Around the Mocks - Updated January 31, 2006

by RaptorsHQ - Archives on Jan 31, 2006 6:00 AM EST

Draftexpress.com: Updated January 29, 2006

At 3: Adam Morrison, Gonzaga (H: 6â€™8â€ W: 215 Pos: SF Age: 21)

Pros: Excellent scorer. Confident to the point of being cocky, Morrison is an excellent leader. Has a high basketball IQ. Solid passer. Has developed the "aura" of a star and has developed a Kobe-esque way of drawing foul calls. Intense competitor.

Cons: Has trouble creating his own shot. More of a scorer than a shooter, although his jumper has improved considerably. Has the same problem that Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich faced coming out of college: Is he a product of his conference or a genuine star?

Chapman's Take: Morrison is the most polarized player in this draft. Some see the next Larry Bird. Some see the next Wally Sczerbiak. I actually see a lot of Richard Hamilton in him: Always running, great mid-range game. I have come around on him this season, as he has shown me an uncanny ability to score and top-notch leadership. He may never be an All-Star, but certainly would be a solid contributor to this team at worst.

At 22: Thabo Sefolosha, Angelico Biella (H: 6â€™6â€ W: 181 Pos: SG/SF Age: 21)

Here's what he's all about

Chapman's Take: I think RaptorsHQ needs to hire recently fired International Scouting Director Scott Howard to field this one. Better yet, let's get Raptors TV to start showing some Angelico Biella games.

At 33: Terrell Everett, Oklahoma (H: 6â€™4â€ W: 188 Pos: PG Age: 21)

Pros: Anyone watch Texas-Oklahoma Saturday night? This kid is all energy. He was dominant all night, scoring 25 points, dropping eight dimes and adding seven boards. He has great height for a point and is versatile enough to play the two as well. He's a great leaper and his length and athleticism make him a solid defender.

Cons: Averages 4.1 turnovers a game, which basically gives him Betty Crocker as a nickname. Turnover prone might be an understatement. Jumper is questionable and he's shooting only 29.2% from long-range this season. Those are Steve Blake numbers.

Chapman's Take: Everett got my attention last season when his play forced one of my faves, Drew Lavender, to transfer to Xavier. I like the energy and the versatility, but I'd like to see some more consistency from him in terms of taking care of the ball and knocking down the jumper.

NBADraft.net

At 5: Ronnie Brewer, Arkansas (H: 6â€™7â€ W: 220 Pos: SG Age: 20)

Pros: A long, lean, athletic swingman with the handle to play the point. Very aggressive player at both ends of the court. Long wingspan leads to many steals, as evidenced by his 3.4 steals per game this season, which leads the SEC by almost a steal a game. Brewer is a scorer (18.4 PPG this season leads the SEC) who can create his own shot. Word is a large contingent from the Toronto Raptors' front office traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to watch Brewer a few weeks ago. The 6-7, 217-pounder scored 22 points, hit four 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds in 40 minutes in a 78-75 overtime loss to Alabama. The junior was averaging 18.2 points and 4.8 rebounds entering the game at Auburn.

Cons: Brewerâ€™s jumper is a tad suspect, something that is not uncommon for athletic swingmen his age. Remember LeBronâ€™s jumper coming out of high school? His aggressiveness does occasionally get him in trouble on defense.

At 14: Maurice Ager, Michigan State (H: 6â€™5â€ W: 180 Pos: SG Age: 21)

Pros: A shooter, something that the Raps could really use. A fantastic athlete, anyone who has watched a Spartan game in the past few years has probably come away having viewed a spectacular dunk by Ager. As with most MSU players, Ager is a hard worker and a solid leader. Anyone who watched MSUâ€™s classic tilt with Gonzaga in this yearâ€™s Maui Invitational left impressed with Agerâ€™s 36 points and buzzer-beating trey that forced the first of three overtimes.

Cons: Much like Hassan Adams, Ager might be a little small to play the 2-guard in the Association. As such, he will need to improve his ball handling ability in order to play some point. Ager has also struggled with consistency in the past, but may finally be putting it all together in his senior year.

At 35: Marco Killingsworth, Indiana (H: 6â€™8â€ W: 268 Pos: PF Age: 23)

Pros: Excellent low-post scorer who has dominated some big-name competition. Not convinced? Check out this line from a November game against Duke: 34 points and 10 rebounds. He took it to Shelden Williams repeatedly in that game and an unnamed RaptorsHQ staffer in the know has called Williamsâ€™ defense â€œrock solid, like Hoffaâ€™s headâ€. A lefty, he has improving range and has displayed solid shot selection.

Cons: Killingsworth will be 24 on draft day and we all know the teamâ€™s recent track record in drafting 24 year olds. At least he doesnâ€™t play for BYU. Not a good free throw shooter, which is questionable for front-court players. Conditioning has also been questioned.

Conclusion: With this draft, the Raptors would become field a much more versatile and athletic lineup. Brewer has been compared to Joe Johnson and could be just as good as RaptorsHQ favourite, Rudy Gay. Killingsworth would provide frontcourt depth and scoring. A solid draft.

Note: All mock drafts have been prepared without taking team needs into account.

Chapman's Notes

Caught a bit of the UConn-Providence game on Saturday and it was another less-than-impressive performance from Rudy Gay. 10 and 4 in 25 minutes of play. Howland doesn't think he loves the game enough. Anyone else get that impression?...Flipside of that coin was Boston College's Craig Smith. Caught the Eagles' must-win game at Miami and Smith was dominant: 18 points, 14 boards and 6-6 from the line. Against Georgia Tech on Sunday, he put up even better numbers: 25 points, 13 boards and 9-9 from the line. At 6-7, Smith reminds me a little of another undersized Eagle PF, Donya Abrams....Keep an eye on Temple PG Mardy Collins. At 6-6, he's got the size. As Saturday's performance against Maryland showed, he's also got the game: 25 points, 12 dimes, 5 steals and 4 boards....Caught the Villanova-Notre Dame thriller on Saturday and came away unimpressed with Notre Dame's Torin Francis. When he joined the Irish four years ago, he was heralded as perhaps the top recruit Notre Dame has ever had. I just don't see his game translating to NBA success. He is much too tentative and lacks agression on both ends of the court.

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Comments

I was wondering if you guys had any analysis on the non-North Americans who are supposed to go in the top ten. (Andrea Bargnani, Tiago Splitter, Rudy Fernandez.) I've obviously never seen any of them play and thought someone out there may have some good insight. (I would imagine Splitter is out the window because Babcock wouldn't want to draft another Brazilian).

by Aaron on Jan 11, 2006 10:10 AM EST reply actions

Couple things.

Any thoughts on the Raps taking Denham Brown in the second round? Maybe a little early to draft him - but he's from TO and would be a crowd / ticket pleaser. Add to mix one Jamaal Magloir and you have some srious Can Con.

I heard Jack Armstrong talking about trading Mike James cause his value is high? What's up with that? Raps should sign him now long term.

by utes on Jan 11, 2006 10:40 AM EST reply actions

It is never too early to talk about the draft; everything is pure speculation until Stern steps up to podium (and jaws drop when he announces the Raps pick) but it great nonetheless. Just to point out some key information:

Disclaimer on nbadraft.net

The team needs are not factored into the mock draft until after the NBA season ends.

Disclaimer on draftexpress.com

Team needs have NOT yet been taken into account in this mock draft.

Interesting that Brokeback has fallen to 6 in the draftexpress mock.

by Poppa Vlazo on Jan 11, 2006 12:16 PM EST reply actions

The raptors NEED to come away with from this draft with somebody that can create his own shot, a slasher that can get to the basket. I'm liking the sound of Ronnie Brewer, but i've never seen him play so what do I know. anyways we all know Babcock is going to do his own thing. hopefully the ping pong balls bounce our way this year.

by Chris on Jan 11, 2006 7:29 PM EST reply actions

Stop voting for mike james straight up fo darko,mike james for a first rd pick sounds better or in a artest package.

by FANTASY GM on Jan 11, 2006 8:24 PM EST reply actions

I always like talking about the draft early. And I would like to know a bit more about Tiago Splitter....From what I have read and heard, he could play center and is a great defense player (in Europe at least). Wouldnt he fit right in with the raptors?? A defensive center to play along bosh, and block shots, intimidate players, and grab rebounds? Sounds perfect. Plus he is projected to go high (unlike hoffa was).

Plus, I have a beef with many draft analysts. After the raptors picked Hoffa, everyone was saying that you should draft the best player available regardless of what you need. But this does not hold true for other professional drafts...like the NFL. Wasnt it just last year, that the guy people were projecting to go 1st or second dropped all of the way down to #18 just because people had other needs??? Why was it so wrong for the raptors to pick a center which the despartly needed 5-10 places ahead or where MOST people thought he would go?? Select for what you need, not the best player. If the beset player is a PF, you dont select him beacuse you already have Bosh.

by Scott on Jan 11, 2006 10:32 PM EST reply actions

Why do others always steal your material? You guys talk about the draft and then others jump on for the ride? What's next? Other blogs having a European scout to give Euro Updates?

by Diablero on Jan 12, 2006 10:23 PM EST reply actions

Gotto agree with Scott; centre is this team's bigass gaping black hole right now and it needs to be plugged (apologies for bad imagery). This is the one position we have NOTHING at. For this draft, go big or go home. Free Hoffa means free him from Toronto, send him down, package in a trade, or at the very least stop starting him and let him back someone up who knows what he's doing.

Re: Mike James forget trading him, he's proven himself worth signing and I think with a decent offer he'd stay in Toronto, where he got his first starting gig and is having his best year.

by benjibopper on Jan 13, 2006 11:35 AM EST reply actions

I'm liking Ron Brewster as a pick.. He can play 1, 2 and a bit of 3. He's a poor man's Vince and maybe a little better on D. He will never have a "classic" jump shot cause he got hurt in a swimming pool accident as a kid. Rap need a 2 guard, and it's a bonus that he can play a little point as well.

His dad was a former NBAer and has hoops in his blood.

I think his stock is going up quickly as he's carrying the razorbacks this season.

Ager and Brown are waaaayy to small for the NBA. They make Bosh look fat. I think breaking 200lbs is a minimum for the NBA.

Plus, do we really need another Dee Brown in the NBA? (or NFL for that matter) If your last name is Brown, make sure you name him/her Dee.

by Ustat on Jan 17, 2006 12:05 AM EST reply actions

I hope they take Rodney Carney with Denver's pick!

by Dmytri Kleiner on Jan 20, 2006 1:01 PM EST reply actions

I agree w/ ben. Hoffa should not start, ever. Toronto needs a center. I hate seeing other teams beating us up in the paint. Hoffa in a package w/ Rose for a pick? Jamaal Magloir would be nice in T.O.

Mike James needs to stay. Worst case scenario T.O. will have a reliable PG.

NO more PF we have way too many....CB4, Charlie V, Red Rocket, Williams.....WE need a Center, Small forward (cuz how long will Rose stay in TO?) and a Shooting Guard to back Mo Pete.

by Clos on Jan 23, 2006 4:51 PM EST reply actions

We need a Center

by Clos on Jan 23, 2006 4:52 PM EST reply actions

We need a Center, no more PF. Mike james needs to stay in TO. worst case scenario: a reliable PG.

by Clos on Jan 23, 2006 4:55 PM EST reply actions

ok.. how many teams in the NBA do not need a center?! Sheesh.. and how many centers will start in the nba from the 2006 draft??

by Ustat on Jan 27, 2006 12:11 AM EST reply actions

It would be cool to get Morrison - but I suspect he will go #1 when all is said and done.

by utes on Jan 31, 2006 9:46 AM EST reply actions

I would trade down the pick in first rd and pick up extra picks ans alson would like to denham brown and dee brown or both in a raps uniform from the second rd hopefully we get trade value for rose and/or m james and a pg or sf taken in ist rd less they can get splitter a monster on the d fence.

by FANTASY GM on Jan 31, 2006 2:15 PM EST reply actions

Clos Says:
...Mike James needs to stay. Worst case scenario T.O. will have a reliable PG.

I agree that he is a reliable PG, but unfortunately we would have to commit too many years and too much money.
Also, James who is a DECENT player is having a career year and will demand 5 years most likely and a long contract to a 30+ guy is the last thing we need; His value is high and the Raps could be better served by trading him, to get a younger SG who can get open looks with Calderon penetrating and dishing to the SG for wide open jumpers.

by Clark on Jan 31, 2006 9:00 PM EST reply actions

Its about time and why is Aroujo and Woods still on the bench?

by Van on Feb 1, 2006 8:13 AM EST reply actions

Ok.. changed my mind.. JJ Reddick! 40 points against west V. going 11-13 FG and may end up as best FT in NCAA history. If he played a full NBA game that would have averaged 120 points.

Had good spurt vs BC tonight, but relatively human with 23.

by Ustat on Feb 1, 2006 11:36 PM EST reply actions

Denham Brown?!?! Y'all on crack. Instead maybe we should get former raptor SG Dee Brown to unretire and draft PG Dee Brown (Illinois), keep Eric Williams and draft Eric Williams (C Wake Forest) and also draft Allan Ray (SG Villanova) and trade for Ray Allen. Maybe get Bobby Jones (SG- Washington) for some golf lessons.

Love to hear Chuck Swarski call that game: Dee Brown to Eric Williams to Dee Brown to Eric Willams to Ray Allen, Allan Ray kaboom.

by Ustat on Feb 1, 2006 11:48 PM EST reply actions

This guy is the real deal. I saw him play when Benneton-Treviso came to play the Raps two years ago in the pre-season and even then he was the best player on the floor. He's long, lean, can put the ball on the floor and is solid shooter from the outside. Although we have Bosh and CV, I wouldn't mind drafting him b/c I think he'll be a terrific player. Plus, I'd like to hear Steven A. Smith lament us again on draft night again!

by Andrea Bargnani on Feb 2, 2006 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Review of recent amazing performances by Thabo Sefolosha

Against Livorno, he posted 26 points, 5/7 (2 pts), 3/5 (3 pts), 9 rebonds, 2 blocks, 5 interceptions and an evaluation of 37. His team was behind by the end of the game. He took over the game and brought the victory, being referred to as "stratospherical" in forums and newspapers.

Against Treviso, he grabbed 15 rebounds and posted 9 points and added 6 assists (efficiency 21), and totally outplayed Andrea Bargnani (2 points, 2 rebs, efficiency -3) with his amazing defenseâ€¦.

by Biella guy on Feb 27, 2006 8:00 AM EST reply actions