Valanciunas has three more years on his contract after this current season, with no buyout option. His American agent Leon Rose of CAA has been negotiating with the team for the better part of the year Most of the dispute revolves around when the buyout will be paid. The team, which is in serious financial trouble, wants the money now, not when he joins the NBA. It's asking for a percentage of Valanciunas' rookie contract. An agreement could have already been reached some time ago but the team has sent mixed messages.

Most expect a deal to be struck no more than a week before the draft. Valanciunas falling in the draft will only hurt Rytas' cause as not only will it lose significant respect from fans and constituents in basketball-crazy Lithuania, but it'll also hurt its chances of landing the next great young local prospect with NBA aspirations. Furthermore, being drafted lower results in a smaller contract.http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...ug=ycn-8514315

Details into Jonas Valanciunas contract.

[northgrantballer]

With a mediocre pick and a weak draft, the Raptors are once again left to guess. In my opinion there are four options. 1. Kemba Walker 2. Jan Vesely 3. Jonas Valanciunas, and 4. Trading the pick
1. Kemba Walker though thought to be extremely undersized in the transition to the NBA, is actually a respectable point guard height at 6'1. Walker has proven himself in big games and has shown he is a clutch player
2. Jan Vesely is an underknown international player who, unlike the bulk of international players, plays an energy/dunking game. Vesely is a steller 6'11 and can play the PF or the SF(where we need help). He can also controll the ball fairly well, and has drawn comparisons to Andrei Kirolenko.
3. Jonas Valanciunas. Jonas is a 6'11 force inside the paint weighing in at only 240. He has very high potential, but will be nothing in the NBA if he doesn't bulk up.
4. Trading the pick. This was the option that immediately came into many Raptors fans' heads after the lottery. Trading down would probably be the best option and it is a weak draft, and we could get another peice in the deal.

It will be interesting to see what plays out before the fifth pick in the 2011 NBA draft is selected, and I would like to know what you guys/girls think we should do.

[Tim W.]

Trading the pick would be a last resort. And I don't even know if it would that. The value of any pick in this draft is low, and you'd have a better chance at finding a diamond in the rough then of getting fair value for the pick. No one is going to want to get a #5 pick and have to pay the player close to $4 million a season for a player who probably won't even be a starter.

I really don't see Walker as the 1st option. I hope he's not. He's proven to be a good NCAA player, but I have WAY too many question marks about how that translates to the NBA.

Kanter is my 1st option. IF he is hesitant to come to Toronto, that will probably change if Bargnani is traded and he's given the starting center position. Valanciunas might be my second option, but I don't know about his hands. He seems to have trouble handling passes and doesn't have the softest hands.

Leonard would definitely be an option. Probably higher on my list than Vesley, who doesn't have good handles and doesn't seem to do much more than dunk. I also wonder how he'll be able to defend NBA small forwards.

[SCass]

I just looked into my crystal ball and this is what will happen:

TOR trades Amir & Calderon to MIN for the #2 pick, selecting Derrick Williams.

UTAH takes Kantar, CLE takes Vesely or Vas

TOR gets Brandon Knight #5

Knight/Bayless
DeRozan/Barbosa
Williams/Johnson
Bargnani/Davis
Center on the Market (Kaman or Chandler)

[northgrantballer]

I also love Kanter, but I can't see him slipping to 5

[Raptorsss]

I can't find my other post where I mention this in more detail. But I want Faried drafted at number 5, if kanter and irving are off the board. He has hustle and rebounding instincts that come once every generation. Rodman told Faried that he reminds him of himself, who wouldn't want Rodman on their team?

[dykers]

The Raptors are taking Knight. Irving is going 1, Kanter and Williams 2-3, Valanciunas 4, Knight 5. This is already set in stone, so rest assured.

[octothorp]

I think Rodman said the same thing to Lady Gaga though.

I like Faried, but picking him at 5 would be a mistake, IMO. I wouldn't mind seeing the Raptors try to pick up a second draft pick and grab him if he's still available in the late lottery (I haven't seen any mock that has him picked higher than 15th). Someone might bite on an offer of Amir for a late lottery pick.

[er1csh3n]

PLEASSEEEE BRAANNNNDOOON KNIIIGHHHT be available at 5 no more bs we already dropped to 5th!!!!

[e2thed]

The Raptors are taking Knight. Irving is going 1, Kanter and Williams 2-3, Valanciunas 4, Knight 5. This is already set in stone, so rest assured.

Lol, what are you some kinda prophet, you know the selections before they happen , you sound more like the guy who "predicted" , Rapture May 2011.

[bballnut27]

I heard Jazz were really high on knight not sure we would draft him over walker anyway

I am not a fan of vesely either, most nba players can dunk, and at least do something else well
All ive seen vesely do is dunk, rarely shoots, cant see him being a good defender

Leonard is deffinitly an option. If he can be anywhere as close as the Marion comparisons he would be a great fit for our team, bringing exactly what we are lacking.

I would say Walker, Leonard and maybe Valancious as being our choices

[knickz]

trade the pick

[Matt52]

I cherry picked the names here. Click link at bottom to see them all.

Biggest Surprise

Kemba Walker - He measured 5'10.5 barefoot and a legit 6'1 in sneakers. Considering his size was of major concern, 6'1 really isn't all that bad. If anything, it most likely solidified his position as a top 7-10 pick. However his standing reach was very small at 7'7.5, the same as 5'10 (in shoes) Isaiah Thomas (a product of his low shoulders).

Winners

Derrick Williams - Williams' standing reach of 9'0, 7'1.5 wingspan and 6'8.75 height in sneakers were all positive numbers. For all those that questioned his size at the power forward position, it's time to reconsider as those measurements are very good for a power forward. He also appeared to be moving extremely well during the athleticism testing at 248 lbs. Many players are not able to retain their quickness with that sort of weight.

Enes Kanter - Kanter showed virtually no weakness during the measurements, standing 6'11.25 in sneakers, with a 7'1.5 wingspan and a 9'1.5 standing reach. He weighed in at 259lbs and only a 5.9 % body fat.

Kawhi Leonard - At 6'7 in sneakers, Leonard possesses good size for a small forward to go along with his massive 7'3 wingspan. That wingspan and his 8'10 standing reach should contribute big-time on the defensive end. He also had an excellent 5.4% body fat and the second largest hands in the group.

Chris Singleton - A lockdown defender at 6'9 in sneakers is very rare. His 7'1 wingspan will allow him to guard three positions.

Kyrie Irving - He measured in a 6'3.5 in sneakers, which was actually taller than Brandon Knight, who was originally believed to have an inch on Irving. His 10.2 body fat at just 191lbs is a little bit alarming. Has he not been able to work out and get back in shape since the season ended?

Brandon Knight - His 4.2% body fat however was the lowest of anyone in the group. 6'3.25 in sneakers and 176lbs are solid numbers for a PG. His wingspan is a few inches better than Kyrie Irving.

Losers

Jimmer Fredette - Only 6'0.75 without sneakers, Jimmer has a decent wingspan (6'4.5) and standing reach (8'0.5), but came in smaller than expected at 6'2 in shoes. He also has the smallest hands of anyone in the group.

Interesting Measurements

Kenneth Faried - At just 6'6 without sneakers and 6'7.5 with, Faried has a standing reach of 9.0, which is a taller standing reach than 6'10 Michael Dunigan, 6'11 Jon Leuer, and 6'10 JaJuan Johnson. He also measured a 7'0 wingspan.

Point guards with size

Darius Morris - Morris showed excellent size for a PG at 6'5.25 in sneakers. On the downside, he could add some weight to his 190lb frame, and his wingspan was less than Charles Jenkins, who is 2 inches smaller.

http://www.nbadraft.net/nba-draft-co...ement-analysis

[Tim W.]

I heard Jazz were really high on knight not sure we would draft him over walker anyway

I am not a fan of vesely either, most nba players can dunk, and at least do something else well
All ive seen vesely do is dunk, rarely shoots, cant see him being a good defender

Leonard is deffinitly an option. If he can be anywhere as close as the Marion comparisons he would be a great fit for our team, bringing exactly what we are lacking.

I would say Walker, Leonard and maybe Valancious as being our choices

Valanciunas is apparently higher than Kanter on Cleveland's list. So they take Valanciunas and Utah takes Knight, then there's a chance Kanter will be available at 5. That would be very good news, in my opinion. If he's not, Leonard might very well be my next option.

[jbml]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...ug=ycn-8514315

"If his buyout situation will be resolved in a timely fashion, look for Valanciunas to be drafted somewhere between Nos. 3 and 8 overall. He's ahead of Enes Kanter on both Cleveland and Toronto's boards according to reports and has huge fans in Detroit's front office as well."

[Tim W.]

trade the pick

Problem is, what are you going to get for a 5th pick in a weak draft? Especially when there might not even be a season next year. I can see a lot of teams simply wanting to wait until next year's draft. Like Jose Calderon, I think the pick is worth more to the Raptors than you'd get in a trade for it.

[Matt52]

The possibilities of who the Raptors draft are numerous but realistically speaking, the only way the pick is traded is if another pick comes back.

Assuming the pick is not traded, it would seem to me one of the following 3 players are going to be picked:

Knight, Valanciunas, or Kanter.

Lets say those 3 players are all gone, that means Irving or Williams is available. So like I said, one of those previous three.

[Tim W.]

The possibilities of who the Raptors draft are numerous but realistically speaking, the only way the pick is traded is if another pick comes back.

Assuming the pick is not traded, it would seem to me one of the following 3 players are going to be picked:

Knight, Valanciunas, or Kanter.

Lets say those 3 players are all gone, that means Irving or Williams is available. So like I said, one of those previous three.

I'd add Leonard to that list. But that's it.

[zulfi]

i think the raps should take knight over walker. I'm scared walker is too small to play good D...and after seeing Jose play D for the past few years, I really hope we get a PG that is at least average in playing D. If Utah takes Knight, what happens to Harris in Utah?

[grindhouse]

ok I want to open up the debate here whats the difference between enes kanter at 3 and nikola mirotic at 21? because I don't see a difference