The Raptors and the 2014 Draft

[white men can't jump]

It's a good point. Honestly there are many ways the Raptors could go at the draft, it will be fascinating to see what happens, although this time I'm more confident something good will come out of it.

For sure. Lots of possibilities. If we can't get Ennis, wing depth has gotta be a huge priority...draft a potential starting SF, or draft someone who can maybe back up both spots as a first wing off the bench type.

[OldSkoolCool]

For sure. Lots of possibilities. If we can't get Ennis, wing depth has gotta be a huge priority...draft a potential starting SF, or draft someone who can maybe back up both spots as a first wing off the bench type.

LaVine fits that (not the SF but first wing). He is a bit of a project but has the pieces to start out as a smaller piece off the bench on a better team

[white men can't jump]

LaVine fits that (not the SF but first wing). He is a bit of a project but has the pieces to start out as a smaller piece off the bench on a better team

He's a tough one to figure out. Ideally I wish he displayed more obvious PG skills. Seems like a SG with some combo-guard ability. Has crazy athleticism. Don't know what to make of him, but he'd be on my board, probably not at the top though. I love the possibility of getting someone who can drive down the heart of the D.

[OldSkoolCool]

He is all over draft boards, as high as 12 and as low as 29. I think he will be good because his game is more suited to the NBA game where the floor is spaced better. He has a very quick release on his shot and has gone off a few times in college when he gets hot. He is a hard worker and was in a bad spot playing behind his coaches son.

He is also a good interviewer, when people ask him about specifics in games he is quick and articulate and I like to see this from prospects, speaks to a level of intelligence.

[BigCamB]

You'd have to think he will be a major hit in workouts with that freakish athleticism and three point shot. Being a good interviewer can never be overlooked as well, It plays a role. Someone will fall in love with him and take him much closer to 12 than 29 I think.

[mcHAPPY]

I read that Parker has his accommodations in place for next year at Duke.

Doesn't mean he is not going to declare but certainly shows he is not set on what he is doing.

[WJF]

Oh ya.. him too. Not crazy about his game either. He's Kapono-lite to me.

I would venture to put money on it that Stauskas will be a far better pro than Kapono.

[JimiCliff]

I would venture to put money on it that Stauskas will be a far better pro than Kapono.

This was my initial thought as well

However I just compared their stats. Kapono actually had a sick college career, 4 years of putting up the same stats that Stauskas put up this year

However, Stauskas is more athletic, won't be the pylon that Kapono was

I think they'll have similiar impacts as pros, but in slightly different ways

Calling him Kapono-lite is pretty pessimistic IMO, I'd say Michael Redd-lite

[WJF]

This was my initial thought as well

However I just compared their stats. Kapono actually had a sick college career, 4 years of putting up the same stats that Stauskas put up this year

However, Stauskas is more athletic, won't be the pylon that Kapono was

I think they'll have similiar impacts as pros, but in slightly different ways

Calling him Kapono-lite is pretty pessimistic IMO, I'd say Michael Redd-lite

Redd could be a good comparison, I think he could be a slightly taller Dell Curry as well.

[white men can't jump]

Another week, another Chad Ford chat. Selected snippets.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat...ider-chad-ford

Hey Chad, great work. When all is said and done, who do you see leaving of the Kentucky underclassmen?

Chad Ford (1:10 PM)

Julius Randle and James Young are, for sure, gone. I would say Willie Cauley-Stein too, but his comments the other day indicated he might not be a sure thing to leave. The Harrison twins have wanted to leave all year according to multiple sources around the twins, but their draft stock made them iffy first rounders. While they improved their stock, I'm not sure it's to the point that they are clear first rounders. Andrew probably has the most claim, but he's not a lock. Another year at Kentucky would help. Dakari Johnson would be a bubble first rounder as well. Ditto for Poythress. I think there's a chance ALL of them are gone. There are certainly rumblings that direction. But the only three that really make sense right now are Randle, Young and Cauley-Stein.

how much did napier improve his stock with the run in the tourney?

Chad Ford (1:05 PM)

A lot actually. He's a four year senior, so the scouting report on him is pretty secure. But with PGs, teams want to see your leadership abilities. Being a winner, rightly or wrongly, helps. Napier's leadership, clutch shooting all have improved his stock much the same way it did for Kemba Walker a couple years ago. I think he goes somewhere between 25-40.

And the answer is "I improved my draft position the most during March Madness"

Chad Ford (1:07 PM)

Shabazz has a claim. So does Wichita State's Cleanthony Early. UConn's DeAndre Daniels also helped his stock. Ditto for the Harrison twins and Dakari Johnson for Kentucky. I think Alex Poythress also reminded us all why we loved him so much as a freshman. So much athletic talent there.

Are NBA scouts more enamored with Isaiah Austin's athleticism and length or scared of how soft he plays?

Chad Ford (1:11 PM)

Both, but lean toward the latter.

Who is the better prospect Gary Harris or James Young and who would you rather take ?

Chad Ford (1:13 PM)

Most scouts have Harris ranked ahead of Young. Young has the size advantage. Harris is a better athlete, better defender. Both have been streaky shooting the basketball but have the potential to be good shooters. I think Harris, if he declares, goes between 8-15. Young is 12-18.

Will Adrien Payne be a lottery pick?

Chad Ford (1:21 PM)

If he was 19 or 20. For sure. Top 10. But he's already 23 years old and didn't have a dominant season until this year. That hurts his stock quite a bit. I think he's more in the 15-25 range.

On Nik Stauskas- any thing he can gain by coming back or has this year put him as high as he is going to go?

Chad Ford (1:28 PM)

He's going to go somewhere between 10 and 20. I don't know that he gets much higher than that by returning to Michigan for another year. I think he's likely gone.

Whats your opinion of UL Lafayette's Elfrid Payton? Could he play his way up to top 20 pick?

Chad Ford (1:30 PM)

I'm a big fan. NBA guys are a little more on the fence. Some really like him, some aren't sold. He can't shoot and that's an issue. But I think he brings so much else to the table. He's in the 25-40 range right now. But I'd consider him in the mid to late first round personally.

Think Jahlil Carson is a starting NBA PG?

Chad Ford (1:33 PM)

Perhaps. Another player that scouts are all over the place on. Can really score and a great athlete. But so small.

Is Tyler Ennis a better pro prospect than Trey Burke?

Chad Ford (1:34 PM)

Probably. That's the take I get from most NBA scouts. I think the analytics support that as well. But it's debatable.

Is UCLA's Kyle Anderson a 1, 2, or 3 in the NBA?

Chad Ford (1:43 PM)

He's a 4.

The biggest knock I've heard on TJ Warren is that he's a tweener and doesn't really have a position. Is there any truth to that, or is it just nitpicking? If you can play, you can PLAY no matter what your position. Thoughts?

Chad Ford (1:44 PM)

It's about who he guards. I don't see him guarding NBA 3s or 4s. That's the issue. Also the lack of a credible three point shot hurts him at the next level. But you're right, he does know how to play and is one of the greatest scorers in this draft.

[thead]

at 20 do you go for the diamond in the rough, or do you seek out guys with a solid NBA skill that can contribute?

at 20 I wouldn't mind hunting for a lock down defensive type big or small

[white men can't jump]

at 20 do you go for the diamond in the rough, or do you seek out guys with a solid NBA skill that can contribute?

at 20 I wouldn't mind hunting for a lock down defensive type big or small

I think you can still try to find a higher ceiling guy who might have starter potential (or 6th man).

I think you can find a defensive type in the 2nd round. I wouldn't mind a defensive type in the 1st round, but they'd have to have some more intrigue around them then just being a defender, at least ideally.

[stooley]

at 20 do you go for the diamond in the rough, or do you seek out guys with a solid NBA skill that can contribute?

at 20 I wouldn't mind hunting for a lock down defensive type big or small

Ideally, I think we want to look for a SF who can defend and shoot the three. Whether or not he's amazing at either, or just better than John Salmons, I don't really mind.

I'd also like a WCS backup 5 type player.

I'm leaning towards a safe pick unless someone with huge upside falls far enough (pretty much only Lavine.)

[thead]

granted if a guy falls you take him but at this point...and my opinion may change...I'm thinking 3pt specialist, 3 and D or a big that can rock some people on screens and has 6 fouls to burn. I think when you are rebuilding it's a little safer to gamble, just because the playing time to figure out who you are exists. If we are a second or third round playoff team...how much time can we really give a prospect.

[thead]

I didn't see a lot of Kentucky, is James Young a + defender? He has close to a 7ft wingspan