Raptor Talk 2012-13 The New Broom

It was a weak draft and the Raptors apparently decided not to buy a pick.  

Congratulations to Bennett and Olynyk.  Great news for Canadian basketball.  Olynyk is going into a mess in Boston -- there should be plenty of minutes available now in the team's rebuild, though.  Bennett has a much better situation with an impressive collection of young talent around him.

Kabongo apparently got some bad advice.  He really only played half a season last year due to the NCAA suspension and he should have stayed in college another year.  

Several teams appear to be stripping talent from their rosters possibly to get one of the first few picks -- including the Sixers, and Celtics.

I like the Blazers draft, but Aldridge is apparently asking out which must be concern to the team.

A little surprising to see the Raptors decline Lucas' team option.  Perhaps they are looking for someone who can defend better as a the backup one.  He actually did a decent job off the bench after a very bad start to the season last year.

I suspect that is the first of a number of moves to come out of the Raptors camp over the next month or so.

say goodbye to Bargs... off to the Knicks for future draft picks and a bag of flat balls.

I'm smelling some serious gun powder.

Good move.  Needed to be made a year ago but Colangelo didn't do it.  

Ujiri is showing some decisiveness, here, which I like.  Bargs could fit in as a sixth man on the Knicks, assuming Smith does not return.  He doesn't do what the Raptors needed, but he could fit in elsewhere as a role player.  He really makes too much for a second unit job, but the Raptors are taking some salary back in return.  

Steve Novak could have a bench role with the Raps as he has one special skill -- three point shooting.  

Marcus Camby back with the Raptors ... who would have ever imagined this.  He hasn't been able to stay healthy in recent years and his on court production is minimal.  Maybe he could play a veteran leadership role in limited minutes, if he isn't waived.

Another good move was redefining Colangelo's role to consultant, so he won't appear to be in Ujiri's way. The original arrangement made little sense.

Camby will be waived for sure.

Novak might be re-traded and will only stay if Ujiri doesnt get rid of the gluttony of wing players.

Reassigning BC to 'consultant' is their way of not having to buy him out - BC will be gone in a few weeks time.

Using the amnesty clause on Kleiza would appear the next logical step.  Unfortunately, because of his knee problems, he really can't play at the level he once did.  That microfracture surgery can go either way and he has lost much of his explosiveness.

Also, as you mention there are a number of guys ahead of him at the small forward position.

A clean break would be best, in terms of the Colangelo departure. He had his run in the driver's seat, and should turn the keys over to the new regime now, not be sitting in the back seat while Ujiri drives.

Board - happy holiday... Must be some kind or level of internal dynamic that keeps Colangelo on, but I agree, that dynamic seems to be quickly disappearing... The rap need to address 2 positions: obtaining a team focused point guard (or re-training Lowry) and a dominant centre. They also need to improve their 3 point shooting and continue their improvement to defense. With a bit of luck they might contend for the 8th playoff spot as they have a reasonable core of talent - perhaps they will play small ball as their starting 5...

Bernie

The Clippers have dealt Bledsoe to the Suns, with Jared Dudley coming back the other way so that potential deal won't be happening for the Raptors. Probably a good thing -- DeRozan really was too high of an asking price for a guy who has never been a full time point guard in the NBA.

A couple of good signings in Hansbrough and Augustin, at reasonable prices.  Hansbrough should add a bit of grit and hustle to the front court and Augustin is a decent backup point guard who has past experience as a starter if Lowry goes down.

who are these new guys the raptors just signed?

I think just fillers on the training camp roster.