More ideas for Raptors GM Masai Ujiri to mull over as the NBA Draft approaches.
As most people know, Bismack Biyombo will likely take the player option that will make him an unrestricted free agent this off-season, and if so, multiple teams will be asking for his services. I don’t think I have spoken to a Raptors fan who doesn’t love the effort and the excitement Biyombo brings every single time he steps onto the court. The one concern is that he might get paid big money this off-season and the question Masai has to ask himself is if he’s really worth retaining and sadly he must figure that out quick.
Suppose the answer is no, there’s a prospect in this draft named Jakob Poeltl who could possibly replace the Congo phenomenon. Jakob has the ability to get up and down in transition fluidly at a height of 7’1. He’s very efficient from the field, shooting 64%, possesses excellent footwork, and has shown that he is capable of facilitating the basketball from inside the post to out on the perimeter. Bismack’s flexing after a dunk and his occasional Usain Bolt poses will be dearly missed but Poeltl could be great off the bench.
The plan this off-season should not be confusing; get an elite big men or get Drake to tell is good pal Kevin Durant to come north. Toronto struggled to be consistent from long distance this season so it won’t hurt to grab a shooter or shooters. The Raptors have shown in these playoffs that their offensive sets are sinful at times, so why not grab a shooter to stretch the floor that is in the Draft if the opportunity presents itself.
Two shooters the Raptors are probably keeping a close eye on is Buddy Hield from Oklahoma State and CCanadian-bornJamal Murray from Kentucky. These two players have shown that they are capable of knocking down the three ball at a high rate.
Just imagine Cory Joseph/Jamal Murray playing alongside one another off the bench. It wouldn’t just be a dream come true for Canadian basketball but will also help elevate the Raptors. Murray, who has proven to be a great catch and shoot player coming off screens, could be the next Stephen Curry for the Toronto Raptors (I’m exaggerating, but you get the point). Same goes with Buddy Hield, who can create his own shot off the dribble; something Terrence Ross has shown flashes of but not consistently.
The Raptors would be lucky if either of these two players fell to them at number nine but the chances aren’t too great. Both players are projected to fall around 3-8. The Raptors should consider trading up to acquire them. What would they give up? Possibly their 9th or 27th pick and a player, maybe Ross?
Another option is to trade the pick for a star. Why not give the Atlanta Hawks a call for a sign and trade for Al Horford? Horford who is 4x All-Star, is still one of the elite bigs in today’s game at the age of 29. He averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks this past season with the Hawks.
It doesn’t look like the Hawks will be as good as they were in the 2014-2015 season for quite a while. With all the rumors this season involving core Hawks players possibly getting relocated, it seems like that reset button is in sight for this franchise. If it is, the Raptors should give them that little friendly push of encouragement and offer their lottery pick to get their rebuilding process rolling!
Al Horford could possible be that missing piece the Raptors need to get over the hump. His production is beginning to slow down, as he’s close to reaching age 30. It is now or never to make this move and see if his talents can lift the Raptors to even greater heights.
Masai is probably considering everything at this point and likely has better things under consideration for the Raptors than one can think of. Here’s a couple of examples of the crazy stuff he’s been able to pull off: the trade that shipped Greivis Vasquez to the Milwaukee Bucks to then acquiring Norman Powell with the 46th pick. How about trading Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks that got us this lottery pick in the first place.
There is no doubt in my mind that Masai will do what is best for this team, which is why I always head to bed with a smile on my face and every Raptor fans should too.
All potential draft picks scouting reports, used from www.draftexpress.com .