Should Raptors select Skal Labissiere at #9?
Skal Labissiere appears to be the biggest boom-or-bust draftee in recent memory. Could he be the answer to the Raptors power forward question?
[Editor’s Note: We welcome Alexander Slamen to Raptors Rapture as a Staff Writer. This is his first post.]
Skal Labissiere, once touted as the likely #1 pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, had his draft stock fall significantly following an unimpressive freshman season with Kentucky.
At this point, drafting Skal would be entirely based on what he could be. We have seen what he is and it is not enough to warrant a lottery pick. Labissiere averaged 6.6ppg, 3.1rpg, and shot 51.6% from the field in 36 games with Kentucky.
Skal, who stands 7’0” tall with an additional two inches of wingspan, possesses the ideal length to be a lethal rim protector. Combine that length with his ability to move quickly and smoothly across the floor and you have the ideal defensive big man in today’s NBA. In his time with Kentucky, he repeatedly showed the ability to hedge screens and defend on the perimeter while still being able to get back to the rim to contest shots. There is a drawback. Weighing in at 216 pounds, Skal lacks both the strength and weight to effectively defend in the post, something that he must improve in order to survive in the NBA.
The mental aspect of Skal’s game leaves something to be desired. He is prone to mental lapses and slow decision making, which often puts him in situations where he ball-watches and reacts too slowly or forgets to box out. On the plus side, Skal has only been playing basketball since 2010 upon moving from Haiti to the United States, so expecting him to make leaps in his understanding of the game is reasonable.
On the other end of the floor, Skal’s main positive is his shooting stroke. Labissiere has shown some touch from midrange and in recent draft workouts extended his range out to the NBA three-point line.
Skal’s potential to play in the post or off of rolls is often underused because of his strength issues. Instead he opts to run pick and pops with Kentucky’s guards.
Where does all this fit in with the Raptors? Currently, there is a sizeable hole at the power forward position and since it is clear that Jonas Valanciunas is the main focus of our future, this power forward should have a skill set that complements his.
In an ideal situation where Skal overcomes his confidence issues and reaches his full potential as a skilled defender who hits perimeter shots at a high percentage, he is the perfect fit.
For this reason, drafting Skal is tempting. Not only would he fit perfectly with Jonas, rookie scale deals work well within our salary cap situation. Additionally, acquiring Skal through the draft means that Masai can avoid losing assets, cap space, and valuable role players in pursuit of starting power forward. However, as enticing as it may seem, if Skal can’t develop then the Raptors are stuck at square one in an even worse situation.
We would have burned through the remaining two years of Kyle Lowry’s peak with nothing to show for it. At best drafting Skal would be a lateral move for the team and our potential would be maxed out.
The upcoming draft and free agency sets the stage for a big moment in Raptors history. Hot off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, where we proved our worth, many questions still surround the team. Where do the Raptors go from here? How can they avoid an Atlanta-esque regression next year? The answer to these questions undoubtedly lies in the power forward position. Skal presents himself as the highest risk, highest reward draftee, and it will be interesting to see if on June 23rd Masai opts to roll the dice.