With the 2014 NBA Draft inching closer and closer, teams around the league have reason to be excited for the incoming wave of young talent. Slotted at the #20, #37, and #59 spot in the selection process are the Toronto Raptors, who can go in quite a few directions with their picks.
We previously took a look at the pros and cons of Masai Ujiri electing to choose Jarnell Stokes, Shabazz Napier, or T.J. Warren with one of these picks (most likely #20). However, with so many moving parts to be in play on Thursday night, there’s definitely a possibility of Toronto using their selections elsewhere.
Since the need for some help at the small forward position has become apparent, Kyle Anderson, James Young, and Glenn Robinson III may be a few of the names in the mix when it’s time for the Raptors to make their choices.
1. Kyle Anderson (UCLA, SF)
Strengths: Measuring at almost 6’9″ with a 7’1.5″ wingspan, it’s safe to say that Anderson is one of the most unique players in this year’s draft class. With not only court vision but notable passing and slashing abilities as well, Anderson seems to be the prototypical point-forward. Boasting averages of 14.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, and 6.5 apg during 2013-14 season at UCLA, Kyle Anderson looks poised to make contributions at the next level in a variety of ways. He’s sure to provide a matchup problem for opposing small forwards due to his length and ability to rise up and shoot over defenders. His mid-range shooting is solid, and his knack for getting to the basket by using his body in the post isn’t half bad. His rebounding effort is pretty astounding too. Another thing to note: he shot a scorching 48.3% from beyond the arc in his final year playing for the Bruins. It wouldn’t hurt the Toronto Raptors if they chose Anderson at #20 to provide some extra floor spacing.
Weaknesses: What Anderson has in size and length, he lacks in athleticism and defense. While his size is a positive when it comes to matchups, his jumping ability isn’t one of his better attributes. He isn’t the quickest wing player around either, so his ability to break defenders down off the dribble will need some work. From a defensive standpoint, the lack of speed may become more apparent when he’s seen guarding NBA-level small forwards. Furthermore, his lack of strength may be exposed if the opposition elects to roll with isolation post-ups.
2. James Young (Kentucky, SG/SF)
Strengths: The 6’7″ freshman swingman from Kentucky has a few talents that could make him an interesting selection at #20. For starters, he’s got a 6’11” wingspan, which is pretty remarkable for a player at his position. He’s got the athleticism to go along with his length, so his offensive game should be able to make the jump once he makes it to the pros. In 40 games at Kentucky, Young averaged 14.3 ppg through a mix of slashing and long range shooting. With the right floor spacing, he could be a solid weapon in an NBA offense— he can draw fouls, or hit catch-and-shoot looks from downtown if need be. If you watched the final game on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, you may remember this:
Weaknesses: Though his youth may be a factor in this critique (he’s the 3rd youngest player in the draft), his defensive awareness will need a lot of work. In the NBA, he’ll be faced with more than capable opponents at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Since Young can be a liability on defense at times, teams will be sure to attack him— whether through forcing him to fight through off-ball screens (set by bigger/stronger players at the professional level), or putting him on a defensive island in isolation scenarios. Another weakness that his youth may have an effect on is his shot selection. Although James Young shot a respectable 34.5% from three-point range during his time on the Wildcats, he only shot a combined 40.7% from the field. While he attempted an average of 11.3 shots per game during the 2013-14 campaign, roughly 6 of those 11 shots were looks from downtown. He has the ability to make a difference on offense, but he’ll need to become smarter and more efficient.
3. Glenn Robinson III (Michigan, SF)
Strengths: For those of you who may believe that drafting Glenn Robinson III at #20 would be somewhat of a reach, let it be known that I agree with you. However, I think that he could be a steal at #37 – or somewhere in the #25-36 range if Masai Ujiri felt the need to make a move to get an earlier pick than the #37 that Toronto has been given. GR III is another potential selection who would lean on his athleticism to make a difference at the professional level. Standing at 6’7″, 210 lbs with pretty solid speed and finishing ability, Robinson should be able to find a niche in any NBA offense that utilizes healthy doses off-ball movement for players who aren’t the top options. With his body and style of play, there isn’t much reason as to why he shouldn’t be able to draw his fair share of fouls on a nightly basis.
Weaknesses: With his frame and play style, one would expect him to a be a better defender and rebounder. He’ll need to become more active in those facets of the game if his goal is to get enough playing time to really leave his stamp on a game. There’s definitely room for improvement when comes to his quiet steal and block totals. Another weakness that Robinson possesses is his lack of deep shooting ability.
He shot approximately 49% from the field on 10 shots per game this past season at Michigan, so his shot selection on offense isn’t much of a worry. However, he’ll certainly need to extend his range in the NBA, seeing as the easy baskets he was getting in college won’t come nearly as often. In order to become an integral piece of an NBA offense, some ball handling improvements will have to coincide shooting improvements too.
Will any of these three players get picked up by Toronto? Two more days until we find out. Stay tuned on Raptors Cage for more analysis.
