First before we get into what the Raptors did last night I just want to thank the folks at St Louis Wings for being our hosts for another year for the NBA Draft. Thanks to everyone that came out and had fun with us as well. No matter what the Raptors do in the draft it has been proven the last couple years that will have fun on NBA Draft night. As for what the Raptors did let's first take a walk down memory lane.
Mighty Mouse was back in the house for the Toronto Raptors as he was a guest for the Raptors draft party down at the ACC. He of course played at Arizona and in the Pac-10. The draft that year was held in Toronto at Skydome. The crowd that night would boo the eventual rookie of the year that night the crowd wanted Ed O'Bannon not the small point guard from the Wildcats. Speed ahead to modern times and the Raptors were picking and headed to that same conference for their pick. Terrance Ross from the Washington Huskies and now the Pac-12 was not on anyone's radar for the Raptors at 8. Most had Ross pegged to go in the mid-teens in the draft. So why did the Raptors go there? According to them it was a combination of his ability to shoot the ball and do it from distance along with his defense. It is not a case of complete De Ja Vu as I am pretty confident in saying Ross is not going to be challenging for Rookie of the Year. The Raptors hope they might have that in form of Jonas Valanciunas, that would their hope anyway. If there is an Ed O'Bannon in all of this that might be Austin Rivers who many felt the Raptors would select. That said just like Ross is likely not going to win Rookie of the Year, it is doubtful Rivers would be a complete bust.
Tank Nation will look to a few wins down the stretch of the season that forced the Raptors into a coin flip with the Golden State Warriors. In winning that coin flip the Warriors ended up with Harrison Barnes who many believe that if he was there the Raptors would have surly loved to pick him at 8. Let's face it there are always a lot of would of and could of situations in an NBA Season. If Andrea Bargnani does not get injured are the Raptors even picking at 8 in the first place. If he was healthy the Raptors likely are even deeper in the pool in terms of their pick. While I love Raptor fans some of you tend to over react just a bit at times. No more so than at the draft it seems. Can I tell you Ross was a terrible pick. No I really can't. In terms of seeing him play with the NBA Lockout I can't say that I caught a lot of Washington Huskies games this year. I am pretty sure not to many people in Toronto Canada were checking out the Huskies on regular basis. Ultimately it looks like Ross will have a chance to be a roll player with specific tasks in terms of making shots and defending. If that guy that everyone says is coming home to Canada actually does, Ross would be a nice player to play along side him at times with Demar DeRozan who is looking a little bigger playing at small forward. If Nash does indeed come along with Jonas already coming the amount of pressure on Ross will be small. If anything by what he wore last night I know a girl that will be a fan of his just based on that.
Now the Raptors had two more picks in the 2nd round and as promised at 56 the Raptors drafted a Euro at 56 that will not be part of the roster this year so let's not even bother talking about that. I had half seriously and half jokingly said I was more interested to see what the Raptors would do at 37 than I was at 8. While nothing is a sure thing and especially in the 2nd round that is true, the Raptors may just have finally hit a home run in the second round. If you were a fan of Reggie Evans and the way he played basketball just go down to Real Sports and get a Jersey with Acy on the back. From the first time I saw Quincy Acy play at Baylor I nicknamed him "Baby Reggie" because he looked like a clone of Reggie Evans. Turns out the comparison is not lost on him as well as he mentions Evans as one the guys he patterns himself after. This kid just flat out works. Ed Davis if he ultimately is around just got someone that will push him for minutes in a major way. Dwane Casey is going to LOVE LOVE LOVE Quincy Acy. This guy is nothing but hustle with a big old beard. Raptors fans have always respected hard working blue collar players and that is what Quincy Acy is.
So at the end of the day the Raptors still have a lot of work to do for this team to be a playoff team. But they did get some pieces to a puzzle last night. The largest piece of the puzzle is likely still Steve Nash. Once that domino falls it would lead to an exciting era for the Raptors regardless of anything else that happens. Still just Nash alone will not be enough, it will take some more moves and work to be done. It is exciting times for the Raptors. July 1st can not get here soon enough for people. I was able to drop in at the ACC and speak with Amir Johnson and Demar DeRozan prior to the draft and will get those interviews up in some form or fashion later today or Monday.
Showing posts with label NBA Draft 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA Draft 2012. Show all posts
6/29/12
6/12/12
2nd Annual DNB Draft Party at St Louis Wings
If you have facebook and would like to RSVP you can do so and invite your friends and make this an even bigger party. Regardless we would like to see you come out and experience the NBA Draft with us and the good folks at St Louis Wings. The best thing about St Louis Wings is they love their basketball and the sound is always on full blast for any events we do there. So you don't have to worry about basketball being treated as a second class citizen. It never is at St Louis Wings. Here is all the info on the location complete with menu, map and everything.
There may not be punch and pie...actually there likely is pie. But there is a full menu of fun and good times if you are looking for a place to watch the NBA Draft with Raptors Fans like you. This is the place to do it. So come on out June 28th it starts at 7pm but will be there most of the night as the draft never ends to well after 11pm. How excited are we? Look over on the right we have a clock counting down to our party. So make sure when that thing reaches 0:00 you are at St. Louis Wings with us.
5/30/12
Raptors Stay Put While Hornets Create A Buzz
I think it was back in January that I grew frustrated with Tank Nation and said these now infamous words, "You just watch I will tell you right now the New Orleans Hornets are winning the draft lottery." I am happy to announce the start of the DNB physic hotline. But in reality I am no more Miss Cleo than Miss Cleo is. The fact that the Hornets at the time I said this, were owned by the league and now have a new soon to be owner in Tom Benson owner of the NFL Saints, makes the Hornets winning of the first overall pick reek of conspiracy. How must it feel for the folks in Charlotte who ended up with the 2nd pick to deal with the fact their former franchise landed the number one pick in what can only be deemed as "the dream" scenario. Just like the dream that saw Patrick Ewing go to the Knicks, Hometown hero at the time Lebron James and still one currently in Derrick Rose wind up in their hometowns with the Cavs and Bulls. Then when Lebron James bolts to take his talents to South Beach the Cavs are given (or win) the first pick the following year. More times than not the NBA Draft Lottery ends with a smell that is fishy to say the least and tonight was no exception.
It could have been worse for the Raptors who at least didn't see the Hornets other pick acquired via trade win the lottery, as a similar situation did for the Cavs last year. The Raptors came in number eight and they walk out of New York City still number eight. The question now turns to if they will stay number eight. In his conference call after the draft lottery Bryan Colangelo gave no indication or obvious preference as to what will become of the 8th pick.
Colangelo would also talk about the amount of flexibility the team has thanks in part to the deal that sent Barbosa to the Pacers and stressed how the Raptors are one of only few teams with the ability to take on salary between now and July 1st. This would also of course mean before the NBA Draft to held on June 28th. Some of this idea of moving the pick is likely based on the fact they already have Jonas Valanciunas on the way. He officially as of a day or two ago has been bought out of the remainder of his contract in Europe. The 5th overall pick from last years draft is coming, if all the hype from that last month of the regular season didn't reminded you of that fact. Let's just say the Raptors are about as committed to picking at eight as Kim Kardashian was to former Raptor Kris Humphries. Don't think so? Well after this next quote from Bryan Colangelo see if you still doubt it?
Still not convinced? There is more hear what he has to say about a potential pick at eight.
If the Raptors were to remain at eight, Colangelo would not rule out the possibility of taking anyone even if it was a position of strength like the four spot as an example. He referenced it as "stacking" at that position, which he indicated they would be willing to do or at least consider it. When asked if he felt the Raptors would use all three of the Raptors picks including the two second rounders he showed a lot of interest in the Raptors 2nd round pick at 37. While the pick acquired from the Pacers, he seem less committed to and suggested if it was used it could be used to draft a European player that would not be coming over right away. Here is what he had to say on number 37.
That said, Bryan did not rule out a situation in which he would be willing to package the picks to move up in the draft or as part of a package to acquire a player on another teams roster. In short it was your typical Bryan Colangelo exchange with the media. He gave long and thoughtful answers that never really suggested specifically what he was planning to do. However, when you add it all up and read the tea leaves so to speak it sure seems like Colangelo is going to be exploring the trade market just as much, if not more than the draft prospects he could acquire. There was a under lying theme of wanting to take this team to the next level and the idea of having NBA experienced players to get to that goal. It is not to say that the 8th pick is as good as gone. Only that it is seen just as easily to be an asset in a trade as it would be to select a player.
To sum it up, Colangelo did not seem upset at all by the fact the Raptors did not move up in the lottery. He seemed like he expected as much and is ready to move forward now that it official where his team will be pegged to select on draft night. If anything you can be certain that Raptors will be very active working the phones between now and July 1st. It would be a surprise and maybe for some a disappointment if Colangelo does not come up with some move or moves prior to that date. Even if he does not, the Raptors still would have a significant amount of cap space to be a player in free agency. At the end of it all, the clock is ticking not just on the way to the Raptors draft pick at 8 but on Colangelo's overall master plans. One thing is certain you could almost sense the eagerness in his voice that he has his self imposed handcuffs off and is ready to make some deals. The only question that still remains is if they will be the right ones to take this team to that next level that he wants them to be at.
It could have been worse for the Raptors who at least didn't see the Hornets other pick acquired via trade win the lottery, as a similar situation did for the Cavs last year. The Raptors came in number eight and they walk out of New York City still number eight. The question now turns to if they will stay number eight. In his conference call after the draft lottery Bryan Colangelo gave no indication or obvious preference as to what will become of the 8th pick.
Colangelo: "We feel that a player at eight will add to our building process, or the value of the eight pick, will perhaps be something that packaged with something else, that will create, a trade asset if you will."
Colangelo would also talk about the amount of flexibility the team has thanks in part to the deal that sent Barbosa to the Pacers and stressed how the Raptors are one of only few teams with the ability to take on salary between now and July 1st. This would also of course mean before the NBA Draft to held on June 28th. Some of this idea of moving the pick is likely based on the fact they already have Jonas Valanciunas on the way. He officially as of a day or two ago has been bought out of the remainder of his contract in Europe. The 5th overall pick from last years draft is coming, if all the hype from that last month of the regular season didn't reminded you of that fact. Let's just say the Raptors are about as committed to picking at eight as Kim Kardashian was to former Raptor Kris Humphries. Don't think so? Well after this next quote from Bryan Colangelo see if you still doubt it?
Colangelo: "We have put ourselves in the position, as we have talked about, with the cap flexibility we have Pre-July one to acquire a player, if that right player is available in a trade scenario. Whether or not the eight pick is part of that process in packaging enough assets to acquire that right player, we'll have to consider all options."
Still not convinced? There is more hear what he has to say about a potential pick at eight.
Colangelo: " Anyone you take at eight is going to be somewhat disadvantaged in that they will lack NBA experience. We are obviously looking for a team next year to compete at a higher level. We are looking to increase the level of competition. We are looking to increase the level of experience. Thinking that you are going to get all of that at eight is probably not going to happen."
If the Raptors were to remain at eight, Colangelo would not rule out the possibility of taking anyone even if it was a position of strength like the four spot as an example. He referenced it as "stacking" at that position, which he indicated they would be willing to do or at least consider it. When asked if he felt the Raptors would use all three of the Raptors picks including the two second rounders he showed a lot of interest in the Raptors 2nd round pick at 37. While the pick acquired from the Pacers, he seem less committed to and suggested if it was used it could be used to draft a European player that would not be coming over right away. Here is what he had to say on number 37.
Colangelo: " Thirty-seven however, is a pick that we feel might net us a player that could add something to this roster. We're looking at various players, a pool of players that might be available at thirty-seven."
That said, Bryan did not rule out a situation in which he would be willing to package the picks to move up in the draft or as part of a package to acquire a player on another teams roster. In short it was your typical Bryan Colangelo exchange with the media. He gave long and thoughtful answers that never really suggested specifically what he was planning to do. However, when you add it all up and read the tea leaves so to speak it sure seems like Colangelo is going to be exploring the trade market just as much, if not more than the draft prospects he could acquire. There was a under lying theme of wanting to take this team to the next level and the idea of having NBA experienced players to get to that goal. It is not to say that the 8th pick is as good as gone. Only that it is seen just as easily to be an asset in a trade as it would be to select a player.
To sum it up, Colangelo did not seem upset at all by the fact the Raptors did not move up in the lottery. He seemed like he expected as much and is ready to move forward now that it official where his team will be pegged to select on draft night. If anything you can be certain that Raptors will be very active working the phones between now and July 1st. It would be a surprise and maybe for some a disappointment if Colangelo does not come up with some move or moves prior to that date. Even if he does not, the Raptors still would have a significant amount of cap space to be a player in free agency. At the end of it all, the clock is ticking not just on the way to the Raptors draft pick at 8 but on Colangelo's overall master plans. One thing is certain you could almost sense the eagerness in his voice that he has his self imposed handcuffs off and is ready to make some deals. The only question that still remains is if they will be the right ones to take this team to that next level that he wants them to be at.
5/25/12
Mock Draft Lottery
I decided to produce a fun little video and have the first ever DNB Mock Draft Lottery:
If you want to have your very own Mock Draft Lottery you can go on ESPN and try your luck. Prior to Wednesday Josh from are DNB staff will be looking at what the Raptors would do should they indeed be lucky and land in one of those top 3 spots on the draft board. I along with some of the Team DNB Staff will be hosting a chat the night of the Draft lottery so make your plans to cuddle up with your computer and t.v and hangout with us on the Dino Nation Blog and together experience the Raptors fate.
If you want to have your very own Mock Draft Lottery you can go on ESPN and try your luck. Prior to Wednesday Josh from are DNB staff will be looking at what the Raptors would do should they indeed be lucky and land in one of those top 3 spots on the draft board. I along with some of the Team DNB Staff will be hosting a chat the night of the Draft lottery so make your plans to cuddle up with your computer and t.v and hangout with us on the Dino Nation Blog and together experience the Raptors fate.
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