The REAL reason the Raptors are tanking
The Toronto Raptors have upwards of 3 draft picks in the 2024 NBA Draft. Here’s some players to watch, read up on and study ahead of June.. and also some optimism on why the Toronto Raptors who 13 months ago took themselves entirely out of the 2024 NBA draft have now spent the past 3 months putting themselves very firmly back into it.
In this video we’ll talk about Dalton Knecht, Baba Miller, Yves Missi, a pair of Kentucky guards and much more using Kevin O’Connor’s Ringer Draft Guide as a tentpole.
#Raptors #nbadraft #kentucky
12 Comments
I’ve been saying for about six months now. This draft is super deep at “starter” level players to sixth / seventh man on the roster. You can get sixth man level players into the 20’s. This draft doesn’t have a wemby. Who cares. Only one team gets that guy. This draft is very deep, at role players / starter level players. If Kyle filipowski is there at 17 I think you gotta take him. He is Kelly olynyk except better everywhere (in a couple of years). He can do a bit of everything. I can see him being the 5 out centre the raps dream about. Nikola topic / reed sheppard at six I think. We need another guard. Topic is more of a PG. reed can do both. True combo guard. Very similar to IQ. I really hope we keep this pick. Also. If we do keep the top six pick. I can see the raptors trying to move up their 16th or 17th pick up to 12-14. Maybe that looks like Bruce brown and the 17th pick to move up where okc picks 2 times. Or New Orleans. These teams can’t add this many rookies. Also at 31, we will get a good bench player. There’s talent there
Hey Rob, if we end up with a top 2 pick, would you trade it, and if you would, what do you expect to get out of it?
If we get Reed Sheppard and Missi in this draft we are back in the business.
Also I need to say this. Nikola topic is 6’6” with a 7’ wing span!!!!! A point guard with a 7’ wing span!!!!
If he gets a chance to start somewhere. He will be a top 10 assist leader within the first 3 years. His vision is really good. You just need to take a chance on that shot. I can see super star upside. His floor is still really good. He can run the team on offence, amazing passer with elite vision… he gets downhill fast and he’s very strong for his age. He’s been playing against grown @$$ men for 4 years. That’s no joke. If we can get topic at top six, Kyle F or yves mess at 16-18 pick. your plugging two holes in one draft. Then you can swing for the fences at 31. Take highest upside. Someone will drop. There’s a lot of talent 20-40
Edwards for Kentucky was predicted as the #1 prospect out of the top 100 going into college last year. He might be there at 40! There’s huge upside there. He’s very young. I see some Lenny Cooke in him. Maybe his head got too big. But he’s not cooked yet like lennny cooke was. He can turn this ship around
I would pick Yves Missi over Edey to be truthful. This guy is doing up and under lay up’s like he’s a shooting guard or small forward. You just don’t see bigs that can do that. His shot is suspect but remember they said Scottie couldn’t shoot and he’s making 3’s now. If Yves Missi develops a shot he’s going to a special talent. He’s doing stuff you just don’t see from bigs. The guy has handles but also a lob threat.
I hate to even compare the two, but I think the Raptors are going to do what the Pistons did back in the 2022 NBA draft.
Obviously, one team is way better top to bottom than the other. Raptors being the better team. But if people remember, the Pistons had 3 draft picks that year.
The 5th, 13th, and the 36th pick in that draft.
With those picks, they drafted Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren. They used their 36th pick as a draft and stash by taking a chance at drafting Gabriele Procida.
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but earlier in the season when Siakam was still on the team, hypothetical trades between the Pistons and Raptors for Siakam involved players like Ivey and Duren. Rob quickly shut all those proposed trades down because a team wouldn’t be stupid enough to trade those young potential stars for an aging max but not really a max contract player. Maybe I’m given the Pistons a little too much credit. 🤣
A trade involving Ivey and Duren to the Raptors would have been amazing because they both fit a role on this team that is desperately needed. That trade never happened.
But now the Raptors, if they get to keep their lottery pick this year can do the same. Draft a guard that can play back up minutes right from the jump of the season, and get him early reps to get better as the season progresses. With the Pacers pick draft a big man who is NBA ready; paint protection, rebounding offensive and defensive and shot blocking. Something the Raptors have been struggling with all season.
The Raptors drafted Christian Koloko in the 2022 NBA draft, but he’s health has completely jeopardized his NBA career. Praying for all the health in the world for him. But if Christian were healthy this seaso, we would be looking like a completely different team out there, I truly believe that.
Now I’m not saying there are guys like Ivey or Duren in this draft, I don’t know much about this draft I’m just hearing it’s underwhelming and MID. But I have faith in the Raptors to find prospects that fit the two players I mentioned prototype because the Raptors need players like them. If they do find players of their caliber we’re talking about a playoffs come next season.
I remain optimistic and excited to see what’s to come in the offseason and the draft.
We seem to be on a similar page. Missi is almost 100 percent my pick at 17. It would be like getting Claxton without having to pay top dollar for him. I also like Matus in top 6 though I still like Sarr and Risascher. Have some interest in AJ Johnson with 2nd round pick as well.
I hope you see this comment. I watched Reed Sheppard play at the Global Games here in Toronto at the Mattamy Center. His on ball and weak side defensive instincts are very good. The obvious in his game is the shooting but he's also athletic.
Playoff team coverage: ex-Raptors and Canadian content.
Reed Sheppard would be a lot more enticing if he got tatted up and didn't have a 12 year old boy haircut.
I'm really warming up to Stephon Castle at 6 he really reminds me of Jimmy Butler.
I'd love to listen to coverage of games of OKC and Denver during the playoffs.