White Knights: The Euro Raptors

[Absynthe]

"How would a team composed entirely of European hardcourt warriors fare in the NBA? Will they top the league in scoring? Will defense even be in their playbooks? Will they become laughingstock lottery cellar-dwellers? Or... will they WIN the championship?"

Presenting...

White Knights: A Toronto (Euro) Raptors Association




ASSOCIATION SETTINGS:
Rosters: Opening night 2009-10 NBA season (1st season simmed)
Season Length: 58 games
Quarter Length: 8 minutes
Sim Length: 10 minutes
Progressive Fatigue: On
CPU Trades: Off until last week of January
Trade Deadline: Yes
Preseason: On
Injuries: On
Playoffs Format: 5-7-7-7


(I've been working on this one subsequently with my Sixers association. After I finish the 1st season of my Sixers association, I will be shifting my attention to this one.. My Sixers still goes on though, but this becomes my main focus)


ROSTER



Jose Calderon | G | 6'3'' | Spain
Rudy Fernandez | G | 6'6'' | Spain
Andrei Kirilenko | F | 6'9'' | Russia
Andrea Bargnani | F | 7'0'' | Italy
Andris Biedrins | C | 6'11'' | Latvia



Thabo Sefolosha | F | 6'7'' | Switzerland
Marco Belinelli | G | 6'5'' | Italy
Beno Udrih | G | 6'3'' | Slovenia
Rasho Nesterovic | C | 7'0'' | Slovenia
Ersan Ilyasova | F | 6'9'' | Turkey
Bojan Drobnjak | F | 6'8'' | Slovenia
Havel Csiky | G | 6'4'' | Hungary



Oleksiy Pecherov | F | 7'0'' | Ukraine
Vassilis Spanoulis | F | 6'4'' | Greece

FIXTURES

[Absynthe]

CHOOSING THE TEAM

This is a no-brainer really. The Toronto Raptors had always been the most internationally diversed team in the NBA. And as Hedo Turkoglu would put it when he first came to Toronto, the city has a very "European feel to it." Since Bargnani and Calderon are incumbent players, they will compose the core of this Euro-team.

ROUNDING OUT THE ROSTER

I simmed all games in the first season, at the same time I made numerous trades and transactions to transform this team into an all-Euro squad.
Trade override is off, I trade within the cap rules, and I tried to make all trades as realistic as possible. From the default roster, only Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon, Marco Belinelli, and Rasho Nesterovic are retained. Hedo Turkoglu is European, but I'm not fan.

Starting out with the blockbuster deal:

Golden State acquires Chris Bosh in a 5-player, 3-team blockbuster trade



The Golden State Warriors have acquired Chris Bosh in a mega deal which also involves the Toronto Raptors and the Utah Jazz. In the said deal, Golden State sends Andris Biedrins to the Raptors and Corey Maggette to the Jazz. Utah sends forward Andrei Kirilenko to Toronto and got Hedo Turkoglu.

receives (F) Andrei Kirilenko and (C) Andris Biedrins.
receives (F) Chris Bosh.
receives (F) Corey Maggette & (F) Hedo Turkoglu.

Derozan goes to Portland for Rudy Fernandez and pick



The Portland Trailblazers and Toronto Raptors agreed on a deal that sends Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan to the Trailblazers in exchange for Rudy Fernandez and Portland's 2010 1st round pick.

Minor Deals:

receives (F) Reggie Evans & (G) Jarrett Jack.
receives Thabo Sefolosha.

receives Amir Johnson, Marcus Banks, and Toronto's 2010 2nd round pick.
receives Beno Udrih.

Rookie Draft:

** Round 1, 14th pick: Drafted Bojan Drobnjak (6'8'' / 22 y.o.) from Slovenia
** Round 1, 27th pick (from Portland): Drafted Havel Csiky (6'4'' / 24 y.o.) from Hungary

Free Agency:

** Signed Ersan Ilyasova to 1 year contract worth $1.54M/year.
** Signed Oleksiy Pecherov to 1 year contract worth $450K/year.
** Signed Vassilis Spanoulis to 1 year contract worth $450K/year.

[Absynthe]

Reserved

[Absynthe]

Reserved

[Bucket]

Ehm? Why no Dirk then?

[dare]

Ehm? Why no Dirk then?

Because Dallas would never give him?

[kibaxx7]

Hey, that's a nice idea man Good luck!

[Larvae]

Holy moly!
That's some euro blood in your roster
Now i get why the Title goes "The Euro Raptors"
Looks really cool for me

[acesxclaw]

Love this concept...this will be interesting.

[azid]

I'm loving the concept too.