<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post"> My prediction for next year, 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.4 blocks, 47% FG, and 26.1 minutes a game.</div> My predictions are pretty much the same (8 and 6). I actually think he'll get more playing time, because we'll need him, maybe 30-33 mins a game.
We got Pape Sow (Eto Mills in my ESPN college hoops Legacy), for some reason I used CSU Fullerton out of all the bad teams you could choose.
Traded our second round pick for him, their's probably more to it because it makes no sense for us to swap our 40th pick for the 47th pick alone when we could've just drafted Sow at 40th anyways.
My first thought about this guy was the same as most people. Unathletic, unheard of, and we passed up on Jameer. I was pretty pissed because we didn't get a guy with athleticism. After the draft i read stuff on him and realized that we need someone like that on our team and it wouldn't be so bad. Hes not flashy but he gets it done, on paper hes very good. Although maybe not jaw dropping, he will open up the floor and make others more exciting to watch (VC). What's done is done and we need to build around it. We need to get Nash, Dallas drafted a PG so maybe it's possible. Can anyone tell me about the second rounder?
<u>Undrafted Players</u> Chris Garnett: F-C Jaime Lloreda: F-C Artur Johnson: F-C Juluis Page: SG Tony Bobbit: SG Herve Lamizana: SF Brandon Mouton: SF Gerald Fitch: SF We traded our second rounder to Miami for Pape Sow: <u>Strengths</u> A physical specimen. Very strong athlete with a good feel for the game for an African player ... Loves to dunk the ball, and can really get off the floor for a variety of finishes ... Has nice form on his shot ... Plays with intensity and aggresiveness ... Runs the floor very well for a big man ... Very good frame, extremely strong upperbody and legs... Seals off his man well ... Finishes well after contact. Has improved his free throw shooting ... A fighter. Battles extremely hard for rebounds ... Very good hands. <u>Weaknesses</u> Still learning the game. High School in Senegal did not have a team ... Fundamentals are raw, passing and ballhandling are decent for a PF, but can stand to improve ... Needs to work on a go-to move ... Basketball understanding is a work in progress ... The shoplifting offense (school hat) cost him nearly half a season of games which stopped him from having a breakout junior season, but he'll likely bounce back as a senior ... Level of competition isn't the best, but he is to the point where he dominates every one he plays ... For now he's limited to 10 feet from the basket. He'll need to develop some range on his jumpshot. Best Case Scenario: Samuel Dalembert (with much, much less shotblocking ability) Worst Case Scenario: Jabari Smith Not that great competition but Averaged: 17.3 points. 9.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks. Shot 49.4%, and 67.5% from the line. For a super athelete he can't block shots, kinda like Chris Wilcox in blocks. 8-24 from three land, 33% this year, maybe they overstated his lack of range because he shot 68 percent from the line which is a 15 feet out, I though they meant he was a guy that just couldn't shoot, like 40% free throw shooter.
Hmm... sounds good since all the Raps did with their second rounders in the past is not sign them. Will he fit into the rotation?
Definitely a lot of angst coming out in this forum... And from the sounds of it (in my opinion), it seems quite uneducated. You're down on Arajuo because he's not athletic? Because he won't get you offensive boards? The way I see it (and it appears that others have the same idea)... we didn't stand much of a chance getting a quality big through Free Agency... so why not draft one...? The raps brought in Rafael for workouts and LOVED him... LOVED him! he's HUGE. Think Mengke Bateer... but with game. He's got decent range, but mostly likes to battle. He'll free up Bosh from the 5... and allow him to do more help defense (and that means more nasty blocks for you highlight-heads). I think we have a better chance landing a PG through free agency (my personal hope is for Fisher...), than we do getting a center. ...I really like the way Babcock's handling himself, and I have confidence that he knows what he's doing... (and like someone else brought up - Glen picked Arajuo, too). So before you dog the guy, or bitch about how we're lottery-bound again... perhaps leans towards some optomism? They don't hire GM's from chat forums... remember that!
greetings everyone, this is my first post on JBB.... I just wanted to say that I don't understand all the hate toward Araujo and Babcock for picking him. All the talented players that we had a chance to get were taken before us ( i.e. Gordon, Harris, Deng etc.) and Araujo does fit our needs. You may say that we should've picked Iguodala or Nelson instead but we don't really need another guard/forward such as Iguodala and we shouldn't have settled for Nelson. Don't get me wrong though, I think Nelson could very well become a good pg in the nba but since the better pgs were already gone (Gordon, Harris, Livingston), then it's good that we addressed a more important issue which is size. Plus I think it would be a lot easier for us to get an effective pg via FA/trade than it is to get an effective center via FA/trade. Araujo may not be all that athletic, but he can definitely give us the inside toughness that we're in dying need of. This will be great for Bosh as it will take a whole lot of pressure off of him in the paint. His passing skills also could make him a more physical version of Divac. Then again he could turn out to be a total bust, but I can understand why we would take a risk on a player such as him given our situation. I say, give the guy a chance because you never know....
I don't think it's hate towards Araujo, I don't mind him but a lot of people are dissapointed that he's all we could get at the 8th pick, <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So before you dog the guy, or bitch about how we're lottery-bound again... perhaps leans towards some optomism?</div> Who said we were lottery bound again?
I agree. This is not a move to get another superstar. The Raps have enough guys that are "superstars". Vince, Bosh, and Rose. That is enough talent. Right now you need to find the finishing pieces of the puzzle. I think this is more a move to help preserve CB4 from having to go through another season of getting the crap beat out of him by opposing centers. This guy is big! Did you see the arms on him! He may not block alot, but CB4 will do that. I think its a great compliment to CB4. It will allow him to take more chances defensively since he knows he has a big body to clean up the rebounds or fill some space in the lane. I applaud this pick. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this, but I like what Babcock has done since taking office. He's quietly bringing the front office around to respectability. You don't hear 20 rumours a day anymore about the raptors, or get players saying they're leaving, or giving their opinions on anything. (except for Vince and the DR J thing, but that was before Babcock anyway) As with any draft, you just have to wait an see. Nobody expected Dwayne Wade to make the impact he did last year. You just never know.
People, just give Bobcock and Araujo a break... Remember the 1995 draft? Who did we really want and who did we get? What was our reaction and what happened after the tipoff? We wanted Ed O'Bannon and we got Damon Stoudamire. Our reaction was "WTH??" and what happened after the tipoff made us say "Whoa that guy's awesome!" Now, I'm not implying that Rafael Araujo necessarily is gonna be as good as the "Mighty Mouse", in fact it's impossible to compare the two because they play two different positions. All I'm saying is that we'll just need to wait and watch what he can do once the season is on its way.
Yeah its very true that were gonna have an easier time getting a point guard in the free agency than a center. What would you rather have , a pretty good pg from the draft and a center who is a center just because of his height, or a fundamentally sound center from the draft and chances at guys like Fisher, Hudson and maybe Nash. The way its gone so far, it looks like one of them may be in a Raps uniform and i'd welcome all of them, all good shooters. I wish we gave Chicago, Murray instead of JYD.
Rob Babcock may be on to something, I mean even though we did not get the guy a lot of people expected like a point guard(Harris, Gordon, Nelson etc.) we did however get a banger and someone to create some shots by going down low in the post and passing up. He may not be the flashiest or Athletic, but he will free up Bosh at the 5 and now Bosh can pkay his natural position. You never know he could even improve and a more better offensive rebounder. I mean, when they drafted him at first, i snapped. But then i looked him up and saw he isn't that bad. The Raptors got the 2,3,4 and 5 position locked and there a lot of solid point guards in free agency like Derek Fisher, Steve Nash etc.) Hey, he will even put Donyell at the 6th man making the bench somewhat deeper and stronger. <u>pros</u> - can step out and take he 18-20 footer - has a decent free throw percentage for a 7 footer - will get some extra shots for Vince and Co. - Can be a very good low post player at 7 feet, 280 lbs. especially in the East. - Very strong - Very good passer and with all that said, I just want to predict his numbers like OG15 did. 9.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1 apg, .5 bpg (i hope he can improve on that) .1 spg, 30.1 minutes. with him in the lineup Bosh will now have a front court buddy to help him out an here is what the lineup might LOOK LIKE: PG - free agent SG - Vince Carter SF - Jalen Rose PF - Chris Bosh c - Rafael Araujo
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thefranchise3:</div><div class="quote_post">My predictions are pretty much the same (8 and 6). I actually think he'll get more playing time, because we'll need him, maybe 30-33 mins a game.</div> u got to be kidding, is it 8 and 6 in summer league? he's been compared to mahorn and brad miller (btw, a comparison i don't see at all) but he reminds of Andrew DeClercq, a glorified declercq at that. i'll predict his minutes a better evaluation of position on the team, 5min a game.
I definetly don't see him gettin only 5 mins a game and in summer league he'll get more points because he will be a specimen against that talent. My prediction is 28 min 8 points 7.5 boards, 1.5 assists .8 blocks and .8 steals. Donyell may not start games but he'll get more minutes than Aroujo. I like the idea of the Raps tryin to get Etan Thomas.
Hm.. I'm not sure if Marshall will want to accept the demotion to be the 6th man.. he was in similar position in Chicago and he hated not getting enough minutes.. if 'Yell wants to be traded we should trade him for a PG (maybe one of the draftees?) if we can't get one thru free agency. 04-05 starting lineup: C: Rafael Araujo PF: Chris Bosh SF: Vince Carter / Jalen Rose SG: Jalen Rose / Vince Carter PG: Free Agent / Off-season trade 6th man: Morris Peterson (if resigned) / Alvin Williams
I wouldn' like to trade Donyell because he is one of the Raptors hardest working players and hes a very good rebounder who can also stretch the D with his shooting. Also is a favourite target for VC on the drive and dish. I think he'll still get alot of minutes even as a 6th man, 28min plus. If the trade is there you gotta keep your doors open because his value has probably gone up alot based on last years performances. Im also liking the idea of a sign and trade with Mo Pete. I hope to see a healthy Alvin next year aswell because we could potentially have alotta depth with these players. Starting lineup with current players: C-Aroujo PF-CB4 SF-Jalen SG-VC PG-Adubb Potenial starting lineup C-Aroujo PF-CB4 SF-Jalen SG-VC PG-Hudson/Nash/Fisher Mo Pete trade may get us someone, Murray trade...
Agreed that Donyell is one of the hardest working players.. but yea if a right trade is there then we need to consider it, possibly including Murray or Peterson as a package.. if we can get Al Harrington for Yell would that be a fair trade? Alvin's gonna have to sacrifice his ego a tad bit this coming season.. he needs to play less minutes and allow his body to heal before it's too late.. Man I can't believe Bulls took Ben Gordon.. they already have Kirk Hinrich :/ Oh well I guess things happen for a reason and I hope the reason we got Araujo is on the positive side.
