Canadian Content

I would love to see both guys playing in the NBA for sure. I like how they have garnered attention as potential draftees but their spots in the Draft will depend on their seasons next year. I’ve seen Thompson play when he was in high school in the Toronto area and he has gotten a lot better as a player since then. The same for Joseph, who can play either guard spot at the college level.

To answer your question, yes I think these guys will get drafted.

If Thompson has a good year at Texas, and by that if he can pull off a DeMarcus Cousins type season which he is capable of, then he’s a first rounder for sure. For bigs, the allowance to be drafted on potential is a lot wider than for guards. Even if he has a decent season, think Deon Thompson in his freshman and sophmore seasons at UNC, he could still declare and be drafted fairly high. There are so few quality big men in the NBA that can do what Thompson does AND defend that he is almost like a hot commodity before he’s even eligible. That alone would warrant long looks from NBA GMs.

As for Joseph, he will likely be a second rounder after next season I would think unless he really shows something at the college level. He is a pass first type guard with a shot and can get by almost anyone. If he can show that he can run an elite team offense, penetrate at will and create his own shot, then he could be a late first round player. The many guards and perimeter players in college, not including the rest of the world, make being a backcourt player a tough spot to play in terms of the NBA Draft. I really think that Joseph is two years away from being in a position to be drafted for that reason. Seasoning never hurts and even if he goes the way of Europe, he would still be in a better position at the end of it all.

I was saving that for a Can Content post either today or tomorrow. I like how publications are picking up on more Canadian talent and Pangos is a legit talent. Since his blow up summer last year at the FIBA event, he seems to be on every high major school’s target list. After his showing at the Jordan Brand Classic international game, he’s looking like the next Steve Nash for real.