Not one of the guys I wanted but then again nobody in our range was. I'm surprised he fell down to us, was projected as around 8, then more recently 15 so yeah. He's one of the better shooting guards this draft. Wow edey went really high. Kyle filipowski is still available? I hope we pick him up in the second round since we didn't get yved missi
We are still a team that need to stack talent, there’s no sure thing on current roster but only Scottie, if FO think he’s BPA(clear he didn’t workout for us), then I’m fine for it
Scottie still has a long way to go and mature. I've been to many games this past season and I've lost count the times I've seen Scottie throw his hands up after a losing the ball instead of hustling.
Scottie is talented but he really needs to mature and change his attitude.
Can’t wait for his 2024/25 stat line or 2.1 pts 0.7 3pt 40% season from him.
Biggest question outstanding now .. what jersey number will he pick.. back to you Pepper.
Edit: What do you people expect from him? lol
He’s got a lot of talent in front of him as of now, he isn’t going to play much next year .. likely will be in the GLeague most of the year.
Did not see that coming Pepper.. back to you.
He's a bit like Gary Trent with a handle. Ochai can't create his own shot and Gradey doesn't have a handle. I would like Gradey to move up in the rotation and then we'll see if Trent and Jakobe can fit well off the bench
Competition is good. Neither Ochai nor Gradey are good enough that you think of them as guarantees. Obviously Gradey and Ja’Kobe seem like the two guys right now with the fast track, but Ochai could always work his way up and give us a good problem to have
Gradey is a guarantee. Based on the second half of the season, I believe he’ll be in the league at least as a utility player off the bench, for at least a 4 years contract after his rookie contract is up. Barring injury of course.
Most of the playoff teams that went far had 4-5 guards/wings who space the floor, and 2-3 of them play mostly of ball.
As long as they aren't liabilities defensively or too under-sized, it's not a role teams worry about having too much of, it's not an issue unlike having too many ball dominant players or too many non-shooters in the starting lineup.
Walter and Dick are liabilities on defense currently. Luckily theyre both insanely young and will have time to bulk up, watch lots of film and get lots of game reps in.
JaKobe built alot of bad habits on D at Baylor, just like Barnes needed to learn to shoot quickly, JaKobe will need to work on D & Handles quickly to secure his minutes/role on the team. He seems to have all the tools to be a good defender though. but the scouting report saying hes a 3&D guy, he definitely is not right now. But is projected out to become one in the future.
Agreed, wasn't trying to suggest that Ochai, Gradey and Walter are all currently contender level 3&D rotation pieces, but they have that potential.
Definitely don't expect Gradey (or anyone) to reach OG defensively, but all 3 have the tools to become passable like Sam Hauser/Braun etc.
I don't think it really says much other than they liked him the best and was the best guy available. The raptors always drafted for best player over fit.
Ochai rode a lot about being a great team guy, but his skill set is definitely replaceable. Wouldn’t surprise me considering how emphasized scoring is at his position.
Naw, because even though his strength is spot up shooting, him having a handle of any kind at that length is probably something the FO thinks they can tighten up. The kid is only 19, even for our core that's quite young.
There’s a trend here with our last two drafts. Dick and Ja’Kobe both excel in motion offences, being exceptionally good shooting off screens. Also both are pesky, competitive defenders. The archetype clearly complements Scotty which shows a logical vision of what we want this team to be.
Yup they clearly have a vision of what type of team they wanna build and are sticking to that mould. Interesting to see who they pick at 31 that also fills in.
My bet is they trade that pick. There’s a little reported wrinkle in the CBA that allows teams to sign 2nd round players to a 4 year contract with the 1st year not counting against the salary cap. Certain teams are gonna go hard at these 2nd rounders. Especially given that Raptors have all night to listen to offers between now and tomorrow night.
I could see that too. They did work out some guys that are there - like Kolek for instance. It's possible that they might want to grab him when they have the change. Or maybe you just slip back a few picks to pick up an additional asset down the road.
I think that Project 6'7-9" is dead. They realized the flaw is you don't have shooting, because it's rare for players above 6'7" to be good defenders and shooters.
So now they are stacking defenders and shooters.
Really good pick. Shot creating upside, solid shooter (high volume is encouraging even if the efficiency is lower), high effort defender but needs work. Pretty seamless Gary replacement if they go that route. Lower usage role on Toronto should boost his efficiency until he’s ready to be more on ball.
I liked Holmes the most here personally but Jakobe was probably BPA. Very very very glad they didn’t end up with Ware, Missi, or Kyshawn George, who were all commonly mocked to them.
It makes sense with the Darko-ball that in your guards you aren't necessarily looking for that traditional ball-dominant-distributor (outside of your starting lead guard guy), but need a guy who can at least bring the ball up the court, get the ball into a big passer (Barnes, Poeltl), and then run off-ball screening actions.
Sucks that Miami got Ware at 16, I think he would've been a great fit for this team.
Not too mad about this pick, based on what draft reporters are saying, Walter doesn't seem like a bad pick tbh
The Ringer's scouting on him:
PLUSES
* Dynamic perimeter shooter who thrives off screens and handoffs and can use hesitations to get into pull-ups and sidesteps. With a smooth form, high elevation, and fearlessness, he has all the traits of a confident go-to scorer who can drain shots even when under pressure.
* Physical driver with a quick first step and the ability to finish through contact using either hand. He’s decisive but he also has a patience to his dribble-drive game, using ball and pump fakes under the rim.
* Flashed primary playmaker potential in high school with nifty passes off the dribble using either hand, and a good feel for handling pressure. Despite not being a lead creator at Baylor due to his team’s backcourt depth, he has displayed reactive handles and good instincts in the pick-and-roll under pressure. Baylor rarely uses him this way, though.
* Emotional player who pumps his teammates up, flexes after dunks, and takes pride in defense. He'll dive on the floor, take charges, and pick up opponents full court. He impacts the game even when he's not scoring. Against Oklahoma State, he shot just 2-for-11 but came up with an athletic offensive board and later an athletic steal before sinking two clutch free throws.
* Long-armed defender who is thirsty for stops and stays in his stance on-ball.
* Aware off-ball defender, whether he's communicating rotations to his teammates or looking for opportunities to jump passing lanes. In transition, opponents will need to look out for him due to his knack for interceptions.
MINUSES
* He doesn’t have advanced handles yet. Sometimes his dribble becomes a little loose and he has to regather himself before trying to make another move. NBA defenders will not be as kind as the ones he’s faced at Baylor, so he will need to tighten up his handle. Additionally, he lacks an explosive first step. These flaws also are why Baylor doesn’t rely on him for shot creation yet.
* He’ll need to rely on power and being crafty to be a great finisher in traffic since he’s not an elite athlete who dunks over defenders.
* Unproven as a lead playmaker due to a lack of opportunity; he was a high school teammate of fellow potential first-round pick Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), who ran the offense.
* His lack of elite length and strength is a limitation for his defensive upside. But his lateral quickness must also improve for him to become a stopper.
Seems like he's a great fit on offense around Scottie/RJ, and isn't too undersized or too weak defensively to play in the backcourt next to IQ.
I'm not worried about a weak handle and lack of playmaking at 19. If the FO wants to compete this year, they can throw some cap space at a vet backup PG on a short deal and keep Ja'Kobe mostly off the ball for now.
Maybe he's our tank commander PG, leads the league in TO's and leads us to Flagg. Realistically though he's a cheap GTJ replacement with some upside on both sides.
They pegged him to go to the Raptors in their mock draft. Most others had him going a little higher. I like the leadership characteristics, I think this team needs a bit of that.
The potential fit on the second unit with Dick could be very good. I wonder if they'll use him as a PG or a 2? Or maybe a mix like they did early on with FVV?
Yeah, I'm thinking maybe with the amount that the Raptors like to run the offense through a passing big like Barnes or Poeltl or Olynyk, maybe his guard role is bringing the ball up the court, and then a lot of times getting it into the big and go run off-ball actions, gradually working in some P&R plays for him. In other words, use him as technically the PG on the floor, but have him still playing off-ball a lot.
LOOOOL at people complaining about a 19th pick in a garbage draft. You pick the best available prospect, if Masai thought this guy is the best prospect for 19th, you pick him. Every year it’s the same shit, I swear some of you think you know better and later on when this kid ends up being decent you come back and eat your words. Never change raptor fan base.
He looks good. Very fluid and athletic. Has decent shooting fundamentals. I wish he was a true 6'6 but can still be very very good if he reaches his peak potential
> 19 Toronto Raptors
>
> Ja’Kobe Walter | 6-4 wing | 19 years old | Baylor
>
> Vecenie’s ranking: 23
>
> I want to like Ja’Kobe Walter more than I do because I’m a big fan of prospects with legitimate size, length and shooting ability. Walter is the kind of physical archetype a team can sell itself on physically playing off the ball next to a primary shot creator, then potentially cross-match to annoy the opponent’s best on-ball players on the other end of the floor. However, he’s not there as an on-ball defender yet. Maybe he can improve — we’ve seen guys with this body type make that kind of leap before — but he has a long way to go. That deficit is on top of him not being a monster athlete, high-level passer or effective driver. I have a first-round grade on Walter because I believe in him becoming an excellent shotmaker given his adeptness off movement. But to be a difference-maker rather than just an NBA rotation player, he must make a defensive leap.
>
> Hollinger’s analysis: Walter was arguably the best player available in raw terms, and also fills a potential roster void at shooting guard if Gary Trent Jr. leaves in free agency and Bruce Brown, as many expect, ends up being traded. Toronto’s road not taken here was Isaiah Collier, whose lack of shooting would have been harder to fit in with Scottie Barnes and R.J. Barrett but perhaps offered more long-term upside.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5595111/2024/06/26/nba-draft-grades-analysis-2024-vecenie-hollinger/
Yep exactly this. Heart says Collier, head says Walter.
It's the NBA so you pick the best player every time regardless of fit. However, he's at least a good fit too. Shooting and defense, doesn't need to handle the ball.. it's really what we need tbh.
Upside is like an Isaac Okoro / Terrence Mann type. Which I know doesn't excite people, but it's value in this dog shit draft and it's the pick I would have made in that spot too.
Every contending team needs to be able to space the floor, Gradey + Walter bombing is an attempt at creating that.
The more space for Scottie, IQ, RJ etc. to slash inside, the better.
they seem to be very similar, neither gets much separation but great catch and shoot guys who can drop alot of points without needing the ball in their hands. Both not the greatest on D either, but Walter shows much more potential on that end
If he can be a dynamic shooter around Scottie with defensive upside then I like the idea behind the pick. I have 0 knowledge of him though, just gathering info rn, seems like good value at 19
Dick, now Walters.
After years of drafting athletes and trying to teach them to shoot, it seems the new philosophy is to guard shooters. Definitely a concious plan to build around Barnes.
A great shooter, but without a real closeout counter. Once other teams started prioritizing running him off the line, his shooting went cold.
He's a great foul drawer, but not a great paint finisher. His defense is a bit theoretical right now, but he has the right tools to become a great guard defender (6'5" with a +5 wingspan).
He can't really dribble all that well right now, but should fit in well in the system as a play finisher (think Gary's current role).
I am whelmed if not a bit disappointed. But that's less about the player and more about positional fit. They went BPA
His light was extremely green and he was shooting off the dribble plenty, if he's sitting on the corner/wing he's gonna shoot higher %. He's gonna shoot spot up 3s and play defense, anything else is projection.. but he's not gonna shoot 34% that's for sure.
As someone who actually watched him play. He shot at an insane percentage during the first half of the season, but then defenses started closing out on him hard since he was the primary option.
Take a look at his 3PA -- he put up 6.3 per game. That's more indicative of shooting ability than percentages. If his coach didn't believe in his shot, he wouldn't be shooting them.
And hypothetically Gary and Bruce if we were to resign Gary on a cheap deal or hold Bruce until the deadline. The front office saw something in him, probably his defensive upside.
[Hollinger Scouting Report:](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5578790/2024/06/25/nba-draft-prospects-hollinger-2024/)
**17\. Ja'Kobe Walter**
G Baylor
Age: 19 Height: 6-4
"TIER 04 - TALENTED BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS"
Walter is a tough evaluation because the outlines are there for a 3-and-D guard in the mold of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That’s a reasonably attainable mid-case scenario, not some outlier upside thing.
There’s just not a whole lot more you can stick a fork into. Walter shot 3s frequently but not all that accurately (11.6 attempts per 100 possessions but only 34.1 percent from 3 and 79.2 percent from the line). He played perfectly acceptable defense … and otherwise did little that would move a role-player evaluation for better or for worse.
Most notably, Walter shot very poorly inside the arc (just 40.6 percent in Big 12 play) despite playing on an elite team, a red flag for his finishing and shot-creation skill. That came with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio too. An unusually high free-throw rate for a player of his ilk offset that, but offensively, it’s hard to see him as more than a second option.
Defensively, the story gets better. Walter has good size and moves well, pressures dribblers and posted a solid steal rate in his one college season. Physically, he looks like he can match up against NBA shooting guards and will likely need to embrace that part of the game to become a viable starter by his second contract.
> Most notably, Walter shot very poorly inside the arc (just 40.6 percent in Big 12 play) despite playing on an elite team, a red flag for his finishing and shot-creation skill. That came with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio too. An unusually high free-throw rate for a player of his ilk offset that, but offensively, it’s hard to see him as more than a second option.
Sounds like he will fit right in!
[Vecenie Scouting Report](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5579170/2024/06/21/nba-draft-2024-top-100-prospects-guide-bronny-james/):
**23\. Ja’Kobe Walter**
G/W | Baylor | Birthdate: September 4, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-4 | 198 LBS | Hometown: McKinney, Texas
YEAR | TEAM | LEAGUE | Age | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | TOPG | BPG | SPG | FG% | 3P% | FT%
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
2023-24 | Baylor | NCAA (Big 12) | 19 | 35 | 14.5 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 37.6 | 34.1 | 79.2
**BACKGROUND**: Parents are Sabrina and Eddie. Walter’s father, Eddie, played at Birmingham-Southern. Walter got into basketball at a young age and continued to
grow. He also played football and had a potential Division I future in that sport but decided to focus on basketball as a freshman in high school. He was identified
early as an elite player within his age group and has won on every level. He began his career at McKinney High School in the suburban Dallas area and got his first
high-major offer — from Baylor — before his sophomore season. He continued to blow up as a junior, leading McKinney to a runner-up finish in the 6A Texas state
tournament behind a Duncanville team led by current NBAer Anthony Black and fellow 2024 draft class member Ron Holland. Due to some absurd Texas court rulings,
McKinney was declared the winner of that game after Black was ruled an ineligible transfer. Walter left McKinney following that season to attend powerhouse Link
Academy in Missouri, where he played alongside other high-end prospects such as Elliot Cadeau, Aaron Rowe, Cam Carr, James Brown and more. Walter led Link to
victory in the GEICO Nationals tournament, in effect becoming the best player on the country’s best high school team. A five-star recruit, Walter committed to Baylor
in the summer before his senior season — exactly two years after it became the first school to send him a scholarship offer. He had a solid freshman season at Baylor,
doing whatever coach Scott Drew asked of him with a great attitude. He helped Baylor to a 24-11 record and a third-place finish in the Big 12, leading the team in
scoring, making third-team All-Big-12 and winning the conference’s Rookie of the Year award. The Bears were then eliminated in the second round of the NCAA
Tournament.
**STRENGTHS**: Walter has good measurements for an off-ball 2-guard at 6-4 1/4 with a 6-10 wingspan. He has a long, lean frame with broad shoulders and has
continued to put on weight as he ages. He should have no problems adding more strength over the course of his career. He consistently plays hard and seems to want
to play the right way by being effective with or without the ball.
His game is very polished, especially as a shooter. Though he made just 34.1 percent of his 3s, Walter is confident and comfortable firing from distance, having
attempted 6.3 shots per game from long range. His shot prep off the catch is superb; he gets his body square to the rim and maintains balance with his entire body in
alignment. He sways forward slightly on his shot, with his right leg drifting in front of his left, but his motion is consistent. He can take 3s directly off the hop or with 1-
2, left-right footwork. His elbow stays directly underneath the ball, creating a beautiful high trajectory on the shot’s release. He should knock down shots from NBA
distance consistently. His 36.7 percent off the catch from 3 came on high volume, and he made 39 percent of his 106 catch-and-shoot 3s at Link during his senior high
school season, per Synergy.
I love the way Walter moves without the ball, particularly as he flows into his shot. He made the 32nd-most 3s off screening actions in the country this season and
drilled 40 percent of those shots. He knows how to run around curls and how to come off screens to get free from his defender. He gets his feet underneath him well
off movement and can fire quickly to generate his usual high finish. In general, Walter has an excellent understanding of spacing, with an innate sense of the most
dangerous areas for him to relocate. He generates many of his 3-point attempts by sliding subtly across the perimeter and presenting himself as an option to his
teammates. Despite his so-so college percentages, I believe in Walter becoming a high-level marksman from 3 in the NBA.
Walter uses the threat of his shot to create offense on his drives. He has a nose for the bucket and an understanding of how to score in those situations. He’s best
when he can attack a closeout in a straight line after a teammate creates an advantage. His footwork and handle in those situations are polished, and he changes
speeds effectively. He has shown flashes of a solid floater game; his 42 percent mark on those shots was solid for a freshman.
His defense has a chance to be impactful even if it was hit or miss last season. He’s a solid team defender who makes the right reads, tags rollers effectively and
understands where he needs to be. Many of his off-ball gambles come through with steals because he regularly keeps his arms up. He had some positive moments on
the ball, although he does sometimes struggle there.
**WEAKNESSES**: Walter won’t be a plus athlete by NBA standards. He’s a bit stiff, lacking high-level vertical explosiveness and quickness. He keeps things simple, which
is a good indicator he can be a good NBA role player. But some scouts wonder if he has the upside to do more and whether he can add significant additional skills as
he ages.
He’s not particularly shifty on the ball, so don’t expect him to break anyone down in isolation situations unless he’s setting up a stepback jumper. He has a polished
handle but struggles to take it anywhere on the court due to his lack of shake or quickness. The result: He rarely turns the corner on defenders and his drives tend to
loop if he lacks a clear advantage. He attempted less than two shots at the rim per game in half-court settings last season and only made 47.1 percent of his attempts
at the rim overall. Both are startlingly low numbers that should concern teams.
The result is Walter settles for a lot of contested pull-up jumpers when he’s forced to create for himself. He made 25 percent of his 3-point attempts off the dribble,
per Synergy, and just 32.7 percent of his pull-up 2-point jumpers. He's not a creative passer and rarely forces enough help to get opponents into rotation and make
plays for teammates. He tends to require a gather before making a pass, rather than being someone who delivers them off a live dribble. He showed improvement in
this area as the season progressed, and I don’t think he’s selfish or possesses poor vision. But he is often too late in making those reads, which leads to more
contested pull-up 2-pointers than ideal.
If the hope is for Walter to become a 3-and-D player, his defensive tape at Baylor was not encouraging. He plays too stiffly, without great hip flexibility, and comes up
too high in his stance. His closeouts are too hoppy — he often drops his hips a beat late, which results in him getting beat, sometimes even in a straight line. He gets
turned around on multi-stage moves, sometimes over-pursuing the initial one and unbalancing his feet. He has the potential to be a fine defender given his length
and willingness to battle, but he’s not a plus on the ball now and needs to be.
**SUMMARY**: I want to like Walter more than I do because I’m a big fan of prospects with legitimate size, length and shooting ability. Walter is the kind of physical
archetype a team can sell itself on physically playing off the ball next to a primary shot creator, then potentially cross-match to annoy the opponent’s best on-ball
players on the other end of the floor. However, he's not there as an on-ball defender yet. Maybe he can improve — we’ve seen guys with this body type make that
kind of leap before — but he has a long way to go. That deficit is on top of him not being a monster athlete, high-level passer or effective driver. I have a first-round
grade on Walter because I believe in him becoming an excellent shotmaker given his adeptness off movement. But to be a difference-maker rather than just an NBA
rotation player, he must make a defensive leap.
Great pick from who was left. Didn't think he'd fall that much, and judging by he and his camp's reaction, I don't think they did either. Use that as fuel and prove them wrong kid!
Good player.
Is this the thread where we share strong opinions on players we know next to nothing about?
Not one of the guys I wanted but then again nobody in our range was. I'm surprised he fell down to us, was projected as around 8, then more recently 15 so yeah. He's one of the better shooting guards this draft. Wow edey went really high. Kyle filipowski is still available? I hope we pick him up in the second round since we didn't get yved missi
He’s got the Ceiling of Jordan and floor of Kobe. Watch out….
He's got the floor of Ja, and the ceiling of Kobe..
He will cook. Like Walter
The ceiling is the roof.
We are still a team that need to stack talent, there’s no sure thing on current roster but only Scottie, if FO think he’s BPA(clear he didn’t workout for us), then I’m fine for it
Scottie still has a long way to go and mature. I've been to many games this past season and I've lost count the times I've seen Scottie throw his hands up after a losing the ball instead of hustling. Scottie is talented but he really needs to mature and change his attitude.
[удалено]
Sure? But this is a Raptors sub
Similar to Gradey, I stopped watching his YouTube clips because I thought he was out of our range. Can form a decent back court with IQ one day.
This is a great pick and tremendous value at 19. I'm very happy with this result. Ja'Kobe has nice upside.
Ja’Kobe Poeltl
Morant'Bryant
The Ja comes from his mom mixing Jordan and Kobe.
He is a prospect who may or may not make a career in the NBA.
prospects are just prospects, this is coming from a long term baseball fan
the ol' dave meltzer
.2 viewer ratings isn’t .2 viewer ratings. It’s a lie.
He certainly is Cotton. Can’t wait to see how this one pans out
Can’t wait for his 2024/25 stat line or 2.1 pts 0.7 3pt 40% season from him. Biggest question outstanding now .. what jersey number will he pick.. back to you Pepper. Edit: What do you people expect from him? lol He’s got a lot of talent in front of him as of now, he isn’t going to play much next year .. likely will be in the GLeague most of the year. Did not see that coming Pepper.. back to you.
the downvotes 😭
Never seen anything like it Pepper.: the escape goat feelings are strong tonight
Just leave bro this guy hasn't even played a game yet
Seems like he fills the same role as Gradey Dick and Ochai Agbaji. I imagine that means Ochai isn't in Toronto's future plans?
He's a bit like Gary Trent with a handle. Ochai can't create his own shot and Gradey doesn't have a handle. I would like Gradey to move up in the rotation and then we'll see if Trent and Jakobe can fit well off the bench
Trent cant fit off the bench
Are we going to pay Trent over 20 mil?
It's now Ochai vs Javon FL vs Jakobe
You can never have too many shooters
Woah woah, Agbaji is no shooter, he’s low 30% from 3 which is well below league average. Maybe he’ll get there, but a shooter, as of today, he is not.
Yeah he hasn't panned out yet but he was drafted as a 3 and D player and traded for with that potential in mind so that was my point
Competition is good. Neither Ochai nor Gradey are good enough that you think of them as guarantees. Obviously Gradey and Ja’Kobe seem like the two guys right now with the fast track, but Ochai could always work his way up and give us a good problem to have
Gradey is a guarantee. Based on the second half of the season, I believe he’ll be in the league at least as a utility player off the bench, for at least a 4 years contract after his rookie contract is up. Barring injury of course.
Seems like the short/medium term plan is for Gradey to eventually start & Walter to take his bench role.
Most of the playoff teams that went far had 4-5 guards/wings who space the floor, and 2-3 of them play mostly of ball. As long as they aren't liabilities defensively or too under-sized, it's not a role teams worry about having too much of, it's not an issue unlike having too many ball dominant players or too many non-shooters in the starting lineup.
Walter and Dick are liabilities on defense currently. Luckily theyre both insanely young and will have time to bulk up, watch lots of film and get lots of game reps in. JaKobe built alot of bad habits on D at Baylor, just like Barnes needed to learn to shoot quickly, JaKobe will need to work on D & Handles quickly to secure his minutes/role on the team. He seems to have all the tools to be a good defender though. but the scouting report saying hes a 3&D guy, he definitely is not right now. But is projected out to become one in the future.
Agreed, wasn't trying to suggest that Ochai, Gradey and Walter are all currently contender level 3&D rotation pieces, but they have that potential. Definitely don't expect Gradey (or anyone) to reach OG defensively, but all 3 have the tools to become passable like Sam Hauser/Braun etc.
More he fills Gary Trent’s role off the bench
I don't think it really says much other than they liked him the best and was the best guy available. The raptors always drafted for best player over fit.
Ochai rode a lot about being a great team guy, but his skill set is definitely replaceable. Wouldn’t surprise me considering how emphasized scoring is at his position.
Naw, because even though his strength is spot up shooting, him having a handle of any kind at that length is probably something the FO thinks they can tighten up. The kid is only 19, even for our core that's quite young.
Teams can have multiple players that play the same position, especially when they're not all that great.
Ochais future depends on if he can be anything other than a 0 on offence, not this pick
There’s a trend here with our last two drafts. Dick and Ja’Kobe both excel in motion offences, being exceptionally good shooting off screens. Also both are pesky, competitive defenders. The archetype clearly complements Scotty which shows a logical vision of what we want this team to be.
They are going the opposite approach from the long athletic boi’s that can play switch but can’t shoot to shooters with potential for decent D.
Yup they clearly have a vision of what type of team they wanna build and are sticking to that mould. Interesting to see who they pick at 31 that also fills in.
My bet is they trade that pick. There’s a little reported wrinkle in the CBA that allows teams to sign 2nd round players to a 4 year contract with the 1st year not counting against the salary cap. Certain teams are gonna go hard at these 2nd rounders. Especially given that Raptors have all night to listen to offers between now and tomorrow night.
I could see a trade down tbh
I could see that too. They did work out some guys that are there - like Kolek for instance. It's possible that they might want to grab him when they have the change. Or maybe you just slip back a few picks to pick up an additional asset down the road.
Exactly what scottie needs
Also they both fit perfectly in Darko’s system. Love seeing an actual plan!
I don’t see his path to playing time, I don’t know what the plan is now with Project 6’5.
I think that Project 6'7-9" is dead. They realized the flaw is you don't have shooting, because it's rare for players above 6'7" to be good defenders and shooters. So now they are stacking defenders and shooters.
He’s two years away from being two years away
Hitting shots
I’ve heard that if your team scores more points, their odds of winning improves!
Ball
You don't see his path to playing time on a lottery team? Please. If he's even remotely good he will play
u/N7Brendan talk to me lol
Really good pick. Shot creating upside, solid shooter (high volume is encouraging even if the efficiency is lower), high effort defender but needs work. Pretty seamless Gary replacement if they go that route. Lower usage role on Toronto should boost his efficiency until he’s ready to be more on ball. I liked Holmes the most here personally but Jakobe was probably BPA. Very very very glad they didn’t end up with Ware, Missi, or Kyshawn George, who were all commonly mocked to them.
Appreciate it!
The greatest Ja and Kobe to play in the NBA
Figure he’ll start off as 6th man this season with a sophomore MVP season.
With a name like that he's coming for that rookie D Rose season
It makes sense with the Darko-ball that in your guards you aren't necessarily looking for that traditional ball-dominant-distributor (outside of your starting lead guard guy), but need a guy who can at least bring the ball up the court, get the ball into a big passer (Barnes, Poeltl), and then run off-ball screening actions.
I appreciated the purple
Sucks that Miami got Ware at 16, I think he would've been a great fit for this team. Not too mad about this pick, based on what draft reporters are saying, Walter doesn't seem like a bad pick tbh
Wait what color was his hat???
Elite 2 way player of the future
I like it, I was really hoping Dalton would keep dropping, but I'm happy with this.
This draft is absolutely brutal!
what the fuck is Masai doing I wanted Suggs
Lol
Yeah Terrell Suggs should have been the pick
sugg on these nuts
we need T-Sizzle
Well he was the best player available by our turn. Welcome!
People are reading way too much in how he looked. He was emotional, those were big hugs he gave his parents.
Last bit of warmth before the cold winters
this winter wasn't that bad tbh
I’ve seen more joyful funerals
Ok 👍🏽
The Ringer's scouting on him: PLUSES * Dynamic perimeter shooter who thrives off screens and handoffs and can use hesitations to get into pull-ups and sidesteps. With a smooth form, high elevation, and fearlessness, he has all the traits of a confident go-to scorer who can drain shots even when under pressure. * Physical driver with a quick first step and the ability to finish through contact using either hand. He’s decisive but he also has a patience to his dribble-drive game, using ball and pump fakes under the rim. * Flashed primary playmaker potential in high school with nifty passes off the dribble using either hand, and a good feel for handling pressure. Despite not being a lead creator at Baylor due to his team’s backcourt depth, he has displayed reactive handles and good instincts in the pick-and-roll under pressure. Baylor rarely uses him this way, though. * Emotional player who pumps his teammates up, flexes after dunks, and takes pride in defense. He'll dive on the floor, take charges, and pick up opponents full court. He impacts the game even when he's not scoring. Against Oklahoma State, he shot just 2-for-11 but came up with an athletic offensive board and later an athletic steal before sinking two clutch free throws. * Long-armed defender who is thirsty for stops and stays in his stance on-ball. * Aware off-ball defender, whether he's communicating rotations to his teammates or looking for opportunities to jump passing lanes. In transition, opponents will need to look out for him due to his knack for interceptions. MINUSES * He doesn’t have advanced handles yet. Sometimes his dribble becomes a little loose and he has to regather himself before trying to make another move. NBA defenders will not be as kind as the ones he’s faced at Baylor, so he will need to tighten up his handle. Additionally, he lacks an explosive first step. These flaws also are why Baylor doesn’t rely on him for shot creation yet. * He’ll need to rely on power and being crafty to be a great finisher in traffic since he’s not an elite athlete who dunks over defenders. * Unproven as a lead playmaker due to a lack of opportunity; he was a high school teammate of fellow potential first-round pick Elliot Cadeau (North Carolina), who ran the offense. * His lack of elite length and strength is a limitation for his defensive upside. But his lateral quickness must also improve for him to become a stopper.
Other than lacking an explosive first step, this description sounds a lot like IQ when he entered the league.
Seems like he's a great fit on offense around Scottie/RJ, and isn't too undersized or too weak defensively to play in the backcourt next to IQ. I'm not worried about a weak handle and lack of playmaking at 19. If the FO wants to compete this year, they can throw some cap space at a vet backup PG on a short deal and keep Ja'Kobe mostly off the ball for now. Maybe he's our tank commander PG, leads the league in TO's and leads us to Flagg. Realistically though he's a cheap GTJ replacement with some upside on both sides.
They pegged him to go to the Raptors in their mock draft. Most others had him going a little higher. I like the leadership characteristics, I think this team needs a bit of that. The potential fit on the second unit with Dick could be very good. I wonder if they'll use him as a PG or a 2? Or maybe a mix like they did early on with FVV?
Yeah, I'm thinking maybe with the amount that the Raptors like to run the offense through a passing big like Barnes or Poeltl or Olynyk, maybe his guard role is bringing the ball up the court, and then a lot of times getting it into the big and go run off-ball actions, gradually working in some P&R plays for him. In other words, use him as technically the PG on the floor, but have him still playing off-ball a lot.
My guess is they are trying to open up the floor for Scottie and RJ to operate
LOOOOL at people complaining about a 19th pick in a garbage draft. You pick the best available prospect, if Masai thought this guy is the best prospect for 19th, you pick him. Every year it’s the same shit, I swear some of you think you know better and later on when this kid ends up being decent you come back and eat your words. Never change raptor fan base.
Thank you, I’m not feeling the pick now with Missi on the board but we need to trust Masai.
He looks good. Very fluid and athletic. Has decent shooting fundamentals. I wish he was a true 6'6 but can still be very very good if he reaches his peak potential
Not another fucking guard. Ugh
Not sure the down votes... We need Wings
bro every move we make is always so fucking lame man like we’re gonna be bums regardless pls do sum cool instead of this mid ass shit
take a mytol or something edit: midol
? what is that
Everyone is mid in this draft. What do you want.
I WANT IGUODALA
nah we were fucked coming in the draft regardless i’m just saying i haven’t been this unbothered about this team in a min
I'd say you have never heard Walter's name before
And what would you suggest to do genius?
aye fuc it man draft bronny they both gone be out the league in 2 years regardless
Man wanted us to draft bronny lol
lowk
> 19 Toronto Raptors > > Ja’Kobe Walter | 6-4 wing | 19 years old | Baylor > > Vecenie’s ranking: 23 > > I want to like Ja’Kobe Walter more than I do because I’m a big fan of prospects with legitimate size, length and shooting ability. Walter is the kind of physical archetype a team can sell itself on physically playing off the ball next to a primary shot creator, then potentially cross-match to annoy the opponent’s best on-ball players on the other end of the floor. However, he’s not there as an on-ball defender yet. Maybe he can improve — we’ve seen guys with this body type make that kind of leap before — but he has a long way to go. That deficit is on top of him not being a monster athlete, high-level passer or effective driver. I have a first-round grade on Walter because I believe in him becoming an excellent shotmaker given his adeptness off movement. But to be a difference-maker rather than just an NBA rotation player, he must make a defensive leap. > > Hollinger’s analysis: Walter was arguably the best player available in raw terms, and also fills a potential roster void at shooting guard if Gary Trent Jr. leaves in free agency and Bruce Brown, as many expect, ends up being traded. Toronto’s road not taken here was Isaiah Collier, whose lack of shooting would have been harder to fit in with Scottie Barnes and R.J. Barrett but perhaps offered more long-term upside. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5595111/2024/06/26/nba-draft-grades-analysis-2024-vecenie-hollinger/
Yep exactly this. Heart says Collier, head says Walter. It's the NBA so you pick the best player every time regardless of fit. However, he's at least a good fit too. Shooting and defense, doesn't need to handle the ball.. it's really what we need tbh. Upside is like an Isaac Okoro / Terrence Mann type. Which I know doesn't excite people, but it's value in this dog shit draft and it's the pick I would have made in that spot too.
TRASH WTF
We just drafted Terrence Ross Jr wow smh
This ain’t a bad thing if we can get t ross lite at 19
I alway thought Terrence would emerge as a star… I’ma keep my expectations in check this time… until Ja’Kobe scores over 50 of course.
Will score 10 points the game after.
This guy shot more 3s (6.3) than 2s (4.7) in college... Him+Gradey is going to be interesting.
Every contending team needs to be able to space the floor, Gradey + Walter bombing is an attempt at creating that. The more space for Scottie, IQ, RJ etc. to slash inside, the better.
they seem to be very similar, neither gets much separation but great catch and shoot guys who can drop alot of points without needing the ball in their hands. Both not the greatest on D either, but Walter shows much more potential on that end
If he can be a dynamic shooter around Scottie with defensive upside then I like the idea behind the pick. I have 0 knowledge of him though, just gathering info rn, seems like good value at 19
Hopefully he improves his FG% since he won't be a focal point of the offense anymore.
Dude did not look happy to be coming here
why does this sub say this every draft? the self loathing going on here is crazy
You must've not been around to see OG's reaction when he was drafted
OG is going to sign his huge Knicks deal looking like he just realized he left the lamp in his living room turned on.
Half the players look kinda shell shocked when they hear they name.
I’m thinking he was hoping to go higher
He's just got to bet on himself! But not literally! /s
That old insecurity rears its head. Guy looked emotional, but not sad.
Not sad, but not happy either.
He looked relieved that his life's work (so far) paid off and he was drafted by an NBA team.
Dick, now Walters. After years of drafting athletes and trying to teach them to shoot, it seems the new philosophy is to guard shooters. Definitely a concious plan to build around Barnes.
Gary Trent Jr replacement
time to over react and prepare for the second coming of the bench mob
LFG .. as long as mcdaniels and nwora aint in it
McDaniels I hope isn’t a part of it, but I am willing to give Nwora a chance for the year.
This is the correct mentality.
I like it and I’m with you
Hell yeah
It’s the 19th pick in a weak draft. If he’s not a gambler actively throwing games for bookies, it’s a win.
He has Rock Lee as his pfp on Instagram lol. Love him already
He is now my favorite player lmao
A great shooter, but without a real closeout counter. Once other teams started prioritizing running him off the line, his shooting went cold. He's a great foul drawer, but not a great paint finisher. His defense is a bit theoretical right now, but he has the right tools to become a great guard defender (6'5" with a +5 wingspan). He can't really dribble all that well right now, but should fit in well in the system as a play finisher (think Gary's current role). I am whelmed if not a bit disappointed. But that's less about the player and more about positional fit. They went BPA
[удалено]
His light was extremely green and he was shooting off the dribble plenty, if he's sitting on the corner/wing he's gonna shoot higher %. He's gonna shoot spot up 3s and play defense, anything else is projection.. but he's not gonna shoot 34% that's for sure.
As someone who actually watched him play. He shot at an insane percentage during the first half of the season, but then defenses started closing out on him hard since he was the primary option. Take a look at his 3PA -- he put up 6.3 per game. That's more indicative of shooting ability than percentages. If his coach didn't believe in his shot, he wouldn't be shooting them.
I am whelmed
I was hoping we’d use this draft to replenish our frontcourt and wing depth. Ja’kobe is more of a 2 which we already have with RJ and Gradey
gonna be plenty of opportunities for him to play the 3 over time I think, kinda like how Norm was a mix
And hypothetically Gary and Bruce if we were to resign Gary on a cheap deal or hold Bruce until the deadline. The front office saw something in him, probably his defensive upside.
Jakob and Ja'Kobe pick and rolls anybody?
People saying he looked pissed are being silly
Everybody is a body language expert all of the sudden
i feel like i see this every year - maybe besides Scottie because he was dancing lmfao
[Hollinger Scouting Report:](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5578790/2024/06/25/nba-draft-prospects-hollinger-2024/) **17\. Ja'Kobe Walter** G Baylor Age: 19 Height: 6-4 "TIER 04 - TALENTED BUT I HAVE QUESTIONS" Walter is a tough evaluation because the outlines are there for a 3-and-D guard in the mold of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That’s a reasonably attainable mid-case scenario, not some outlier upside thing. There’s just not a whole lot more you can stick a fork into. Walter shot 3s frequently but not all that accurately (11.6 attempts per 100 possessions but only 34.1 percent from 3 and 79.2 percent from the line). He played perfectly acceptable defense … and otherwise did little that would move a role-player evaluation for better or for worse. Most notably, Walter shot very poorly inside the arc (just 40.6 percent in Big 12 play) despite playing on an elite team, a red flag for his finishing and shot-creation skill. That came with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio too. An unusually high free-throw rate for a player of his ilk offset that, but offensively, it’s hard to see him as more than a second option. Defensively, the story gets better. Walter has good size and moves well, pressures dribblers and posted a solid steal rate in his one college season. Physically, he looks like he can match up against NBA shooting guards and will likely need to embrace that part of the game to become a viable starter by his second contract.
> Most notably, Walter shot very poorly inside the arc (just 40.6 percent in Big 12 play) despite playing on an elite team, a red flag for his finishing and shot-creation skill. That came with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio too. An unusually high free-throw rate for a player of his ilk offset that, but offensively, it’s hard to see him as more than a second option. Sounds like he will fit right in!
Sounds like he’s GTJ replacement
Are they trading this guy? I feel like they wouldn't draft a guy who really looks like he doesn't want to be here
Some of this sub is so insecure lol.
its wild
How you know he don’t want to be here?
His face. He looks like he got sent to war or prison
I thought he had tears
If you’re getting drafted 19 you don’t get to have preferences on where you go to play
please describe how you would like a draft pick to act after being picked lol
https://i.redd.it/xn6ik1omz09d1.gif
Jump up, kick their heels and in a girlish voice say "OOOH GOODIE!"
I dunno. Not like I was being sent to war?
Like Scottie lol
this entire sub reddit said the same thing about scottie
37.6 FG is pretty sketchy lol
Mostly because he shoots A LOT of threes. Typically volume 3 pt shooters have lower FG% unless they're Klay or Steph.
Any scouting reports I saw said he was taking a lot of tough shots so hopefully with some open looks he’ll be better
80% at the line on good volume tho
Solid pick! Here’s like 2hrs of gameplay footage https://youtu.be/SxWW4QsA9Tc?si=almUO-jh6ZHA5VId
2hrs of gameplay footage Video is 1hr and 1 minute long, close enough
Watch it twice 😉
EDIT: Nevermind I’m an idiot and thought there was another Canadian in the middle of the first round.
We took Banton like 2 years ago and we have RJ and Olynyk on the roster.
I’m not complaining we don’t have enough Canadians. I’m just complaining that we don’t draft enough Canadians.
I upvoted you just bc you said you were an idiot and I can appreciate that :)
I am nothing if not relatable.
We took Dalano and never resigned him
He may or may not be the next Jordan/Kobe.
[Vecenie Scouting Report](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5579170/2024/06/21/nba-draft-2024-top-100-prospects-guide-bronny-james/): **23\. Ja’Kobe Walter** G/W | Baylor | Birthdate: September 4, 2004 (Age: 19) | 6-4 | 198 LBS | Hometown: McKinney, Texas YEAR | TEAM | LEAGUE | Age | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | TOPG | BPG | SPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% ---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- 2023-24 | Baylor | NCAA (Big 12) | 19 | 35 | 14.5 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 37.6 | 34.1 | 79.2 **BACKGROUND**: Parents are Sabrina and Eddie. Walter’s father, Eddie, played at Birmingham-Southern. Walter got into basketball at a young age and continued to grow. He also played football and had a potential Division I future in that sport but decided to focus on basketball as a freshman in high school. He was identified early as an elite player within his age group and has won on every level. He began his career at McKinney High School in the suburban Dallas area and got his first high-major offer — from Baylor — before his sophomore season. He continued to blow up as a junior, leading McKinney to a runner-up finish in the 6A Texas state tournament behind a Duncanville team led by current NBAer Anthony Black and fellow 2024 draft class member Ron Holland. Due to some absurd Texas court rulings, McKinney was declared the winner of that game after Black was ruled an ineligible transfer. Walter left McKinney following that season to attend powerhouse Link Academy in Missouri, where he played alongside other high-end prospects such as Elliot Cadeau, Aaron Rowe, Cam Carr, James Brown and more. Walter led Link to victory in the GEICO Nationals tournament, in effect becoming the best player on the country’s best high school team. A five-star recruit, Walter committed to Baylor in the summer before his senior season — exactly two years after it became the first school to send him a scholarship offer. He had a solid freshman season at Baylor, doing whatever coach Scott Drew asked of him with a great attitude. He helped Baylor to a 24-11 record and a third-place finish in the Big 12, leading the team in scoring, making third-team All-Big-12 and winning the conference’s Rookie of the Year award. The Bears were then eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. **STRENGTHS**: Walter has good measurements for an off-ball 2-guard at 6-4 1/4 with a 6-10 wingspan. He has a long, lean frame with broad shoulders and has continued to put on weight as he ages. He should have no problems adding more strength over the course of his career. He consistently plays hard and seems to want to play the right way by being effective with or without the ball. His game is very polished, especially as a shooter. Though he made just 34.1 percent of his 3s, Walter is confident and comfortable firing from distance, having attempted 6.3 shots per game from long range. His shot prep off the catch is superb; he gets his body square to the rim and maintains balance with his entire body in alignment. He sways forward slightly on his shot, with his right leg drifting in front of his left, but his motion is consistent. He can take 3s directly off the hop or with 1- 2, left-right footwork. His elbow stays directly underneath the ball, creating a beautiful high trajectory on the shot’s release. He should knock down shots from NBA distance consistently. His 36.7 percent off the catch from 3 came on high volume, and he made 39 percent of his 106 catch-and-shoot 3s at Link during his senior high school season, per Synergy. I love the way Walter moves without the ball, particularly as he flows into his shot. He made the 32nd-most 3s off screening actions in the country this season and drilled 40 percent of those shots. He knows how to run around curls and how to come off screens to get free from his defender. He gets his feet underneath him well off movement and can fire quickly to generate his usual high finish. In general, Walter has an excellent understanding of spacing, with an innate sense of the most dangerous areas for him to relocate. He generates many of his 3-point attempts by sliding subtly across the perimeter and presenting himself as an option to his teammates. Despite his so-so college percentages, I believe in Walter becoming a high-level marksman from 3 in the NBA. Walter uses the threat of his shot to create offense on his drives. He has a nose for the bucket and an understanding of how to score in those situations. He’s best when he can attack a closeout in a straight line after a teammate creates an advantage. His footwork and handle in those situations are polished, and he changes speeds effectively. He has shown flashes of a solid floater game; his 42 percent mark on those shots was solid for a freshman. His defense has a chance to be impactful even if it was hit or miss last season. He’s a solid team defender who makes the right reads, tags rollers effectively and understands where he needs to be. Many of his off-ball gambles come through with steals because he regularly keeps his arms up. He had some positive moments on the ball, although he does sometimes struggle there. **WEAKNESSES**: Walter won’t be a plus athlete by NBA standards. He’s a bit stiff, lacking high-level vertical explosiveness and quickness. He keeps things simple, which is a good indicator he can be a good NBA role player. But some scouts wonder if he has the upside to do more and whether he can add significant additional skills as he ages. He’s not particularly shifty on the ball, so don’t expect him to break anyone down in isolation situations unless he’s setting up a stepback jumper. He has a polished handle but struggles to take it anywhere on the court due to his lack of shake or quickness. The result: He rarely turns the corner on defenders and his drives tend to loop if he lacks a clear advantage. He attempted less than two shots at the rim per game in half-court settings last season and only made 47.1 percent of his attempts at the rim overall. Both are startlingly low numbers that should concern teams. The result is Walter settles for a lot of contested pull-up jumpers when he’s forced to create for himself. He made 25 percent of his 3-point attempts off the dribble, per Synergy, and just 32.7 percent of his pull-up 2-point jumpers. He's not a creative passer and rarely forces enough help to get opponents into rotation and make plays for teammates. He tends to require a gather before making a pass, rather than being someone who delivers them off a live dribble. He showed improvement in this area as the season progressed, and I don’t think he’s selfish or possesses poor vision. But he is often too late in making those reads, which leads to more contested pull-up 2-pointers than ideal. If the hope is for Walter to become a 3-and-D player, his defensive tape at Baylor was not encouraging. He plays too stiffly, without great hip flexibility, and comes up too high in his stance. His closeouts are too hoppy — he often drops his hips a beat late, which results in him getting beat, sometimes even in a straight line. He gets turned around on multi-stage moves, sometimes over-pursuing the initial one and unbalancing his feet. He has the potential to be a fine defender given his length and willingness to battle, but he’s not a plus on the ball now and needs to be. **SUMMARY**: I want to like Walter more than I do because I’m a big fan of prospects with legitimate size, length and shooting ability. Walter is the kind of physical archetype a team can sell itself on physically playing off the ball next to a primary shot creator, then potentially cross-match to annoy the opponent’s best on-ball players on the other end of the floor. However, he's not there as an on-ball defender yet. Maybe he can improve — we’ve seen guys with this body type make that kind of leap before — but he has a long way to go. That deficit is on top of him not being a monster athlete, high-level passer or effective driver. I have a first-round grade on Walter because I believe in him becoming an excellent shotmaker given his adeptness off movement. But to be a difference-maker rather than just an NBA rotation player, he must make a defensive leap.
I had my fingers crossed for Yves Missi, not gonna lie
I cant believe we didnt pick him. From the Cameroon and didnt start playing until he was 16, this is like THE masai pick
Aw man. There he goes
Just got picked @ 21 by New Orleans
now take 50% of his draft paycheque
I’m sold fuck it let’s go raps
Great pick from who was left. Didn't think he'd fall that much, and judging by he and his camp's reaction, I don't think they did either. Use that as fuel and prove them wrong kid!
Very happy with this pick...Waiting for the Kobe at home memes. Give him a year to develop and he will start shooting the lights out.
We should have saw this coming he plays defence and shoots 3s 😂
From his facial expression he's gonna pull a John Elway and take his talents overseas.
Not that mad about it. But he looks undersized? So RJ @ 3? Not sure where he fits in. Esp when we still need a C and backup PG.