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We’re just days from the 2015 NBA Draft, with the Toronto Raptors picking at No. 20. Reports suggest they will probably use the pick rather than trade it, and I’ve made cases for three worthy candidates: R.J. Hunter, Jarell Martin and Jerian Grant. My final recommendation is Virginia product Justin Anderson, who, of those four, is probably the most liked by Raptors fans around the web. In this case, I’m glad to be in line with popular opinion.
Anderson is a stud. He might well be the strongest player in this draft, which is quite remarkable considering he’s a three-point specialist. A “3 & D” player already, Anderson’s game is perfect for the NBA right now. Moreover, I’d argue his game is not perfect for college basketball, partially explaining why his numbers at Virginia don’t jump off the page at you. Anderson will be able to help the Raptors immediately, doing so on both ends of the floor.
Anderson works perfectly for the Raptors because the team lacks a true small forward, and I’m sick of hearing people talk about how the NBA is “going small” as if it justifies playing undersized wings. Look at the Golden State Warriors; they won the title playing “small”, but who was their small forward? Who guarded LeBron James? Who won Finals MVP? Oh yeah, it was Andre Iguodala, one of the strongest forwards in the league. If it wasn’t Iguodala on LeBron, it was Harrison Barnes, another legit small forward. If it wasn’t Barnes, it was Draymond Green; championship-level teams don’t play shrimps at small forward.
Thought experiment: swap out Iguodala and Barnes for the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross. What happens to the Warriors? The way I see it, DeRozan has no chance against LeBron, and neither does Ross. They simply aren’t big enough and mobile enough to defend (or score against) great wing players. LeBron probably gets his same insane numbers, but I wager he does so on significantly better efficiency.
Anderson is the way forward, and if a very limited off-the-dribble game is what it takes to get him to drop to No. 20 for the Raptors, then so be it. Not everyone has to run offense. Consider DeMarre Carroll, who will likely be getting upwards of $10 million per year in free agency. Carroll came into the league with great defense and no three-point shot. Once he developed a three-point shot (which took many years), he held great value in this league, earning a starting role on a 60-win team. Anderson already has the “3” and the “D” in his arsenal as a prospect; he’d be a great selection at No. 20.
Casey Sherman is the Toronto Raptors Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @shermham
