State of the Raptors

[D Dub]

Looks like they got booed off their home court last night.  This team looks to be headed straight to the lottery. 

http://www.thestar.com/article/555726

And to think, I got flamed a couple of weeks ago for calling out Bosh and Calderon for their horrible team play despite their putting up solid numbers.  My opinion was that these 2 will never be able to lead a team out of the first round.  Toronto has perpetually underacheived during the Bosh era and they would be doing themselves a favor by getting what they can for him prior to him bolting town in 2010.  A franchise player he is not, just another flash in the pan a la Vince Carter or TMac.

[jackson_34]

About the only good news to come from toronto this season is that Nathan Jawai has finally been cleared to play after his heart scare.

It wont have any impact on the raptors in the Win/Loss column, but it's always good to hear a player wont be forced to retire early due to heart complications.

Jawai could be a solid player, 6'10" 270lbs with a 7'5" wingspan. Definently has the body to be a force down-low.

[MMacOH]

Bosh will look very nice in a Cavs uniform this year

[Chris]

Bosh will look very nice in a Cavs uniform this year

What kind of package could the Cavs possibly offer for Bosh?  The Cavs may have the pieces to get a player a team is actually looking to dump the contract of, or get a little value for before they leave next year (like Marion), but Bosh is in a different category.  The ONLY motivation the Raptors would have to trade Bosh right now would be if they could get a deal they simply couldn't turn down.  A deal based around guys like Delonte West, Hickson, and some late first round picks in the distant future wouldn't even get a call back about Bosh. 

[Finkelskyhook]

Colangelo is starting to look eerily similar to Rick Pitino as a GM.

[TradeProposalDude]

I don't think the Jermaine O'Neal trade was a good one. Jose Calderon performed better when he was competing for PT with TJ Ford. That's often what happens to players. When they have nothing to "compete" for anymore - or nobody to compete with (and in Jose's case, I believe he was in a contract year), they don't play as well after the fact.

Trading for O'Neal wasn't a huge risk, but it didn't make them a better team. I think Bosh is going to leave Toronto in '10 and team up with LeBron. It's an inevitable chain of events in my opinion.

[ChampKind]

Bosh will look very nice in a Cavs uniform this year

Why would the Raptors trade Bosh this year - Especially for Wally, Snow, and Varejao?

[TradeProposalDude]

In 2010, when Bosh becomes a FA. LOL no way Toronto does any trade with Cleveland. Obviously they'd try their best to keep Bosh

[MMacOH]

Bosh will look very nice in a Cavs uniform this year

I figured that sentence would stir up some folks.  I said it very tongue in cheek.  Bosh isn't going anywhere. 

[ACF]

Extinct?

[wdleehi]

The management have not put players around Bosh. 


When was the last time that a high draft pick or trade really worked well for them? 

[davemonsterband]

The problem with the Raptors is that they suck and people are stupid to have ever put them anywhere near the 4th seed. They can't stop the point of attack because Caldron's a boob, that's problem number one. They lost Delfino, Ford and Rasho and picked up JO and Ukic (I think that's right). They need a penetrator, a backup pg, a coach and a GM. Bosh is no Amare, Calderon's no Nash and after that there's nothing left but shooters and a garbage system. A GM using Phoenix as a blueprint a very smart GM. I say it's fire sale time if they're smart. Baby for Anthony Parker, do it up.

[Cman]

About the only good news to come from toronto this season is that Nathan Jawai has finally been cleared to play after his heart scare.

It wont have any impact on the raptors in the Win/Loss column, but it's always good to hear a player wont be forced to retire early due to heart complications.

Jawai could be a solid player, 6'10" 270lbs with a 7'5" wingspan. Definently has the body to be a force down-low.

Thanks for pointing this out. I had forgotten about him and a few of the other bigs that went in the draft (like Serge Ibaka).  I look forward to seeing how they can play.

[Finkelskyhook]

I don't think the Jermaine O'Neal trade was a good one. Jose Calderon performed better when he was competing for PT with TJ Ford. That's often what happens to players. When they have nothing to "compete" for anymore - or nobody to compete with (and in Jose's case, I believe he was in a contract year), they don't play as well after the fact.

Trading for O'Neal wasn't a huge risk, but it didn't make them a better team. I think Bosh is going to leave Toronto in '10 and team up with LeBron. It's an inevitable chain of events in my opinion.

I think the trade for O'Neal, somebody who has played if he felt like it for the last several seasons, and a player of dubvious character, was a brain-dead GM move.  Especially for what they gave up.  I thought the trade was a train wreck for Tornonto the day it was made.  O'Neal hasn't been relevent in years.  The only thing I can come up with is that Colangelo thought O'Neal, who sees racism everywhere, would play up to his ability for a black coach since Isiah was the last coach he played consistently for.  Even that is a reach.    O'Neal, IMHO, is Mark Blount with three times the salary and talent.  He, like Blount, quit as soon as he got his contract.

Regardless of what happens to Bosh, It will take the Raptors years to recover from the O'Neal trade.

[Brickowski]

The JO trade was terrible, simply terrible.  It changed them from an up tempo Euro style team to a plodding half court team.  They would have been much better off keeping TJ Ford.

It was a great trade for Indiana, though.