Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am  |  104 responses

SLAMonline Mock Draft: Tyreke Evans, No. 9

This is the remix!

tyreke_evans_drive

by Justin Walsh

With the ninth pick in the 2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Toronto Raptors select… (Biz Markie voice) REMIX!

Stern: With the ninth pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select…

(Black Bush rushes the stage)

B. Bush: WOAH, WOAH, WOAH, Ladies ‘n Gentlemen… A change of flow is in order! Secretary of MOS DEFense will announce the pick. And now…

(The crowd looks shell-shocked. Didn’t this guy retire after a $50 million contract? He was the Allan Houston of jokes.)

Secretary of MOS DEFense: I’ll repeat it so you ain’t got to press rewind. The ninth pick be disguised as welcome signs. And the signs point to… TOO EASY! This ain’t yellow cake from the motherland, this ain’t aluminum tubes… This is Tyreke Evans.

That’s right residents of Toronto, rest easy, too easy in fact. We finally have that missing piece! As we speak, our season tickets are being sold out. As we speak, Chris Bosh is noticeably happier. He might not request a trade now. Can you imagine this starting five:

1: Jose Calderon
2: Tyreke Evans
3: Shawn Marion
4: Chris Bosh
5: Andrea Bargnani

Back to Tyreke Evans. Sure, like Knicks GM Russ Bengtson sTyreke Evansaid, “The kid’s only 19, and he couldn’t hit a perimeter shot if you paid him.” That much is true. But I’m drafting him to… What’s the term? “Here to f*ck shit up.” (Thanks Will Ferrell.) He’s going to be slashing to the hole every chance he gets. We’re going to run defenses ragged.

You remember when Tony Parker wasn’t allowed to shoot outside of 15 feet? That’s Tyreke Evans, only he’s 6-6, loves hurting your feelings and enjoys ruining ankles. I have to admit, he really doesn’t shoot a basketball very well, in fact it looks somewhat like an Olympic shot-putter. But did you see that game against Missouri in the NCAA Tournament? He exploited them. It was NBA Live ‘09 on rookie mode!

After careful review of the game footage we realized something: Let him cut all day long. It will allow the Raptors to compensate for Bosh being more of a high post guy. It will bring drive and dish threes for Calderon and Kapono. They can be a similar squad in player make up to Memphis and their high octane set up. Perfect fit.

On the other end, I have to admit I considered a few players for the position. Jonny Flynn, for one. I feel he has a chance to be a Stephon Marbury-esque player (the one we had such high hopes for in Georgia Tech, not the so-called pariah). But at the end of the day, we’re committed to Jose. We just can’t justify another PG. We just got rid of T.J. Ford a while back; we’re all high on Jose. How does it look if we draft yet another floor general? I also considered Earl Clark, the potential injected swingman. Then I looked into our team makeup. The styles don’t fit. We don’t need a SF/PF. We needed a slasher.

Tyreke is admittedly one-dimensional at the moment, but that’s what we need from him right now. His skill set will fit to the point that we can start him from day one. This fits with his philosophy, his mindset. Everything about this pick makes our squad a playoff team. With the right work ethic, we can push for 50 wins.

ESPN, cue up the hyperbole, praise and talks of a high motor! Team 10? You’re up. This was Too Easy.

2009 SLAMonline Mock Draft Results
Pick Team Player
1 L.A. Clippers Blake Griffin
2 Memphis Grizzlies Hasheem Thabeet
3 Oklahoma City Thunder Ricky Rubio
4 Sacramento Kings Brandon Jennings
5 Washington Wizards Jordan Hill
6 Minnesota Timberwolves Demar DeRozan
7 Golden State Warriors James Harden
8 New York Knicks Stephen Curry
9 Toronto Raptors Tyreke Evans
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  • http://slamonline.com B. Long

    I meant that in a good way, Tad. Like saying he is a “poor man’s Chris Paul.” Maynor is gonna be solid. I know people are saying this is a weak draft but this maybe the deepest draft for the point guard position in a decade.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    well TAD, we all have our differences. I for one wanted Flava Flav drafted 2nd. Instead Hasheem happened. GARBAGE! Kidding.

  • AR

    Jack McClinton is a slightly better Shan Foster:Not an NBA player.

  • http://slamonline.com B. Long

    How does Gerald Henderson not fit the slasher role?

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Ahhhh, my sarcasm meter is off. I agree that this draft is short on sure fire All Star talent, but I think it is long on solid role playing starters and effective bench players.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    B. Long, he can slash, but he can’t slash as well as Tyreke. You and I both agree Reke might be overhyped, but his ability to get to the hole is tops for the slasher spot.

  • http://slamonline.com B. Long

    AR:Fail.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    Shan Foster: win. haha

  • http://slamonline.com B. Long

    @AR:silky smooth jumpers from a well-rounded ball player don’t grow on trees. I see a little John Salmons in his game.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    I don’t know if Jrue is on Westbrook’s level. He’s a great on ball defender with good size, but I never saw much in the way of passing/scoring from him. At UCLA, playing behind the same guy (Collison), Westbrook made a MUCH bigger impression on me.
    Tyreke has flaws but he seems to have a preternatural ability to consistently finish incredibly difficult driving layups.
    And as far as Derozan, his upside is undeniable, but if he doesn’t improve his shot he’s looking like a smaller version of Iguodala, not big enough to guard big time SFs (Lebron, Granger, Carmelo, Durant, etc) but not a good enough shooter to excel at the SG spot.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    ciolk fair point on tyreke, but let me say Demar will SURPRISE you. And by the way, his midrange jumpshot is the best in this entire draftclass & that’s what makes him safe from Iggy comps. Iggy can’t do midrange to save his life.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    But if Jrue blows up as a rook can we all agree right now to call him “The Damaja”?

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Nice Ciol.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    Damaja? Hmm… On that same note, if Collison ever does anything in the league, can we call him King Turtle?

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    I know Demar is you boy Walsh. He’s electric in the open floor, and could be one of the most exciting young players in the L. So believe it or not, (I know I’ve been somewhat critical of his game/draft prospects) I’m rooting for him to succeed.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    you’d better. because I know a cat in the Bush administration. And brotherman will black bag you. Hahaha, I kid ciolk, I know I’m down with DD like Ryan Jones is Bron Biased.

  • AR

    One guy who will be a nice late 1st round pick up for any team would be DaJuan Summers.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    i dont know about this…..

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    BET, lay it on me. What makes you hesitate on the pick?

  • http://nationofmillions.ca ciolkstar

    I feel you AR, a guy like Summers could fil several needs for a team like my Spurs. I’m just praying that some team trying to save $ will sell or trade a mid-late first rounder to us on the cheap.

  • niQ

    GOOD PICK! If this actually happens then i can’t wait til the season starts! man, i even said on the previous selection that i hope you choose evans.lol.. but on another note, yea.. toronto would’ve loved a chance to draft demar.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    niQ, I couldn’t let you down! I think it has a decent chance of happening for reaaaal! AR/Ciolk: Summers is a solid pick for the late mid to late 1st round.

  • http://my.thescore.com/members/Anas-Ahmed/default.aspx Anas Ahmed

    Nice pick Justin. Love the commentary MOS DEFINITELY haha…if you guys didn’t have Minney taking DD at six then that would have been my other choice. But I can’t knock the Evans pick at all. I can already see the signs at the ACC…T-DOT EVANS!

  • Seven Duece

    Honestly I didn’t bother to watch but 1 Memphis game (even in the tourney) so I can’t speak on his whole game, but I didn’t see a whole lot of athleticism jumping out. Maybe he can be the slashing version of OJ, but the Raps really need a guy who can D up as well. Might be a good pick though. As long as they don’t pick up yet another forward, they’re good.

  • Matt

    Tyreke is a great slasher but why take someone who will be a great slasher in a league that kills slashers and will expose his skills (sorry but weak schedule and he scored big in the NCAA tourney after the other team threw in the towel and almost lost to northridge) over someone like holiday that is a talent that will make everyone around him better. Holiday is passed up soooo much and was even passed up……by you, imma let you have it in a year!!! Haha

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    Matt, I prefer Jrue to Tyreke, but Jrue is a point guard. the Raptors dont need a point guard, period. They really don’t. And like I said, personally I think he goes before pick 9 anyway in the real draft.

  • http://slamonline.com B. Long

    Jrue will end up going to Sac, Minny, or the Knicks. And if James Harden goes the Warriors at number 7 they should disband the franchise.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    exactly B.Long. Dude will be gone by then for real. I love Harden at all, but idk why the Warriors would ever draft another 2.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Blinguo

    Starts with Biz Markie (who’s hopefully getting those royalties from the Heiney adverts) and Mos Def’s yellow cake, ends in Too Easy.. Baron Davis? The other guy, Harden has the beard-sake. Evan’s nick is Too Easy also? Good work B. But I don’t imagine Shawn Marion in any Toronto lineups next year, nor many of their fans probably don’t either, I’d assume. SLAM’s Holly was there 1st hand to hear his, “I’m Hollywood now” quote. So Shawn and Baron Davis. Sorry BDiddy.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    Yeah Blinguo, he’s always been called Too Easy. Got called it in the Rucker, got called it at AAU tourneys, got called it by ESPN announcers. It’s always been Evans’ bit. As to Marion- I hold out hope in him staying from the standpoint that…honestly- you see any other team WANTING to sign him? Nobody really thought about that… Who wants him?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Blinguo

    Indeed. Even D’Antoni isn’t exactly moving cap room to bling up Marion – on a mid level vet salary. So getting rid of the old slasher, adding a young project slasher makes sense in that regard, to those above saying “slasher only, why?!” Also thanks for taking the time to respond to everybody. Top people person, a salute to you sir.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    Blinguo, you’re welcome- I always feel if I don’t answer I’m ducking cats or something. It’s not like that. Really though, I do have to say- Toronto doesn’t need a PG, doesn’t need a 3pt specialist, doesn’t need a PF or a C. They need a slasher. That’s what they are missing. This pick, even though not my favorite, is the easiest to make on the board outside of drafting Griffin and Rubio in the top 3.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Justin, he only had 1 year of college. I seen him play, and i would not consider him someone who would be a mature decision maker just yet. He seems like the type that is a 2-3 year project player before you get the contribution you need from him.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    *a mature decision maker at the NBA level

  • matt

    Since when did Justin become an expert!! Tyreke won’t do a whole lot to “improve” that team.

    Justin, according to looking at their roster, I’d much rather go with a pg in Holiday than someone who will not be able to fulfill a 2 guards role, nor a point guards role. Tyreke does well when the ball is always in his hands…..guess what, chris bosh needs the ball. Tyreke is score first, pass third…what does he do in between? score. That isn’t exactly something that you can build around or want to input in a system that has a lot of pieces, but just needs something extra. Marion is a far different player than Evans in the sense that he’s athletic and tyreke is not, marion is blazing fast, and tyreke is not. Tyreke is quick with the ball but this is the NBA not Conference USA. I don’t see this as a great fit with Toronto. I’d say it will be to either take whats best with the pick…or try to trade it away because there’s nothing great after here. You say that Jrue will be taken earlier, but according to the slam draft, he hasn’t been taken, so it would be a no brainer to me because Jrue can play the 1 or the 2 and feed those who need the ball or play the lead role…..bad pick!!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Justin Walsh

    BET, I see your point, however I am not drafting him as a POINT GUARD. I am drafting him as a slasher. The only thing he has the green light for as a rookie will be driving to the hoop anyway. Clearly it’s what he excels at to this point.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    I can’t see why any rookie can’t go to training camp, work on an outside shot (take what…250 three’s/300 shots from 18 feet a day) and come into the season with ‘something’ to go with…
    It’s not like your dealing with a Chris Dudley type… your a young offensive minded ball player you can get an outside shot – this guy will average over 12 pts this season.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    Justin, if all you need is a slasher, wouldnt a d-leauger do the job just as well, but without any bullsh!t? You should have gotten a guy who could be Bosh’s replacement in a few years and understudy until then: Earl Clark.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the balla

    MELOMAANNNNNNN

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  • http://www.shopeday.com www.shopeday.com

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  • http://www.enjoysbuy.com www.enjoysbuy.com

    At the same time, from Italy, Ireland, Spain and other countries to return home to the Poland, Romania and other Eastern European workers has increased significantly.

  • josh

    tyreke would be a goo d fit for the raptors if tyreke is not there then go for jrue holiday

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  • Scruffz

    ummmm. That’s a nice starting five, but did people forget that Marion isn’t a guarantee to re-sign with the Raps? As it stands right now, if Marion doesn’t stay in Toronto that leaves a big hole at the 3.

  • http://slamonline.com/ Justin Walsh

    Scruffz, Who wants to sign Marion? I’d love to know who wants to spend money on the guy.

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  • Royal

    Justin Walsh:Have you ever heard of a young man named Gerald Green…….well thats who Demar reminds me of

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