Still hate willie solomon tho, his retarded moves and lack of defense at the end could have cost em the game… Luckily it didnt bite him in the ass cuz wizards settled for dumb 3s at the end and missed everything.

Drafting Roy would`ve been great intuition, and I like that you had your Crystal Ball working well in 06. But other GM`s didn`t have theirs — he was a gamble they weren`t about to make. Eventually that gamble became reasonable down the draft line.

Without getting into the AB going 1st overall debate — a useless conversation NOW, if I`ve ever had one — BC saw something that, right or wrong, had Bosh at the 4, and AB at the 5. Bargs offers a solid Center (and stop thinking Dirk now), who offers quality play at a REASONABLE price. What everyone seems to forget, is how convoluted the CBA. Make the wrong move, and you screw up a team`s dynamics for years to come. I like JO, but look what his salary is doing to this team. We`re handcuffed. Not so with AB. If he can put up quality numbers, and he appears to be doing that, plus play D, which we see a big change in, then he`s good value for his spot. JO is not, and that`s where they differ. And why I think we need to keep Bargs.

Arsenalist,
The latter part of your comment, I can go with. But clouding my judgment – for what it’s worth – is not how I’ve looked at the past 5 games. Call me an eternal optimist, but I’ve never been out of AB’s corner. And yes, one can look at the circumstances for Barg’s progress as excuses, but what else would you like to call them.

Factors play a part in any development, and with AB, I think there were many. Language, new country, Mitchell, proper minutes, rabid fans, plus learning a position that really isn’t so different, but is. Then add teams who adapted to his play – while Bargs was not quite so. Throw in a heavy dose of doubt, and you have our 5 man. Someone — who despite all this — has a talent under all that.

We started to see that guy this year. Then somewhere along the line, we got into the experimental phase – one where Bargs might’ve started at the PG position if we thought we could win more games.

So now Mitch is gone, the language and country are rounding into form, fans are happier with him (and this is where the 5 game stint helps), add more minutes, and secure a position. We still have the rabid fans – can’t change that – but we can focus on his confidence. And that’s another reason why the last 5 games mean something.

I guess we could trade him, to someone who sees all that. But it would be a shame to let someone we’ve dragged through all this, shine somewhere else. It’s a trend in Toronto – and maybe more a Leaf trait – that turns fans off. We all know sports is a business, but sometimes we’d just like to be there, when the business gets started. And grows up. Kinda like having a baby.

No chance unless Josh shares some of his stash with Cube. Wait a minute…