Official Toronto Raptors Thread.

[Its_asdf]

Ok. Let me put it this way. Charlie V can't play defence, but the entire Raptors team can't play defence, period.

When they do play some zone, they usually mess up and never rotate, so unless the Raptors make a few trades for more defensive-oriented players or magically become the Spurs, I don't see how the Raptors will improve defensively.. Plus, having 4 big men on at the same time means that guards would be able to knife through the gaps of the zone a lot more easily because they wouldn't have the quickness to stop them.

Besides, out of all of the players mentioned in your lineup, who exactly is a decent defender?

Rashos ok, Pete's alright, Bosh gets killed by bigger guys or power fowards lanky and athletic as he is (see Samuel Dalembert) and Bargnani and Villaneuva are below average.

[unorthadux]

guards would be able to knife through the gaps of the zone a lot more easily

True, but they knife through the lanes when the raps play regular defense with a regular lineup, so i don't see much of a decline, or much of an improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Also, this is just an idea, a new spin on putting out a "big lineup".

Besides, out of all of the players mentioned in your lineup, who exactly is a decent defender?

The only good defender on the raps, even without this idea, is Mo-pete, and that's only sometimes, i agree that the raps defence is non-existent, therefore it wouldnt be much of a stepdown from what they usually have to put 4 big on the floor

[Its_asdf]

The only good defender on the raps, even without this idea, is Mo-pete, and that's only sometimes, i agree that the raps defence is non-existent, therefore it wouldnt be much of a stepdown from what they usually have to put 4 big on the floor

But whats the point of playing defence like how they used to? They only got 20 something wins out of it. Its obvious that this team needs to get better defensively in order to win (I'm not talking about top-tier team defence, but a team like Phoenix does play a little defence contrary to popular belief), so doing what you've mentioned isn't going to help the team grow into a better one.

The reason why run and gun teams are successful is because they don't simply just outscore their opponents. They play just enough defence to make a solid differential in their margin of points scored. The Raptors on the other hand, just get burned defensively and Sam Mitchell isn't smart enough/offensive-minded enough to come up with enough plays to keep the Raptors from consistently scoring a lot of points.

[scrub]

For next year I was thinking -
C - Nesterovic
PF - Bosh
SF - Bargnani
SG - Peterson
PG - Sign somebody in the off-season

I was thinking they were gonna draft Aldridge but now they've traded for Nesterovic it looks almost certain that they will trade for a lower pick to draft Marcus Williams or Randy Foye or draft Bargnani to play the 3 which looks the more likely option.

[[C][B]#4]

I don't know, I know Bargnani loves Toronto and everything, but somehow I don't really see him fitting in. My bet is that Colangelo's going to pick Aldridge because of Bosh's influence, or trade down and draft a point guard (Brandon Roy or Marcus Williams). Big men and a point guard is still are biggest needs right now, despite the Raptors getting a serviceable big men in Rasho Nesterovic.

[iKe7in]

Some of the new rumours about the Raps and their pick include

Rumour #1: 1st pick + Charlie V to Seattle for Ray Allen plus the 10th pick and maybe Earl Watson
Rumour #2: Alvin Williams to Seattle for Earl Watson
Rumour #3: Mike James to Dallas For Marquis Daniels

I like the second and third ones, but the first one scares me. Ray Allen is a good shooter, but thats about it. Offense is not the problem here, and giving up Charlie who basically does the same job only a little more rebounding, and the dropoff from the first to tenth pick wouldn't help.

The thing that I still see happening is that the Raps will deal the 1st pick and Alvin to Charlotte for Brevin Knight and the 3rd, so Charlotte is guarenteed to get Morrison and the Bulls get Thomas, while the Raps are still free to either take Aldridge (who I'd rather they take) or Bargnani, or they could trade down again, maybe even trade out of the draft, like the 3rd pick and the right to either Ukic or Calderon for Magloire and Maurice Williams from Milwaukee, because I think Rudy Gay would be a good fit for them. Then the Raps lineup resembles this:

Rasho/Magloire/Sow
Bosh/Humphries
Villenueva/Graham
Peterson/Denham Brown
Knight/M. Williams/Ukic or Calderon

[Its_asdf]

I'd love for the Raptors to acquire Marquis. He hasn't put up very good numbers and some might say that he's underachieved, but I think that he's been given inconsistent playing time since Josh Howard, Devin Harris, Jason Terry and Stackhouse are ahead of him on the depth chart.

Alvin Williams for Earl Watson is basically nothing for something. I'd do this in a heartbeat.

[hipn]

I thought Mike James is a FA?

[[L3]1101]

Rumour #2: Alvin Williams to Seattle for Earl Watson

I heard about this one also, but don't get it. Seattle will lose another PG for a PG that can't even play. Seattle spent half of last season trying to find a backup PG. Now they are gonna give him up just for some cap relief?

[Its_asdf]

I thought Mike James is a FA?

Sign and trade maybe?

[iKe7in]

Yeah, basically nobody but Charlotte and Toronto has cap room, so if James wants to go to a good team for lots o' money, then he'll get signed by the Raptors and then traded for someone of somewhat equal salary.

As for Watson, Seattle is really looking to add a big name player, and the rumour right now is that they may trade Rashard Lewis , Danny Fortson and the 10th pick to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and the Suns 1st rounder. I personally don't understand the deal, because the Suns already freed up cap room by dealing Johnson and Richardson last season.

[hipn]

I thought Mike James is a FA?

Sign and trade maybe?

I don't think James wants to resign with us, and if he does, I don't think many, if not none, want him. He wants big $$$, and if we give him big $$$, no other team is going to be willing to take him unless we take a player like Ray Allen or something.

[[L3]1101]

I thought Mike James is a FA?

Sign and trade maybe?

I don't think James wants to resign with us, and if he does, I don't think many, if not none, want him. He wants big $$$, and if we give him big $$$, no other team is going to be willing to take him unless we take a player like Ray Allen or something.

It's a sign and trade, it doesnt' mean that MJ will be a Raptor next year. The only reason MJ would do a sign and trade is for a contract bigger than the MLE, which is what he wants. He'll be traded after he gets resigned. Therefore the "SIGN" and "TRADE".

[jerry]

I thought Mike James is a FA?

Sign and trade maybe?

I don't think James wants to resign with us, and if he does, I don't think many, if not none, want him. He wants big $$$, and if we give him big $$$, no other team is going to be willing to take him unless we take a player like Ray Allen or something.

good point...


Here is my thoughts...at first i thought raptors should draft a pg since they've already got these big guys but then i realised, if they draft a pg with the #1 pick, obviously the pick will want to shine. but what we need is a pg that will pass to bosh and villanueava(which is exact opposite of mike james). so we should draft someone who most of the other teams want, then trade him+darrick williams to a team for a experienced PG like jason terry although i know they wont give up terry...hmm maybe parker? i dont think spurs would give up parker because parker is essential to amking the playoffs...hmmmmm....yes brevin knight


ok there's my 2 cents.

[Jugs]

who the fuck is Darrick Williams?

[jerry]

ROFL I MADE A MISTAKE ITS DARRICK MARTIN


ok dont make fun of me now

[iKe7in]

So basically your idea is to make the Charlotte deal that has been suggested a number of times, but you would rather trade Darrick Martin, a free agent who adds nothing to the trade, instead of Alvin Williams who will never play again and will free up cap room.

Either that, or trade for Jason Terry, another free agent who Cuban won't let go, or Tony Parker, and San Antonio will use Beno Udrih or Darrick Martin(FA) as their starting point guard, just so they can improve their depth at another position?

And drafting a point guard with the number one pick wouldn't make that player change his game because he would feel like he needed 'to shine,' and then would refuse to pass to his teammates.

Say something else crazy about basketball, it amuses me

[Jugs]

LOLPWNT. That guy's idiocy is immense.

I'm considering bandwagoning the Raptors . I will if you guys sign Roko Leni Ukic .

[Its_asdf]

That won't be for at least another year if you're lucky.

I'm also greatly anticipating when he'll join up with Toronto. I've heard Ginobili comparisons and that is only something that be positive about his game.

[Abctest123]

That won't be for at least another year if you're lucky.

I'm also greatly anticipating when he'll join up with Toronto. I've heard Ginobili comparisons and that is only something that be positive about his game.

I've heard similar things about Ukic also, similar to Ginobilli, better playmaking skills, not as good scorer. Interesting, him being a tall point guard (around 6'5 or 6'6), but hes fairly thin though.

[[L3]1101]

Ukic is very thin compared to most of the PGs, but the good thing is that gaining muscles is the easiest thing to do in the NBA. Ukic has all the skills to become a good PG. I've heard rumors that BC will bring Ukic to the NBA this summer.

[hipn]

Terry is a better Mike James, we don't need him. What we need is a Nash/Kidd type of a player, of course not an all-star or someone at their level but someone with a very bright future and potential.

[unorthadux]

I Also have heard comparisons of ginobli and Ukic, and i can't wait to see this kid play in uniform. I don't completely agree that Jason terry is an upgraded version of mike james... for the simple fact that jason terry looks for his teammates, and if they aren't performing, he'll start scoring, as opposed to mike james who will try to score, even if his teammates are hot.

[cyanide]

It's starting look like it'll be down to either Bargnani or Aldridge. YouTube has gotten some more footage of Bargnani, and I like this guy a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LnSTJuC ... 20Bargnani

[Its_asdf]

Well, if you go to the Raptors main website you'll see a 26 minute video of Colangelo talking about the draft and whatnot.

While its not set in stone, he's pretty sure that the number 1 draft pick will be used, unless its traded for an all-star caliber player (which is highly unlikely). He also said that he's narrowed it down to two players, and basically he said that the Raptors are too shitty right now to draft solely on need (another hint at drafting Aldridge or Bargnani). Another thing he said was that if he were to trade down, then his two "choices" would be gone by then, so right now Bargnani is getting my vote as to who'll be drafted.

Edit: I'm pretty excited since this is the first time the Raptors have the first pick and all.... I'm pretty confident in Colangelo and I'm absolutely positive he'll make a good choice.

Edit 2: I just realized that Uros Slokar will be joining the Raptors next season as well. I guess Matt Bonner really was expendable and makes the Rasho trade look even better since Slokar and Bargnani's perimeter game well make up for Bonner's only strength which is shooting.