Draft Review From The Media

[GarbageTime]

Not to mention that the majority of those picks he listed were taken by Jerry Colangelo.

I didn't really want to mention that, or that a few others were drafted on behalf of others

[GarbageTime]

1. He may not be as hyped up as Biyombo on defense, but he is said to be a very good help defender, and just needs to add strength so he can play solid post defense as well.

3. This and his propensity to foul are my main concerns. While it's great that he has a good frame for adding weight, we constantly see players not getting to where they need to be physically.

4. This contradicts #1 quite a bit. There were only two players "known for being a top notch defender"; one was Singleton and the other Biyombo. So no top notch defender or no Euro, which is it? Not to mention, this idea that BC has a "Euro" philosophy is exactly what TheR3dMenace and I take issue with.

I have no idea how #1 and #4 contradict each other as they are seperate thoughts. They are mutually exclusive. If I said top notch defenders can't be "Euro" than I could see it. Its irrelevant that Biyombo is considered the top defender and is "Euro"/international, as Biyombo is not JV.

"that BC has a "Euro" philosophy is exactly what TheR3dMenace and I take issue with"

and yet he (BC) does and has stated as such. This isn't so much about JV being European... that independantly would be irrelevant. But, it continues along the same philosophical lines BC has been using of taking European players. I guarantee that if JV turns out to be a hard working player and useful player who can compete at the NBA level, no one will have an issue with him. But right now he doesn't do anything to create that culture shift fans have been expecting.

Its like having a kid who keeps getting bit by the family dogs... and for Christmas Dad buys his kid a new dog. It may be great gift and yet it could be the dumbest gift of all time. Most likely it was time to get a cat.

[ebrian]

To further refer to the Spurs, they were frantically trying to trade up in this draft (including Wight the raptors if you recall from just yesterday) to get this guy. Good pick. Personally I wanted the team to get another pick and do exactly what Charlotte did getting Kemba and Biyombo, but optimistic with JV.

The difference is the Spurs can afford to take on players that don't come here right away because in the meantime they're still contending for a championship.

[ebrian]

thats a pretty distinctive continuation of the existing philosophy and cultre is it not? Don't blame Don
Cherry or hockey fans for BC's failures.

Not to mention that the majority of those picks he listed were taken by Jerry Colangelo.

[Quixotic]

It's funny but there was a significant contingent of people on here salivating over JV for MONTHS and now there are scathing reactions when the raptors actually pick him. Crazy.

To further refer to the Spurs, they were frantically trying to trade up in this draft (including Wight the raptors if you recall from just yesterday) to get this guy. Good pick. Personally I wanted the team to get another pick and do exactly what Charlotte did getting Kemba and Biyombo, but optimistic with JV.

You're right, what happened to those guys? I remember a pretty big back-and-forth between Kanter and Valanciunas. People were hating on Kanter more than on Valanciunas. The outburst was kind of surprising; they must not be forum readers.

[Maleko]

And hey, they weren't the Lakers drafting two complete unknowns (who they could have simply brought into camp and tested) while players like Hansbrough and Lighty were still there. It was funny to watch the panel stare blankly at the cameras toss some papers aside in frustration and ask "really? Come on guys."

[Maleko]

It's funny but there was a significant contingent of people on here salivating over JV for MONTHS and now there are scathing reactions when the raptors actually pick him. Crazy.

To further refer to the Spurs, they were frantically trying to trade up in this draft (including Wight the raptors if you recall from just yesterday) to get this guy. Good pick. Personally I wanted the team to get another pick and do exactly what Charlotte did getting Kemba and Biyombo, but optimistic with JV.

[Balls of Steel]

F? The Raptors picked the best center in the draft, and when you consider that there is high chance of a lockout next year why not let him play regular basketball in Europe instead of playing in the gym against Bargnani and Ajinca.

You know, I don't understand some fans. The owners and players are billions apart (the NFL don't have an agreement yet either - and they're a RICHER LEAGUE!!!). Jonas is a solid pick (just as solid if not more solid than Ed and Demar). A legit 7-footer who's only 19 and won't float in the perimeter. Shocking how short-sighted people are. Kemba cannot be better than Bayless and Knight is all potential. He's the best player at the fifth spot of this year's draft. Period.

[Quixotic]

The selection of Jonas does nothing to effect that.

1) he is not known for being a top notch defender
2) he is unlikely to be here next year
3) doesn't have the size as of yet (and maybe ever) to bang with other big
4) continues with BC's "Euro" philosophy

thats a pretty distinctive continuation of the existing philosophy and cultre is it not? Don't blame Don Cherry or hockey fans for BC's failures.

1. He may not be as hyped up as Biyombo on defense, but he is said to be a very good help defender, and just needs to add strength so he can play solid post defense as well.

3. This and his propensity to foul are my main concerns. While it's great that he has a good frame for adding weight, we constantly see players not getting to where they need to be physically.

4. This contradicts #1 quite a bit. There were only two players "known for being a top notch defender"; one was Singleton and the other Biyombo. So no top notch defender or no Euro, which is it? Not to mention, this idea that BC has a "Euro" philosophy is exactly what TheR3dMenace and I take issue with.

[Quixotic]

This shit angers me to no end.... especially because it is a commonly held belief in raptorland too, where hockey culture and Don Cherry-esque xenophobia still rears its ugly head.

I feel you, man. In this particular case, I'm mostly surprised by how lazy some of these writers are. They hear something somewhere, see Bargnani in Toronto, treat it as fact, then fans read the drivel, see Bargnani in Toronto, and treat it as fact. I have yet to hear anyone say "R.C. Buford loves to go international in the draft, so it should surprise nobody that Udrih/Karaulov/Mahinmi/Splitter/de Colo/Richards is heading to San Antonio," and that's not including international players who were picked by the Spurs and traded (Barbosa, Markota, Printezis and Dragic), or those who played NCAA ball (Sato). Heck, from an American standpoint, you could even include Joseph as an international (after all, he isn't American). Eight drafts and how many international players did Buford draft?

BTW, I take back what I said about FoxSports. The draft review was actually written by someone at NBADraft.net.

[GarbageTime]

This shit angers me to no end.... especially because it is a commonly held belief in raptorland too, where hockey culture and Don Cherry-esque xenophobia still rears its ugly head.

Thats quite the generalization is it not, amazingly not only towards basketball fans but hockey fans as well. Its battling a prejudice with one of your own.

I have nothing against this pick and it may very well have been the best available at the time. But I completely understand were the anger comes from with fans. This team has been terrible (to differing degrees) for a number of years now and needs significant change and specifically culture change. The selection of Jonas does nothing to effect that.

1) he is not known for being a top notch defender
2) he is unlikely to be here next year
3) doesn't have the size as of yet (and maybe ever) to bang with other big
4) continues with BC's "Euro" philosophy

thats a pretty distinctive continuation of the existing philosophy and cultre is it not? Don't blame Don Cherry or hockey fans for BC's failures.

[meductic]

Relax on cbs. The dude gives Kanter, Biyombo and Jonas a F ... and Vesely a B. Imagine if BC took Vesely. Call out the army.

[TheR3dMenace]

I stopped reading the Fox Sports' review when I saw, "Bryan Colangelo loves to go international in the draft." Bargnani and a stash away pick that pretty much has to be International = "loves to go international IN THE DRAFT"? People get paid to write this crap?

This shit angers me to no end.... especially because it is a commonly held belief in raptorland too, where hockey culture and Don Cherry-esque xenophobia still rears its ugly head. Say what you want about his team-building skills, but BC certainly has an eye for talent and an almost flawless draft history:

Michael Finley
Steve Nash
Stephen Jackson
Shawn Marion
Amare Stoudemire
Luol Deng
Nate Robinson
Marcin Gortat
Andrea Bargnani
Roy Hibbert
DeMar DeRozan
Ed Davis

[JoePanini]

F? The Raptors picked the best center in the draft, and when you consider that there is high chance of a lockout next year why not let him play regular basketball in Europe instead of playing in the gym against Bargnani and Ajinca.

[Apollo]

My bad. I didnt bother to even click on the link. I thought that Apollo's link said CBCsports. My apologies.

It did. Typo guys.