Speculation: Raptors Taking Avery Bradley At 13?

[Built Ford Tough]

I posted this in the draft discussion thread as well, but I figured it was worthy of its own thread so that people who normally wouldn't go into the draft thread will be able to comment on it, if they want to.

 

Sources say Bradley may be the Raptors pick at No. 13 if none of the Top 10 players in the draft slip.

 

http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/16700/raptors-cleaning-house

 

 

Those of you who have been in the draft thread know that I really like Bradley, so obviously I would be thrilled if they draft him. He still has a long way to go before he is a point guard in the NBA, but you can't deny his defensive ability, length, athleticism and potential for the future. If Turkoglu is still on the team, which is looking more and more unlikely, he is an even better fit as it would allow him to work off of the ball and as a shooter, which he can do, while Turkoglu handles the majority of the ball handling.

 

A backcourt of Bradley and DeRozan heading forward is something that I would be very pleased with. That would make up the most athletic duo that the Raptors have had since McGrady and Carter were on the team. At the very least, they will be an exciting duo to watch.

 

If the Raptors do end up taking Bradley, it will be nice to see them moving away from unathletic shooters like Calderon, Kapono, Garbajosa (although I liked him and Calderon when he was a backup) etc... and replacing them with athletic players like Bradley, DeRozan and Weems.

[SeasonSeven]

He'd be an improvement over Senor No Defense.

 

A team with Bradley and DeRozan would be very fun to watch.

[BasX]

The ankle sprain is not a good thing to hear about but stuff happens. Two things come to mind when I see this pick. The first thing I wonder is who would be the other teams that would select Avery Bradley before us. I have to think the Pacers top that list. The other is who could fall that could change their mind, Cole, Udoh? That said, the draft is only 10 days away so these rumours will get a lot bigger from now until then.

Edited June 14, 2010 by BasX

[Built Ford Tough]

The first thing I wonder is who would be the other teams that would select Avery Bradley before us. I have to think the Pacers top that list.

 

I would imagine that the Pacers top the list like you said, but I could also see the Grizzlies picking him up at 12. I don't expect that to happen, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them pick Bradley though.

 

Another scenario, albeit a longshot, would be the Clippers. I don't think that they would reach for Bradley at 8 considering that is pretty high for him, but they could be looking to get a future replacement for Baron Davis and a backcourt of Bradley and Gordon gives you some nice defense and versatility. I would be shocked if they picked him at 8 though.

 

The other is who could fall that could change their mind, Cole, Udoh? That said, the draft is only 10 days away so these rumours will get a lot bigger from now until then.

 

This is hard because our perception of who the top 10 in the draft are could very well be different than Colangelo's perception of the top 10. I can think of only 8 players who look like they are locks in the top 10 and they are:

 

Wall

Turner

Cousins

Favors

Monroe

Johnson

Aminu

Davis

 

Then you have guys like Udoh, Aldrich, Henry and George. I wouldn't be all that surprised if Davis fell out of the top 10 as well, although I don't expect it.

 

I would imagine that Aldrich is the specific player that he would be talking about, and depending on how workouts on Thursday go, maybe Henry or George will impress enough for the Raptors to pick up one of them.

Edited June 14, 2010 by Built Ford Tough

[Check my Stats]

If the Raptors do end up taking Bradley, it will be nice to see them moving away from unathletic shooters like Calderon, Kapono, Garbajosa (although I liked him and Calderon when he was a backup) etc... and replacing them with athletic players like Bradley, DeRozan and Weems.

 

These are my thoughts exactly.

[Poe]

So does this mean they are planning to trade Calderon or Jack?

[Built Ford Tough]

So does this mean they are planning to trade Calderon or Jack?

 

Colangelo has basically said that either Calderon or Jack won't be back next season. I think he said it at his year end press conference and has mentioned something similar a couple of times since then.

 

Everybody around the Raptors basically think it is a forgone conclusion that one of the two will be moved prior to the start of the season. There has been talk of both of them being traded as well.

 

There is a bit of Calderon and Jack talk in the thread I made earlier today titled "Chad Ford: Raptors Cleaning House" or something like that.

[Check my Stats]

If we could package Jose with Bosh in a sign and trade that would be ideal.