Raptor Talk 09-10 - Exciting If Nothing Else!

I agree with that staement sometimes trades are made just to pick up an asset for yet another trade.

What was his scoring last year like 3.0 PPG?

He's not an untouchable by virtue of those stats that's for sure!

I personally think the only untouchable [(MIGHT)] be Andrea!

Il Mago is BC's pet... and I think Colangelo still believes Bargnani will go on to be what he thought he would be - when he chose him #1 overall.

I think Bosh's decision to go for free agency takes him off the "untouchable list."

Lot's of teams would like Bosh... and if a team feels Bosh would bring them a championship next season... then perhaps Colangelo might get an offer he can't refuse.

Bring Gordan he will be a big help

No one should be untouchable from the roster of a team that won only 40% of its games.

DeMar DeRozan certainly knows how to work the Toronto media.

He compares us with NYC and says Toronto was his first choice as an NBA destination.

He has set lofty goals for himself as an NBA-er. He's looking at Carter, LeBron and Kobe as players he will seek to emulate. No one can argue that they are less than top-notchers!

He will use his signing money to help his mom suffering from lupus.

Hey maybe he's not "working the media" at all, maybe he's the real thing!

Coach: I think this kid has got some substance underneath the cockiness that pervades many sports and athletes ... I sense a bit of humility too (comments about helping his mother), though one has to look hard for that these days in many of our athletes... hopefully he is willing to learn to become the player he wants to be ...

Bernie

Last year the Raptors went with the "less is more" concept and paid a price. The prevailing wisdom seemed to be that the bench was overcrowded with too many duplicate pieces and that was not healthy for team chemistry and morale.

It seemed to make sense at the time. In hindsight it did not!

The bench which was an asset the year before became a liability. You can never have too many good players.

This season I hope we continue to accumulate assets and do not just let potentially re-signable players go for nothing. I'm not sure if some of the guys we brought in at the end of last year have any market value.

Will another NBA team have interest in a Patrick O'Bryant, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Nathan Jawai or Jake Voshkuhl? I'm not sure.

Joey Graham or Kris Humphries yes I think other NBA teams would have interest. I would like to see both back but they have market value because they are relatively young and have shown something at the NBA level.

Therefore if either or both must go get something in return.

I'm not advocating letting all these guys go but some will have to be moved.

Hopefully if we can't return a Shawn Marion we get value for him with a sign-and-trade deal bringing in an equivalent player or maybe even an upgrade in terms of age! He does bring qualities that this team needs but if he doesn't want to come back there is little we can do.

I believe that is the plan BC has in mind!

I like the DeRozan selection. Physically and in terms of his development I think the comparison might be Tracy McGrady when he came to the Raptors a decade ago. He might be a little ahead of McGrady as he got a year in the Pac-10 in but physically and in terms of age and game, I see comparisons. The comparison with Vince Carter doesn't work quite as well for me. I think Vince had more big time college basketball experience at UNC and probably better coaching from Dean Smith. Physically Vince was also a bit more mature.

The next step should be to resign Anthony Parker to a two year deal and let this kid play behind him in year one (15 to 20 minutes a game) and to learn from AP. If he develops quickly he could be a starter in year two with Parker taking the lesser role.

One thing that bothered me was reading Colangelo's comments in the press about this being an unathletic team. What he said may be true but as the GM you have to be careful with your comments -- if you want to trade people it isn't the best idea to reduce their market value in the press.

I don't think any of their deep subs would have much trade value. There are some guys on that bench who could do better than they have in the past if they are given a defined role. Kris Humphries, if healthy, should be a solid back up big man in this league who can run the floor and clean the boards. He should leave his 15 foot jump shot in his locker. While O'Bryant has some limitations he could be able to supply 10 to 12 minutes of defense and rebounding behind Bargnani. Roko or Douby should be able to fill in for Calderon for brief stretches.

They have to figure out what they want to do at the 3 spot. If Marion re-signs then the only issue is who will play behind him. If they are really determined to make a run for the playoffs next year rather than do a serious rebuild then they need Marion or someone of that calibre (Turkoglu, Ariza, etc.). I see Delfino as a backup 2/3 more than a starter. Joey also probably qualifies as a backup, if he is resigned. It is really too bad because he has the tools to be a starter but not the consistency.

Colangelo is trying to put all the pieces together but it remains a work in progress.

I really like the comparison with McGrady. That is a real good call.

I agree about O'Bryant at least he's young. There's still hope that he can develop his game.

Marion or equal value absolutely but I think Marion is perfect if he will re-sign. The 8.5 rebounds he contributed are huge on this team.

I'm not convinced about what you are asking of Parker. At this stage that's asking a lot. I see he and Delfino as interchangeable pieces with slight edge to Parker.

We may need to acquire a shooter/scorer to play the 2. DeRozan is a 2/3 right now.

I think we could definitely still use a bona fide 5-man. We have a lot of bigs on the roster but still not a classic big-man. Defensive prescence and rebounding are what I'm talking about.

You're right, Delfino and Parker may be somewhat redundant. Delfino walked on the team before but he is somewhat younger and more versatile (he could play minutes at the one, two or three and defend different types of players). Parker is the better shooter and takes better shots.

I think AP is an unsung hero on this team -- dependable, reliable, consistent and a great team guy. Perhaps another team will recognize that and sign him.

I was a little disappointed in Parker last year. Where was that corner three he used to shoot?

"Parkerville" once the domain of Anthony Parker is little more than a vacant lot overgrown with every manner of weed known to mankind.

I think AP had to play a lot of minutes at the point last year when Calderon was injured for those 14 games; it was an unaccustomed position for him as he's really a 2 or a 3 man. Initiating the offense from the point, when being guarded by real point guards, couldn't have helped his offensive game.

Will be interesting to see how they spend the O'Neal - Marion salary slot. It would be fascinating if Colangelo could pull another rabbit out of his hat like he did when he got Garbajosa and Parker from the European league three years ago. But we aren't hearing any rumblings in that regard and they didn't obtain a second 2009 draft pick. They need to get their creative thinking caps out again.

AP has lost his step... which was suspect to begin with.

Yes he plays smart and brings it every night, but he is way too streaky of a shooter and simply isn't athletic enough... espcially now.

I personally see a huge difference in Parker when he was with Maccabi and his first year... compared to this past season with the Raps.

Parker can come off the bench... but if he's here as a starter... this team isn't going anywhere.

Delfino... is 8 years younger, bigger, quicker, plays better defense, takes it to the rack better, and is just as streaky as a shooter.

I easily see Parker going elsewhere and doing really well playing in a limited role off the bench for ex. Spurs, Celtics, Denver

Observer,

You hit the nail right on the head (the comparison to T-Mac). I’ve been telling my boys all day that DeRozan more like a T-Mack kind of playa that a VC. You obviously know you hoops…..this kid will end up been the best player in this draft.

Last year the Raptors were 21st in rebounding with a negative rebound differential vs. their opponents rebounds.

I think the additions of Evans, Delfino, and DeRozan will help them a ton in this area. I also think we need Marion's 8 or so rebounds a game as well as the continued improvement of Bargnani in the rebounding department.

It is the one thing that Mensah-Bonsu has to offer apart from his energy (although a healthy Kris Humphries can replace the energy factor). Still Pops had great rebounding stats in limited minutes that factor alone justifies his return next season.

I think turning that negative differential into a positive and cracking the top ten rebounding teams in the league would go a long way towards making the Raptors a playoff team once again.

Rebounding and toughness do go hand-in-hand. You do not get rebounds without sticking your nose in and that physicality is also a big part of defence.

Another big stat in that area is charges taken and that is why I argue for the return of Joey Graham who I think led the Raptors in that department (per minutes played). Although he was inconsistent offensively he did bring defence and he is a keeper for that reason alone. He can also defend multiple positions.

These are the areas everyone seems to think we need to improve in and I think we are making progress in those directions.

We can definitely be a tougher and more physical team than last year especially with those key signings.