What should the Raptors/Colangelo do in the off-season?

[lawyerman]

I don't think Calderon will hang around to be Ford's backup. It is evident that Ford is the PG of the future of the Raps whether we like it or not. Calderon could start for a few teams in the NBA and he should be given the chance to be a full time player if Toronto doesn't want to give him the chance.

The Raptors should not pick up the option on Nesterovic. The options is for $8.4 million. Ludricious.

I really haven't heard much about Garbo lately. I think he is done. It is too bad as I thought he was a solid defensive player and could score the odd basket.

Let's get some quality draft picks and work with that. Bosh and Ford will make over $22 million combined. That is roughly 40 percent of the payroll.
They need to make cuts somewhere. The only one I could think of is Nesterovic. Keep Bargnani and Parker for one more year and see how Bargs develops. The have Graham and Baston at over $4 million combined. Wow.

 

[basketcase]

...
I would take Kevin Love of UCLA to establish the number 3 position. ....

He's a great passing big man but no way could he play the 3 in the NBA. Likely he'll end up as a PF role player; too small for the post and too slow and nonathletic to play on the outside. One site has already called him to be the most disappointing lottery pick.

 

[lawyerman]

He's a great passing big man but no way could he play the 3 in the NBA. Likely he'll end up as a PF role player; too small for the post and too slow and nonathletic to play on the outside. One site has already called him to be the most disappointing lottery pick.

Kevin Love should have stayed with UCLA for at least another year. He is on the slower side but I think he can develop to a good NBA player. Not great.

 

[smuddan]

After listening to Colengelo's interview at the FAN this afternoon, I got a feeling that he will try to trade TJ. He hinted TJ's neck injury might not be as big as a problem in trading him as a lot of us would think as apparently there were some kind of protective measures (against injuries) in his contract. He also guaranteed that there will definitely be a few changes by the start of next training camp.

He also said something to the effect that (sorry I can't remember his exact words) the depth of the Raps bench could have been better utlized and that starting Bargani might not have been the best move they could make. Didn't that sound like he was second guessing the coaching ?

After watching the last Boston/Atlanta game I've become a bigger fan of Joe Johnson and I really think he's the type of players that the Raps should go after. Someone who can dribble pentrate and can create his own shots.

 

[Herodotus]

After listening to Colengelo's interview at the FAN this afternoon, I got a feeling that he will try to trade TJ. He hinted TJ's neck injury might not be as big as a problem in trading him as a lot of us would think as apparently there were some kind of protective measures (against injuries) in his contract. He also guaranteed that there will definitely be a few changes by the start of next training camp.

No such clause in the contract can exist. Contracts for injured (even dead, sick as that sounds) players still count against the salary cap and to get cap relief, a player has to be out for something like two consecutive seasons...

He also said something to the effect that (sorry I can't remember his exact words) the depth of the Raps bench could have been better utlized and that starting Bargani might not have been the best move they could make. Didn't that sound like he was second guessing the coaching ?

I heard the interview too and I think he was also inferring that accumulating the depth will help the organization acquire other assets. He seemed to partly accept the blame for Bargs playing. That being said, BC's lack of faith in Sam Mitchell behind-the-scenes is fairly well known.

After watching the last Boston/Atlanta game I've become a bigger fan of Joe Johnson and I really think he's the type of players that the Raps should go after. Someone who can dribble pentrate and can create his own shots.

As much as I'd like to see it, all I can think is good luck finding someone like that.

And please, I don't want to hear Jamal "there-isn't-a-shot-I-don't-like-or-think-I-can't-make" Crawford. Chris Bosh will never see the ball and the team will end up regretting that acquisition as soon as JC goes 1-on-4 and throws up a prayer with 15 seconds left on the shot clock!

 

[Powershot]

SG and Center are are weakest positions long term. You can keep Moon as a starter/role player as we need his rebounding and D due to lack of it at the 4 and 5. Rasho and Parker's contracts are up after 08/09 and they are not getting any younger. No one on the roster has shown they should be a starter outside of those two at SG/C. If you start Bargs at center, wow does out defense ever suffer for it. He can guard man-to-man but beyond that, he is clueless what to be doing out there on the floor/adjust to what is happening. Mabe his breathing issue reduces the amount of oxygen to his brain (along with forcing the gaping mouth to get air in at all times).

Delfino is a black hole (which is puzzling given he used to be a PG), and Kapono.. well could you imagine a starting backcourt of Jose and Jason? Opposing starting guards would tear us apart.

 

[smuddan]

Quote : Herodotus "No such clause in the contract can exist"

I must have misunderstood him then. But how would you interpret what he was saying in that regard ?

It's impossible for us to know if a player like Joe Johnson will be available or what the costs will be. Only BC will be able to find out. But if somehow he could find one of those and Gabajosa comes back healthy, I think the Raps will have a good run in the East next year, well, assuming Sam Mitchell can provide the necessary coaching. Maybe I'm over simplifying the Raps' needs, but I really don't think they are that far off from challenging in the East.

Beating the team from the West will probably be a different story.

 

[Herodotus]

I must have misunderstood him then. But how would you interpret what he was saying in that regard ?

I think he meant that the Raptors traded for him even while knowing about his pre-existing injury so other teams would do the same because NBA teams are always on the lookout for a point guard.

As for Joe Johnson, the reason I say he (or someone of his abilities) is unavailable is because we're talking about one of the top-25 players still in his prime in the league and teams don't generally trade players like that. Plus I don't think the Raps have the assets to trade for him. Unless that whacky Atlanta ownership group tears the Hawks apart to try and sell the team!

 

[smuddan]

I got that part about the pre-existing injury, but I thought I heard him saying something like, and I'm paraphasing, " others teams will not be too scared to take TJ because there are provisions in the contract that would take care of the injuries". Damm, maybe they are right in saying "too much sex will affect your hearing"

 

[Herodotus]

The Raptors should not pick up the option on Nesterovic. The options is for $8.4 million. Ludricious.

It's a player's option, so the Raps don't have a choice.

What they can do is turn it into a trade chip. "The expiring contract of Rasho Nesterovic!" + something else for a quality player with a bigger, longer-term contract.


The NBA, where trading for expiring contracts happens!

 

[lawyerman]

It's a player's option, so the Raps don't have a choice.

What they can do is turn it into a trade chip. "The expiring contract of Rasho Nesterovic!" + something else for a quality player with a bigger, longer-term contract.


The NBA, where trading for expiring contracts happens!

My apologies. You are correct in stating that Rasho has a player option. I thought it was a team option.

Sincerely,

Lawyerman

 

[lawyerman]

I wonder if Garbo will be back to (normal) for the upcoming season.
He was a solid contributor when he was playing.

I believe that they cannot have TJ and Calderon on the same team next year.
Trade TJ. He has been wildly inconsistent and injury prone while Jose been quite consistent. In addition, Jose is the ultimate team player. They both have their good and bad points but I still would pick Calderon. They cannot afford to lose Calderon via free agency.

Bargnani is not going anywhere. He should be playing in a developmental league this summer and toughen up. Like I said before, this is the year he must prove himself. If he doesn't, then trade him. There is always a team that would like a young, number one pick and maybe they will find that pot of gold. Time will tell.

 

[Brownie69]

Bargnani is not going anywhere. He should be playing in a developmental league this summer and toughen up. Like I said before, this is the year he must prove himself. If he doesn't, then trade him. There is always a team that would like a young, number one pick and maybe they will find that pot of gold. Time will tell.

It would have been interesting to see if Bargnani would have been better this season if the Raps had a developmental team last summer. The Raps didn't have one this past summer cause they had no draft picks and that may have hurt Bargs....

At any rate, I think they have a summer program setup for him which includes working with John Lucas, the same guy who has help T.J. recover from his spinal injuries.

 

[Herodotus]

Just spitballin', but here's a thought:

The Raps should look into acquiring Boris Diaw from Phoenix. He can play point (small) forward, help facilitate the offence and take some of the pressure off the point guards. In addition, when the Suns finally put him defensively on Tony Parker, Diaw managed to contain, or at least slow down, the Spurs' lightning-quick guard.

The reason the Suns might want to get rid of him is because Steve Nash seems to need the ball in his hands a lot to be effective. When Diaw plays, Nash's shooting gets worse and his playmaking takes a nose dive. In addition, Amare Stoudemire plays MUCH worse when the offence runs through the Frenchman. On top of that, he has 4 years and $36 million left on his contract for a team that needs some depth and some new faces and is trying to cut salary.

The problem is that I'm not sure the Raptors have the assets to match up for a trade. I would suggest Jason Kapono plus some other players or prospects, given the Suns need for an quality outside shooter and reliable bodies, but I'm not sure Phoenix wants to take on 3 more years of approximately $6 million/year of Kapono plus whoever else (Joey Graham, Maceo Baston, Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker?) and draft picks the Raps need to include. But I would think it would be worth a call by Bryan Colangelo.

So that leaves the Raptors with a need for a post-defending, rebounding power forward/centre. And a shooting guard who can defend 2s and 3s and create his own shots. Oh yeah, and to figure out who they're going with at the point - starter and backup. (Calderon and Ukic?)

Another trade I'd consider exploring is a TJ Ford + Andrea Bargnani to Clippers in a sign and trade for Elton Brand. The Clippers need a point guard and Chris Kaman and Brand get in each others' way on offence, so Bargnani could help them spread the floor from the 4.

Make a full or partial mid-level exemption to one of the following defensive/rebounding PFs: Brandon Bass, Paul Milsap, Carl Landry or Craig Smith. I would look into Andris Biedrins, Nenad Krstic or Josh Smith (although he seems to be a headcase), but the Raps don't have the cap space or the resources to pull a sign and trade. Kurt Thomas could be a short-term fallback plan. Or maybe Kwame Brown?!? LOL! Kidding...

As for shooting guards, phone calls have to be made to Andre Igoudala, Monta Ellis, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Josh Childress, and even psycho Ron Artest, even if to just gauge interest. Juan Carlos Navarro, Mickael Gelabale or Mikael Pietrus may be more likely choices using the veteran's exemption or part of the mid-level exemption however.

 

[Brownie69]

Just spitballin', but here's a thought:

The Raps should look into acquiring Boris Diaw from Phoenix. He can play point (small) forward, help facilitate the offence and take some of the pressure off the point guards. In addition, when the Suns finally put him defensively on Tony Parker, Diaw managed to contain, or at least slow down, the Spurs' lightning-quick guard.

The reason the Suns might want to get rid of him is because Steve Nash seems to need the ball in his hands a lot to be effective. When Diaw plays, Nash's shooting gets worse and his playmaking takes a nose dive. In addition, Amare Stoudemire plays MUCH worse when the offence runs through the Frenchman. On top of that, he has 4 years and $36 million left on his contract for a team that needs some depth and some new faces and is trying to cut salary.

Good thought but it won't happen. Colangelo would love to get a player like Diaw, but as you mentioned, he doesn't have the assests that Pheonix would want in return. Secondly, Phoenix would have to wowed by a deal to trade Diaw. He and Raja Bell are the only players on Phoenix that could be considered solid defenders. No way do they trade another good defender after they traded Marion away this season...

 

[Herodotus]

I agree that there is little chance of making this happen. The only reason there is a small possibility is because Phoenix wants to shed "non-essential" salaries (everyone other than Amare, Nash and Shaq.) That and because of how much influence Stoudemire has on the Robert Sarver, the Suns owner. Plus I don't think Amare likes Boris Diaw. Same with Nash and Sarver/Kerr and the fact that Nash can't play with Diaw.

Diaw's never really shown he's much of a defender until this year's playoffs or a couple of years ago when half of the Suns were injured.

 

[tonytwist007]

After watching the last Boston/Atlanta game I've become a bigger fan of Joe Johnson and I really think he's the type of players that the Raps should go after. Someone who can dribble pentrate and can create his own shots.

Corey Maguette anyone? Not quite in the same league as JJ but same type of game. Question is can the Raptors afford him?

 

[lawyerman]

Corey Maguette anyone? Not quite in the same league as JJ but same type of game. Question is can the Raptors afford him?

Maggette would be a very good pickup at 8 million plus a season. The only thing that I question is his durability because I believe he has not played one full season yet. Otherwise, look for someone else.

 

[lawyerman]

If the Raptors do decide on drafting a centre, then I would pickup Jamaal Magloire. He is only making the league minimum or around there anyways. He was a steady player in his prime and a very good teacher of the game. He was with the Bucks that year when Andrew Bogut was drafted and helped Bogut tremendously. I had doubts about Bogut when he was drafted number one overall but he is turning out to be a solid player. Magloire was very beneficial to Bogut and I think if the Raptors want to go that route, Magloire would be a good choice and absorb minutes as well.

 

[Herodotus]

Maggette would be a very good pickup at 8 million plus a season. The only thing that I question is his durability because I believe he has not played one full season yet. Otherwise, look for someone else.

The reports out of LA is that he's a ball-hog, doesn't like the concept of team defence, is terribly inconsistent game-to-game and can be a handful in the locker room. And yes, he seems to average about 65-68 games played/season.