As you can see, the boys from the home office in Athabasca, Alberta are super excited about Reggie Evans joining the Raptors and they have prepared this list in his humble honour. The category is Top Ten Goals For Reggie Evans Next Season.
10. Bring his grandfather’s “whooping belt” to the first day of training camp to make damn sure the Raptors understand that making it into the playoffs is better than getting an ol’ fashion whooping from a bygone era
9. Gain a lasting psychological advantage over opposing players by leaking a story that he’s a practicing voodoo worshipper capable of casting curses on their souls.
8. Help Bryan Colangelo negotiate a new contract with the agent representing Shawn Marion by suggesting that his client will be spending considerable time on the injured list if doesn’t agree to re-sign with the Raps for 3 years/$22M.
7. Challenge Roko Ukic for “scariest farm animal face” on the team.
6. Teach Nathan Jawai how to avoid getting boxed out by reaching down and pulling a player’s testicles.
5. Become Kris Humphries’ nightclub caddy so he can pick up the throwaway hussy’s from Hump’s expansive female entourage. And in exchange…
4. Become a locker-room mentor to Humphries and get him to follow in his footsteps by becoming a rugged, dependable energy player specializing in rebounding and post defence.
3. Get an off-season boost of confidence by partnerng with Raptor Assistant Coaches Alex English and Alvin Williams and beating up the competition at this summer’s NBA 3-on-3 tournament.
2. Show the NBA why he’s the best undersized rebounder since Dennis Rodman by winning the league rebounding title.
…And finally, the #1 Goal for Reggie Evans Next Season is…
1. Help turn the Raptors into the most focused, harden, tenacious and fearless team in the Eastern Conference!
52 Raps
Uh, were you being serious about no. 2. If that happens, he would have to play about 35 minutes a night (although it would still be better than playing Jamario)
Let’s not get too excited. Evans is a role player. Don’t get me wrong, I think it was a good trade, and hopefully his lunch-pail attitude rubs off on his teamates, but the only way he gets any starts/extended minutes is if CB or AB are injured.
?
I think he’s referring to the mentality that Evans will lead this team into become a tougher team. He’s a role player and will be treated as such. A change of attitude would have to start from the top down, and Evans is down near the bottom.
I’ve noticed that Hill has dropped to 9 in a few mock drafts….would he not be a Bosh “Lite” replacement in light of Bosh’s possible exit ?
I’ve read on another site,if Bosh can play like he started last season a la mvp start,I would gladly offer max dollars,now that makes sense.
If Bosh isn’t signed and traded this summer,I expect him to come out flying !!!!
One thing that BC is really quiet about is Hump and his leg….his young NBA career might be in jepordy..he broke his Fibula. thats serious.
i hope not but, he could have lost a step=Reggie Evens as insurance?
In terms of a sports injury though, a broken limb can heal and have no lasting consequences like kne problems would. I wouldn’t think the injury is going to affect his game.
reggie was sweating so much during that 13 minute interview..i like what he brings to the team. i was channel surfing and i noticed i have tsn2 now.. they worked out a deal with rogers?
yep – just in time for a Blue Jays vs Red Sox series…
Fuckers…
There is a rumour going around that Minnesota is offering the #6 pic plus Al Jeff for Amare (a wicked deal for the Suns if it’s true…which I doubt). But it’s something like that is true, would you guys offer Bosh for the same #6 and Al Jefferson? Cuz I sure would.
you mean, replace bosh with a guy with a more polished low-post game & equal/similar rebounding/defensive abilities, who’s the same age but on what has to be considered one of (if not the) best contracts in the league? plus a pick?
nah, that’s just crazy…
Ya….if that rumoured deal is true, BC had better be on the phone to Minny ASAP. Having AJ PLUS the #6 and #9 pics would be amazing.
well, AJ is coming off ACL surgery…and he’s not nearly as good a defender as bosh. but still.
Just for shits and giggles, this potential lineup is something to be excited about:
Calderon/Tyreke Evans
Delfino/Parker
Marion/DeMar DeRozan
Bargnani/Evans
Jefferson/Hump
…Roko/Banks/O’Bryant/Douby/Jawai
Amare is in the same 1 year rental-player position as Bosh.
The only difference is that Minny may feel they need to make a big roster splash to rejuvinate their local popularity. But I still don’t think they’d actually sacrifice their future for a likely one-year rental.
Exactly!!
What about Bosh for Amare? any chance? and if it happened would you like it? I would take Amare over Bosh I think he would be a better fit with AB7.
What would be the point of that? They are both FA after the season.
Don’t ruin my fun! ;-)
LOL! How about… Hump/Banks for Jamal Crawford.
Than, re-sign Pops to fill Hump’s void.
Thats a real possibility – but likely depends on what they do on draft night and if they can keep their other starter in Marion (to make up for Crawford’s pathetic Defense).
Jefferson would be a much better fit alongside Bargnani.
Let’s move on up!
Go get them Reggie!!!! Reggies press conference was a must see.
I love when he was asked about his comparison to Oakley and he said Well Oakley had a jump shoot. I will give you maybe a jumper a month.
Classic!!!
On a funny note: from a link I read on here.
——————————————————-
STARTERS
Jose Calderon, PG
Marcus Thorton [or Nando De Colo], OG
Derrick Brown, SF
Shawn Marion, PF
Chris Bosh, C
KEY ROTATION SUBS
Anthony Parker, PG/OG
Joey Graham, SF [or Carlos Delfino, OG/SF]
Reggie Evans, PF
Andrea Bargnani, C
SITUATIONAL/EXTRA PLAYERS
Roko Ukic, PG
Marcus Banks, PG/OG
Carlos Delfino, OG/SF [or Joey Graham, SF]
Taj Gibson [or Dante Cunningham], SF-PF
Kris Humphries, PF/C
Patrick O’Bryant, C
heading into training camp for the 2009-2010 season … provided that Quincy Douby, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Jake Voskuhl and Nathan Jawai are each given their release.
Could THAT team of 15 players eventually become a legitimate threat to contend for a Top 4 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference by the end of next season? … at which point Andrea Bargnani will be due to have his contract extended and Chris Bosh will be in a position to opt out of his existing contract, in a move toward unrestricted free agency.
Hmmmm ….
It just might.
—————————————————————–
Does anyone in there sane mind think the Raps could start 2 at best supsect rookies (and that is putting it nicely) and compete with any elite team in the East. Seriously you guys should read this shit before you let some douche link his blog to your site. I am actually embarrased for all involved.
I am just saying what is that!!!
Seriously not Tyreke Evans and Demar Rozan but Marcus Thorton [or Nando De Colo], Derrick Brown, as NBA starters this season helping the Raps challenge the elite…
You can even make this stuff up….
Save us!!!!
ya gotta understand how the game is played…not basketball, the game of blogging. if one were to devise a rotation/bench of chalk (i.e. the probable/plausible/ guys who are seen as likely picks by the raps at the 9th spot), then no one would pay any attention, since that’s what everyone’s doing. being different is the key. also, it’s important to devise a ‘what team X should do’ strategy that is so convoluted & implausible to the point that it would never, ever happen, so that when it inevitibly doesn’t happen, said strategist is free to criticize not only the pick(s) that is (are) made, but every move going backward & forward in time…and always bringing up how if they had only done what he’d suggested, the raps would be in a much better position (without, of course, having any way to back up this hypothesis).
+ 1
This is a strategy frequently used by someone that posts a little too often on this blog at times. I mention no names as I think he lives for negative attention…
Seriously though, if the Raps had drafted Ed O’Bannon instead of whatzizface like I suggested, we wouldn’t be in this mess right now.
Those who think that Derrick Brown and Taj Gibson and Marcus Thornton and Danny Green and Dante Cunningham and Nando De Colo, etc., are “at best suspect rookies [and that is putting it mildly]“ … would do well to remember those players names.
Time will tell who is right and who is wrong in their opinions of these players. It always does.
A clip from Hollingers Prospect Rating column.. not looking good for derozan..
The unpleasant surprise: DeMar DeRozan
I’d be hard-pressed to name a potential high lottery pick through the years that the Draft Rater has been less excited about. I rated 90 prospects for this draft, and DeRozan ranked 54th among them. Two of his teammates — Daniel Hackett and Taj Gibson — outranked him, as did assorted other non-entities like Kevin Rogers, Chinemelu Elonu and Ben Woodside. I’ll wait here while you Google them.
Why? Because there really isn’t anything in DeRozan’s statistical profile that makes you think “NBA star.” He rarely took or made 3-pointers and he had a strongly negative pure point rating, which are two powerful indicators for a wing player, and his numbers in other areas were unimpressive, too. In particular, he was a bad free-throw shooter, which indicates that his outside shot might not ever be a strong suit.
Some scouts I have talked to have compared DeRozan to Rudy Gay in terms of being an NBA athlete but having a questionable motor, but that comparison falls flat, according to the Draft Rater: Gay was the top-rated player in his draft class, while DeRozan is nowhere close. And while he’s supposed to be a great athlete, he didn’t show it on the court often enough: His rebound, block and steal totals were all very ordinary.
As I mentioned above, one-and-done players sometimes fool the system — they’re the youngest, least experienced guys in the pool, and, thus, a major factor is how much they improve post-draft rather than just how good they are pre-draft.
Nonetheless, I’d back away from DeRozan if the 12 relatively safe guys at the top of the Draft Rater are still on the board.
Speaking of which, let’s take a look at the collegians for 2009.
Top 12-Rated Collegians For 2009
Player School Draft Rater
1. Ty Lawson North Carolina 16.34
2. Blake Griffin Oklahoma 16.21
3. Tyreke Evans Memphis 15.02
4. Austin Daye Gonzaga 14.24
5. Stephen Curry Davidson 14.18
6. Nick Calathes Florida 13.66
7. DeJuan Blair Pittsburgh 13.56
8. Danny Green North Carolina 13.28
9. Jonny Flynn Syracuse 12.99
10. James Harden Arizona St. 12.97
11. Hasheem Thabeet Connecticut 12.90
12. Earl Clark Louisville 12.88
Any draft ranking that deems Austin Daye “relatively safe” is questionable, in my opinion.
Going to let this slide for now, but please do not provide clips from paid content. Especially from our site partners.
Thanks.
haha someone would pay for that “analysis” haha
good point. My bad
I hope the Clippers see that article and decide Lawson is a better pick then Griffin.
Since Harden is #10, I would have no problems with the Raptors “reaching” for him with the 9th pick. Actually I’m surprised how low Harden is rated, I’d figure his college production would have him higher.
Just finished reading the piece on ESPN. I wasn’t sold on DeRozan before, and now I am definitely hoping the Raptors don’t draft him.
Hollinger’s opinion is always strictly based on hard stats (mainly his PER). The subtle categorical flaw in his assessment is qualitative factor that a player may excel if he’s drafted by a team that’s an great fit system-wise based on the style of play, as well as a prospects role in using his strengths to fill a roster need.
In short, Hollinger’s opinions are commonly both statistically sound and analytically flawed.
Obviously no ratings system is perfect(he had Rose rated #8 or something like that) but he has also picked some great ones(Rajon Rondo was #2). I would prefer Flynn or Henderson to DeRozan at #9.
I should add that my picks are all assuming the Raptors want someone to fill the void at the wings and put together a winning team now to try and convince Bosh to stay. If they decide to go to full rebuilding mode than I wouldn’t mind DeRozan, Jennings or Holiday.
I think the Raps have to look at both attempting to win now (with Bosh) and preparing to rebuild (should Bosh walk next summer, or get traded before than). By not re-signing Bosh is litterally holding the franchise hostage since the team can’t determine which direction it wants to go, let alone should go.
One aside point I think that’s important to keep in mind is that most rookies don’t come into the league as exceptional jump shooters. Jump shooting is a key fundamental skill most rookies develop and improve during their first and second seasons in the league.
IMO, the most important criterias in assessing a prospects potential is (1) their god-given athletic talent and (2) their character in terms of having the determination to work/practice to reach their full potential, which means gradually and constantly improving their fundamental basketball skills (such as dribbling/ball-handling, footwork, post-up/face-up moves and jump shooting).
Comparatively, DeRozen is a superior athletic talent over other prospects like Henderson. But becuase he’s a 19 yr old Freshman, whereas Henderson is a 21 yr old Junior, Henderson has the advantage of having two extra years of experience which reflects the fact that he’s ahead in the developmet of the necessary fundmental skills to perform at the NBA level. In two years time, it’s posibble (and expected) that DeRozen will have surpassed Henderson present fundamental skill level.
When it comes to picking prospects, the rule of law is the prophetic phrase “We shall see.”
While Henderson may be 2 years ahead of DeRozen, it is also quite possible that DeRozen never reaches that level.
I’m not sure the Raptors are in the best position to gamble.
Good point. But since BC is a gambling man, I think he’ll probably pick DD over Henderson.
Worst case scenario: Both DD and Evans are off the board and we draft Henderson. I’d consider it a good pick. :)
Buy a year supply of Golf gloves …. that way Evans will get a better grip.
Anyone know if Bosh has any sort of trade-clause in which he gets a veto?
The fact he can refuse to re-sign with any team we trade him too is the same thing as a trade-clause veto. If he refuses to re-sign with his new team, that team won’t offer us anything of value for us to accept. (Deal breaker).
derozan is a project. he is one of those guys that has a chance to excel in the nba game due to the more free flowing nature and floor spacing. he is going to take time, but if his work ethic is what they are saying it is, he’s got a shot to play the game the right way. if his jumpshot is poor he might become a liability, however, if he can make a 18 or < and also break his man down like he was doing in high school (did i just say that) draw attention and create by either finishing with explosion or making the correct pass using some hang time, that is enough…………….guarding your position adaquetly wouldn’t hurt either.
i also was completly wrong on gerald green and joey graham, but somewhat right on J.R smith (i thought he would be an allstar by now). i don’t think derozan will have unlimited range like J.R. cause that is kind of a natural thing, but the midrange game of kobe is what does the damage. therefore, he should work on 18 feet and in jumpshots, dribble drive moves, finishing, and seeing the floor. that would be so nasty if possible. yet in never knowing the unknowing is unstoppable…
I agree. I also thought Gerald Green would be a star, but I guess it depends on the individual. I look at the intense focus of Kobe and how that mindset that probably differs from about 90% of the league. I think thats the main factor in determining success.
I see DeRozan as a good potential/needs pick, but I am not sure if Toronto can handle the risk of DeRo not panning out. I also see the significant value in trading down and acquiring picks late in the first round or early in the second as there are many quality players in that range.
Great Posts..
Here is 5 moves that are not far fetched, that bring the raps back into contention
1) Trade Bosh to Memphis for Rudy Gay, #2
If he doesnt sign with Memphis, not our problem. I am sure Memphis would welcome the cap space..since they are cheap..Plus the core of Gasol, Bosh, Mayo and Conley is not bad.
2) Trade #9 for Kendrick Perkins. Boston is rumoured to want to get into the lottery. perk would be a great fit with Bargs
3) Trade Calderon to Portland for BAYLESS and #24. Portland needs a PG, and him rudy and sergio is like the spanish national team..
4) Trade a future 2nd round or non guaranteed player to Det for Amir Johnson and #15. That deal is rumoured already. Det wants capspace..
So..
PG- Bayless/Teague or Mills (#24)
SG- Tyreke Evans(#2)/AP
SF- Rudy Gay/ E. Clark or James Johnson (#15)
PF- Bargs/R. Evans
C- Perkins/Amir Johnson/O’Bryant
Thughts.. Great young starting 5.. BAYLESS is a stud..Him and TYREKE would wreak Havoc!!!
No way in hell boston trades Perkins for the #9 pick. Not sure how badly they want to get in the lottery, but losing Perkins would seriously impact their ability to win next year.(Which given the ages of the big 3 is a necessity) Calderon is worth more than Bayless and the #24, even given his crappy year. I don’t mind the Bosh deal, but the Raptors really need a low post player(or at least someone to stand near the net to grab offensive rebounds while either Bosh or Bargnani take shots from 18 feet) so I would consider shopping the pick.
Problem is, your blowing up literally the entire team, and you can’t expect good results for a team that has not gelled yet.
In response to your trades, I would take rubio at #2, and also give washington #9 and Jose for #5 (Evans or Harden) and Jamison. I think the Jose trade might be a good idea, just replace him with Marion (s & t), see if Portland will throw in Outlaw.
That being said, this will NEVER happen, but it would make a great 2k9 roster
Now that we’ve got our new “Oakley” in R.Evans, we just need to get a new “Willis” (Rasho?) and draft a new “VC” (DD?) to bring back and relive some of the Good Ol’ Days! :)
Additionally, if we can re-sign Marion and keep Bosh through the summer, I think we’ll have a very good team.
Than, our only glaring hole will still be our back-up PG.
Question: Does anyone here think Banks can rejuvinate his career next season as our back-up PG?
Answer, No, never, Rokohas a better chance, or buy a first round pick and get Patty Mills, Tony Douglas, Ty Lawson,
+1