Pretty much at the time 99% of Raptor fans were upset at the draft (myself included) that Masai didnt pick Labissiere instead. Majority of Raps fans even described the draft as being "average". As it turned out, it was the best multipick (3 or more ) drafts in Raptors history ( FVV was part of the draft process and although not selected, convincing him to sign with the Raptors is still a draft day win)
Pretty much at the time 99% of Raptor fans were upset at the draft (myself included) that Masai didnt pick Labissiere instead. Majority of Raps fans even described the draft as being "average". As it turned out, it was the best multipick (3 or more ) drafts in Raptors history ( FVV was part of the draft process and although not selected, convincing him to sign with the Raptors is still a draft day win)
Raptors fans wanted Skal and Chriss. We ended up with a trade piece for Kawhi and Siakam.
This is why we can't GM as good as we think we can GM.
I remember there being a "clear top eight" in the draft, which included Chriss, Bender and Dunn.
Poeltl turned out to be a perfectly fine pick compared to those who were picked directly after him (Maker, Sabonis, Prince).
Siakam was a home run. Players picked ahead of him include Georgios Papagiannis (wyd Kings?), Wade Baldwin, Henry Ellenson, Malik Beasley, Ante Zizic, Brice Johnson and Malachi Richardson (lol). The only really standout picks after Siakam were Dejounte Murray and Malcolm Brogdon
(although "Biyombo with a shooting stroke" is not exactly accurate)
For some fun, I just scrolled back to around post #7080, which is when the immediate reactions to the Siakam pick happened. Here's a general overview of everyone's knee-jerk opinions (including mine):
What the fuck are you even thinking with this pick? You have 3 dudes projected to be in the lottery who are sitting on your lap and you pick fucking Pascal who I don't even remember being on any draft boards. I'm so pissed
For some fun, I just scrolled back to around post #7080, which is when the immediate reactions to the Siakam pick happened. Here's a general overview of everyone's knee-jerk opinions (including mine):
There were a few people who were fully on board:
Good post, except the fact that it will help T Rexs ego. T Rex needs an ego boost like Kyle Lowry needs booty
The best quote was sanyo "Relax, Masai has done a lot more scouting than you"
Armchair GMs lol
9 time first team all-RR, First Ballot Hall of Forum
For some fun, I just scrolled back to around post #7080, which is when the immediate reactions to the Siakam pick happened. Here's a general overview of everyone's knee-jerk opinions (including mine):
There were a few people who were fully on board:
This is why you don't overreact. Masai and his staff actually scouted these players, some of you on the other hand just forms an opinion based on articles that you read about all these players.
I remember checking out Pascal’s highlights and stats after he was drafted and being pretty impressed. A few others were well aware of him. He’s obviously improved but he had some good tools in his toolbox coming in, and showed plenty of flashes as a rookie.
I think what helped Siakam's career was when he was forced to start due to Sullinger's back and not wanting to start Patterson. He got some real, important minutes which was a catalyst for his development. He had the tools coming in, especially physically with length and mobility, but those games to start were eye-opening moments for him to understand where he had/has to refine his game.
To be fair, I was upset about the Poeltl pick, the Siakam pick I was excited about for the same reason people were pissed about: wingspan, mobile, etc. Masai loves those type of guys, and it's paid off aside from Bruno.
Delon, Poeltl (who was solid here, esp. defensively), Siakam, OG... I also still can't believe OG fell to the Raptors. He was a projected top-10, with many saying top-5 potential, prior to the knee injury. Seems like OG is well on his way. Pascal is better than many of those guys drafted, too.
I think what helped Siakam's career was when he was forced to start due to Sullinger's back and not wanting to start Patterson. He got some real, important minutes which was a catalyst for his development. He had the tools coming in, especially physically with length and mobility, but those games to start were eye-opening moments for him to understand where he had/has to refine his game.
You're coming dangerously close to giving Casey credit. That's a paddlin around here.
9 time first team all-RR, First Ballot Hall of Forum
You're coming dangerously close to giving Casey credit. That's a paddlin around here.
I would say Masai is more to credit for his inability to pickup someone more capable at the time at the four spot in 2017, and forcing a younger roster on Casey's hand last season by getting rid of Cojo, Patterson, etc., opening up the time for VanVleet/Delon/Pascal.
But TO BE FAIR to myself and everyone else that didn't like the pick at the time; it wasn't really Siakam that was the problem.
Pretty much the whole board was fixated on Labissiere, Davis & Sabonis and concluded these were the best choices for us to take at #9. General reasoning was we needed someone to play beside JV and these were the best players to do it. The ONE GUY that was almost unanimously decided to be a poor choice was Poeltl. And that's exactly who we took.
THIS is what set a lot of people off already for the night. If you look further in that thread, there are only a couple of people that liked that pick (BPA) with everyone else hating it. (I took it a little too far by calling him a bust that very night LOL)
Fast forward and the remaining favourites (Davis and Skal) are still on the board at 27. Seems like a pure stroke of luck and the basketball gods finally doing us a favor.
That's when Masai takes a guy who most people weren't informed about before them. I think we can all agree that we had flashbacks to the 2015 draft when we took Bruno out of nowhere in front of more well known draft prospects.
Poeltl's questionable fit on the team (at the time) and the PTSD of the Bruno pick is basically what did a lot of people in on draft night.
I guess this is just a long winded way of saying, I was wrong lol
Last edited by tDotted; Thu Nov 8, 2018, 09:11 PM.
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