If we go position by position, we can see how the team shapes up.This team is brimming with talent, and we will be a team focused on efficient offense and elite defense. The tools are there and this is a team that can lock up star players at any position and I am thrilled to take on this new challenge.
Starters
Michael Young - The longtime Raptor signed a contract for the next 4 years with a team option on the last year and will likely retire a Raptor. He is a top 5 rebounder who can score efficiently and defend at a high level, and our defensive scheme doesn't work without a backend rim protector who can anchor the defense and gives us great balance on both ends.
Justin Patton - Our offensive hub, this is a guy who can carry the team on his back and is a legit inside/outside threat who can pass the ball and create a motion offense. The ball doesn't stick to him and he is a team player who can go head to head with any big in the league. This is notable as we are in a particularly tough division with the dominant bigs in Brooklyn. The Nets are the clear favourites in the division, but we think our setup will work well against Rizzo's championship team. The rest of the division is strong as well, commonly known as the toughest in the league.
Herbert Jones - The quintessential 3&D wing who provides shutdown defense on the wing and 40 3P% on volume. He will give us a low USG% wing who can slow down wing players and space the floor.
Hamidou Diallo - Now we get to the big wing threat for us, Diallo has a nasty handle and the slashing ability to abuse defenders and knows where his bread is buttered - get to the rim and foul out opposing defenders. He is a pretty good playmaking 2 guard and does a little bit of everything, on strong but not elite defense. He forms one half of our notable backcourt.
Nassir Little - The franchise player, and the next Cory Joseph for our Raptors teams. At age 25, he can run the team with playmaking help from other positions and although he'll never be a 10 + APG player, he could top at around 8 APG on shutdown defense. He is the head of the defense and simply disrupts other team's point guards and causes havoc on the perimeter. We think he will be in contention for Defensive Player of the Year this season, and will retire a Raptor.
Bench:
Thomas Welsh: He's a sturdy, no nonsense big who will can anchor our bench and rebound, shoot on elite FG% and defend at a high level. He is a key part of this team.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: The Canadian is an instant offense scorer who can shoot us into games, a microwave scorer in the mold of a Lou Williams or Jason Terry. We'd like to see him up his minutes as he is a quality player but that's up to the coaching staff.
Elijah Hughes - Basically a Herbert Jones clone, not quite the 3 point shooter but he can defend and shoot a bit. He'll see minutes, and is a big part of our perimeter defense.
Tyus Jones - The 3 point bomber is a solid floor general and gives us a pure PG who can supplement what Little gives us. A traditional PG and a solid spacer.
Deep Bench:
Vic Law - Solid all around point forward.
Tre Jones - 3rd string PG, elite handle and solid passing.
Isaiah Mobley - The "other" Mobley, he gives us post defense and a option off the bench.
Obi Enechionyia - An intriguing big, probably won't see many minutes but he's certainly an interesting player.
The Rookie:
Kai Jones - The player we are most excited to feature, he is already a low post monster, and could score at a 60 FG% clip as a rookie on 2 blks per 36. If he can figure out the whole defense/rebounding issue he has, we might have a poor mans Joel Embiid type when it's all said and done. Not bad for where he was drafted.
The Goal
Make the playoffs, and improve markably from last season. We have rivals in the division, in the conference and in the league and hope to have a relatively injury free season, with quality depth, and compete in every game we play in.
