
Rank | Name | Position | Essentials | From | ||||||||||||||||||||
#1 | Ekpe Udoh | PF | 6-10, 240lbs, Age: 22 | Baylor (Junior) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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#2 | Avery Bradley | SG | 6-3, 180lbs, Age: 19 | Texas (Freshman) | ||||||||||||||||||||
![]() He was the best perimeter defender in the NCAA last year. He was rated higher than John Wall coming out of high school, and he was the top rated player in the country before going to Texas. He has a 6’7? wingspan, and he is an excellent scorer and a good mid-range shooter. |
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#3 | Gordon Hayward | SF | 6-8, 200lbs, Age: 20 | Butler (Sophomore) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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#4 | Patrick Patterson | PF | 6-8, 223lbs, Age: 21 | Kentucky (Junior) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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#5 | Paul George | SF | 6-9, 214lbs, Age: 20 | Fresno St. (Sophomore) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Five Up!
If by some chance, Colangelo manages to move up into the top 10 of the draft… then watch for the Raptors to aggressively pursue and try to land an impact type of replacement for Bosh. More specifically, their main target/focus should/could be on picks #4 Minnesota, #7 Detroit, or #9 Utah, all of which could be in play.
At #9 the Raptors would be able to draft their player of choice off the big board, and at #7 they might be able to claim one of the 6 best players in the draft (Wall, Turner, Cousins, Favours, Johnson, Monroe) who may slip on draft night (see either Kevin Mchale’s drafting history or the Atlanta Hawks- for examples of why top prospects don’t actually get drafted where they should). But if the Raptors can get as high as #4, then I believe it is a two man race and it depends on who’s position you think is harder to fill/replace: Turk or Bosh:
If you believe that Turkoglu and the small forward position should be the top priority for the Raptors then you will need to get into the top 5 to land Wesley Johnson. But if you are not sold on the Amir Johnson/Andrea Bargnani combo and feel that the PF will be the greatest weakness for this team post Bosh, then look for them to add Greg Monroe who may still be available at 7 and possibly but highly unlikely, as low as 9.
Rank | Name | Position | Essentials | From | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wesley Johnson | SF | 6-8, 206lbs, Age: 22 | Syracuse (Junior) | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() I- heart- Johnson and at the 5th overall, he’s a steal. |
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Greg Monroe | PF | 6-11, 247lbs, Age: 19 | Georgetown (Sophomore) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Five Down!
If the Raptors do move Turkoglu before or at the draft, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of two things happen:
- They include swapping first round picks as part of the deal. And since most teams to show an interest in Turkoglu will be the types of teams that see themselves as being close to a title and view Turkoglu as that “missing piece”- it also means that potential trading partner will likely draft lower in the 1st round
- After dealing Turkoglu, they then address the wing as their top priority (once again!) and look to the draft to fill that hole. Since at the SF position, after Wesley Johnson (projected top 5), Luke Babbit (projected top 10), and Gordon Hayward (who is already on our board), there is no consensus on the talent of the draft eligible small forwards, most scouts and analysts place the remainder of the SF group in the late first round /bubble category.
So, were the Raptors to move down into the early 20s, look for them to grab anybody off the big board top 5 who may slip the night of the draft, or more specifically, and of these SF players who fit what the Raps need and who can help out right away in a supporting or bench role. Again, it’s apparent that my preference for this team is to whenever possible, draft older players, from larger programs.
Rank | Name | Position | Essentials | From | ||||||||||||||||||||
Damion James | SF | 6-8, 227lbs, Age: 22 | Texas (Senior) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Stanley Robinson | SF | 6-8, 213lbs, Age: 21 | Connecticut (Senior) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Haha, thank goodness you aren’t the GM or else we’d be stuck with Udoh