Mock Draft: Toronto is on the clock!

[elindholm]

1. Orlando -- Emeka Okafor
2. L. A. Clippers -- Dwight Howard
3. Chicago -- Luol Deng
4. Charlotte -- Shaun Livingston
5. Washington -- Andris Biedrins
6. Atlanta -- Ben Gordon
7. Phoenix -- Andre Iguodala
8. Toronto
9. Philadelphia
10. Cleveland
11. Golden State
12. Seattle
13. Portland
14. Utah
15. Boston
16. Utah
17. Atlanta
18. New Orleans
19. Miami
20. Denver
21. Utah
22. New Jersey
23. Portland
24. Boston
25. Boston
26. Sacramento
27. L. A. Lakers
28. San Antonio
29. Indiana

 

[F-Dog]

It looks to me like this pick comes down to Podkolzine, Josh Smith or Devin Harris. I know nothing about Toronto's new GM except that he'll be ignoring Vince Carter's advice, if he knows what's good for him, at least.

I guess I'll go with Devin Harris, who's the middle man in my personal rankings of the three, and also #2 as far as filling a need for the Raptors. Toronto had a bad experience with Tracy McGrady, which might diminish their enthusiasm for Josh Smith just a little.


Edit--BTW, elindholm, when are Perovic and AK going to be pulled, again? I ask because I would have taken AK off the board already, and probably only left Perovic up for another pick or two...

 

[Joe Mama]

It looks to me like this pick comes down to Podkolzine, Josh Smith or Devin Harris. I know nothing about Toronto's new GM except that he'll be ignoring Vince Carter's advice, if he knows what's good for him, at least.

I guess I'll go with Devin Harris, who's the middle man in my personal rankings of the three, and also #2 as far as filling a need for the Raptors. Toronto had a bad experience with Tracy McGrady, which might diminish their enthusiasm for Josh Smith just a little.


Edit--BTW, elindholm, when are Perovic and AK going to be pulled, again? I ask because I would have taken AK off the board already, and probably only left Perovic up for another pick or two...

who is "AK"? Do you mean Martynas, MA? If so, I think you make a good point.

Joe

 

[elindholm]

Edit--BTW, elindholm, when are Perovic and AK going to be pulled, again? I ask because I would have taken AK off the board already, and probably only left Perovic up for another pick or two...

Uh, I don't know, soon. Probably if we start getting more than one or two write-in votes, I'll do it sooner rather than later. As long as the "leading candidates" are on the poll, it doesn't matter that much if some of the others are duds.

Soon, though. I'm trying to get a sense of how high each of them needs to go in order to stay in.

 

[George O'Brien]

If Pavel was even moderately close to being ready, he would be the obvious "need" pick. But I think their new GM will play it safe and take Harris.

 

[Chaplin]

Pavel is the obvious pick, the Raptors will find it much easier to find a point guard in free agency, but a 7'5" 300-pounder? I think not.

 

[Joe Mama]

Pavel is the obvious pick, the Raptors will find it much easier to find a point guard in free agency, but a 7'5" 300-pounder? I think not.

Toronto also is paying $20 million per season to two guys who can play the point in Jalen Rose and Alvin Williams.

I chose Pavel as well.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

I think Podkolzine, more than the other big Euro projects, will feel considerable pressure to stay in the draft this time around. First of all, there was a quote from him somewhere saying something like he didn't care where he was picked, he just thought it would be an honor to play in the league. But more importantly, if he drops out again, he'll become the proverbial boy who cried wolf, and I think it will be very difficult for him to generate interest the third time around.

I went with Podkolzine. The Raptors don't need a center any more than the Suns do, but Toronto's prospects for getting one in free agency is dimmer -- and their management is less smart. I hope.

 

[Chaplin]

The 4 votes for Podkolzine is like a who's who of the board's heavy hitters! (Sometimes below-the-belt heavy-hitters, but who's keeping track?)

 

[elindholm]

The 4 votes for Podkolzine is like a who's who of the board's heavy hitters!

Can you still see them? I can see who voted for what until *I* vote, and then everything disappears. What's up with that? Is there a setting I can change?

 

[Chaplin]

I can see them, but only the poll shows up--I don't see any of the posts beneath it.

 

[elindholm]

I can see them, but only the poll shows up--I don't see any of the posts beneath it.

You mean only the poll results show up, without the little names of who voted for what, right? You must be able to see the posts later in the thread, or you wouldn't be reading this.

So I guess we're in the same boat. Who were the Podkolzine voters? You, Joe Mama, me, and ... ?

 

[Chaplin]

When I first click on the thread, I get all the posts, but no names underneath the poll results.

When I click the number next to any of the poll choices, I DO see the names underneath, but I do not see the rest of the thread. In order to see the rest of the thread, I have to exit out of the thread and then go back in--which takes me to the previous paragraph above.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Pavel. Everyone else pretty much nailed the reasons. They need to get a big body in there to keep Bosh at the 4, and they have some pretty expensive PG capable players already.

 

[hcsilla]

Toronto also is paying $20 million per season to two guys who can play the point in Jalen Rose and Alvin Williams.

...who would have to play the point in Rose and Williams.

But had a terrible last season. Jalen Rose (as a selfish cancer) doesn't have any idea what a PG has to do. Williams lost his explosiveness and quickness after his knee injury. He is done.

I do think that the Raptors would have to realize the "Rose at PG" experiment is over too.

Since they are not a rebuilding team (yet) they need an impact player either at C or at PG.
Harris may be an impact player, Podkolzin will not be an impact player.

 

[elindholm]

When I click the number next to any of the poll choices

Ah, clicking on the number next to the poll choices! Excellent! I had never noticed that was a link.

Okay, I've got it now. Thanks.

 

[elindholm]

I will pull And...ius after this pick, but leave Perovic up. Draftcity speculates that he'll stay in with a guarantee anywhere in the lottery, and I could see that happening, given the write-ups on him.

 

[elindholm]

In another nail-biting vote, the Raptors select Pavel Podkolzine.