Raptors HQ - 2015 NBA Draft: The Toronto Raptors at number 20The International Fan Site of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Clubhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/14481/raptors-fave.png2015-06-29T09:09:05-04:00http://www.raptorshq.com/rss/stream/86021822015-06-29T09:09:05-04:002015-06-29T09:09:05-04:00An Introduction to Norman Powell
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<figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Delon Wright wasn't the only guy drafted by the Raptors on Thursday. Let's meet second-rounder Norman Powell. </p> <p>Second-round picks are hard to get too excited about. Rarely do the players snagged in the latter half the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Draft</a> amount to anything worth remembering; improbable gems like <span>Draymond Green</span> and <span>Manu Ginobili</span> are exceptions, not the norm.</p>
<p>Searching for steals has been a particularly futile operation for the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a>. <span>Uros Slokar</span>, DeeAndre Hulett, Remon Van de Hare, <span>Tomislav Zubcic</span> - these aren't made up names - they're all potential answers to a future Matt Devlin trivia question as Raptors' second-rounders who could never make it in the league.</p>
<p>All told, 13 players have heard their name called by Toronto in the final thirty picks - a set of players that has played just 600 NBA games combined. Take out the 255 games played by 2006 selection <span>P.J. Tucker</span> and the 160 played by <span>Quincy Acy</span> since 2012 and the Raptors' second-round track record looks even more bleak. For context, consider that <span>Damon Stoudamire</span>, the team's first ever draft choice, laced up for 878 games on his own.</p>
<p>That's a long-winded way of saying that <span>Norman Powell</span>, the 46th-overall pick, will probably never amount to much in the NBA. But that doesn't mean we can't hope and dream that Masai Ujiri just unearthed an outlier with the pick received as part of the <span>Greivis Vasquez</span> deal.</p>
<p>Here's what UCLA product Norman Powell will bring to the Raptors' organization.</p>
<h3>Overview</h3>
<p><b>Date of Birth: </b>July 25, 1993</p>
<p><b>Height: </b>6'4</p>
<p><b>Weight: </b>215 lbs</p>
<p><b>Wingspan: </b>6'11</p>
<p><b>Position: </b>Shooting Guard</p>
<p><i>Ranked the #50 prospect by </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Norman-Powell-6268/">Draft Express</a><i>, 8th among Seniors. </i></p>
<p><b>Career Stats</b></p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Season</td>
<td>Min.</td>
<td>PTS</td>
<td>REB</td>
<td>AST</td>
<td>STL</td>
<td>FG%</td>
<td>3FG%</td>
<td>FT%</td>
<td>USG%</td>
<td>PER</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2011-12</td>
<td>17.8</td>
<td>4.6</td>
<td>2.2</td>
<td>1.2</td>
<td>0.5</td>
<td>37.7</td>
<td>34.7</td>
<td>60.0</td>
<td>16.6</td>
<td>11.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2012-13</td>
<td>22.1</td>
<td>6.1</td>
<td>2.2</td>
<td>1.1</td>
<td>0.7</td>
<td>43.4</td>
<td>29.3</td>
<td>67.5</td>
<td>15.4</td>
<td>10.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2013-14</td>
<td>25.7</td>
<td>11.4</td>
<td>2.8</td>
<td>1.7</td>
<td>1.4</td>
<td>53.3</td>
<td>29.4</td>
<td>78.0</td>
<td>20.2</td>
<td>20.2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2014-15</td>
<td>34.6</td>
<td>16.4</td>
<td>4.7</td>
<td>2.1</td>
<td>1.8</td>
<td>45.6</td>
<td>31.9</td>
<td>75.1</td>
<td>25.3</td>
<td>19.6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><i>Stats via </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/norman-powell-1.html">Sports Reference</a></p>
<p>Powell, 22, took an old-school college journey, the kind we rarely see in an era where one-and-done 19-year-olds are the target demographic for NBA teams in the draft. Coming out of high-school he was a Top-50 recruit, but despite his high profile, he failed to lock down steady minutes upon arriving at UCLA. After playing a bit part for Ben Howland's Bruins in his freshman and sophomore seasons, Powell upped his efficiency and production with a more prominent role in his final two college campaigns - and boosted his draft stock in the process.</p>
<p>He played well enough in those two years to be named an Honorable Mention for the Pac-12 All Defensive teams in both his junior and senior years, and wrapped his collegiate career with All Pac-12 First-Team honors this past season (along with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/26/8849339/nba-draft-2015-toronto-raptors-lets-meet-delon-wright">Raptors first-rounder Delon Wright</a>).</p>
<h3>His Game</h3>
<p>If Powell is going to succeed in the NBA, it will be because of his supreme athleticism and physical build. Sure, he stands just 6'4 - but you can't consider him undersized for a shooting guard given his 6'11 wingspan.</p>
<p>As his career numbers indicate, he's not a shooter by any means. The Draft Express video below illustrates his flawed, complicated release:</p>
<p><span><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iuapMiFR2DQ" height="315" width="560"></iframe></span></p>
<p>What the video also showcases though, is his Space Jam-inspired leaping ability. His 40.5 inch vertical jump ranked 7th at the NBA Draft Combine, and he puts that skill to use when attacking the basket. He's a smooth - and at times, vicious - finisher around the hoop. In his third season at UCLA, he showed some serious promise by converting 60.7 percent of his two-point attempts. With a success rate like that, his porous deep-shooting didn't stand out as much. A 10 percent fall-off from inside the line in 2014-15 amplified his shaky three-point stroke though.</p>
<p>Defensively, Powell is able to use his monstrous wingspan to hassle opposing guards, seal off penetration attempts and force steals - all things he will have to do at the next level in order to make up for his offensive deficiencies. Given his athletic ability, there is no reason to think he can't stay with opposing shooting guards. Not to mention, if he is able to carve himself out a steady rotation spot with the Raptors down the road, he will likely be able to guard the kinds of point guards that destroyed Toronto's perimeter defenders last year.</p>
<p>In a couple years time, a second-unit back court of Wright and Powell could be a defensive behemoth - even if they have trouble scoring the ball themselves.</p>
<h3>The Verdict</h3>
<p>As has been mentioned, there is no use getting worked up over a team's second-round pick. You could be disgruntled about the Raptors choosing Powell instead of Dakari Johnson (48th-overall) or <span>Branden Dawson</span> (56th), but it's about as logical as getting miffed over losing a roulette bet on Black-15.</p>
<p>Like with most second-rounders, it's more than likely that Powell's weaknesses will keep him from ever being a regular NBA contributor. Unless he can figure out how to knock down outside shots consistently, Powell's ceiling is probably as a defensive ringer at the end of the bench - kind of like what <span>Chuck Hayes</span> was in Toronto's big man rotation this year.</p>
<p>There is however, always the remote possibility of him re-working his game and becoming something more. Maybe he'll re-construct his shooting mechanics and become an ultimate "Three-and-D" guy, or become a defender so elite that he can't be relegated to bench duty. Hell, with his skill set, he could be a future out-of-nowhere Dunk Contest champion <i>a la </i><span>Jeremy Evans</span> in 2012.</p>
<p>That's the fun part about second-rounders. When they do surpass expectations and become NBA contributors - or even stars - it's incredibly rewarding to behold. With Powell, it might be best for us to put him out of our minds, let him work on his game with the new Raptors' D-League squad next season, and embrace the bonus it will be if he does one day make an impact with the big club.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on new Raptor Norman Powell?</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/29/8860353/nba-draft-2015-toronto-raptors-norman-powellSean Woodley2015-06-26T13:00:03-04:002015-06-26T13:00:03-04:00The Raptors Get Defensive in the 2015 NBA Draft
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<figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>So who are these guys the Raptors picked?</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> entered the 2015 draft with the 20th pick and <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/24/8841073/report-raptors-actively-exploring-trades-for-kyle-lowry-demar-derozan" target="_blank">rumours swirling</a> and not much else.</p>
<p>Then, about midway through the first round, <span>Greivis Vasquez</span> was <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/25/8849023/2015-nba-draft-trade-alert-raptors-deal-greivis-vasquez-to-the-bucks" target="_blank">traded</a> to the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a> for the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>' 2017 draft pick and the 46th pick in the draft this year.</p>
<p>This trade is interesting for a few reasons. The Raptors now have two extra first round draft picks. In next year's draft they now have their own first rounder as well as either the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knicks</a> or <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nuggets</a> first round pick (whichever is worse, as the Nuggets get to pick which one they get). That pick could be very valuable, depending on how the Knicks and Nuggets approach this off-season.</p>
<p>In the 2017 draft, the Raptors have their own first and second round draft picks, as well as the Clippers' first round draft pick. The Clippers pick is lottery protected, but there's little chance the Clippers end up out of the playoffs anytime soon (so we can also expect the pick to be in the 20+ range).</p>
<p>The other reason this deal is exciting is that the Raptors take back no salary for Vasquez. The Bucks absorbed his contract into their cap space directly. This creates a Trade Exception (commonly and confusingly shortened to TPE) for the Raptors in the amount of $6.5 million. This allows them to absorb a salary of up to $6.5 million in a trade without having to match salary going back, up until June 26th of next year.</p>
<p>Perhaps more importantly, if the Raptors renounce that TPE, it translates directly into cap room. That means that if they let all their free agents walk this summer they are now lined up to have $22.4 million in cap room (assuming the projected $67.1 million cap holds after the moratorium). That's enough for a supermax deal (maximum salary for 10+ year veterans) so they can make a competitive bid on any free agent on the market this summer. Or split that amount into a restricted free agent max bid ($15.8 million) and have about $7.1 million left over to chase another contributor (maybe a <span>Cory Joseph</span>) or facilitate a trade that has more salary coming in than going out.</p>
<p>Now, onto the draft picks themselves.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p><b>With the 20th overall pick, the Toronto Raptors select: Delon Wright from the University of Utah.</b></p>
<p>This pick was a tantalizing one for many fans. As the draft went on, lots of players on the Raptors' presumed draft board were still sitting there approaching 20. Kevon Looney, Montrezl Harrell, Justin Anderson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tyus Jones - they were all still there. Even Jerian Grant only went off the board at 19.</p>
<p>But the biggest shocker was that not only was practically the entire presumptive draft board still there, but someone slipped too. Bobby Portis, ranked at 17th by Draft Express, 13th by NBADraft.net, 17th by SI, and 15th by Basketball-Insiders, was there at 20 too.</p>
<p>So Raptors fans got excited. I got excited. When a guy slips like that, it tempts you to throw out your draft board and grab him. And even if they didn't do that, everyone fans wanted was still there to be taken.</p>
<p>And then Masai saw this, said "Wasn't the Bruno pick last year enough of a hint?", and proceeded to take Delon Wright, a point guard who just finished up his senior year at Utah.</p>
<p>My initial reaction was disappointment - I'd done my draft preparation posts and although I remembered having him on the list, he hadn't stood out. Mostly because I had skewed my picks mostly to freshmen and sophomores, guys with high upside if also potential busts.</p>
<p>But looking back at my posts, I don't know why I didn't have him higher, in spite of his age (23) as a senior.</p>
<p>Wright is an athletic guard, not an insane athlete but quick and strong. He above all else is a great defender - both on the ball and off. He is great at anticipating the play and providing timely help - whether that be by jumping passing lanes or blocking shots on unsuspecting slashers. His 6'8" wingspan, very nice for a PG, helps here as well.</p>
<p>He's also a heady player offensively, with a good number of assists for a college PG and a low turnover rate. He excels running the pick and roll, using his 6'5" height to his full advantage, finding the roller or kicking to shooters when he can't get to the rim. His ball handling and decisiveness could use a little work, but such is life with draftees. His shooting is not great, but it's decent, with him posting about 35 percent from 3 this past year. He's much better on catch and shoot jumpers than off the dribble, which is a drawback for the pick and roll, but he might find himself off the ball a lot anyway depending on the backup SG situation.</p>
<p>Throw in the fact that <a href="http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Analytics-Models-and-the-NBA-Draft-5021/" target="_blank">analytics models love him</a> (9th best in the draft in this article compiling many formulas), and his defence-first-pass-first attitude, and this pick looks really good. It's also good to note that he was actually a bit of a young senior - he just turned 23 in April, not earlier in the year like many others.</p>
<p>There are those who will say this was a need pick after trading Vasquez, but I suspect (and <span>Dwane Casey</span> and Masai both said this in their post-draft interviews) that he was top of their list all along. Although fans expected more swing-for-the-fences long term picks like Bruno, I can understand the decision to take a guy you can be pretty sure will contribute (and right away, too). Consider this: with Bruno and Bebe still very much in the development phase, potentially bringing <span>DeAndre Daniels</span> over who will need seasoning, and with four first round draft picks over the next two years, maybe having more guys to develop (and share the three available slots on <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/26/8847721/city-of-mississauga-to-be-granted-nba-d-league-team" target="_blank">the new D-League team</a>) might not have been the best strategy.</p>
<p>---</p>
<p><b>With the 46th overall pick, the Toronto Raptors select: Norman Powell from UCLA.</b></p>
<p>Yeah, yeah, it was the Bucks picking him, but that's only because draft night trades of draft picks aren't allowed to happen until after the pick is made. I like the sound of the above better.</p>
<p>This pick was the one the Raptors got for Vasquez, as their original 2nd round pick was traded to Atlanta in the Bebe/Lou deal.</p>
<p>Again, some names slipped down to this position - including some that I had listed as possibilities for the 20th pick (if outside possibilities). Christian Wood was there, Dakari Johnson, JP Tokoto, Cliff Alexander, and of course Norman Powell. I'd had Powell as a dark horse candidate at 20, who, just like Wright, I passed over quickly due to my youth bias. But with a mid second rounder? This is a good pick.</p>
<p>Powell is a 22 year old shooting guard. He was a senior, but like Wright a young one - except even more extreme. He just turned 22 this spring. So that's very nice, to get a guy with four years experience in college and probably a little more room for improvement still. He's a little short for the 2 position at 6'4" (though not overly short) but more than makes up for it with his very good 6'11" wingspan and 41" max vertical. He's a tremendous athlete, able to get up to the rim with little effort and no preparation (reminiscent of <span>Terrence Ross</span> in that way). But he's much stronger than Ross, very solidly built, and has a quick first step.</p>
<p>Powell looks like another defence pick, even if his defence was a little spotty in college. He certainly has all the tools, and uses them well man-to-man, but tends to gamble and give up easy baskets when he misses. Casey is actually a good coach for him in this regard, as <span>Kyle Lowry</span> has cut way back on his gambling ways under Casey. He also seemed to develop that gambling tendency only recently with a heavier offensive workload - in previous years when he was a secondary option offensively he performed much better, so that's a good sign for his role as primarily a defensive player at the next level.</p>
<p>Offensively Powell is mostly a slasher, driving in straight lines and bulling past his man with his strength. Draws free throws and can hit from the line at a decent rate (75%), which is a positive sign for his jumper, which currently needs a lot of work (though there are signs of a potentially workable 3-pointer, with a 3PT% of just over 30 percent). Poor offence initiator, not much of a passer either. More of a defensive specialist at this time, but he might be able to develop a 3-and-D game if he can knock down the corner 3, and he has an explosive drive and great finishing through contact at the rim as a counter to players who close out too fast.</p>
<p>An interesting pick to say the least, and very good value in the middle of the second round.</p>
<p>What do you guys think of the Raptors' draft night?</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/26/8850929/nba-draft-2015-toronto-raptors-delon-wright-norman-powellDaniel Hackett2015-06-25T23:57:44-04:002015-06-25T23:57:44-04:002015 NBA Draft: Raptors get Powell at no. 46
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<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>As many thought, the Raptors managed to trade into the second round and pick Norman Powell from UCLA.</p> <p>While mid- to late-second round picks are rarely impact players in the NBA, they do have value. As part of the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a>' trade of <span>Greivis Vasquez</span>, it's been confirmed that Toronto gets the no. 46 pick in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">2015 NBA Draft</a>.</p>
<p>With the pick, the Raptors get shooting guard Norman Powell from UCLA. He's a 6'4" guard who was pegged to go around the late 40s. In his last NCAA season, he averaged 16.4 points, 2.1 assists, 1.8 steals, while shooting 45.6 percent from the floor (and 31.9 percent from three).</p>
<p>According to scouting reports, Powell's got a good finishing ability, strong defensive instincts, and a wingspan that allows him to play bigger than his height. He'll apparently have to improve his shot, but really, we can say that about every draft pick.</p>
<p>Will Powell play on the Raptors next year? Will he go to the new D-League team? What do you guys think?</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/25/8849699/2015-nba-draft-raptors-get-norman-powellDaniel Reynolds2015-06-25T22:00:17-04:002015-06-25T22:00:17-04:00Raptors choose Delon Wright 20th overall
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<figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Meet the newest Toronto Raptor: Utah point guard Delon Wright.</p> <p>The Toronto Raptors have selected Utah guard Delon Wright with the 20th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.</p>
<p>This is an entirely understandable pick for the Raptors in the wake of Greivis Vasquez getting shipped out earlier in the evening. Wright stands at 6'6, and Jay Bilas referred to him as being potentially the best defensive point guard available in the draft.</p>
<p>At 23-years old, the 6'6 Wright should be able to contribute right away and provide a defensive boost to the Raptors' second unit. He posted totals of 14.5 points, 5.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds last season en route to winning the Bob Cousy Award as the best point guard in American college hoops.</p>
<p>With higher-upside players like Bobby Portis, Justin Anderson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and R.J. Hunter still on the board, Wright doesn't exactly fit the mould of a typical Masai Ujiri draftee, but he should instantly help solve one of the biggest weaknesses the Raptors' exhibited last season.</p>
<p><b>Additional thoughts - Updated 10:25 PM</b></p>
<p>With a few more minutes to digest this pick, I have a couple more quick thoughts.</p>
<p>Firstly, given that the Raptors already have two long-term projects occupying the end of the bench in Bruno Caboclo and Lucas Nogueira, it makes complete sense to select a more NBA-ready prospect like Wright. It's somewhat unclear whether or not the Raptors are legitimately looking to "win now," but they should once again be playoff worthy next season, and having a rookie actually capable of contributing from the start of the season will surely be useful.</p>
<p>Additionally, with the amount of cap space available to the Raptors after trading away Vasquez (upwards of $20 million), Ujiri will have the ability to aggressively pursue front court and wing help via free agency or trade. There's no telling if he will actually be successful in doing so, but it's logical to not draft a rookie to plug in at the three or four who might get buried in the rotation by an incoming starting-calibre player. Wright will have a role to fulfill immediately, which should facilitate his development more than sitting on the bench would.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on the newest Raptor, Delon Wright?</p>
<p>More analysis on the pick to come!</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/25/8849169/2015-nba-draft-raptors-take-delon-wrightSean Woodley2015-06-25T21:11:15-04:002015-06-25T21:11:15-04:00Trade Alert: Raptors deal Greivis Vasquez
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Raptors move into tonight's second round. </p> <p>According to Yahoo, the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Raptors</a> have dealt point guard <span>Greivis Vasquez</span> to the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a>:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bucks have acquired Raptors guard Grievis Vasquez in a trade, a source told Yahoo.</p>
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/614237404518596610">June 26, 2015</a>
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<p>Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski also detailed the return coming the Raptors way: a future first and second round pick.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Bucks will take Greieves Vasquez into space, sending a future first and second round pick to Raptors, league source tells Yahoo.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/614237750460612608">June 26, 2015</a>
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<p>It appears the 2nd round pick is the 46th selection in tonight's draft; the first rounder is reportedly a 2017 pick that originally belonged to the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a>.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Perimeter defense was one of the glaring weaknesses for the Raptors this season. Vasquez paired with Lou Williams in the back court simply didn't work - a reality that we saw amplified in the playoffs when Kyle Lowry ran into foul trouble more than one time; John Wall penetrated the defense at will.</p>
<p>For that reason, it's hard to dislike this trade for the Raptors. Masai Ujiri adds to his growing pool of future picks and also opens up a significant amount of extra cap space for him to play with this summer:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BTW Raps now have max cap space. Dare to dream</p>
— William Lou (@william_lou) <a href="https://twitter.com/william_lou/status/614238987843170304">June 26, 2015</a>
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<p>The trade also adds to the potential choices Ujiri could make with the 20th pick. Jerian Grant and Delon Wright suddenly make a whole lot of sense as defensively sound back-ups to plug into the role vacated by Vasquez. The second round is full of interesting players - perhaps Christan Wood from UNLV(?) - that the Raptors could target with the 46th pick to put on their newly announced D-League team.</p>
<p>What does everyone think?</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/25/8849023/2015-nba-draft-trade-alert-raptors-deal-greivis-vasquez-to-the-bucksSean Woodley2015-06-25T17:00:02-04:002015-06-25T17:00:02-04:002015 NBA Draft Live Thread: Let's make some picks!
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<p>Let's all watch the NBA Draft together and make some incisive commentary (or, let's be real, a ton of jokes).</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA Draft</a> is on in two hours! Does it feel like we've been talking about this for weeks now or is it just me? Anyway, if you haven't already, check out the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Raptors</a> HQ <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/24/8838141/nba-draft-2015-toronto-raptors-no-20">stream of all things draft-related</a>. We've got a look at mock drafts, polls, prospects and the past.</p>
<p>Then, when you're ready, let's get talking about which team will pick who, who will have the best post-draft handshake (gotta be Kaminsky right?), and who the Raptors will pick. We'll be here alllllll night.</p>
<p>Now, head to the comments!</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/25/8845493/2015-nba-draft-live-thread-lets-make-some-picksDaniel Reynolds2015-06-25T14:00:02-04:002015-06-25T14:00:02-04:00Poll: Who should the Raptors draft at no. 20?
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Or a better question: can we get a consensus here?</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Draft</a> starts tonight at 7pm with the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> set to make the first pick. Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns is apparently locked in at number one but questions remain about the rest of the field. Where does Kristaps Porzingis go? Will the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Knicks</a> do something crazy? Is Jahlil Okafor really about to drop down the board? So many questions!</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a>, meanwhile, will be sitting back at no. 20 biding their time. There is a sizeable group of players who very well may be available for them then. More questions abound. For our part, we've <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/22/8818867/nba-draft-2015-toronto-raptors-mock-draft">reviewed the mock drafts</a>, we've <a href="http://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/24/8838197/nba-draft-2015-toronto-raptors-draft-wish-list-roundtable">asked the HQ staff</a>, but now it's time to ask you, the community.</p>
<p>Who should the Raptors pick at number 20?</p>
<p>Fire away!</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/25/8845265/nba-draft-2015-poll-who-should-the-toronto-raptors-draft-at-no-20Daniel Reynolds2015-06-25T09:02:00-04:002015-06-25T09:02:00-04:005 lessons we've learned from Raptors draft picks
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<figcaption>Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Raptors have had their hand in 18 NBA Drafts. Over that time, we've learned a few lessons as to what makes for a successful pick.</p> <p>After all the rampant speculation, it's finally here: the 2015 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Draft</a>! Our insane guessing games can finally come to an end. (Until free agency starts next week; then get ready to get nuts.) The Draft is a special time on the basketball calendar - a day reserved for hope, promise and, frankly, abject horror.</p>
<p>For their part, the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Raptors</a> have made 33 picks in the 18 drafts in which they've participated. (They had no picks in 2007 and 2013.) Some players have been good, some have been bad, and some have been Michael Bradley.</p>
<p>While my grasp on the current crop of prospects is tenuous at best, I can, with the benefit of hindsight, expound on the lessons I - and by extension, we as Raptors fans - have learned over the years of draft picks. As many a grand philosopher has said: those who forget their past, are doomed to repeat it. (Note: this axiom does not apply to <span>Isaiah Thomas</span> and the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Knicks</a>.)</p>
<p>Anyway, on to the lessons!</p>
<h4>1) Not every European player will be the next big thing</h4>
<p>In 1998, the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a> picked a gawky German kid named <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span> with the ninth pick. (They'd quickly trade him to the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mavericks</a> for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Traylor">Robert Traylor, RIP.</a>) While Nowitzki was hardly the first Euro player to make a splash in the NBA, in Dallas he became a perennial All-Star, All-NBAer, and one of the most noteworthy and valuable players in the league.</p>
<p>The rest of the league naturally scrambled to find the next Dirk. (Spoiler: they're still looking.) The Raptors have not been immune to this urge as well. And while I know you're expecting me to trash talk <span>Andrea Bargnani</span> here, I'd like to point you to another far more egregious pick the following year. With the 12th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, the Raptors selected Aleksander Radojevic, a 7'3" centre out of Montenegro. (Pause for collective groan.)</p>
<p>In a sterling - and injury-riddled - 15 game career (15 games total!), the big Radojevic managed a total of 26 points and 36 rebounds. You're not going to believe this, but his career never took off.</p>
<h4>2) Don't draft a player who runs like a duck</h4>
<p>On the face of it, this seems pretty obvious. Ducks are not athletic animals. They can swim fast, sure, but on dry land (where basketball is typically played) they're useless. This fact of nature, however, did not stop the Raptors from burning the eighth pick in the 2004 Draft on noted duck-runner Rafael Araujo. The pick marked the beginning of the truly psychedelic Rob Babcock era in Toronto. We should have seen the signs of trouble immediately. I mean, look at those feet go!</p>
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<p>On the bright side, it could have been way worse. The 2015 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals" class="sbn-auto-link">NBA Finals</a> MVP could have been selected right afterwards with the ninth pick. Wait, what--</p>
<h4>3) Sometimes second round picks take time to develop</h4>
<p><span>P.J. Tucker</span> holds a rare place in Raptors lore. Drafted by Toronto in 2006 with the 35th pick, he played in a mere 17 games for the Raptors before being waived by the team in March of 2007. Tucker would go on a legit basketball odyssey through Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy and Germany before, what's this, returning to the NBA in 2012-13 for an upstart <a href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phoenix Suns</a> team.</p>
<p>After making around $2 million in total in the NBA, Tucker is now signed to a trill $16.5 million contract as a multi-positional wrecker for the Suns. (Sure, the team has imploded as of late, but that's hardly Tucker's fault.)</p>
<p>And that rare place in Toronto lore? He remains the lone Raptors second round pick to make something of himself in the NBA. (All this after they held on to <span>Roko Ukic</span> for a full four years.)</p>
<h4>4) Muscles do not always make the man</h4>
<p>And heeeeeere comes the Joey Graham lesson. You knew it was coming. In retrospect, the 2005 Draft remains one of the most bizarre screw-ups in Raptors history. (Would you believe they finished 27-55 the next year?) The Raptors had the seventh and 16th picks and many figured they'd go for <span>Danny Granger</span> at seven. Instead, they reached on <span>Charlie Villanueva</span> (a lesson in itself, but I digress) and, since Graham was pegged for around that 16th spot, decided they'd look dumb to let him pass-by. This plan did not work out.</p>
<p>In Graham's defense, he looked the part; the guy was and remains an absolute specimen of a human male. Once he was in the NBA, he'd do things every so often that would remind you of this. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWNCnHnbnfQ">See here</a> as he dunks on <span>Alonzo Mourning</span>, an NBA rite of passage.) Of course, as the years ticked by and Graham resolutely did <i>not</i> put it all together, it was clear the Raptors had a lemon. A muscular lemon, yes, but a lemon nonetheless.</p>
<p>So yes, somehow with two top 20 picks, the Raptors managed to miss on Danny Granger twice. He went next at 17 to the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a>. And I will forever blame <span>Joey Graham's</span> muscles.</p>
<h4>5) Two years away from being two years away is a long time</h4>
<p>We all know the story now: in the 2014 NBA Draft, GM Masai Ujiri blew everyone's mind when he selected little-known Brazilian, <span>Bruno Caboclo</span>, for the Raptors with the 20th pick. Afterwards, noted draft savant Fran Fraschilla said that Caboclo was "two years away from being two years away," and instantly a meme was born. (I'm still scratching my head as to why Fraschilla didn't just say "four years away" but then again, I'm not on TV.)</p>
<p>After year one of this presumptive four year process, we're still a long ways away from knowing what the Raptors have with Bruno. He's been juggled back and forth between the D-League and a suit on the bench. He's been <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2014/07/23/raptors_bruno_caboclo_gets_dunked_on_goes_to_bench_in_tears.html">reduced to tears</a>. He managed to get into eight games in his rookie season and, over-the-top fan reaction aside, did make a couple of eye-opening plays in garbage time. He's got a long shooting range, even longer arms, and a quick step for someone with his height. He's also slight, shy, and almost painfully young.</p>
<p>Four years is a hell of a long time in NBA years. Entire empires have come and gone in that time. The Raptors will undoubtedly be a completely different team by the time Bruno comes into his own. (Assuming he actually does.) The franchise, of course, hopes Bruno will be great; the city and its fans hope he'll be amazing.</p>
<p>Ultimately, this is the final teaching of the NBA Draft: it is a lesson in endless optimism.</p>
<p>We hope, we hope, we hope.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2015/6/25/8838433/nba-draft-2015-toronto-raptors-lessonsDaniel Reynolds