Let's talk a little bit about this draft since we got nothing else to talk about lately. I'm not bored though as I am being well entertained by the NHL playoffs and my boys down at the Igloo are doing well so far. This discussion is with the idea that Christopher Wesson Bosh is going to do what everyone including that jackass former espn analyst thinks Chris should do which is say SAYO-F'n Nara Toronto. I hope I am wrong. With that in mind we would draft a PF would we not? But hold on here.
Andrea Bargnani sliding over to PF. That's what Bryan Colangelo says. That has the makings of a disaster and I am guessing that if they do this, he'll either be back at the Center spot by the end of November or he's going to be injured by trying to go up against the most physical and athletic position players in the world. In comparison, NBA centres are big, heavy, and slow. Perfect for the likes of a 3 point shooting bigman, anomaly, and pasta pusher to go around, pump fake out of their shoes to make plays and/or shoot over. PF's are faster, more agile, more defensively intelligent and capable of dealing with that type of coverage. PF's would eat Andrea up and spit him out. Andrea's game is based on 2 mismatches:
A. The aforementioned slow, sluggish, only-playing-basketball-cause-I-am-7-feet-tall sloths in the NBA. There are of course exceptions to every rule and I am sure you can point out a few to me but in general most C's are usually slow. Unlike the glory years when you had guys in the league named Hakeem, The Admiral, Ewing, and the young Shaq, aka Shaq Fu: The Return.
B. AB7 also plays upon the mismatch of SF's who the other team might put on him to test out his much improved post play. As we've seen he's had much more success in this department this season.
It's like the difference between matching wits with Steve Urkel vs. Stephon Urkel. It's not much of a contest here. They might look the similar but there is no comparisons who is smoother. PF wins out.
So therefore in my estimation we should draft a PF. Positionally a PF is what we need if you want to talk about needs.
Who I like in the race:
Ed Davis. He's the anti-Bargs and seems to be a good compliment to him on both ends of the floor. He doesn't overwhelm you with size but he's got the skillz. A good example is Antawn Jamison who isn't big but who could argue with me that he isn't one of the league's best PF's?
Donatas Whatevertheheckicantpronouncehisdamnnameis. He's a Andrea Bargnani wannabe! Do two wrongs make a right? Most people say no. I say screw you, hell yeah it does. We shouldn't be stockpiling more Euros true. But Donny here is a skilled bigman. Apparently he has more of knack for lowpost play, rebounding and physicality. He's got a good jumper and seems almost like he's already got the skill set that Andrea lacked before the NBA and now has recent come to fruition with. Just the idea of having two skilled 7 footers who are pretty interchangeable seems scarey to me. That'd being said... if we take him we don't have a legit inside rebounding threat. It's not like Andrea is all of a sudden going to pull down double digit rebounds and can't expect Donatas to do that either in his first season. Having two European roosters in the hen house might not be very good for egos though.
Hassan Whiteside. A defensive and rebounding specialist. Just what the doctor ordered. He's another 7 footer who's got the size and athleticism. Seems like another perfect tonic to what ails the Raptors these days. A legit center. But I am guessing he'd handle the move to PF a lot better than the fragile confidence of Il Mago would.
Any of the aforemention 3 players would be good picks in my opinion and I would be quite happy with. Of course the team has to go with the best talent available as well and if theres a player available down at 13 that is in any floor position, take him regardless of need.
The team could also go a different route and take a PG. We are in need of one believe it or not. It's not a dire need. It's nothing we can't handle at the moment unlike trying to plug a hole filled once by a perennial all-star. But the Raps are probably going to get rid of Jose or Jarrett. Jose sucks and I pray it's him that goes but the business side of it says otherwise. Apparently it's more fiscally responsible to ship Jack off. Man that sound's bad. Anyways, even if they do keep Jack he is not an elite level PG. Jack is a very good PG especially in contrast to the swiss cheese contributions provided by Jose. So if we pick up a good PG now and develop him, it might pay dividends down the road. .
Whatever happens, this is sure to be a very interesting draft and post season for us to see unfold. Very entertaining no doubt. Will we pick up what we need to get us over the hump? Or will we be headed for another disappointing season? Oh hear me ye basketball gods, bless upon us Raptor fans the players, skills, and intangibles needed to bring glory and victory on the battlefields of the National Basketball Association and the floor of the Air Canada Centre. Bring upon 2nd round defeat for our evil monstrous green enemies.
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