Mitchell Likes Redick & Morrison <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sam Mitchell has more than a passing interest in what's transpiring in the NCAA basketball tournament, but that interest goes far beyond how the brackets are shaping up and how everyone is doing in a pool. Someday in the summer, he's going to be sitting in an office with his boss and things he's seeing these days on his television are going to be a prime topic of conversation. With Mitchell's Raptors primed to have one of the top picks in the NBA draft in June, and with that prime pick probably playing in the tournament, the coach's advice will come in handy when general manager Bryan Colangelo figures out who to take. "The way Bryan has talked to us, the way he does things, is he wants our input," Mitchell said yesterday. "He's going to make the final decision, but he wants Wayne (Embry) and my input. We'll give it, he'll run that all through that mind of his and he'll make a decision." Two of the most talked about potential picks ?Gonzaga's Adam Morrison and Duke's J.J. Redick, have been of particular interest to Mitchell over the past few days. And rather than concentrating on their scoring exploits ? they were Numbers 1 and 2 in the NCAA this season ? Mitchell has been trying to pick apart their games. Unsuccessfully. "With Morrison and Redick when you look at them, you try to find things to make you not like them and I don't say that in a bad way," said Mitchell. "(Then) when you watch them play (and) they get it done. "The thing I like about both of those guys is from their freshman years, they both have gotten better every year. That's what you want to see in a player, are they getting better every year. Are they becoming a better rebounder, a better passer, a better defender and both of those guys are doing that." But before serious draft preparations can begin, the Raptors still have 16 regular season games remaining and Mitchell said he will take them the same way he's approached the first 66. That means no wild fluctuations to the playing rotation, no changes to the starting lineup and the same preparation as always. "All my guys want to play and we talked about that (yesterday), we want to finish the season strong, you never know what can happen," said the coach. "Our attitude is we're going to prepare for every game and try to win every game. "We didn't quit playing when we were 1-15, why would we contemplate quit playing now. We didn't throw all guys out there in different combinations when we were 1-15 we stayed with what we were trying to do, we slowly got better every game and that's what we want to do now."</div> Source
Redick - Hell no. He'll be a bust IMO. Morrison - Maybe if we have a chance to pick him, but he's not what we need. His defense isn't that good, and he's a pretty weak rebounder. We are already bad enough at those 2 things, but his scoring ability is amazing. Plus, Villanueva is being molded into our future SF, and I think Villanueva will be better than Morrison in the future.
So wait, an NBA coach likes the two top players in the NCAA? Who would have thought? What are the odds.
Thats a pretty simplistic analysis by Mitchell. Neither of those players really fills a need: one's basically the same as Villanueva and the others vastly overrated. Seems like he just looked at a couple of mock drafts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Psycho Drama:</div><div class="quote_post">They need neither of those guys. They need a more serviceable SG than what they have right now.</div> Peterson > Redick, anyday. Morrison might not even be as good as Mo Pete either.
Well ... to be fair I think that the reporter probably asked him a question in the direction of "what do you think of these players?" And Mitchell gave the politically correct answer and said some nice things about each of them. I really wouldn't read into it anymore than that... Both are good players... I wouldn't necessarily put Redick in the top 5 where our pick (hopefully) is and as a few people have already mentioned Morrison isn't filling our top needs. I also agree that Redick will probably end up being less than advertised in terms of what he's going to offer to the pro game…
Mo Pete is a perfectly fine SG for us. I think any pick we get we should trade for either a pick in the 07 draft and/OR for a center. We dont need a PF or a SF, Mo Pete is locked in and is a bargain for what he gives us on both ends of the court...we dont need a SG. We could use another PG incase Ukic doesnt work out and/or we dont keep Mike James. We need a Center but there are none in the draft really worth taking with a lottery pick...... Trade the pick is my preference.
Who doesn't right now really. I don't know if MoPete is perfect at SG, he might be a better SF. I think at SG, you need ball handling and playmaking, which are things MoPete lacks. I think a C is the player we're looking for, but outside of Aldridge who seems more like a PF, I haven't seen any that are very impressive. I think the picks are C, PG, SF/SG, obviously getting another PF would be quite dumb.
Sheldon Williams is like a mold of Ben Wallace he could help the Raptors next year. His also won National Defensive play of the year. I think he would fit the Raptors needs big time they have him projected at 17th right now and has been as high as 10th. Draft File - Sheldon Williams
It doesn't matter how well Mo-Pete's been playing lately, we still need depth at every position except power forward, and maybe small forward. The more I think about it, the more I'd like to trade down and nab Brandon Roy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">It doesn't matter how well Mo-Pete's been playing lately, we still need depth at every position except power forward, and maybe small forward. The more I think about it, the more I'd like to trade down and nab Brandon Roy.</div> I concur. BPA = best player available... we should never draft for need again. horrible idea
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jones:</div><div class="quote_post">BPA = best player available... we should never draft for need again. horrible idea</div> I agree with you to a certain extent. We definitely can't be choosy in a draft as weak as this (or 2004). However, the Hawks choosing Marvin over Chris Paul is an example of when you need to consider your needs. This year has a lot of swingmen and 4's, so we shouldn't reach too far for a 1 or a 5.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The_Answer:</div><div class="quote_post">Sheldon Williams is like a mold of Ben Wallace he could help the Raptors next year. His also won National Defensive play of the year. I think he would fit the Raptors needs big time they have him projected at 17th right now and has been as high as 10th. Draft File - Sheldon Williams</div> I really don't think the Raptors should take Shelden Williams to solve our problem at centre. He's undersized lacks the athleticism to be a successful shot blocker a la Ben Wallace and doesn't give us really anything too much that our squad doesn't have. I would almost rather see our club take Joakim Noah than Williams. Chutney is right though, we should go with the BPA.
BPA but reasonably, I mean if we have 4 guys all of similar talent and potential level, us taking another PF because he could be slightly better than the rest would be stupid.
PG - Calderon or James (if he resigns) SG - Brandon Roy SF - Charlie Villanueva PF - Chris Bosh C - Free agent or trade (or Pape Sow )
best player available i agree with that too...to an extent please...no more PF or that "versatility" thing i am hoping there is sign and trade for mike james (ok i think he is fine but he will cost too much..that's just the way it is) hopefully for solid big men to solidify benches OR players like earl watson+ridnour players of completely two different styles...and rotate them around i think they will be effective as for big men...please sign wilcox and reggie evans they are solid back ups and spot starters
