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Draft Madness – Decisions, Decisions

Published by CROWN staff on June 14, 2009

Decisions, Decisions

With the 9th pick in the NBA Draft this year, the Raptors find themselves in a tricky situation. While every team loves a lottery pick, drafting 9th ensures that you’ll miss out on the absolute best prospects and have to sort out what’s left over. But how clear-cut is the decision for Bryan Colangelo and company? Will they draft a player who’s already proven himself, or an up-and-comer who is just brimming with potential? How do you make a good selection without making too much of a reach? If the Raptors take a player who’s slated to go in the middle of the 1st round, they’ll come under intense scrutiny. If a stud falls to 9th but they had plans to take another player, what do they do? I’ll leave those questions to the Raptors’ front office as they try to get Canada’s only team back to the playoffs next year. What I can offer, however, is my in-depth analysis of who the Raptors should pick at #9 if that player is around.

First off, let’s not even talk about Blake Griffin, Ricky Rubio, Hasheem Thabeet or James Harden. We know those guys will be gone right off the bat. If by some miracle they fall to 9th, obviously the Raps should grab them. I’m also excluding Stephen Curry since everybody is saying the Knicks won’t let him slip past 8th. So let’s see who that leaves behind. Drum roll, please.

Brandon Jennings
Jennings is an intriguing prospect. He was a high school phenom, yet struggled mightily in his first pro season in Europe. Jennings is lightning-quick and a very explosive athlete. He has good handles, operates well in traffic and adjusts well to the style and flow of the game. Like most young guards however, Jennings is prone to turnovers and needs to improve his jumper. He could also benefit from added muscle.

Why the Raptors should draft him: If Jose Calderon doesn’t shake his recent injury woes, the point guard position could be in question. Roko Ukic showed flashes of brilliance last year but struggled mostly. Jennings could be the point guard of the future.

Why the Raptors shouldn’t draft him: If Calderon stays at his best then the point guard situation for the Raps is set. It would probably be wise to look to boost other positions.

Tyreke Evans
This young man’s main selling point is his ability to run the 1-spot or the 2-spot for a team. At Memphis, Tyreke Evans quarterbacked a national powerhouse with his smooth playmaking and excellent scoring ability. He also possesses good strength and a long wingspan that helps him wreak havoc in the half court. On the downside, Evans is an inconsistent shooter. He also doesn’t have the quickness of some point guards in the draft. Considering that he’s not even 20 yet, this is something that should improve.

Why the Raptors should draft him: Evans would be a great addition since he could play the 2-spot or rotate over to the point when Calderon needs a breather. He might bring a big-time scoring presence the Raptors haven’t had in their backcourt for a while.

Why the Raptors shouldn’t draft him: Evans needs to improve his shooting before he can fulfill his potential.

Silky smooth Tyreke Evans

DeMar DeRozan
At the risk of over-hyping him, DeMar DeRozan has Toronto fans comparing him to a former player: Vince Carter. DeRozan has good strength, a long wingspan, and reportedly can jump over 40 inches! He is the type of athlete that just leaves you shaking your head in disbelief at how good he is. And since he’s not even 20 yet, scouts all over the world love his potential. In terms of actual skill, DeRozan has a solid mid-range game and good finesse around the rim. He’s not a 3-point shooter though, and only average from the charity stripe. He tends to be laid-back sometimes on both ends of the court instead of using his God-given abilities to assert himself. Basically, he’s a work in progress. The result of that work, however, might be an NBA superstar.

Why the Raptors should draft him: Players with DeRozan’s talent don’t grow on trees. He has the potential tobe the most electrifying player in Toronto basketball since Vince Carter. That’s a tall order for any player, but ultimately, we’re dealing with a guy whose potential is sky-high.

Why the Raptors shouldn’t draft him: While DeRozan has tons of upside, there are numerous players who are better than him at the moment. If DeRozan never pans out, people might look and wish they had taken a more polished player.

: DeMar DeRozan skies high for the dunk

Gerald Henderson
Henderson has all the tools to be a solid NBA player. He has great strength and athleticism. He is a decent shooter, a solid defender and possesses a great attitude and work ethic. Basically, Gerald Henderson is everything you want in a ball player. However, some people question whether his size will hold him back at the NBA level. At only 6’4 he is undersized as an off-guard or a small forward, which are really the only two positions he’s qualified to play. And like I said, he is a decent shooter, but decent isn’t enough. However, Henderson has come a long way in that regard since his freshman year at Duke, and I don’t see why he won’t continue to improve in that capacity.

Why the Raptors should draft him: On a team like the Raptors that lacks toughness and big-time athleticism in the backcourt, Henderson would be a welcome addition. He is also one of the most polished players in the draft, meaning that he should be able to contribute right away. On top of that, Henderson has a good demeanour and attitude that is welcome to any team, let alone one that is trying to build a solid core and identity.

Why the Raptors shouldn’t draft him: Plain and simple: he doesn’t have the upside that most lottery prospects have. Also, Henderson is going on 22 years of age, and that takes away some of the intrigue and allure of his potential.

Johnny Flynn
There is no doubt in my mind that Johnny Flynn is currently the best point guard in the draft. He makes the game look so effortless as he breaks down defenders and finishes around the net. Flynn is a tremendous athlete who has a reputation for stepping up in big moments. He doesn’t back down from any challenge, whether it’s nailing a big shot or shutting down opponents. Flynn also has a great basketball IQ. The only downside is that such an explosive player is prone to turnovers. Sometimes at Syracuse he would try and do too much to elevate his team. While this isn’t a knock on his heart or desire, it shows that he needs to learn when to push the issue and when to let the game flow more naturally. Another downside is that he’s only 6 feet tall.

Why the Raptors should draft him: The Raptors don’t really have any perimeter players who are assertive scorers. Flynn would bring that element and make the team more dynamic on the offensive end. He also has a swagger about him that could be an asset in big-game situations.

Why the Raptors shouldn’t draft him: Like I mentioned before, the Raptors already have a good point guard. Do they need another small playmaker or do they need to address their needs at other positions?

Jordan Hill
Jordan Hill probably won’t go past 7th, but you never know. While he is definitely built like an NBA power forward, scouts are worried about his limited skills. Hill is a beneficiary of playing in the NCAA where most players cannot compete with him physically. He bullies his way around the paint and uses his size and athleticism to hit the glass ferociously and put back easy baskets. He is also a fluid athlete, adding to his appeal. But what’s going to happen when he’s being guarded by pros that are just as big and athletic as him? Well for starters, Hill has developed a bit of a mid-range jumper. What he needs to learn is how to incorporate this with his athleticism. A lot of people are saying Hill can be the next Chris Bosh. I can see it, but it’ll take a lot of work.

Why the Raptors should draft him: If Chris Bosh leaves then Hill can become his successor. The difference between the two is that Hill is stronger coming out of college than Bosh was. This is mostly due to Hill being almost 22 years old already. Also, the Raptors have always had issues with their lack of frontcourt depth. Worst-case scenario is that they draft Hill, and he becomes a role player kind of like Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas in Chicago. Not great, but still useful.

Why the Raptors shouldn’t draft him: If they think Chris Bosh will stay in Toronto, their more pressing needs are at the shooting guard and small forward positions. What happens if he and DeRozan are both available at 9th? What’s the right move?

So who would I pick if I had all these guys available at 9th? Ultimately I’d like to see Toronto grab Evans or DeRozan. Either would bring a presence to the perimeter that the Raptors sorely lack. I think I like Evans a bit more just because of his ability to play the point guard position. At the end of the day though, I think any of these aforementioned prospects would be great additions to the Raptors, so I’m not too biased in any respect.

And that about does it for this blog. “But wait!” you say. “Where are the other prospects?” Right now I wanted to just talk about players I wouldn’t mind coming to Toronto. Check back later this week as I analyze players the Raps should avoid selecting.

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