Who should the Raps draft?

[minids]

Hello boys and girls. It's almost that time of the year again. NBA Draft is not far away. With a new GM, would the raptor do any better than they did last year? Personally, I think they did pretty good last year. Charlie V is pretty good, Joey is decent too, but more importantly, What position do you think the raptors need to improve the most. Share you opinions!!!

I think the raps are always weak in the center position but there isn't too many legit center in the draft. Tyrus Thomas and LaMarcus Aldridge are touted as the most talented bigman around and they will go pretty high. Andrea Bargnani is another big guy but he draws comparison to dirk so I don't think he the type of guy we need.

So if not center, what position? There are a few shooters around in JJ Redick and Adam Morrision.

[MrWizard]

So wait, we don't want a Dirk? A big guy who can rebound, play inside, and shoot 3's? Care to explain why?

I agree that we do need a big man. We aren't very deep at that position so one would help. Calderon is decent, but another point guard might help also.

[Sajjad]

PF-Bosh/VIlla/Sow
C-Bosh/Villa/Sow
SF-Villa/Pete/Graham/Bonner
SG-Pete/????
PG-James? Calderon? Martin? Barrett? A. Williams?

Everything looks defined in the SF and above category...but the guards category looks lost. We still don't if Mike James will be re-signed, or A. Williams or D. Martin will be released. Then shooting guards, Peterson is good, but that's it practically, plus his ball handling sucks. IMO, it's best to go for a guard, or some centre/F that's plays like a guard (ie Dirk type).

BTW...when BC was in PHX, they had to have been scouting low talent players because it was likely they'd draft low. So are all the notes/reports that Babcock took, left for BC?

[MrWizard]

Babcock likely doesn't scout, so as long as the scouts stayed, the notes stayed.

James won't return. You can't rely on Williams to do anything with his bad knees, and Calderon is probably still a second stringer.

I thought we were deeper at the guard position, but I still think we could use another big man, maybe one that plays like a guard.

[minids]

So wait, we don't want a Dirk? A big guy who can rebound, play inside, and shoot 3's? Care to explain why?

I agree that we do need a big man. We aren't very deep at that position so one would help. Calderon is decent, but another point guard might help also.


Dirk might able to play inside now but at the start of his career, he was more of a outside guy. What the raps need is a legit center, not another power forward. Someone who can handle big guys on the block. Grab 10 boards a game and maybe block shots and provide some decent offence. I don't think Dirk is a 10 board a game kind of guy, which also the reason Dallas brough Dampier (correct spelling?) to the team.

As for PG, I know you guys have a point, but I heard this is a weak point guard draft. They are few and not so good? Hopefully, we can use the PG we drafted next year

[Hanniganite]

Babcock likely doesn't scout, so as long as the scouts stayed, the notes stayed.

James won't return. You can't rely on Williams to do anything with his bad knees, and Calderon is probably still a second stringer.

I thought we were deeper at the guard position, but I still think we could use another big man, maybe one that plays like a guard.

He did, was in Europe also.
Calderon is a backup for at least another year but he's not a bad one at that.
Draft for talent, not position. No matter what, they should pick the best player available, not a C or PG that they need; unless it's a trade down they've already worked out. They don't need another young PG unless it's a Paul, which isn't happening this year. Best bet is to go out and get a decent veteran PG.

[Wildfire]

BTW...when BC was in PHX, they had to have been scouting low talent players because it was likely they'd draft low. So are all the notes/reports that Babcock took, left for BC?
All the notes Babcock took were written on cocktail napkins, and have become illegible.

I feel the main key is, the Raptors can't draft another white guy.
They don't mix.
Every white guy they have drafted have sucked, Radojevic, Bradley, Araujo, Van de Hare etc.

Fight the power, don't draft whitey.

[ABOVEtheRIM]

I think the raptors should trade down and try to get both Marcus Williams and Sheldon Williams. Then in the 2nd round get a guy like denham brown

[rdtx2002]

All the notes Babcock took were written on cocktail napkins, and have become illegible.

I feel the main key is, the Raptors can't draft another white guy.
They don't mix.
Every white guy they have drafted have sucked, Radojevic, Bradley, Araujo, Van de Hare etc.

Fight the power, don't draft whitey.

that is kind of a stupid thing to say..

[rdtx2002]

Babcock likely doesn't scout

umm. Lead scout for the Wolves for the past many years.. and has personally flown to Europe on occasion for the Raptors..

sorry.. that is clearly false.

[Kirilenko47]

What happened to all the Rudy Gay supporters?
I think we should take this guy if he's available at #5 (assuming we don't move up or down). If you read some of the scouting reports, they say he's got a ton of potential BUT sometimes lacks the motivation. If he does make an effort, he can take over games. Sounds a bit similar to CV. Well Gay has fallen to 8th on draft power rankings but then a few guys aren't declaring for the draft (Noah, and some other guy) so that puts Gay at about 5th or 6th in the projected draft order.

Like everyone else has said, we gotta draft for the best player available but based on the circumstances right now, it seems that Gay will be the guy to pick.

Lets wait until workouts and everything go through, then we can make more educated guesses.

[Hanniganite]

I think the raptors should trade down and try to get both Marcus Williams and Sheldon Williams. Then in the 2nd round get a guy like denham brown

Well http://nbadraft.net/ has Raps at 5, taking Gay with the two Williamses going 8/10...dunno how they would manage to get 2 for 1...if they trade down it'd probably be for a pick and a player (or a future pick). The site has the Raps taking Brown at 35....I wouldn't mind that at all. Taking the Canadian and CV's former teammate. Ha, if the draft goes that way, the Raps could have 3 former Huskie teammates.

[rdtx2002]

Rudy Gay or LaMarcus Aldridge.

looks like Joakim Noah is staying.

[Anessa]

Someone with athleticism and skill...

[Wildfire]

that is kind of a stupid thing to say..
I'm white.

it was a joke post.

[mustanglover76]

went to meet and greet with mr.colangelo a month ago and to me it sounded like he's interested in trading pick for immediate help...we've got tons of young guys...could use some experience proven players...

[Capt.]

Assuming we can keep Mike James around, we shouldn't have a problem with offense. This year we didn't have much of a problem with scoring. It was defense that was lacking. So to me the most important upgrade would be a big man to defend the paint and clear boards. Someone like Jermaine O'Neal or Ben Wallace would be great.

I'd also like to see the Raptors draft an exciting dunker. Charlie V, Bosh, and Graham aren't bad but it would be nice to have someone who can rip the rims down. Rudy Gay maybe?

[Hoodwink]

I'm not too high on Thomas or Bargnani. I'm not really that big a fan of the word 'potential' and Thomas is looking more like a Stromile Swift (bust) to me down the road. Aldridge would be a no-brainer if he's still available, but I think he'd go first.

IMO, would be best to let James walk and trade down to about 13th to nab Marcus Williams. We'd get a solid veteran or another pick and Williams, who is probably the best pure point guard in this draft. James is too much of a chucker to me anyways, let him go.

[m77m7]

PF-Bosh/VIlla/Sow
C-Bosh/Villa/Sow
SF-Villa/Pete/Graham/Bonner
SG-Pete/????
PG-James? Calderon? Martin? Barrett? A. Williams?

Everything looks defined in the SF and above category...but the guards category looks lost. We still don't if Mike James will be re-signed, or A. Williams or D. Martin will be released. Then shooting guards, Peterson is good, but that's it practically, plus his ball handling sucks. IMO, it's best to go for a guard, or some centre/F that's plays like a guard (ie Dirk type).

BTW...when BC was in PHX, they had to have been scouting low talent players because it was likely they'd draft low. So are all the notes/reports that Babcock took, left for BC?
None of those in your "C" category are really centers

[minids]

I'm not too high on Thomas or Bargnani. I'm not really that big a fan of the word 'potential' and Thomas is looking more like a Stromile Swift (bust) to me down the road. Aldridge would be a no-brainer if he's still available, but I think he'd go first.

IMO, would be best to let James walk and trade down to about 13th to nab Marcus Williams. We'd get a solid veteran or another pick and Williams, who is probably the best pure point guard in this draft. James is too much of a chucker to me anyways, let him go.


Trading down is not exactly a bad idea depending what spot we get, but who do you have in mind? Not many centers on the move this days. Wish we got Jamaal Malgoire last year.

[gordholio]

I don't get the "salary cap" in the NBA. How come Toronto can only spend so much and not go after free agents galore when the Knicks seem to sign really expensive players and have a high payroll?

2005/06 New York Knicks Payroll: $108.4 million
2005/06 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $45 million
Roughly: $63.4 million over cap

2005/06 Toronto Raptors Payroll: $56.1 million
2005/06 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $45 million
Roughly: $11.1 million over cap

Doesn't seem like the salary cap is really much of a cap at all.

[mallik]

I don't get the "salary cap" in the NBA. How come Toronto can only spend so much and not go after free agents galore when the Knicks seem to sign really expensive players and have a high payroll?

2005/06 New York Knicks Payroll: $108.4 million
2005/06 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $45 million
Roughly: $63.4 million over cap

2005/06 Toronto Raptors Payroll: $56.1 million
2005/06 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $45 million
Roughly: $11.1 million over cap

Doesn't seem like the salary cap is really much of a cap at all.

Because you can go over the cap to sign your own players. New York's payroll is so high because they pay guys like Allen Houston $20 million per year.

[gordholio]

Because you can go over the cap to sign your own players. New York's payroll is so high because they pay guys like Allen Houston $20 million per year.
Anyway, crazy salaries - Allen Houston? $20m per year?