Kemba Walker represents everything the Toronto Raptors need and than some.
NCAA champion Kemba Walker is expected to still be on the board when the Raptors select at number five overall at this years draft and that necessitates us taking a look at the player the Raptors may very will be drafting on June 23rd.
With his amazing performance in the NCAA tournament and the realization that he would probably be available wherever the Raptors picked fans in Raptors nation jumped squarely on the Kemba Walker bandwagon.
Than came the concerted effort by those in the blogosphere to convince fans that Brandon Knight and not Kemba Walker was and is the better prospect.
And here we are again with the realization that Knight may very well be off the board at number five which should mean the Raptors select Kemba at number five overall.
Kemba may seem like a consolation prize to some but as we echoed here, Kemba may actually be the better fit for the Raptors team.
There is a school of thought that Kemba Walker may be the better fit for the Raptors because he is older than Brandon Knight and is ready to start and contribute from day one.
Others insist that Kemba is the better fit due to his star power and ability to sell tickets and jerseys all across North America.
Here is what ESPN Insider’s Chad Ford has to say about Kemba:
- Speed, very quick laterally
- Excellent athlete
- Explosive
- Gets to the rim at will
- Finds teammates off penetration
- Flair for the spectacular
- Picks up a lot of steals
- Much improved jump shot
- Very tough
- Huge heart
- Clutch player
Walker’s game is marked by “electricity” and explosiveness. Plays with an undefinable burst, seemingly moving in warp speed while everyone else is standing still- yet he remains for the most part under control, with the ball on a string. Working in his favor is a freakish blend of raw speed, breathtaking quickness, ultra-aggression and sneaky power. Scores from anywhere on the court (23.5 ppg).
Can’t be contained by a single defender off the dribble, be it in the half court or most notably in transition. Splits double teams and traps in a blink. Changes direction at FULL speed. He is a master at creating space, using jab steps, cross overs and pump fakes to shed defenders.
Highly creative with the rock in his hands and finishing at the rim. Able to complete plays through contact with a full head of steam. Also able to re-adjust angles and avoid shot blockers by hanging and improvising in mid-air. Constantly in attack mode, frequently living at the charity stripe (7.7 attempts). Scoop shots and floaters are not foreign to his arsenal either.
Overall shooting aptitude has improved dramatically since arriving on campus. His range shooting is now a real weapon (33 percent on 5.5 attempts), despite a myriad of low percentage, bail out chucks. He’s always been extremely comfortable shooting step back J’s off the dribble, but displayed a new wrinkle coming off screens as the season progressed. Solid elevation and high release.
Tremendous two-footed leaper in space. Despite his gift for the putting the ball in the bucket, he’s very much a facilitator (4.5 apg), creating open shots for others by commanding a second/third defender.
Prolific rebounder for his size (5.4 rpg), completely unafraid to mix it up with bigger bodies. Excellent lateral quickness with fluid hips. Beats the offensive player to the spot. Opportunistic defensively, if you’re careless with the ball, he’ll take it back the other way for a deuce (1.9 stl). His motor never runs low (38 minutes per). A true winner with a warrior’s spirit.
Is he a good fit for the Raptors?
Kemba Walker is arguably the best fit out of any of the top three players on the Raptors draft board.
He is older than Brandon Knight but that is actually an advantage is this case as the two core players on the team are both 22 years old to Kemba’s 21, while the younger and still raw Knight may not be ready for a full-time role in year one at 19.
Kemba has proven to be a competent floor general and averaged 5.1 assists in 2009 when he had better teammates and showed his versatility and ability to take over games by becoming a national hero with his 23.5 points per game campaign this year that helped lead UConn to a national championship.
His ability to create off the dribble is something that will be critical to making him and DeRozan one of the most dynamic backcourt duo’s in the Eastern conference.
Another reason Kemba is such a good fit for the Raptors is his leadership qualities. For a team likely to lose its locker room leader in Reggie Evans someone like Kemba Walker would be ideal.
He has all of the qualities you look for in a leader and it always helps when your starting PG is one of your teams leaders and best players.
Yet another and possibly the most important reason he is a terrific fit for the Raptors is his cluck ability, he has proven that he can consistently, take and make the big shot, something the Raptors will need as Leandro Barbosa will probably be traded to a contender this offseason.
Brandon Knight may be the better prospect, he may have more upside on more teams in the NBA and has a better chance to shine on any of them, but Kemba Walker due to age, leadership and clutch play is the better fit for the Raptors…hands down.
This article and other offseason Raptors talk can be found on Raptors Digest.
Anne Marie Kortright Paige Butcher Amanda Peet Xenia Seeberg The Avatars of Second Life
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