2012 Draft Thursday, June 28th: Raptors select Terence Ross

[Chr1s1anL]

I really don't see the superstar potential everybody sees. I don't see him being more beer than Iggy

[Mediumcore]

Neither do I. He's got the physical tools, but not the skill as yet. He does also posess the intangibles like leadership, hustle, heart and will be a good defender from the jump. I think he'll be good, but I wouldn't rank him as high as most have him.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

I actually worry that both Davis and MKG could disappoint, given their pick position. If Davis gets pushed around by more physical PF and becomes a player similar to Camby, and MKG doesn't develop an effective NBA offensive game (essentially becoming a defense-only specialist like Tony Allen on Memphis), I could see people viewing them as a bit of a bust. They'd still be great players, but not quite what you'd expect from players taken #1 and #2 in a draft.

[Mediumcore]

Legitimate concerns. The one think I can say about Davis though is that he has the mobility of a guard player...you've probably heard that same story about how he had a huge growth spurt and how he retained guard skills even as a big man...so he can guard bigs without necessarily bodying them up. His reach is big enoug that he can play off the ball and still block shots. Ofcourse there are going to be situations where he'll be backed down in the post and he'll have gain strength for that. My concern with him will be more to do with injuries (like Camby) than anything else. He is also a far superior scoring threat than Camby was coming to the NBA.

I share the same concerns with MKG. Right now the only sure thing is that he can be a really good defensive specialist, but might not be anything other than an average scoring threat. Unlike defensive bigs he can't impact the game in the post.

[mcHAPPY]

I really don't see the superstar potential everybody sees. I don't see him being more beer than Iggy

I tend to agree assuming he doesn't add serious components to his game.

Don't get me wrong, I am very drunk on MKG but the comparison to Iggy is a good one in my opinion.

[ReubenJRD]

I tend to agree assuming he doesn't add serious components to his game.

Don't get me wrong, I am very drunk on MKG but the comparison to Iggy is a good one in my opinion.

I'm a MKG lover, and almost everyone on this forum knows it.

But I believe if this is the best case scenario, I mean, why not? Andre Iguodala is an all-star and a very good all-around basketball player. He'd be a player on any team that could be an important piece or key player, he'd fit into any situation very nicely. There is not much negative that Andre brings along. Only minus is everyone wants a superstar, and superstars only come around every couple drafts.

[mcHAPPY]

I'm a MKG lover, and almost everyone on this forum knows it.

But I believe if this is the best case scenario, I mean, why not? Andre Iguodala is an all-star and a very good all-around basketball player. He'd be a player on any team that could be an important piece or key player, he'd fit into any situation very nicely. There is not much negative that Andre brings along. Only minus is everyone wants a superstar, and superstars only come around every couple drafts.

You are absolutely right in my opinion.

I think the problem is when you start getting a top 2 or 3 draft pick, people have very high expectations. I don't think MKG will live up to the billing as a #2 draft pick - doesn't mean he won't be a good player though. Even AI was a #9 pick - although he should have been #8!

I say this knowing the thread could very well get derailed but hopefully the point is received: Bargnani wouldn't have near the grief (both rightfully and wrongfully) heaped upon him if he were, say, #4-#6 pick. When you start getting #1-#3 picks expectations rise significantly. Dunleavy in Golden State is another one that pops to mind.

[NoPropsneeded]

you never know he could improve his offensive game and become a superstar

[ReubenJRD]

You are absolutely right in my opinion.

I think the problem is when you start getting a top 2 or 3 draft pick, people have very high expectations. I don't think MKG will live up to the billing as a #2 draft pick - doesn't mean he won't be a good player though. Even AI was a #9 pick - although he should have been #8!

I say this knowing the thread could very well get derailed but hopefully the point is received: Bargnani wouldn't have near the grief (both rightfully and wrongfully) heaped upon him if he were, say, #4-#6 pick. When you start getting #1-#3 picks expectations rise significantly. Dunleavy in Golden State is another one that pops to mind.

But I believe the difference with Bargnani he has proven his ability to be that superstar type player. And to what NoPropsNeeded said, MKG could develop an offensive game on the perimeter and could well be a player people hope for.

By all means, MKG is going to be a very good pro whether he will be a key player or superstar.

[NoPropsneeded]

i personally think that if BC thinks PJ3 can play the 3, we should draft him. We gotta hit this ball out of the park in this draft and PJ3 arguably has the highest potential out of anyone else cept maybe Davis to become a superstar. If Dwane casey can get a lazy bargnani to play D and dunk on danny granger then im sure he can do more with an athletic freak like PJ3.

[ReubenJRD]

i personally think that if BC thinks PJ3 can play the 3, we should draft him. We gotta hit this ball out of the park in this draft and PJ3 arguably has the highest potential out of anyone else cept maybe Davis to become a superstar. If Dwane casey can get a lazy bargnani to play D and dunk on danny granger then im sure he can do more with an athletic freak like PJ3.

But Bargnani has a motor, and is willing to work hard and get pushed by coaching. He's mentioned it, and he's proven it in the past.

PJ3 is player I'm not so sold on. It's a hit & miss. Depending on where we are in the draft, you go with the BPA. If he is available at 8, and MKG, Barnes, Beal are gone, than I could see him or Marshall in a Raptor uniform.

[NoPropsneeded]

But Bargnani has a motor, and is willing to work hard and get pushed by coaching. He's mentioned it, and he's proven it in the past.

PJ3 is player I'm not so sold on. It's a hit & miss. Depending on where we are in the draft, you go with the BPA. If he is available at 8, and MKG, Barnes, Beal are gone, than I could see him or Marshall in a Raptor uniform.

IMO anyone who plays basketball has some type of "motor" or else how would you be able to play the game, it requires a lot of running around and awareness on both ends. I think the issue with him is playing an uncomfortable role at baylor, you could visually see it in his play, he didn't know what to do and his points were off lobs, occasional jumpshots and putbacks. He is a guy that is built to play on the perimeter and knock down shots and drive to the basket. if we don't win the lottery and we stay at 8th we should definitely draft him

[Soft Euro]

MKG is the second coming of Julian Wright? I've never seen him play, as I don't follow college basketball, but during all the discussions the name of Wright is echoing in the back of my head.

[NoPropsneeded]

MKG is the second coming of Julian Wright? I've never seen him play, as I don't follow college basketball, but during all the discussions the name of Wright is echoing in the back of my head.

lol you never know

[ReubenJRD]

IMO anyone who plays basketball has some type of "motor" or else how would you be able to play the game, it requires a lot of running around and awareness on both ends. I think the issue with him is playing an uncomfortable role at baylor, you could visually see it in his play, he didn't know what to do and his points were off lobs, occasional jumpshots and putbacks. He is a guy that is built to play on the perimeter and knock down shots and drive to the basket. if we don't win the lottery and we stay at 8th we should definitely draft him

Sure, everyone has a type of motor, but do they use it? Perry Jones was in an offense that prevented him from working on the perimeter, more post-oriented obviously. But that doesn't take away the fact he SHOULD and MUST want to put the ball in the basket and dominate. That must mean, just because he isn't getting what he wants means he should play down? Players get moved to different positions and different spots on the floor. Doesn't mean he can't face-up, and break his man down. With that perimeter skill, being in the low post should be a plus being closer for a higher percentage field goal, and able to create for other teammates with doubles/rotations etc. He doesn't have to dominate JUST by scoring, and Anthony Davis proved it.

Motor doesn't mean running and just 100 MPH type speed. It means the effort. Does he want to dominate? Does he want to take the big shots? Does he want to take his man down? Does he want to play defense? And those are issues that have come up with him. For a guy that long and big, his shot blocking actually went down from 0.9, to 0.6 BPG.