NBA Outsider Mock Draft: Toronto Raptors Select DeMar DeRozan

NBA Outsider is hosting a 2009 NBA mock draft, where bloggers from all over come together in an attempt to project the draft results that will take place June 25th .

Trevor Smith from Hoopsaddict.com picks for the Toronto Raptors at at No. 9. The Raptors find a very physical player to compliment Bosh and Bargnani in DeMar DeRozan. Follow the mock draft here.

With the ninth pick, the Raptors select DeMar DeRozan from USC.

In DeRozan, the Raptors acquire the Draft’s most explosive athlete and most intriguing prospect. It is rare that a team has the chance to acquire a player with true superstar potential with a pick this late in the Draft, but DeRozan certainly fits that bill: his  physical gifts suggest that his no ceiling in terms of potential, though he is far from a sure thing.

DeRozan is an incredible leaper and explosive finisher who is the owner of a combine-reported 38.5″ vertical leap. Draft analysts love to describe prospects as “long” and the term certainly fits the bill for DeRozan given his 6′9″ wingspan. This length, combined with his size (6′6″), strength, and impressive first step acceleration make him a prototypical athletic NBA swingman that can play either the 2 or 3 position immediately for Toronto.

His athleticism is the key attraction for the Raptors. Toronto’s roster has long lacked the kind of aggressive, attacking swingman that can get the rim quickly and finish with authority. While Anthony Parker has a stabilizing veteran influence and a solid contributor for three years running, but he simply does not posses the athleticism to be a threat attacking the lane consistently. Given how many young, athletic wings the team faces in the Eastern Conference, Parker’s below-average quickness and strength for his position have created a noticeable problem area on defense. Toronto has therefore sought after someone with the sort of speed and leaping ability that DeRozan possesses.

This is exactly what they had hoped to find in Joey Graham four years ago: an athletic specimen that they believed could develop a steady mid-range jump shot, improve as a rebounder and become a stingy wing defender. DeRozan has great potential in these areas. He averaged an impressive 2.4 offensive rebounds a game last season at USC, has an excellent jumper from 20 feet and in, and already possesses all the tools to become the sort of lockdown wing defender they need if they are to contend with the LeBron James’ and Dwyane Wades of the world.

While Toronto would be acquiring a player with great upside, DeRozan is far from a finished product. No one would accuse the swingman of being a polished player at this point, as he struggles with his ball handling and general basketball IQ. This is to make no mention of the complete absence of a three-point shot (he connected on a mere 17% from long range last year), or tendency to only attack when going to his right. Perhaps the biggest red flag for Toronto’s decision makers would be that DeRozan has been thought to lack the passion to truly realize his superstar potential. This perceived lack of dedication and internal drive to maximize his abilities is likely the only reason DeRozan would have slipped enough in the Lottery for the Raptors to even have a chance to select him when one considers his incredible upside, even with several missing dimensions currently in his game.

In landing DeRozan, Toronto would be inheriting the Draft’s biggest project with a limitless ceiling in terms of talent. Time will tell how he develops in the Raptors system and whether he will emerge as the steal of this Lottery.