Current Roster
PG: Cory Joseph/Delon Wright/Fred VanVleet
SG: DeMar DeRozan/Norman Powell
SF: DeMarre Carroll/OG Anunoby*
PF: Pascal Siakam/Bruno Caboclo
C: Jonas Valanciunas/Lucas Nogueira
*When healthy
2017 Free Agents
Unrestricted
G Kyle Lowry
C Serge Ibaka
F Patrick Patterson
F PJ Tucker
Restricted
None
Who They Drafted
1-23 OG Anunoby, SF/PF Indiana
The Raptors got a player many had projected as a lottery pick but who fell because of a knee injury and concerns about his offensive abilities. Anunoby is an elite defensive prospect, with long arms, strength, and (before the injury at least) tremendous all-around athletic ability. Anunoby could potentially guard all five positions, including point guards (see his defensive performace against Jamal Murray) and centers, once he bulks up a little more, he's already weighs in the 230s and could another 10-20 pounds easily. Where the question marks begin are his offense. Anunoby is an explosive finisher at the rim but needs an open lane or a shot created by someone else to get there. As a shooter, Anunoby made .365% of his career 74 college threes, but only shoot .311% in his last season and is a bad free throw shooter as well (career .522%) so there are serious worries that he'll never be a shooter or offensive threat in general. However, if Anunoby can become even a 34% three point shooter at a minimum, he'll be one of the best 3-and-D players in the league, though that is where his upside likely ends. Even if he can't shoot, Anunoby could still carve out a Luc Richard Mbah a Moute-like career due to his high level defense. For years the Raptors have been looking for a guy to defend the LeBron James' (or even the Joe Johnson's and Paul Pierce's) of the world, but have been unable to find that guy. Anunoby really could be that guy, unfortunately his arrival is coinciding with perhaps the closing of the Raptors window.
What They Need Going Forward
The Raptors need to figure out if they're going to continue to go for it or are going to start a soft rebuild. If the former, then bringing back Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka are priorities, if the latter then they'd probably want to move on and look to trade Jonas Valanciunas and maybe even DeMar DeRozan. They'll also probably be looking for depth signings on the wing and at guard, where a Kyle Lowry departure would really mess with their team structure.
Follow me on Twitter @double_tech
Showing posts with label toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toronto. Show all posts
Friday, June 30, 2017
Saturday, July 4, 2015
2015 Draft Review: Toronto Raptors
PG: Kyle Lowry/Delon Wright
SG: DeMar DeRozan/Terrence Ross/Norman Powell
SF: DeMarre Carroll/Bruno Caboclo
PF: Patrick Patterson/James Johnson
C: Jonas Valenciunas/Lucas Nogueira
2015 Free Agents
SF Landry Fields
PF Tyler Hansbrough
C Chuck Hayes
PF Amir Johnson
C Greg Steimsma
G Lou Williams
What They Did On Draft Night
Drafted Utah point guard Delon Wright 20th Overall
After trading Greivis Vasquez, the Raptors needed a backup point guard and had the chance to select one that complimented Kyle Lowry better while also improving the team's biggest weakness. Delon Wright can legitimately play point guard, but has the size to defend wings meaning he can play alongside Lowry as well, relieving some of Toronto's reliance on his playmaking and hopefully keeping him from wearing down. Wright is also an excellent defender, a huge upgrade over what Vasquez offered on that end, that should help improve the Raptor's defense when he is on the floor. Wright is 23, so basically a finished product, but ready to play basically right away and could form a nice second unit backcourt combo with Terrence Ross, who compliments Wright's one big weakness: shooting.
Traded Greivis Vasquez to Milwaukee for Norman Powell and a 2016 conditional first-round pick
Getting a first round pick of any kind for a backup on an expiring deal is a good move, especially when you have a ready made replacement that fits you team better available to you in the draft. Toronto also got back the draft rights to the 46th pick, which the used on Norman Powell. The idea behind drafting Powell is similar to that of Wright: find more creators that can get to the rim and take some pressure off of Kyle Lowry. Powell also somewhat duplicates what Lou Williams brought to the team, so if he departs in free agency, Toronto at least has a creative scorer type to try as a potential replacement.
Follow me on Twitter @double_tech
Follow me on Twitter @double_tech
Saturday, June 20, 2015
2015 Draft Preview: Toronto Raptors
PG: Kyle Lowry/Greivis Vasquez
SG: DeMar DeRozan
SF: Terrence Ross/James Johnson/Bruno Caboclo
PF: Patrick Patterson
C: Jonas Valenciunas/Lucas Nogueira
2015 Free Agents
SF Landry Fields
PF Tyler Hansbrough
C Chuck Hayes
PF Amir Johnson
C Greg Steimsma
G Lou Williams
2015 Draft Picks
1-20
Team Needs
Toronto is one of the most interesting teams this offseason because they have a number of free agents and could conceivably not re-sign any of them. Their rotation could look dramatically different from last season, starting with this pick. Point guard is settled and Toronto has a good trio of wings, but their frontcourt is seriously shallow, even if you consider James Johnson a power forward. To make matters worse, Jonas Valanciunas' development has stalled some, creating even more doubt for the future of the position. What type of player Toronto targets is a bigger question mark, do they go for a more offensive-minded player and double-down on their strengths from last season? Or target a strong defender that can help improve their biggest weakness? Because they frequently employ a shooting guard that can't shoot, spacing is ever at a premium for the Raptors so a power forward that can shoot is important, though that is Patrick Patterson current role.
Potential Fits
Trey Lyles of Kentucky fits that mold of a stretch-four, at least in theory, he really struggled shooting the ball last season. Lyles has the size to play center occasionally, but not the defensive chops and will probably struggled defensively at power forward too. Lyles is a smart player that plays hard, but Toronto would be banking on his shooting developing. There is risk certainly, but at this point in the draft the upside would be worth it. If Christian Wood of UNLV makes it to this pick, he would also be an interesting option because he has similar shooting upside, but a much more athletic profile. Louisville's Montrezl Harrell is defensively ready to contribute and compliments Patterson nicely, however he won't help spacing much.
Mock Draft
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Toronto Raptors Draft Review
The biggest shock of the draft, the Raptors went way off the radar to take who they hope will be the next Giannis Antetokounmpo. Caboclo has a long ways to go, even longer than Giannis, but there is certainly enough here that warranted him being drafted, so what difference does it make if it was at 20 or 37? Was it a reach? Sure, but if I pans out then it won't matter, and if it doesn't will Toronto really be killing themselves that they didn't take Rodney Hood instead? Caboclo is intruiging because he is young, big, athletic and plays like a guard, which will always get foolish Kevin Durant comparisons. He is coming to play in the Summer League and is sure to be one of the most watched players there.
37. DeAndre Daniels, SF Connecticut Jr. (6-9, 196)
While Caboclo is a long way away from his ceiling, DeAndre Daniels is close to his. Daniels is tall, long, and for at least one season, could really shoot. He doesn't add much else, though his length helps him block a lot of shots and he could be a good defender if he gets stronger. Similar to Austin Daye, who was sunk by his lack of a position and inconsistent shooting. If Daniels solves those problems, he could be a nice bench piece for Toronto, if not he'll bounce around like Daye has.
Projected Lineup
PG: Kyle Lowry (UFA)/Lou Williams
SG: Terrence Ross/Landry Fields
SF: DeMar DeRozan/DeAndre Daniels
PF: Amir Johnson/Tyler Hansbrough
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)