Steve finds DeRozan attractive The first weekend of the tournament is over and with it some 2/3′s have returned back to their respective campuses with nothing to show (including my beloved Bruins). However, 16 teams remain and will meet again starting this Thursday.
Last week I speculated on the Raps drafting a PG and previewed some of the NCAAs top guards heading into the tournament. Good thing I did, since most of them have already been sent home (and BTW – HOW. GOOD. IS. TY. LAWSON?). Most of what people had to say in the comments to the article revolved around the other major gap in this teams lineup – the shooting guard.
Just in case you haven’t been following this disaster of a season and makeshift roster, the starting SG for the Raptors is currently Anthony Parker (who is a FA this summer) with guys like Joey Graham (also a FA this summer) are backing him up. And although there has been a lot of talk about bringing Delfino back for next season, there is no doubt that if the rest of the roster was to return (since BC has said publicly he’d like to see Marion, Bosh, and Bargnani have more time together), the SG would be the weakest spot in the starting lineup.
C- Bargnani
PF- Bosh
SF- Marion
???
PG- Calderon
I had originally argued that finding a guard to back up and challenge/push Calderon should be the top priority and that a good/young SG could be found later in the draft (with a pick bought using the $3 million from the O’Neal deal that Colangelo claims is for buying a pick) or even signed cheaply on the open market. But the argument of the many fans of the Republic has been very convincing. In light of that, Ive taken some time to scout out who will be on the board when the Raps pick in the back half of the top ten. It just so happens that many of the guys I like are playing this weekend.
In The Lottery
Now as we know, a strong tournament can boost anyone’s rankings, most big boards currently list the following players as lottery bound (if they declare):
NO to HardenJames Harden, Arizona State – (Out of the tournament)
Harden is the top ranked SG on just about every big board across the internet and its easy to see why. Scouts have fallen in love with his NBA ready game, his killer scoring ability, and his assassin like shooting. However, if a player could do damage to their draft stock in the tournament, Harden would be a prime candidate. Harden went 1-8 against Temple in the first round and then laid an egg against Syracuse going 2-10 (and 0-5 from behind the 3 point line). For a guy who made his name on his scoring ability, Harden, since February, really struggled against many of the quicker/more athletic guards in the PAC 10. He still may be a top 5 pick, but his streaky shooting and poor shot selection throughout March’s tournament play coupled with his less than stellar reputation for defense make him a definite NO for the Raptors.
Demar DeRozan, USC (Out of the tournament)
Much like OJ Mayo one year ago, DeRozan was a top flight high school prep star who went to USC and performed below expectations. Also like Mayo, his character, judgment, and basketball IQ all came under question. And, I would argue, that much like Mayo, the team who drafts this kid will be reaping the benefits for years to come. At USC, DeRozan became the victim of the Coach Floyd syndrome, where high scoring athletic wing players are suffocated in a system where every second of the shot clock is scripted and players who can’t conform don’t have plays drawn up for them. When Floyd let the reins out a bit, DeRozan had monster games (averaging 19 points a game in the PAC 10 tourney and 18 a game in the NCAA tourney) and demonstrated his crazy athletic ability. DeRozan is 6’6 with a 6’9 wing span. He can run the floor, slash, and finish, and really punish opposing teams on both ends. Two years ago he was talked about as a potential #1 overall pick before stepping on the court at USC. He should slip to 7 or 8 and if he is on the board when the Raps pick – he would be an excellent choice.
Gerald Henderson, DUKE (Next game – March 26th vs Villanova)
Shane Battier anyone? Henderson does everything really well but nothing exceptionally well. Read scouting reports about him and they usually begin with his defensive specialties and almost always ignore the fact that he is Duke’s #1 option on the offense and since Christmas has had 10 games of 20+ points, including the 24 he dropped on Texas in the second round of the tourney (he also had 5 games of 19 points). He is a smart, versatile player. He can shoot, he can defend, he can rebound, he can post up, he can handle the ball, and he can score. At 6’4 he’s big enough to play the SG in the NBA – and really, may be the safest pick in the draft. Henderson can step in and start next season on 70% of the teams in the NBA. But at 21 years old, and as a player who will have finished his junior season, he doesn’t come with the flash and the upside of a guy like DeRozan. Still, he would be pretty hard to pass up at 14 or 15 but if he keeps on dropping 20 a night in the tourney and he might climb to the top of teams big boards for off-guards.
Maybe in the Lottery – But Definitely in the 1st Round
These are the guys that could propel their draft status by really taking it up a notch over the next two weeks and propelling their teams to the Final Four.
Tyreke Evans = PotentialTyreke Evans, Memphis (Next game – March 26th vs Missouri)
This guy is just a freak. Some nights he looks like the second coming of MJ – taking guys hard off the dribble, attacking the rim, and running the floor in a classic Memphis style. And then on other nights, he looks like the second coming of AltRaps. He likes to run and he likes to jack up shots but man, can he score. However, two years in a row now, Memphis has put out guys like Ty Thomas or CDR who score in bunches in the NCAA but have been unable to translate that game to the NBA and I’m starting to wonder about how much of their success is connected to Calipari and his system at Memphis (he’s the Mike D’Antoni of NCAA). At 6’6 and 19 years old it’s hard not to fall in love with all of the good that Evans can bring to team and think “if only he could become a more consistent shooter with a more efficient shot selection.” Evans will be there in the late lottery but he is the type of player the Raptors should take a pass on. If you want to draft on potential, my preference would be to go with DeRozan. However, having said that, tune in on the 26th and marvel at what Evans can do.
Terrance Williams, Louisville (Next game – March 27th vs Arizona)
Williams is a very intriguing project. If he has a big tourney he could go top ten. The issue with him tends to be sloppy play (poor shot selection, turnovers, mental lapses, etc). However, when he is on, he may be the best 2 guard in the country. His size (6’6″), length, hops, ball handling, and athletic ability make him a nightmare to defend and match up against. In fact, if he could properly channel his energy he could be a triple-double threat on a nightly basis. However, if after playing 3 seasons under Rick Pitino, you have not yet learned how to focus, the odds of it happening at the pros are slim to none. This is why a guy who should be a no-brainer top ten, might be available in the mid 20s. Either way, I’d take a pass.
Wayne Ellington, UNC (Next game- March 27th vs Gonzaga)
Its hard not to drool when you see Ellington drop 20 on everybody he matches up against in the ACC Tourney and the NCAA’s big dance. What makes Ellington appealing is that he scores not only off the dribble by attacking the rim – like most of the other 2 guards discussed above – but he is also lights out from the floor (on catch and shoot plays) and from behind the arc. While he is a little small (although he is 6’5″, he is the only guy on the board under 210 pounds – listed at 195), if he was to model his game after a guy like Rip or Reggie – he could be a solid contributor to a team right now. Like many of his teammates at UNC, he declared last year but then pulled out when he couldn’t land in the first round and many scouts still have him on the outside of the first round come this June. However, with Lawson injured and most people not believing in Tyler Hans’ ability to go pro, Ellington’s stock is quietly on the rise. Watch him play for a few minutes and you’ll see why! For sure, he’ll be around in the late teens and would be steal in the 20s. He is precisely the type of player I had in mind last week when I suggested the Raps draft a point guard in the top ten and a good 2 guard in the 20s with a purchased pick.
Probably Going Back to School
Back to college for Turner?Evan Turner, Ohio State University
After a tough first round loss, being upset by Siena, and having already completed two seasons at Ohio State, I’d expect Turner to return to College for his Junior season. In his first full season as the go-to-guy at Ohio, Turner has established himself as a solid all around player, averaging 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He currently is projected to go in the late lottery but with another big year in the NCAA he has the potential to crack the top ten and even rise up into the top 5.
Sylven Landesberg, Virginia
Even though he may have had one of the best January’s and February’s in the Nation, Landesberg’s inability to help propel Virginia into the tourney really hurt his draft stock. As a freshman, he was relatively unknown for the first half of the season, before exploding onto the national scene dropping 20+ against Duke, FSU, Boston College, and Clemson. Much like Turner, Landesberg averages 16.5, 6, and 3 and if he returned could find himself lottery bound. Not bad for a guy that most big boards have never had listed as a first round pick.
Possible Sleeper Picks
Jodi Meeks, Kentucky
How can a guy who drops 50 be a bad second round pick, right? I mean, Meeks averaged 24 points a game this year. And while he may be a little small, he could be a less expensive version of Ben Gordon whom many fans have mentioned as a possible solution to the Raptors issues at the 2.
Chase Budinger, Arizona
Here is a guy who 2 years back was featured as a top prep star and said to be a guaranteed lottery pick. But Chase’s first two seasons at Arizona were less than superb and scouts were hesitant to buy into his potential. Still, he’s 6’7. He can jump and rebound and has some serious long range shooting ability. He averaged roughly 17, 5, and 2.5 in 3 seasons at Arizona. If he falls to the bottom of the first round he could really be a steal. However, seeing that he has already declared twice before pulling out of the draft, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him return to Arizona for his senior year.
Other Potentials Who are Still in the Tournament
- Corey Stokes, Villanova (Next game – March 26th vs Duke)
- Durrell Summers, Michigan State (Next game – March 27th vs Kansas)
- Paul Harris, Syracuse (Next game – March 27th vs Oklahoma)
Enjoy the Tourney!
As always, standing in the key, I’m the Dr. I’ve got my feet planted and I’m planning on taking a charge!
phdsteve
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51 Raps
I just hope Colangelo won’t screw this one up.
I bet you that the Raptors will be in a good position to draft Demar DeRozan and all the fans will be behind drafting this guy due to his athletic abilities and potential.
However since DeRozan is from Compton and has questionable character issues, you know BC is going to pick a guy born to be a Raptor like Chase Budinger who is slow, unathletic and takes way too many jump shots. Basically another version of Jason Kapono who also hails from California surfing areas. Surf’s up dude!!
I swear if BC picks Budinger with his top 10 pick, I might have to stop watching the Raptors all together.
uh, not sure how budinger qualifies as ‘unathletic,’ unless the criteria is being white. if anything, his athleticism is why he’s still a 1st rd pick. though i agree, he’s a marginal 1st rounder – a good pick-up late in the 1st, or the 2nd if he drops like CDR did last year. big, athletic guys who can shoot can usually make in the L…it’s everything else with him.
steve-o – ty thomas: LSU. you thinking of arthur, maybe? and rose is a product of calipari’s system who seems to have done ok…
Totally- my bad about Ty Thomas. Thanks for clearng that up
In the 2006 draft it was Carney and Williams that Memphis put out in the first round and that really failed to live up to their high scoring hype.
And btw- you are right about Buddinger- this guys has some serious hops.
How excatly is Budginger unathletic? Try watching some highlight film of Chase and then you will see someone whos so different from Kapono. By the way you do know he has one of the highest verticals in the NCAA right?
I would be very upset if BC drafted Chase Budinger as well, but dont say ignorant things such as he is “unathletic” simple becuase he is white
there’s more to athleticism than leaping ability, and i wasn’t trying to insinuate that cbud is some kind of freak – he’s not overly quick, doesn’t move laterally very well, and isn’t overly strong…it was just the use of the term unathletic, and the comparison to krapono, that irked me.
the thing that concerns me is that he never really showed much improvement from his freshman year – he’s basically the same player now as he was then, so it’s difficult to project whether he’ll be much more than a marginally impactful NBAer. but like i said, guys who can shoot can usually find a home, and he has height and the crazy hops to boot, so who knows? i can see him slipping a la CDR, and if that’s the case, then i wouldn’t have a problem with the raps taking a flier on him in the 2nd round (if they can acquire another pick, of course).
oh, and he’s not a great defender.
Kapono is the Raptors best dash up man. He must have invisible power because the coaches dont seem to know that Kapono was on the floor for every fourth quarter loss for the Raps.. K-man can lose any game.
chase budinger slow and unathletic?.lol.you make such a foolishly idiotic claim then to further compound how dumb you are you mock him with a “surfs up dude”…LMFAO….u win the prize DUDE.and please,stop watching basketball altogether.
http://www.afunnystuff.com/forumpics/you_win_the_prize.jpg
im with you steve!…DEMAR DEROZAN FTW!
Andiamo, its nice when we agree!
Uhm…what first round pick has Colangelo screwed up in the past, exactly? The Marion or Amare picks around #8-#9? Those ones? Or Bargs? (as the verdict is still out on that one and I believe he will be/is the second best player from that draft after Roy (the Roy pick being hindsight for 99% of the people out there chirp).
I commend you for being able to open your mind and accept different perspectives =)
Unfortunately I can’t say the same about *some* posters
posters = anyone posting a rap :P (clarification)
when has derozans character been an issue? where does it say that anywhere online?
Yeah, I’ve been following DeRozan since his Junior year and I’ve never heard anything questionable outside of the scholarship fiasco with Lil Romeo.
What about Willie Warren? He’s a SG and has been rising up the charts and is now listed in the top 10.
he screams ‘TWEENER’ to me. good upside, though. will probably be picked too high & suffer from the associated expectations. he’d be better off getting picked late in the first by an established team who has the luxury of working him into an established system, letting him develop, etc.
I was about to say that, 6’4″ isn’t terrible height for a 2 but there’ll be better available at #8. Taking him there would be way too high. We want to legit 6’6″ slasher and Warren ain’t that.
6’4″ is kinda small for a 2, unless the guy in question has mad athleticism or is above-average in terms of strength. warren’s a nice enough player, but he’s not an overwhelming athlete, and he’s somewhat slight (though he’ll likely fill out more). he’d fit better if paired with a defensively solid PG.
and to put 6’3″ in perspective…both jose & nash are listed at that height. and there’s some question as to just how accurate measurements are in college (is griffen REALLY 6’10″?).
in general, there seem to be quite a few guys in that tweener range: 6’3″-6’4″ (listed) height, kinda between positions, with uncertainty as to how their college games translate to the pros, either offensively, defensively, or both.
I thought Harden looked woeful as well. He dissapeared and didn’t seem able to create any space in any game of the tourney. I like DeRozan but if BC is going for his “win now with Bosh” in the end, I don’t think he is the right pick…I really like the way Turner plays..but as stated, #8 may be a bit high for him as he could be had later in the draft, and not sure he could have the impact neccesary on a “win now” team. I think he will be solid for the future though; just needs a year or two or seasoning.
Let’s just hope Jim Kelly isn’t taking another spring off. He got me all excited last year when we worked out about 20 players but then we ended up taking Jawai.
From the little I’ve seen of Harden he didn’t look great, or at least nothing close to the hype that surrounds him. I watched Evan Turner a bit and he reminds me of…don’t kill me for this…Paul Pierce. The game seems to come easy to him and he seems to have an ability to create space between himself and the defender which is priceless. He’s got a nice little mid-range game which if he has good basketball IQ can be great.
yeah turner looks good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abhi0ZdO0uE
phd,
1. Look for Tyreke Evans to continue to develop as a PG, either at Memphis U or if/when he gets to the NBA.
2. Look for CDR to continue to improve each year that goes by, at least, over the next few seasons, in the NBA. When he’s gotten some decent run this year, he’s had isolated moments when he’s more than held his own. As a player who is still searching for a designated position on a NBA roster, he is actually off to a pretty good start to his career.
3. I won’t even mention some of the other serviceable young pros who’ve come out of Calipari’s program recently that are still waiting to find their proper niche in the NBA. : )
If nothing else, John C has demonstrated a great eye for NBA level athletic talent over the years.
HOLY SHIT I AGREE WITH IT ALL!
has the earth tilted on it’s axis? did my head just explode?
i love CDR. LOVE HIM. as much as it hurt giving up all they did to get JO, missing out on him by ONE F$%^KING SPOT was a killer. i literally felt ill.
I believe we would’ve taken Jawai even if the Nets had not taken CDR. I don’t think we “missed out” on him by any means, if we even wanted him in the slightest we would’ve moved a little up and got him.
i was just talking about what I wanted. i watched the draft-night special a few months ago, and they did seem to be going for jawai all the way. typical. why fill a spot of need by selecting a wing on a national champion-calibre program when you can draft a guy who’d been playing for 3 whole years? aussie league allstar MVP! woot. the whole heart thing was karma for making the pick in the first place…
To look at the Raptors from the perspective of simply adding a 2 guard, getting a back-up point or drafting a player is to severely underestimate the problems. Think SYSTEMIC. This team needs an overhaul, even if the only reason was to get the horrible taste from your mouth. This is not to say that on paper, or player-by-player the Raptors don’t have talent. It means that whatever the reasons, this team as constructed is SYSTEMICALLY bad, inspite of its talent. Organizations that think less than this (in sports or elsewhere) ultimately create not just a year of losing, but a culture of losing. On the positive side, it also means that because this team, player-by-player, has talent, it’s possible to reconstuct it with new talent in return. Teams that are systemically bad do not change with the addition of 1 or 2 players, unless those players are superstars (Shaq, Wade, Duncan, Lebron, Garnett, etc.). Hence, bringing back Delfino, drafting a player like Derozan (I like him too, but you know it’ll likely take the entire length of his rookie contract for him to make an impact – longer than Bargnani) are nice secondary moves, but any reconstruction must begin with the overhaul of its stars. Bosh and Calderon are nice, talented players and nice guys (paternity suits aside), but the fact is they have been part of creating this atmosphere of losing. That must change before it becomes a recurring, yearly problem. And one could argue with the way we think Toronto is perceived by the rest of the league, we can’t afford that. If anything, we need to do MORE than other teams in showing we are professional and about winning just to even be on equal footing.
+1
and Khandor, stop pimping on Shoals’ site. If there’s one place I count on for refuge from the never-ending tide of your posts, it’s freedarko and its affiliates. Is nothing sacred!
Why don’t you quit posting for a week anywhere but your own site? I’ll do it if you do. You won’t see another post from me unless you’ve already unloaded.
And you’re clearly a Memphis alum/homer. Stop denying it.
true- check out yesterdays discussion on this very topic on this very site.
Whats the “vegas odds” for the Raps buying picks? I wanna say buying 1 additional first rounder is @ 75% but its more likely 50% at best (given BC’s past). Additional 1st rounders are 10%-20% each. MLSE better recognize the dangers in repeating a bad season (scaring away bosh and/or bargs) and throw a epic amount of cash (like 5 to 10 mill) at late 1st and early second round picks – that way they are flexible to draft several different players to fit their needs or package 2 or 3 draft picks and/or players for another lottery pick etc.
1:100,000
That money we got from Miami has already been spent by Peddie on liquor and whores.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9rYnI9rPy8
Sam,
I’m surprised you haven’t got the memo yet.
FACT IS … I’m ubiquitous, according to FAQ.
With the legion of “imposters” on-line today, who knows, before too long I might even have my own fan club, so-to-speak, along the lines of Elvis or, perhaps, Jerry D.
LOL, : )
sign me up.
For Khandor:
- I too love CDR and have been seriously dissapointed thsat he hasnt been able to stick in NJ.
-Evans may be a pg but needs to seriously improve his ball handling
-Simmons may indeed be a sleeper pick.
Hey Khandor,
Jackson, not Simmons may in fact be the sleeper of the draft.
It turns out I was sleeping at the keyboard.
haha Gerry Dee rules.
Raptorpete,
If the Culture of Losing that’s associated now with players like Bosh & Calderon, each of whom actually pre-dates the current Pres/GM of the club, is in fact what needs to be eliminated first and foremost, in your opinion, before the Raptors’ ship can be righted properly, what SHOULD that then mean for your specific take on the role played by Bryan Colangelo, in the creation of said Culture which permeates the offices at Bay St & Lakeshore Blvd?
About Derozan
-He doesn’t have character issues at all. His game is just very unpolished and he has an extremely low bb iq
-He can’t pick up the ball and slash on his own. He’s like Joey Graham in that he needs room to breath while slashing. He doesn’t have the handles to blow by people.
-He’s a small forward
-He can’t create right now and is generally taking straight jumpshots that are set-up for him and floaters. His offensive game is very Shawn Marion like
-His defense sucks ass in the half-court
-He’d be more effective in a free-flowing offense where teams can’t set-up against him.
if he’s shawn marion with a jumper, i think that’d be ok. i mean, what, besides a reliable outside game, holds marion back?
all those things are true, to one degree or another, about derozan. no doubt, he’s raw. he’s also 19, and more athletic, despite the lack of polish, than pretty much anyone else on the team. does he require work – absolutely. there are few guys in any draft, and in this draft in particular, who don’t require seasoning. i highly doubt anyone is foolish enough to think that a guy picked in the 7-12 range is going to step up & be a difference-maker from day 1.
last thought – ‘low bb IQ’ is a difficult metric to ascertain, given the contolling nature of floyd’s system. i think it’s something you see with a lot of young athletic players – they’ve been able to rely on their athleticism for so long, they haven’t needed to develop the mental side; this, of course, changes when they get to the L, where athletes are a dime a dozen (well, outside the raps…), and guys have to know how to play the game from multiple aspects. it’s why harden, despite a lacklustre last month or so, is still though of so highly…he just gets ‘it,’ understands how to play, understands his role, etc.
yertu,
Strictly as a point of reference, there are always exceptions just about at any given slot in the NBA Draft, in terms of finding a player who can step right in and contribute immediately … e.g. Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, who has done a terrific job for Milwaukee, albeit initially in a non-scoring role for the Bucks this season.
well, of course. but to EXPECT that is a stretch. a moute has been excellent in his role, and filled in admirably…but the bucks are still 9 games under .500 (soon to be 8…) and on the outside looking-in w/ respect to the playoffs. yes, had redd & bogut not been injured, they’d likely have a better shot at getting in, but what would luc’s role been with the team with those two in the lineup? kinda hard to draw any conclusions at this point, the sample is small & skewed given the scenario.
if your team is shitty enough, just about anyone with a pulse can ‘help.’
Khandor,
I’ll start above Colangelo first and say that MLSE has yet to prove that it can create a winning culture in either hockey or basketball with an agenda that goes beyond “the bottom line”. What ownership needs to recognize is this: like it or not, Toronto is perceived to be a second class city when it comes to professional basketball. Whether those perceptions about weather, taxes, culture, or the team not doing enough to create a winning atmosphere are true or not is not the point. Perception, as far as free agents goes, is reality. If so, you’ve got to do whatever you can with your assets to compensate for that perception. By that I mean use your money to look after your players, from locker-room amenities to lodgings on road trips, from the best facilities in the NBA to the best coaches and trainers, and as many top level scouts that you can hire to follow American high school and college, as well as European players. And last but not least, use your profits to pay the luxury tax if you have to. If you’ve seen what an owner who cares like Mark Cuban has done with his team and facilities (for all his faults), you’ll know what I mean.
With respect to Colangelo, what he admittedly did between his first (half) year and first full season was fundamentally change the team with multiple moves. That really is what vaulted them to 47 wins and a division title. Unfortunately, what people often do at that point is sit back and make small peripheral changes. The jump from 45 to 65 wins is far greater than the jump from 25 to 45. In retrospect, he should have done far more. For example, rather than asking, “Jose or TJ?”, we should have been asking, “Are either Jose or TJ championship point guards?” For example, it was bad luck when we lost Garbajosa, but then Colangelo should have recognized his value lost and done something to compensate for that. I’m not ready to say, “Fire him!” He has shown he can change a team’s make-up. He has built a 60-win team before, so I’m still (for now) willing to give him that chance. Let’s see what he does by 2010. But any talk about keeping the core of this team intact and making peripheral moves only is a failure to recognize the systemic problems.
yertu,
IMO, the Bucks are actually a better squad without Michael Redd in their starting line-up, as their best 5-Man Unit is:
Sessions + Jefferson + Villanueva + Mbah A Moute + Bogut
with
Ridnour, Bell, Redd, Bogans, Alexander, Gadzuric, M-Allen and Elson
coming off the bench for them.
================================
If Bogut had remained healthy for the entire year one of those other two starters [i.e. Jefferson or Villanueva] would not be in the starting line-up for the Bucks at this point in the season, but LRMAM would still be right there, playing for a coach with the mindset of Scott Skiles.
Raptor Pete,
First. I like and appreciate your style.
Second. I respect the viewpoints you’ve expressed succinctly.
Third. I both agree and disagree with specific aspects of those viewpoints.
MLSE does not know how to build and run a NBA championship calibre operation. Agreed.
The jump from 27 to 47 wins was fuelled by the player changes which Bryan Colangelo made during the summer of 2006. Agreed, but only in part. IMO, the 27 win season would most likely have been followed by a significance increase in the team’s 2006-2007 win total even if Colangelo had not been installed as the team’s Pres/GM, in the aftermath of Glen Grunwald’s dismissal. True enough, such a perspective can never be evaluated in full but, IMO, the evidence is there to suggest that, had Wayne Embry simply been allowed to continue in his role of interim GM [with the help of a younger, dialed-into-the-NBA, assistant GM] the 2006-2007 Raptors would have probably amassed between 27-47 wins in that season, i.e. based on the continued emergence of Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Charlie Villanueva, Joey Graham and the addition of the 2006 No. 1 [overall] Draft Pick [whoever that player would have been under the direction of Wayn Embry].
The 2007-2008 season was a step backwards because “Bryan Colangelo failed to make enough major player changes” that season to successfully take the team from the 47 to the 65 win benchmark. Disagree. IMO, if Colangelo would have stayed the course at that point, i.e. not added the combination of Jason Kapono and Carlos Delfino; retaining Morris Peterson instead, the 2007-2008 Raptors would most likely have finished with somewhere between 43-48 victories, all other things being equal. Doing less that season given the huge jump which occurred the prior year is what a top notch GM would have, IMO, not more.
Bryan Colangelo should not be fired just yet by MLSE. Agreed. What needs to happen right now, is that he needs to be given additional time to fix the mess he’s created for himself and this franchise, gradually, from a long term perspective. If he tries to orchestrate a block-buster trade this summer, involving Chris Bosh, for example, it will say to me that me hasn’t really learned his lessons from the Phoenix situation and his initial attempt with the Raptors, regardless how many regular season wins the Dinos amass during the next several years.
At the end of the day … it matters not to me how many W’s the Raptors acrue in a single season but, instead, how far the team proceeds through the NBA Playoffs and, eventually, toward achieving the long term goal of actually winning a NBA Championship, in the not-too-distant future.
Fourth. The MAIN source of the problem[s] with both the Maple Leafs and the Raptors over the last several seasons has been rooted in the lack of proper direction and commitment to winning provided from the ownership group at MLSE, which in turn has then trickled down to the General Managers of these two teams, their coaches, players and support staff, etc.
Fifth. Look forward to your continued participation on this fine forum.
Keep On Truck’n : )
BC SHOULD TRADE OFF ALL THE DRAFT PICKS FOR ESTABLISHED ATHLETIC NBA PLAYERS … AND CREATE A CORE OF BLUE-COLLAR PLAYERS WHO CAN PLAY AT THE NBA LEVEL … NOT SOME GREEN KID AND GIVING HIM MILLION$$$, AND THEN WATCHING HIM CRAP OUT …!!!!
phd,
No, problem whatsoever. : )
Any chance you’re watching D-Will go toe-to-toe right now vs Captain Planet?
IMO, Deron is the prototypical PG, in the NBA game.
It’s a treat to watch him play … offensive, defensively and in terms of rebounding.
love Dwill. Id always rather draft a big guard who can shoot, penetrate, and psot up- vs a smaller, quicker, guard. Unfortuantely, guys like Dwill or Magic dont come around every day!
What are the issues with Derozan’s character?
I’ve never read anything bad about his character or work ethic.
Please ….. not another draft pick circle jerk … I’ve seen it too many times in the hapless past … everybody masterbating over some unproven rookie draft pick and expecting him to turn the Ratpors around in one season … give the kids a break and don’t bring them to ruinous Toronto, the team without athletes.
Maybe Bosh is the beginning of the Ratpors Bad Boys … ya think ..???!!!!
Im with you FAQ about not just drafting a prospect and I thought that was obvious in the article. I tried to lay out all the possibilities so that members of the Republic could judge for themselves, but my obvious (or atleast I thought it was obvious) bias is towards Henderson or Ellington- neither of whom will be superstars bu tboth of whom are ready to step in and play right now in the NBA. As for DeRozen, my point was just that if you were going to draft on potential, he’s the guy Id draft.
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[...] Potential Draft Options For The Raps, phdsteve Likes Shooting Guards Steve the doctor at Raptors Republic discusses the possibilities of the Raptors pursuing a SG with their first-round pick. It makes [...]