Jack, who averaged 13.1 points and 4.1 assists last season, is capable of handling both backcourt positions. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder started 53 games for the Pacers last season.
If he does end up in Toronto, he could be used as a backup to Jose Calderon at point guard and would have more experience than Roko Ukic, who is just going into his second season. And, depending on how Toronto’s shooting guard spot ends up working out, Jack would undoubtedly see minutes there, too.
DeRozan didn’t totally get the message about the Raptors wanting him to be more aggressive, getting to the line just twice and making one. But he did score 20 points and grab four rebounds in Toronto’s 91-87 loss to Detroit.
"The message we’re trying to get to him is to get more aggressive,” said Raps coach Jay Triano. "He’s making that jump shot, which is good and bad. We want him to get to the rim and finish there.”
I like Roko, I really do – I probably like him more than most people, but I can’t deny that he just hasn’t shown enough yet – he’s shown flashes of brilliance here and there, but he’s definitely not stable enough to run a team given serious minutes. Plus his two summer league games have been subpar so far. But I am confident he will get there, so until then, it’s good to have a proven point guard in Jarrett Jack who could arguably start on a lot of teams. Adding Jack should motivate Roko that much more.
Now Toronto is trying to build a team to put around him, because next year Chris is a free agent and may want to leave. The biggest off season move was to land Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo is a definite mismatch player that becomes so valuable if you make the playoffs. He not only has the outside shot, but also stands 6? 10? tall. Hedo averaged over 16 a game this year.
“Revamp” would be an understatment in describing what has happened to the Raptors roster so far this offseason. Brian Colangelo remains focused on collecting a winning team now. Obviously, keeping Chris Bosh in Toronto beyond next season is the top priority.
“My first NBA season was pretty cool,” Ukic said. “My whole life, my dream was to play in the NBA, which is very tough for a white European point guard.”
He is ecstatic about Toronto signing free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu.
“Last season, I felt I was getting better and better,” Ukic said. “I just wanted to get on the court and get a chance. It’s a shame we didn’t get to the playoffs. A shame. But I think we’ll have a better team this season.”
Should the Cavaliers fail to land the "stretch-four" they’ve been seeking, another player they have some interest in is free agent small forward Joey Graham, according to an NBA source.
Put it this way: If Antoine Wright isn’t starting for this club at shooting guard on opening night it would be a serious oversight on the part of the Raptors’ brass.
What Wright brings to the table are exactly the attributes this team needs at that spot. Since they decided to swap Shawn Marion for Hedo Turkoglu, they need a guy that they can stick on opposing wings to stop them from burning the club with penetration (a huge issue for the team a year ago). Wright can guard all but the biggest and burliest of perimeter players (he had his trouble denying position to Carmelo Anthony in the aforementioned series, for instance) and he does so without needing touches to stay focused on that task.
"I’d say right now everything’s up in the air," said Colangelo, who watched his team play Saturday in the NBA Summer League. "We have a lot of moving parts right now with free agency and our draft, and as the dust settles, we may have some things that may or may not affect Marcus."
Banks had surgery on his big right toe March 23 and played in six games for Toronto after being acquired from Miami in February. He is scheduled to make $4.5 million in 2009-10 and $4.8 million in 2011, the final year of his contract.
Jack will turn 26 years old later this year and his game has steadily improved since his first season in the league back in 2005-06 when he was with the Portland Trailblazers. While Portland was reluctant to use Jack as a starter in the 2007-08 season, after moving to Indiana to play the 2009-10 season, Jack started 53 games and averaged 13.1 points per game, 4.1 assists per game, and 2.7 rebounds per game.
So in lieu of the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu, Devean George, Antoine Wright and the resigning of Andrea Bargnani; Raptors fans should be feeling pretty good as their leader Bryan Colangelo has worked some of his old magic again. I still feel that the Raptors have an opportunity to acquire stronger role players (the bench bunch) so lets look at whose left in the world of free agency.
If he ends up in Toronto, this is a good move for the Raptors. Unlike the Knicks who are trying to build a team to attract a big free agent next summer, the Raptors have a big free agent that they are trying to keep next summer. Players like Jack, Turkoglu, Antoine Wright, and the Bargnani extension should give Bosh the inclination that the Raptors are trying to get better and that they are trying to win with him.
Raptors vs Pistons Hilites
Pacers officials wanted to re-sign Jack, but they likely won’t be willing to match such an offer. The Pacers don’t want to go over the league’s $69.9 million luxury tax figure next season.
Jack, a college teammate of Toronto All-Star Chris Bosh at Georgia Tech, averaged a career-high 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season. He replaced T.J. Ford at point guard and started the final 12 games.
ShareMy head tells me letting Jack go is the only move here for the Pacers, considering the limitations in his game. My heart will always have me rooting for Jack and watching his progress with Toronto. There’s even a small part of me that hopes the Pacers rue the day that Jack left town after his game fully matures. That day may never come but for Jarrett’s sake I hope it does.
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27 Raps
Could somebody list please like this:
Bosh 4/5
Bargs 4/5
Calderon 1
what we actually have right now, nothing pending just what has been signed as of right now, including the rookie.
?
Well, one or other of these posts is sheer idiocy then – please remove it.
1 Jose/Ukic/Banks
2 Derozan/Wright/Douby
3 Hedo/George
4 Bosh/Evans (the sac grabber)
5 AB7/Obryant
as we speak there it is.
However looks like it could be:
1 Jose/Jack/Ukic
2 Derozan/Wright/Douby
3 Hedo/Delfino/George
4 Bosh/Evans (the sac grabber)
5 AB7/Rasho/Obryant
Possible cuts/players waived or traded:
Banks
George
Obryant
Ukic
Douby
Thank you.
Is it possible to get Jack 3.6mill/year instead of 5mill/year and you think the Pacers can match that?
5 Million is too much for a backup point guard..don’t you think?
Pacers would match.
Jack is NOT just a backup PG he will fit a nice 6th man role Think Jason Terry with more D and a tad bit less of a scorer.
He is the best available at our buggest weakness but yes he will be slightly overpaid but It’s still a great basketball move.
Jack is a winner and a hustler and is a solid person. He will HELP this team out in many ways not just a back up PG,
That is EXACTLY what i was thinking. Well said.
wouldn’t say jarrett jack is a winner..
I doubt the contract will be 5 mil per season. It may look like 3.6 for the first season, 4.4 for the second, 5.5 for the third etc…a back loaded contract would give BC more wiggle room for the present.
We will wait till Monday or Tuesday, but you may be right as players contracts are almost never straight-up math division. Considering Ukic H. Adams (bleeeghhhh *vomit) and Will Solomon (who actually made Devlin almost spew profanity) from last year, getting Jack none-the-less would be a huge improvement and get Bosh his ol’ G-Tech homeboy whom Bosh has a close relation to help ease his baby-mama emotional situation.
Thinking about it, there are two players that Raptor Fans or I wanted during the final (thank-god) Babcock years: Reggie Evans and Jarrett Jack.
Ya, I wanted Jack in his draft year too. Not many weaknesses in his game/psyche.
Jack was also the roommate of Chris Bosh in college, and rumor has it they were/are tight.
Jack is going to back up Jose at the point, and also play lots of minutes at the 2. He is actually much better at the 2 than he is at the one, and he can defend both spots.
Antoine Wright can play both 2 and 3, as an update to it is what it is’s list above.
With Jack on board ( if Indy doesn’t match ) , I think it’s essential that Raptors sign Rasho. Bosh has been known each year to miss around 8 – 10 games due to knee problems. For those miss games we only have to go 500. and with Rasho on board he can give his 12 and 7 making injuries on our bigs less of a hit. Rasho could be great insurance. I can’t put my gasp on giving Patrick O’Bryant major minutes if any bigs goes down.
This could be a very nice starting 5 with good bench players that can score/defend/and little rebounding
PG Jose/Jack/Ukic/Banks
SG Derozan/Wright/Douby
SF Hedo/Delfino/George
PF Bosh/Evans
C Bargnani/Rasho/O’bryant
I stil think we need an upgrade in the back up sf position, douby has to go, not quetion about it, his contract isn’t guaranted right?
I don’t like george here, if there’s maybe a way to get kleiza it would be great, if not, natchbar is a great option, remember his last year in new jersey, he played great for them, and is a very versatil, and cheap, option at the back up 3
For those of you who think we over paid for Jack:
Which I thought we did a little at first but not after doing a little checking.
I have compiled a list that may change your mind.
Jared Jack is coming here to come off the bench as a guard.
Below is a list of players and there salaries from every NBA team.
Players on this list are MOST likely going to come off the bench. I have not included BIGS in this list.
As I am just comparing Jack to other players at the PG/WING postion for this comparison:
NOTE****I HAVE TRIED NOT TO INCLUDE TOO MANY PLAYERS WHO ARE UNDER ROOKIE SCALE CONTRACTS: AS JACK IS NOT CONTROLLED TO MAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THEREFORE CAN ASK FOR WHATEVER HE THINKS HE CAN GET:
Atlanta- JCrawford 9.3 mil
Boston- Eddie House 2.8 mil (Boston is trying to upgrade this postion)
Char- Augstine 2.3 mil (under rookie scale contract will get a raise)
Cle- Gibson 4 mil, West 4 mil, Parker 3ish mil
Dal- J Terry 9 mil
G.S- Claxton 5.2 mil Magette 8.9 mil
Hou- Battier 6.8 mil
Ind- Dunlevy 9.7 mil, D jones ? (I believe 4 mil a year but not sure)
L.A Clip- Q Rich 8.7 mil, R Davis 2.4 mil
L.A Lakers- Morrison 5.2 mil, Sasha V 5.0 mil, L Walton 4.8 mil
Memphis- M Jaric 7.1 mil
Miami- D Cook 1.3 mil (rookie scale bench needs an upgrade ask Wade)
Mil- Ridnour 6.5 mil, Bowen 4.1 mil, Bell 3.6 mil
Min- No one of note…..this team needs a bench
N.J- Simmons 11.2 Mil, Alston 5.2 mil, T Hassel 4.3 mil
N.O- Posey 6 mil, A Daniels 6.6 mil, Mo-Pete 6 mil
Oak- Watson 6.6 mil, D wilkins 3.3 mil
Orl- Pietrus 5.3 mil
Phi- Kapono 6.2 mil
Pho- Barbosa 6.2 mil, Pavalovic 4.7 mil
Port- Webster 4.3 mil, Outlaw 3,6 mil
Sac- Garcia 5.8 mil
San- Ginobli 10.7 mil, Mason 3.7 mil
Tor- Banks 4.5 mil, Jack 5.0 mil
Uta- Korver 5.3, AK47 16.4 mil
Was- M Miller 9.8 mil, M james 6.4 mil, D Stevenson 3.8 mil
Having now read this list is J Jack at 5 million a year player compared to other NBA teams?????
Are we really over paying him????
I say NO!!!!
It may be a slight bargin or turn out to be a BIG bargain over the next 4 seasons and maybe more.
I was also very worried about giving Jack 20 mil over 4 years. Maybe that’s because the last bench point guards were TJ, Solomon and Ukic. I used to make fun of Jack for no reason in particular but if he’s truly a slightly above average player whom really wants to win, it’s a very reasonable wage.
Thanks for that yardstick.
not only does he really want to win, he’s a hard-nosed defender that plays with an edge. i’ve been going through indiana blogs the past two days and the general feeling is that it was impossible NOT to love Jack and what he brought to their team. If he signs with Toronto, their fans know what a big hole it will leave in their rotation. He was their starter.
Any way you put it, this is a good deal for the Raptors and beyond what “it is what it is” said above, the raptors also needed to make the deal high enough that the Pacers couldn’t match it without going over their luxury tax.
roster is fleshing out nicely with Jack and potentially Rasho but I’d like to see Kleiza as a 3/4 instead of George and Petro over POB – hell mop guy over POB
You can only have 10 rotation players on the roster (given everyone’s healthy). Who gives a shit about upgrading the 5th big man spot on the roster? Even if someone gets injured guys 11-15 won’t be playing much. Signing too many good players can come back to haunt them if people start bitching about PT.
nice name “Macy O’ Baston” My brother, who was walking by the tv when Moon was playing one time, thought his name was “Jamaree O’Moon”
“it is what is is” well put. I was worried about the money we were throwing JJ but it doesn’t seem too bad. I think that if we get JJ for about 4mil this season then we can use the rest of the MLE to sign say Matt Barnes for one year because we need a lock down defender that can guard the 2-3 spot (i don’t know much about wright). We can resign Delfino and get Rasho for the vet’s minimun. I think that would be a solid bench. I would ideally like to get rid of devon george and marcus banks, but we will see what happens with them.
Speaking of Banks, I just remembered he’ll also make the same amount of money Jack will be making, so this contract, compared to what Banks makes, is a BARGAIN. Provided of course that JJ doesn’t somehow become a bust like Banks did in Phoneix. But I doubt that would happen, or at least hoping it wont.
Jarrett Jack’s pre-draft measurements:
Height – 6′ 2.5″
In shoes – 6′ 3.5″ (NBA standard measurement)
Weight – 198
Wingspan – 6′ 7.5″
Standing Reach – 8′ 4″
No-step Vert – 26.0
No-step max reach – 10′ 6″
Max Vert – 28.5
Max reach – 10′ 8.5″
Bench reps – 5
Agility drill – 10.87 secs
Sprint – 3.24 sec
Drafted in the 1st round – 22nd pick overall by Denver
Percieved Strengths:
Size at PG position (tallest in draft class – Deron Williams is 2nd @ about 1″ shorter)
Defensive lateral Quickness
Defensive Length
Good footwork
Physical and Intense
Good anticipation/deflects passes
Rarely gambles defensively
2 way player
good defensive rebounder
Slashes/Bullies his way into the paint to create/score/draw fouls.
great free throw shooter
Vocal (in college)
Versitile offensively
good off the ball movement
Great work ethic/attitude
Percieved Weaknesses:
Lacks a solid go-to move
only an average NBA athlete
lacks an explosive first step
good at everything but great at nothing?
Has little potential/has peaked as a player
Facts:
Jack is Chris Duhon’s cousin.
2003-2004: Averaged 33 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game as a junior attending Mount Zion Christian Academy. He also broke the school’s single-game scoring record (previously held by Tracy McGrady) by scoring 56 points in a game.
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