It’s been a long four days down at the Toronto Raptors headquarters.
The team conducted numerous workouts involving around 30 players who may be selected in the NBA Draft on June 28.
On Friday, six more were on display at the Raptors practice facility, all listed as small forwards — the team’s biggest area of need.
The problem being, none of them were of the level of Thursday’s main attraction, Harrison Barnes of North Carolina, who will more than likely be off the board when the Raptors are scheduled to make their first selection.
“There’s a few small forwards in this draft but a couple of them I don’t know if they are going to get to us,” said Raptors executive vice-president of basketball operations Ed Stefanski.
That is one of the problems the Raptors face with the No. 8 pick – a lack of possibilities to fill the team’s biggest hole.
Both Barnes and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky will likely be off the board, which means they will likely have to look at other ways to fill the need.
“There are a few (small forwards) in this draft that would help us but we may have to address that in free agency,” Stefanski explained.
The other position the team will be looking to upgrade this summer is at point guard and this draft seems to allow for more options.
“I think that could be found with both picks,” Stefanski said of the team’s top two picks. “In the first round there are point guards out there as well as in the second round.”
With Jose Calderon being in the final year of his contract, Toronto can draft a youngster such as Damian Lillard or Kendall Marshall, who were both here on Tuesday, and let them learn the ropes for a year behind the veteran Spaniard. It does seem a tad high for Marshall to be selected.
The Raptors have three draft picks in this year’s draft but it’s hard to see them adding too many young bodies to the roster with 2011 first-round pick Jonas Valanciunas coming on board. The team’s goal is to make the playoffs next season so adding four rookies to a 15-man roster would make a playoff bid a tough task for head coach Dwane Casey.
That said, they have to be prepared to make all of their selections on June 28.
“We will do more tape, more talking to the doctors, the psyche-background checks. It’s a process that comes together and it’s a lot of work for three picks,” Stefanski said.
So with the draft quickly approaching, it sounds as though the Raptors are almost ready for a busy summer.
“We feel very comfortable where we are in the process right now,” Stefanski said.
Stefanski and the Raptors’ work is far from done. In addition to the four workouts held this week, they will hold at least one more next week — likely Thursday — that will feature a few of the big men expected to be selected in the top half of the opening round.
But realistically it would be a shocker to see them go big in the first round. They have an abundance of power forwards already and Valanciunas is set to arrive as well.
More on Friday’s prospects:
Khris Middleton, Small Forward, Texas A&M, 6-7, 217 lbs. Expected draft position: Late first round/second round Might be the highest-rated prospect on Friday but he was hampered throughout his junior season by a knee injury. Stefanski said he shot the ball well.
JaMychal Green, Small Forward, Baylor, 6-8, 228 lbs. Expected draft position: Second Round Pick/Undrafted Stefanski: “He’s a big kid. He runs the floor better than I thought and he shot it better than I thought.”
Quincy Acy , Small Forward, Baylor, 6-8, 223 lbs. Expected draft position: Second Round Pick/Undrafted Stefanski: “The Quincy Acy kid is very, very lively — he’s got great energy. Quite a strong kid and quite an athletic kid.” Acy said that he has modeled his game after former Raptor Reggie Evans and he is a dead ringer for him as well.
Olu Ashaolu, Small Forward, Oregon, 6-7, 220 lbs. Expected draft position: Second Round Pick/Undrafted Stefanski: ” Ashaolu is very lively and athletic.”
Kyle Weems, Small Forward, Missouri St, 6-6, 226 lbs. Expected draft position: Second Round Pick/Undrafted Stefanski said that he liked the look of his jumper.
Rob Jones, Small Forward, St. Mary’s, 6-6, 240 lbs. Expected draft position: Second Round Pick/Undrafted Jones is a little small but is very thick and moves well despite his size. Was invited to the Minnesota Vikings training camp to try out as a tight end but declined the opportunity. Stefanski said he showed good range.
