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[QUOTE="Shark58, post: 1244051, member: 4746"]
for numerous reasons Rak couldn't be this kind of player last year, and some of the reasons directly translate into his potential for the next level.

until DC went down last year, he was a 4 and a player who looked over his shoulder for the quick hook.  once he got a chance to settle into the 5 and know he wasn't coming out for a while, he really started to find his groove.  The O still wasn't close to going through him, but he became a reliable option.  This year he is the man in the middle with no real back up and his numbers and game reflect that.  Plus the O needs him this year as others have mentioned.

If he keeps this up through the ACC and wins, or hold his own, with some marquee matchups he'll definitely get a look from the NBA, maybe as high as mid-first territory (esp if he wows at combine/tryouts). Worst case is probably an early 2nd rounder by Philly, since they have them all anyway.  He can be one hell of a rotational player with Noel and Embid.

I don't know if Rak can be a star/starter in the league.  He has played his best as a 5.  At the next level he profiles as more of a 4.  Not saying he can't play it, everything about him screams that he can...except his track record.   That said, the league is steadily moving towards smaller and more mobile frontlines with a bunch of 4-profile types manning C so...

[que old "can SU players play D?" narrative]  The biggest question I have now is here.  With Rak's athleticism he should be able to be a beast on D covering 3-5.  A low-post Bruce Bowen.  If he can pull that off, he should have a 10-year career better than Orr did.

anyhow, that's what I think.  I wonder what Jimmy thinks about Rak's next level projection...
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