Saturday, November 26, 2011

Toronto Raptors: Why They Are Destined to Win This Year’s Lottery

Of all the lottery teams from last years draft the Raptors are poised to be the least improved team this season and have the greatest chance of winning this year’s lottery and the first overall pick in this year’s stacked draft.  Here’s why…

1. No rookies on this years roster:  Jonas Valanciunas will not be playing for the Raptors this season, meaning the Raptors are the only team from last years lottery who will not have a single rookie on their roster—they did not have a second round pick last year.


2. Roster will remain relatively the same:  It is proposed that the minimum team salary has increased in this new CBA meaning low budget teams will now be forced to become more active players in free agency.  I am not sure exactly how this will work and where the cut off will be but I’m pretty sure the Raptors will be over it—if not I expect they will be close enough that it won’t take a big signing to get over it.  So, provided the Raptors do not use their amnesty clause right away and assuming they are over the minimum team salary then I do not expect their roster to change nor improve very much from the 22 win team last season, thus giving us a very good chance of landing the first overall pick.

3. Other lottery teams will improve:  On the other hand, unlike the Raptors, many of last year’s lottery teams either got one of the missing pieces they needed and are poised to add even more via free agency or they are either under the minimum or have so much cap room that they will either be forced or are expected to be big players in free agency this year. 

Expect teams like Washington, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings to be either playoff teams or late lottery teams this year.  As for the others, Detroit will benefit from the amnesty clause by waiving Rip Hamilton thus putting them under the minimum team salary and consequently forcing them to go out and sign some players.  Charlotte will likely make some free agent additions as well and should benefit from having Kemba Walker on their roster.  Finally, Cleveland, who won last years lottery, will also add some more wins thanks to their new rookie, Kyrie Irving and will likely add some more players via free agency once they amnesty Baron Davis. 

Additional Thoughts:

Contrary to what many others are saying, I would argue that the Raptors will benefit far more in the long-term (beginning as early as next season) by not making any drastic and expensive changes to their roster this off-season.  No matter whom the Raps acquire this off-season they will end up with a top 5 pick.  That being said, by standing pat they will have a far greater chance of landing the first overall pick in this year’s incredibly deep draft class, and if they play their cards right they may be able to pull off a deal at the deadline and land a second lottery pick.  Remember, if they still have their amnesty clause they can trade for an overpaid player and a lottery pick and then waive the player with the amnesty clause and reap the benefits of the lottery pick (unlike the Cavs were able to do this year when they had two top five picks and drafted Tristan Thompson ahead of some players that would have been of far greater value, namely Jonas Valanciunas who the Raps smartly grabbed with the fifth overall pick).


The Bottom line is the Raptors need to…

1. Save their cap space for next off-season when there will be far greater talent available and far less teams with cap room, since many of the current teams under the salary cap will be spending money this year.

2.  The Raptors will benefit greatly from the first overall pick—and possibly from a second lottery pick if they make a trade.

3. The Raptors would then enter next year’s free agency with two to three lottery players, one being Jonas Valanciunas, the other being the first overall pick this year (Andre Drummond, Harrison Barnes, Anthony Davis?) and the possible third being another lottery pick from this years stacked draft class (maybe someone like Marquis Teague or Bradley Beal to fill the hole at PG?) to go along with their current core of DeMar DeRozan, Ed Davis and Andrea Bargnani—who will all still be under contract, save DeMar whom I will get to in the next point.  This means, by this point, the Raptors will have already used their amnesty clause to free up cap space, and should have enough cap room and a such a great core of young talented players that they can make a run at someone like Deron Williams, Chris Paul or Dwight Howard should they decide not to re-sign with their current teams.

4. The 2012/2013 off-season will be CRUCIAL! This is the summer when DeMar DeRozan will become a restricted free-agent, meaning the Raptors will need to have enough talent on their roster by this point in order to convince him to stick around.  If they are able accomplish everything I just mentioned, they should have no problem convincing DeMar to stay in Toronto!

Final Thoughts:

I understand that for all this to happen the Raptors need to have a terrible season, again.  This is difficult for us Raptors fans to stomach but trust me; it will pay as soon as next season.  Even better, with the shortened season we won’t have to endure the usual 82 games of horrible play, so really this is not nearly as bitter of a pill to swallow and we will see the results as soon as next year!  So Raps fans, all I have to say is, let’s take one for the team this year and come back next year with a vengeance!

For those who disagree and say there is no point in waiting and trying to rebuild because we will always lose our stars i.e: Vince Carter and Chris Bosh before we have the chance to bring in the additional pieces, I would just like to point out that this rebuilding proposal would only take two years, and assuming we do it right we will not lose our star in DeMar DeRozan, and all of the core pieces will remain in tact long enough for this plan to work.

Also to those who disagree, don’t fret, there is always the other option, the win now approach by which we would purse a decent free agent this year i.e: Wilson Chandler, Nene, Tyson Chandler etc… which I do not disagree with, I just think this approach would be far more beneficial in the long term. 

I will be writing another piece very soon describing how the “win now approach” would work out, but in the meantime give this approach a chance and let me know what you think.

Welcome back NBA, let’s go Raptors!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Writer Suggests Montreal Could Support Canada’s Second NBA Team

Unfortunately these are some harsh times for NBA fans, but for those Canadian readers, and readers in cities looking for an NBA team here is the link to an interesting read by a writer who has certainly found a way to make it through the lockout blues!

This is just a quick piece about an article I came across by Arturo Galetti titled “Could Your City Give a Sports Team a Good Home?

As mentioned in the article, Arturo Galetti is the co-editor and director of analytics for the Wages of Wins Network and he offers an undeniably in-depth look at the topic.  From these two facts, I deduct one thing, when it comes to the business of deciding whether or not a particular city/metropolitan area can successfully support an NBA team, this guy seems to know what he is talking about and his article is certainly worth the read!

According to Galetti’s findings, Montreal would in fact be able to support an NBA team, but how did he decide this? Well, the main factor that goes in to the decision is the “available personal income” for each metropolitan area.  That being said, Montreal ranked second in available personal income among metropolitan areas that do not currently have an NBA team and seventh when you include metropolitan areas that already have an NBA team.

Anyway, the point of my article was not for me to simply recap everything Galetti said, but rather to get you to read the piece for yourself, so you can have a better understanding of what he is saying.  So here is the link once again: http://wagesofwins.net/2011/10/31/could-your-city-give-a-sports-team-a-good-home/  

Enjoy and props to Arturo Galetti for such an insightful article.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Brandon Knight's Draft Stock May Be Falling, Good News for the Toronto Raptors

According to Sam Amick of Sportsillustrated.com, Brandon Knight has received an open invitation to compete against Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette and Malcolm Lee at a June 15th workout. And apparently, according to sources close to both sides, he has yet to accept the invitation.

As mentioned by Amick, there are “rumblings” that Utah is not impressed with the possibility of Knight refusing to compete against the likes of Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette, and this could potentially lead to the Jazz passing on the Kentucky point guard.
In Knight’s defense, his hesitation to accept the invitation is likely the result of his agent’s advice considering Knight is currently the man to beat and has nothing to gain by competing against Kemba and Jimmer. That being said, I advise one not to judge Brandon Knight’s willingness to compete by this one example.

Nevertheless, this report gives Raptors fans a glimmer of hope that Brandon Knight, who I see being one of, if not the most successful prospect to come out of this year’s draft, will fall to the fifth pick.

Kemba Walker is an excellent consolation pick for Toronto, but Brandon Knight is the real prize to be had for the Raptors. In addition, if Utah does in fact decide to pass on Brandon Knight for the reason mentioned above, they would still have several solid options with the third overall pick, namely Jan Vesely, Enes Kanter or even Kemba Walker if they have their heart set on a point guard.

At 19, Brandon Knight is two years younger than Kemba Walker and has only played one year of college ball compared to Kemba’s three seasons. In his three seasons, Kemba Walker showed steady improvements in points per game, rebounds per game and in his assist per turnover ratio, not to mention he nearly single handily led his team to an NCAA championship. However, Brandon Knight’s numbers in his first year of college ball are far better than those put up by Kemba Walker in both his first and second seasons. 
What does this tell me about Brandon Knight?

If he was to play another two seasons of college ball, he is on pace to put up similar or better numbers than those put up by Kemba Walker this past season. Brandon Knight will take two or three years to reach his full potential, but when he does I am convinced that he will surpass Kemba Walker. And when we look back at this draft about three years from now, we will be glad the Raptors went with Brandon Knight instead of Kemba Walker… Assuming Utah lets him fall to the fifth overall pick.

 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

NBA Draft 2011: Who is on Toronto’s Radar, Top Six Candidates

With the NBA Lottery come and gone and the Raptors forced to settle with the fifth overall pick.  This means no Kyrie Irving, no Derrick Williams and no Enes Kanter.  Right when things were looking up for the Raps Dan Gilbert and his son Nick had to mess things up… right? No, wrong!

Despite that the Raptors got the short end of the stick in this year’s draft (surprise, surprise, David Stern failed to come to the rescue for the lone Canadian team… only the LeBron stricken Cleveland Cavaliers) there remains several reason why Raptors management and fans should stay positive.  Here are the top five reasons Raptors fans should stay positive, in the form of the top five prospects that should still be available when the Raptors pick fifth overall.

6. Jan Vesely, PF/SF, 6’11

Strengths:  Jan Vesely is a big athletic forward with a great jump shot and range beyond the three point line as well as the ability to ability to slash to the basket thanks in large part to his mix of size, athleticism and above average ball handling skills for a forward his size.

Weaknesses: If Vesely is to play power forward at the NBA level, he will have to get stronger and improve his post game.

How he helps the Raptors:

The Raptors need a SF and Jan Vesely could help them out.  His athleticism and scoring ability at the three spot would be something the Raptors have not had at that position for quite a while.

That being said, he will likely be a late bloomer and it will be a couple years before we get to see what Jan Vesely is truly capable of and whether or not he really is the answer for the Raptors.

5. Chris Singleton, SF, 6’9

Strengths:  Chris Singleton is one of if not the best perimeter defender in the draft.  He is long and athletic and possesses a good mid range jumper as well as some three-point range, though he is inconsistent from beyond the arc.

Weaknesses:  As mentioned above he is a streaky shooter from long range and he must develop a post game in order to take advantage of his length and height.

How Chris Singleton helps the Raptors:

As I have been stressing for a long time the Raptors will never win if they do not improve their defense.  They are a horrible team defensively and they lack overall toughness (especially if they do not re-sign Reggie Evans).  Chris Singleton would be a huge help for the Raptors in both the toughness and rebounding departments and should fit in very nicely with the current core of DeMar DeRozan and Ed Davis.  

4. Kawhi Leonard, SF/SG, 6’7


Strengths:  Kawhi Leonard is a very athletic wing player and an excellent rebounder with great leaping ability and a big body with a ton of length.  His offensive game is still developing but the size and athleticism are there for him and his offense as well as improved defense should come easily as he matures.    

Weaknesses: As mentioned earlier his offensive game has yet to fully develop. 

How Kawhi Leonard helps the Raptors:

Kawhi Leonard would fill Toronto’s gaping hole at Small Forward and help them in two of their weakest areas… toughness and rebounding.  Leonard’s toughness and rebounding would not be lost on the Raptors who are desperate for a player with these qualities and as he matures, his offense and defense will improve, as he becomes a key player for the Raptors as they look to complete the current rebuild two or three years from now.

3. Jonas Valanciunas, PF/C, 6’10

Strengths: Jonas Valenciunas is another player who is breaking the typcial mould of the European big man.  He lives down low where he has a very soft touch.  On the defensive end, he is a good shot blocker and rebounder.

Weaknesses: Unlike many European big men Valenciunas has a great inside game but must improve on his mid range shooting, other than that he is a great big man prospect and if he can add strength and toughness as he matures he will be just fine.

How Jonas Valenciunas helps the Raptors:

Jonas Valenciunas would help the Raptors by doing just about everything Andrea Bargnani cannot/will not do for the Raptors.  He gives Toronto a dominant presence down low on offense as well as rebounding and shot blocking ability.

2. Kemba Walker, PG, 6’1

Strengths: Kemba Walker is very athletic.  He is incredibly quick and is just plain explosive when he is driving to the rim to either finish with the hoop or kick it out to a teammate.  I would not necessarily call him a lock down defender but he still averages many steals.  His jump shot has improved a lot and should only get better as he matures.  Finally, his heart and tenacity are rivalled by few others in this year’s draft.

Weaknesses: The biggest knock on Kemba Walker would have to be that he is undersized, which may or may not hurt his chances of being successful in the NBA.  Aside from that, he is more of a scorer than a passer, which hurts him since he is far too small to play SG.

How he helps the Raptors:

Kemba Walker would fill Toronto’s hole at point guard and give the Raptors a legitimate number one option on offense.  Despite the fact that Walker is not much of a playmaker, I have no problem drafting him for his scoring and his ability to lead a team… but I would only take Walker if the next player was no longer available…

1. Brandon Knight, PG, 6’3

Strengths: Brandon Knight does just about everything well.  He can score and pass and he is a good defender.  Combine that with his athleticism, high basketball I.Q and the fact that he can play either guard position and you have a very good pick at the point guard position that would help any team.

Weaknesses:  He will need to improve his consistency from behind the arc but other than that, it is hard to go wrong with Brandon Knight.

How Brandon Knight helps the Raptors:

Jose Calderon is no longer a part of the future of the Toronto Raptors and Jerryd Bayless is far better suited to play SG.  By drafting Brandon Knight the Raptors will be able to trade Jose Calderon and make Jerryd Bayless their sixth man once Barbosa is gone (either this year if he declines the player option or next year once he becomes an unrestricted free agent) as a backup to both DeMar DeRozan and Brandon Knight. 

Brandon Knight would be the Answer for the Raptors at the point guard position and he along with DeMar DeRozan would be the leaders of this young Raptors team moving forward. 

Toronto Raptors: Jerryd Bayless should be moved to SG, Sixth Man of the Future

Introduction:

Jerryd Bayless is currently the backup point guard in Toronto behind Jose Calderon but in reality he is a far better fit at the two spot behind DeMar DeRozan.

Bayless has the potential to become a great scoring threat for the Raptors, as he was during his college days back in Arizona, and a huge spark plug off the bench.

Bayless is extremely athletic and an excellent slasher with the ability to draw a ton of fouls and beat teams at the free throw line.  He is a good jump shooter but he could still use some work, especially from long range.  Once he becomes a bigger threat from behind the arc, he will be a legitimate NBA scorer with a well-rounded offensive game.

With Sonny Weems being an unrestricted free agent and Leandro Barbosa a restricted free agent with a player option for one more year (that he will likely accept), Bayless seems to be the logical choice to replace them as DeMar DeRozan’s backup and the sixth man of the future for the Raptors.

Following is a brief description of what makes a good sixth man, some examples of recent great sixth men and three reasons why Jerryd Bayless should be moved to SG and made the sixth man of the future for the Raptors.

What makes a good sixth Man?

A sixth man is the first player off the bench and the leader of the second unit, the same way a franchise player is the leader of the starting rotation. 

A good sixth man must be versatile and capable of playing more then one position.

He must ready and able to provide his team with a spark off the bench, be it on offense or defense.

It is a unique role that not all NBA players are capable of/willing to take on.

Sixth men are usually good enough players to start for a weaker NBA team but instead they sacrifice the opportunity to be an NBA starter in order to come off the bench and help a stronger team win an NBA championship (This is why the great sixth men often play for championship contenders).


Recent Sixth Man of the Year Winners:

(2010-2011) Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers:  Provides an all around game at the small forward or power forward position. He is also this year’s winner of the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. 

(2009-2010) Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks:  Provides energy and a scoring punch at either guard position.

(2008-2009) Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks: Provides energy and scoring at either guard position.

(2007-2008) Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs: A versatile offensive player who helped lead the Spurs to three championships.

(2006-2007) Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns: Provides explosive speed an scoring punch at either guard position

1. He is a Shooting Guard in a Point Guards body:

Jerryd Bayless is a shooting guard in a point guard’s body and the sooner the Raptors accept this, the better off they will be.

If Bayless was moved to SG, he would no longer have to worry about being responsible for running the offense and instead he could focus on giving the Raptors a scoring spark off the bench, playing off the ball and giving the opposing defenses fits as they try to keep up with him.

The move to SG would also mean that Bayless could focus on his three-point shooting and defense this off-season and during practices rather than trying to become something he is not… a playmaker.

The only knock on moving Bayless to SG is that he is too undersized to guard opposing SG’s and his existing foul problems would only get worse… who cares.  His job coming off the bench would be to take over the scoring load when the starters are getting their rest on the bench.  He would be a bit of a liability on defense but that is why he will be the sixth man and not a starter.

Let him play his own game and watch as he becomes a special scorer and a valuable high-energy player off the bench for the Raptors.


2. He would have Leandro Barbosa as a mentor:


The Raptors are lucky to have one of the more experienced sixth men in the league today and the 2006-2007 sixth man of the year, Leandro Barbosa. 

Barbosa is currently a restricted free agent with a player option for one more year.  However, I am confident that he will accept his player option and remain with the Raptors for another season since he is scheduled to make far more than his current market value would indicate due to injury problems that plagued him last season. 

That being said, Leandro Barbosa is an important asset for the Raptors and could play a crucial role as a mentor for Jerryd Bayless should the Raptors move Bayless to Shooting Guard. 

The mental aspect of being a sixth man is just as, if not more important than a players actual skill level.  Barbosa could teach Bayless how to embrace the role of sixth man as well as the mindset that goes along with it.


3. He is not simply “Expendable”…

Many people already consider Bayless as an “expendable” player or possible trade bait, especially if the Raptors draft a PG (i.e: Brandon Knight or Kemba Walker).  However, I would argue that Bayless is much more than that.

We still have not seen what Bayless is truly capable of doing when he is “the man” on offense.  In college, Bayless was the number one scoring option for his team, something he will probably never be on the Raptors or any other NBA team.  That being said, he could and should certainly be the number one option on the Raptors second unit.

If Bayless was given 20+ minutes as the “go to guy” offensively for the Raptors (with the majority of those minutes being played at SG) he could put up a lot of points.  Furthermore, there is also a very good chance he could vault himself into consideration for an NBA sixth man of the year award in the near future.




Tuesday, May 17, 2011

2011 NBA Mock Draft: Post NBA Lottery Edition, In Depth Analysis

With the NBA Lottery come and gone it is now time to look forward to the NBA draft itself.  With the draft order set here is an in-depth look at the fourteen lottery picks.  

I will look at both the strengths and weaknesses of each player followed by how they can help their teams.

Enjoy and don’t forget to comment if you disagree or think I missed someone.



1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, PG, 6’1

Kyrie Irving only played in 11 games due to injuries nonetheless; the numbers he did put up in those 11 games are quite impressive and that is why he is the consensus number one pick in this year’s draft.

Strengths:  Kyrie Irving is a pure point guard with excellent court vision, athleticism and quickness.  He shows a very good balance between passing and scoring.  On the scoring side he is an excellent penetrating point guard but also has a good jump shot with three point range that will only improve as he matures.  He has a very high basketball I.Q and is a good defender with the potential to become a lockdown defender as he develops.

His court vision and playmaking abilities as well as his ability to take on the scoring load when needed have drawn him comparisons to Chris Paul, whether or not he will live up to these comparisons is yet to be seen.

Weaknesses: He missed most of the last college season due to injury but other than that he has very few weaknesses.

How Kyrie Irving helps Cleveland:

Kyrie Irving will give the Cleveland Cavaliers a new hope.  On a team with so many holes, he fills perhaps the most important one of all, point guard.

Kyrie Irving is the type of player that a team can be built around, and that is exactly what Cleveland will try to do when they draft Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick.


2. Minnesota Timberwolves: Enes Kanter, C/PF, 6’11

Many of you will be quite surprised not to see Derrick Williams here but I would argue that Enes Kanter, though he is not as talented as Williams, is nonetheless the better fit for Minnesota.

That being said, Minnesota could also take Derrick Williams second overall regardless and then trade him to the team that drafts Kanter.  This would allow them to get not only Kanter but also someone else as well.

Strengths:  Despite his excellent mid range jump shot Enes Kanter should in no way be described as a “soft European player”.  Rather, Kanter is a tough and physical Center/Power Forward who loves to bang down low with his great post game and his plethora of post moves to beat his defender.  He is also an excellent rebounder along with his good ball handling and passing skills.

Weaknesses: The biggest knock on Kanter would have to be his lack of athleticism and leaping ability; however, he is able to make up for this in part with his high basketball I.Q.  Aside from that, health could be an issue with Kanter but we will find out more on that come the draft combine.

How Enes Kanter helps Minnesota:

Minnesota already has Michael Beasley at the three and although I would argue that Derrick Williams would be an upgrade over Beasley I see Minnesota instead going with Enes Kanter at center in order to play alongside Kevin Love and take a bit of the burden off of him. 

If all goes well and Minnesota signs finally Ricky Rubio (they are reportedly as close as ever and it could be official within the next few weeks) they will enter next season with a starting rotation that has the potential to become something very special in a couple years.

3. Utah Jazz: Derrick Williams, SF/PF, 6’8

With Minnesota passing on Derrick Williams for Enes Kanter the Utah Jazz will certainly not hesitate to grab Derrick Williams with the third overall pick.  Williams will be a perfect replacement for Andrei Kirilenko who is expected to leave in free agency.

Strengths:

Derrick Williams can do just about everything.  He is very athletic, he can shoot the mid and long range jumper, drive to the rim, draw the contact and then beat you at the free throw line or he can just post you up.  Williams has a good understanding of the game, showing great shot selection and maturity and he can rebound and play good defense (which will only improve as he matures).

Weaknesses: Williams is considered by many to be a tweener and too undersized to play power forward at the NBA level.  That being said, I would argue that Derrick Williams would be far more successful at the small forward position regardless, in which case his size would be an asset not a weakness.

How Derrick Williams helps the Jazz:

With Andrei Kirilenko on his way this summer and Derrick Williams still on the board when Utah makes the third overall pick there is no way they will pass on him. 

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jonas Valenciunas, PF/C, 6’10

After solidifying the point guard position by selecting Kyrie Irving first overall the Cavs will take the Jonas Valenciunas to hold things down in the middle.

Strengths: Jonas Valenciunas is another player who is breaking the typcial mould of the European big man.  He lives down low where he has a very soft touch.  On the defensive end, he is a good shot blocker and rebounder.

Weaknesses: Unlike many European big men Valenciunas has a great inside game but must improve on his mid range shooting, other than that he is a great big man prospect and if he can add strength and toughness as he matures he will be just fine.

How Jonas Valenciunas helps Cleveland:

Jonas Valenciunas helps the Cavs by filling their hole at Center and giving them a dominant presence down low on offense as well as rebounding and shot blocking ability.


5. Toronto Raptors: Brandon Knight, PG, 6’3

With Enes Kanter and Jonas Valenciunas off the board the Raptors will sacrifice forget their need for a center and instead get their replacement for Jose Calderon and their point guard of the future.

Strengths: Brandon Knight does just about everything well.  He can score and pass and he is a good defender.  Combine that with his athleticism, high basketball I.Q and the fact that he can play either guard position and you have a very good pick at the point guard position that would help any team.

Weaknesses:  He will need to improve his consistency from behind the arc but other than that, it is hard to go wrong with Brandon Knight.

How Brandon Knight helps the Raptors:

Jose Calderon is no longer a part of the future of the Toronto Raptors and Jerryd Bayless is far better suited to play SG.  By drafting Brandon Knight the Raptors will be able to trade Jose Calderon and make Jerryd Bayless their sixth man once Barbosa is gone (either this year if he declines the player option or next year once he becomes an unrestricted free agent) as a backup to both DeMar DeRozan and Brandon Knight. 

Brandon Knight will be the Answer for the Raptors at the point guard position and he along with DeMar DeRozan will be the leaders of this young Raptors team moving forward. 

6. Washington Wizards: Kawhi Leonard, SF/SG, 6’7

The Wizards need a small forward and a center and unfortunately the cream of the crop at center (Kanter and Valenciunas) are no longer available as is the case at small forward (Derrick Williams).

That being said, Kawhi Leonard is certainly no player to scoff at, at the small forward position.  He has recently risen up the draft boards of ESPN’s Chad Ford, who considers Leonard to be top five pick worthy.

Strengths:  Kawhi Leonard is a very athletic wing player and an excellent rebounder with great leaping ability and a big body with a ton of length.  His offensive game is still developing but the size and athleticism are there for him and his offense as well as improved defense should come easily as he matures. 

Weaknesses: As mentioned earlier his offensive game has yet to fully develop. 

How Kawhi Leonard helps the Wizards:

He will not have an immediate impact in the NBA but given a year or two to develop and adjust he should be a great fit for the Wizards.


7. Sacramento Kings: Kemba Walker, PG, 6’1

The Sacramento will finally get their point guard, which will allow them to move Tyreke Evans to the two spot.

Strengths: Kemba Walker is very athletic.  He is incredibly quick and is just plain explosive when he is driving to the rim to either finish with the hoop or kick it out to a teammate.  I would not necessarily call him a lock down defender but he still averages many steals.  His jump shot has improved a lot and should only get better as he matures.  Finally, his heart and tenacity are rivalled by few others in this year’s draft.

Weaknesses: The biggest knock on Kemba Walker would have to be that he is undersized, which may or may not hurt his chances of being successful in the NBA.  Aside from that, he is more of a scorer than a passer, which hurts him since he is far too small to play SG.

How he helps Sacramento:

The Kings already have two talented young prospects at Power Forward with DeMarcus Cousins and at SG with former Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and they hope to sure up the PG position this summer by drafting Kemba Walker.

Bringing in Kemba Walker will allow Sacramento to move Tyreke Evans to his natural position at SG but the big question is whether these two scorers can find a way to co-exist.


8. Detroit Pistons: Bismack Biyombo, PF, 6’9

Detroit will look to the relatively unknown Bismack Biyombo of Congo who recently came out of nowhere and rose rapidly up NBA draft boards. 

Strengths: Bismack Biyombo is a long, athletic big man and a great defender as well as being a very good rebounder.  His offense could use some work but that will come in time.  

Weaknesses: As mentioned above, Biyombo will certainly need to improve on offense once he arrives in the NBA, that being said, he is still young and that will likely come as he matures.  Other than that, he is undersized at 6’9 but he makes up for that in part with his long wingspan.

How Bismack Biyombo helps Detroit:

Bismack Biyombo will team up with Greg Monroe in the front court to give the Pistons a combination of two tough big men with a lot of potential.

9. Charlotte Bobcats: Jan Vesely, PF/SF, 6’11

Jan Vesely can play either forward position and is a great fit for the Bobcats who could use a replacement for Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson.

Strengths:  Jan Vesely is a big athletic forward with a great jump shot and range beyond the three point line as well as the ability to ability to slash to the basket thanks in large part to his mix of size, athleticism and above average ball handling skills for a forward his size.

Weaknesses: If Vesely is to play power forward at the NBA level, he will have to get stronger and improve his post game.

How he helps the Bobcats:

The Bobcats are in need of a young PF/SF to replace the aging Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson and Jan Vesely just may be the answer.  That being said, it will be a couple year before get to see what Jan Vesely is truly capable of and whether or not he really is the answer for the Bobcats.

10. Milwaukee Bucks, Alec Burks, SG, 6’6

The Bucks will look to find a replacement for the aging Michael Redd and the average John Salmons by drafting shooting guard Alec Burks.

Strengths:  Alec Burks is a long and athletic penetrating shooting guard who can get to the rim with relative ease and finish strong with some big dunks.  He has a lot of potential and if he can improve his jump shot he will become a very deadly scorer.

Weaknesses:  As mentioned earlier, he must improve his jump shot and range.  Aside from that he could use some more strength and must learn to play better off the ball on offense.

How Alec Burks helps Milwaukee:

Alec Burks will not make an immediate impact in the NBA; however, he will without a doubt showcase his incredible ability to get to the basket with ease and then finish strong with his great leaping ability.

Once he develops a consistent jump shot, expect him to become a very talented player for the Bucks.


11. Golden State Warriors: Chris Singleton, SF, 6’9

The Warriors will look to add some defense and toughness to their game and may surprise some by selecting Chris Singleton 11th overall.

Strengths:  Chris Singleton is one of if not the best perimeter defender in the draft.  He is long and athletic and possess a good mid range jumper as well as some three point range, though he is inconsistent from beyond the arc.

Weaknesses:  As mentioned above he is a streaky shooter from long range and he must also develop a post game in order to take advantage of his length and height.

How Chris Singleton helps Golden State

The Warriors are a horrible team defensively and they lack overall toughness.  Chris Singleton should be able to help the Warriors out in this department, expect him to be more of a role player and split time with Dorell Wright.

12. Utah Jazz: Kenneth Faried, PF, 6’8

The Jazz will use their second first rounder to take Power Forward Kenneth Faried who will give them a much needed boost in rebounding, considering they were ranked 26th in the league this season.

Strengths: Kenneth Faried is one of if not he best rebounder in the draft.  He is very long and is a great leaper, this also allows him to block a lot of shots.

Weaknesses:  he is undersized for the power forward position but makes up for this in part with his length.  Must add strength and work on his offensive game which is still quite raw.

How Kenneth Faried helps Utah:

Faried will be a huge help on the glass and likely with his shot blocking ability as well.  Until he develops an offensive game he will be no more than a role player coming off the bench; however, he has been known to have a very good work ethic so I would not be surprised to seem him make the necessary improvements on offense to become a starter on Utah or a different team.


13. Phoenix Suns: Jimmer Fredette, PG, 6’2

Strengths and Weaknesses:

By now we should all know the story about Jimmer.  He is an excellent scorer and has a very good basketball I.Q.  That being said many expect him to struggle defensively at the NBA level and also be hindered by his lack of athletic ability.

How Jimmer Fredette helps the Phoenix Suns:

As man others have touched on before the Suns will eventually need a replacement for Steve Nash and if Aaron Brooks does not work out then they will look to have Jimmer as their backup plan. 

With Steve Nash as his mentor Jimmer should have no trouble adjusting to the NBA offensively but will he be hampered by his defense?

14. Houston Rockets: Donatas Motiejunas, PF, 7’0

With Yao Ming’s days in the NBA numbered and Chuck Hayes possibly leaving in free agency the Rockets will look to add some size and scoring at Center with Donatas Motiejunas.

Strengths:  Athletic big man with the ability to score around the basket with both hands combined with a good mid-range jumper.  He is also a good passer and has a high basketball I.Q.

Weaknesses:  Needs to add strength and improve his consistency from long range if he plans on adding that to his arsenal of offensive weapons.

How Donatas Motiejunas helps Houston:

Motiejunas brings size and scoring at Center.


Toronto Raptors: Bryan Colangelo agrees to Multi-Year Extension

According to Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/nba/raptors/article/992812--feschuk-gm-colangelo-agrees-to-multi-year-extension-with-raptors?bn=1 ) Bryan Colangelo, two time NBA Executive of the year and current President and General Manager of the Toronto Raptors has confirmed that he agreed to a multi year extension with the Toronto Raptors.

The complete details of the contract are yet to be announced but it is reportedly expected to be a two year deal with a team option for a third year which will be heavily influenced by the performance of the team in the first two year’s.

In an attempt to decipher whether this was a good or a bad move for the Raptors, I will look at the short and long-term impact of the Colangelo signing.

Short Term: Good signing…

In the short term, with the upcoming NBA draft I think this is certainly a good signing for the Raptors, especially if they do not end up with the first or second overall pick in tonight’s lottery.  

Now that Colangelo has a fresh new extension, he is guaranteed to be the man in charge come draft day.  When we look at Colangelo’s recent draft success (Ed Davis, DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani who no matter how much I knock him now was still a good pick at the time considering the lack of talent in that draft) he is certainly the man I want in charge. 

This is especially true when you consider how important this year’s draft will be for the Raptors rebuilding efforts.

Long Term…  Looks to be a good signing but we will have to wait and see

After losing Chris Bosh in free agency last summer it was clear that the Raptors would have to enter a legit rebuilding stage if they wanted to achieve any success in the future.  I am convinced that Bryan Colangelo is committed to this rebuilding process and I think he is the best man for the job.

Since losing Bosh to free agency Bryan Colangelo has made four big moves that prove he is committed to the rebuild…   

1.     Signing Amir Johnson long term: Though Amir will never be an NBA All-Star he is certainly a great young prospect at power forward with a well-rounded game.  Amir is worth every dollar.

2.     He successfully got himself out of his mistake signing of the underachieving Hedo Turkoglu and his four-year $10 million plus contract.  In doing so, he also brought in former sixth man of the year Leandro Barbosa. 

3.     He traded for Jerryd Bayless, a former 11th overall pick who is yet to reach his full potential and has a bright future ahead of him (more so as a shooting guard, not as a point guard).

4.     He traded for James Johnson, an athletic small forward, great defender and a former 16th overall pick who was buried in the Chicago Bulls depth chart and was not given the opportunity to show what he can do.

As mentioned, these moves demonstrate Colangelo’s commitment to acquiring young prospects and freeing up cap space.  If he can continue to make these types of deals and successfully lock up the core members of the team for long term (i.e: DeMar DeRozan, Ed Davis etc…) then he should have no trouble getting the Raptors out of this rebuilding stage and back into the playoffs.

Final Thoughts:

In his time with the Raptors thus far Colangelo has made his fair share of mistakes.  On the other hand, he has also done many good things to help this franchise, which I would argue greatly outweigh his shortcomings.

That being said, if Colangelo is to get this Raptors team through this rebuild and lead them back to the playoffs he must do these same things and more.

For the estimated two to three years of his extension, Bryan Colangelo will have to focus on three things in order to…

a) Keep his job and
b) Get the Raptors in to contention for an NBA title. 

Here is what he will need to do…

  1. Draft well and continue to build through the draft

  1. Continue to free up cap space in order to ensure that the Raptors are a big player in free agency.

  1. Lock up the core players long term (DeMar DeRozan and Ed Davis) and do everything possible to keep the team exciting and maintain fan support despite the necessary losing records that are characteristic of a rebuilding team.


Don’t forget to tune in to tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery! Good luck Raptors!