Raptors

[kupman]

So what is up with the Raptors? On paper, it looked like they were doing everything right. They hired a really good GM, they have one of the best young PFs in the game, they had the #1 draft pick 2 1/2 years ago, they signed a nice FA this summer - yet they are one of the poorest teams in the East.

They, perhaps, should be even more discouraged than even us?

 

[nbrans]

Their wings suck. Anthony Parker is too old, Kapono's slow, and Jamario Moon is limited. The Jermaine O'Neal trade was pretty stupid. Colangelo: overrated.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well they still have their centerpiece (although is he really as championship centerpice or really just a top notch 2nd fiddle?), so until/unless he abandons them in the summer of 2010 they still have a clearer avenue back up than we do.

Won't criticize them too much on the J. O'Neal trade. Obviously hasn't worked out, but I thought it looked like a reasonable risk when they took it. Traded a duplicative piece, and got back a frontcourt that on paper looked dangerous. Just unfortunately forgot to account for Jermaine apparently being done by 30. He and TMac should start a club, maybe with Shareef as treasurer. Guys entering the league young who's bodies wears out by the time they hit 30. 30 yr olds going on 35.

But the "good young GM" I think has done his franchise a disservice by being more ideologue than GM. I criticize Petrie for having some of the same traits when it comes to forcing his college system (the Princeton) on our franchise, but wiht him its just a taint. With Colangelo he appeared to set out intentionally trying not to create the best basketball team possible, but to be a trendsetter as a Euro/NBA fusion franchise, playing a particular style of basketball, with particular personnel. Does not work that way at this level. I still think they should be better than they are, but Barngani is still trying to prove he's more than just another Vladimir Radmanovic, the complete lack of scoring punch from the wings is just ridiculous -- easiest positions in basketball to fill with a scorer, and you can't find one guy who can get you more than 12ppg? And there is no depth. They go 5 deep and then the dropoff is dramatic. Anyone gets hurt and its not the same team.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Well they still have their centerpiece (although is he really as championship centerpice or really just a top notch 2nd fiddle?), so until/unless he abandons them in the summer of 2010 they still have a clearer avenue back up than we do.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3877144

 

[Bricklayer]

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3877144

You just referred me to a Stephen A. Smith interview. If you weren't a thousand miles away I'd slap you.

 

[AriesMar27]

You just referred me to a Stephen A. Smith interview. If you weren't a thousand miles away I'd slap you.

damn that was cold....

 

[est.1999]

salmons should have just signed with them. I think we'd both be happy

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

One thing I've always liked about the Raptors is their success in signing European league veterans who have also contributed well in the NBA--Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker, and Jamario Moon have all panned out for them. Will Solomon and Roko Ukic are test cases. But alas, that's also the problem--Anthony Parker resurfaced in Toronto at age 31, Jamario Moon came in at age 27, Calderon at age 24. Obviously Calderon had an accelerated development and really was a huge boon, but Moon is limited and Parker (although I really like him) has been stymied by age and is already on his downward slope. Very unfortunate, but that's the price you pay by taking in older established players across leagues.

 

[SacKings7]

One thing I've always liked about the Raptors is their success in signing European league veterans who have also contributed well in the NBA--Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker, and Jamario Moon have all panned out for them. Will Solomon and Roko Ukic are test cases. But alas, that's also the problem--Anthony Parker resurfaced in Toronto at age 31, Jamario Moon came in at age 27, Calderon at age 24. Obviously Calderon had an accelerated development and really was a huge boon, but Moon is limited and Parker (although I really like him) has been stymied by age and is already on his downward slope. Very unfortunate, but that's the price you pay by taking in older established players across leagues.

Yeah I have to agree. Jorge Garbajosa was a nice addition a couple years ago as well, but he went back overseas I think. I don't like Parker, but he's capable of being an impact player, just not consistently