The Raptors are better with Bosh, but they are not as vulnerable when compared to Miami and Cleveland.
If Bosh is forced to miss any games for whatever reason, Andrea Bargnani can slide into his natural position at power forward.
There’s a late-game creator and scorer in Hedo Turkoglu, who will have the ball in his hands late in the shot clock, or at least he should have the ball in such scenarios.
Miami is reliant on Wade just as much as Cleveland relies on James.
The Raptors don’t have to lean on Bosh and the team doesn’t need the daily reminders of Bosh’s future, which may become a distraction.
That is why the Raptors can afford to trade Bosh.
The question remains: What can the Raptors get back?
"I don’t mean to put anybody down, but Gene Keady was here (with the Raptors) for a year; I don’t think Gene knows any more Xs and Os than Mike Katz from the University of Toronto or how to teach it any better and he’s a hall of fame coach," said Triano. "The perception is, because he does it with better athletes and under a bigger spotlight, that he is a better coach and I don’t think that’s the case.
"We have great coaches in this country; I don’t think we have the resources for them or the athletes to compete at the same level."
For the second installment of the “Match Up” series, I turn my attention over to Boston. Today’s preview of the Celtics was provided by Michelle from NBA Musings.
The tentative deal would put an end to a cross-border spat that emerged earlier this summer when the U.S. Department of Transportation clamped down on Air Canada’s Jetz service, which provides charter flights to all six Canadian NHL teams as well as the Toronto Raptors NBA basketball team.
Under the new rules, Air Canada would have been prevented from flying teams between games in U.S. cities without first returning to Canadian soil – a development that caused the country’s largest airline to launch a lawsuit last week and sent hockey clubs in Canada scrambling to make alternative travel arrangements.
There’s one thing which struck me throughout Bargnani’s strong-ish play in 2009 and that was how close his statistics are to this period in his rookie season. There’s a minutes difference there, but if you even it out, the numbers really are quite comparable.
38 Raps
What Jay Triano said…
“If Bosh is forced to miss any games for whatever reason, Andrea Bargnani can slide into his natural position at power forward.”
Uh, Andrea is anything BUT a natural power forward. He’s unique as a big man and certainly does not fit any of the 3/4/5 “naturally”. Doesn’t mean he cannot be very effective – but power forward? No way. It will be a bit of a problem – you do have some overlapping skills with Bargs and Turk.
Which is why I would start them both – but have a lot of mins where Rasho/Johnson/Evans are paired up with either Bargs or Turk. Creates the balance you need.
Andrea is to a natural PF dummy.
No need to insult me, just my opinion. Yours obviously differs.
Q: how many “natural” PFs do you know average 5.3 rebounds a game and shoot 41% from beyond the arc.
Natural PF doesnt translate to Prototypical PF…. PF would be his “most natural” position in this league.
Break it down!
Andrea is a natural oversized, lanky, ‘not athletic enough’ small forward playing Centre because thats the only area on the floor that he can get away with on defence. To mock someone callling him a power forward doesn’t make sense because he really doesn’t have a natural position on the floor that suits him. Good article though. I’d say that he has a bit of a point that without Bosh, we’re still in great position to move forward.
“… he really doesn’t have a natural position on the floor that suits him.”
Is that not what I said? “He’s unique as a big man and certainly does not fit any of the 3/4/5 “naturally”. “
I like everyone else is encouraged by the willingness of BC to revamp a Raptor’s line-up that was not working. My problem is a glaring weakness yet to be addressed. REBOUNDING IN THE STARTING (5) LINE-UP. CB4 is the only true rebounder in the starting 5. Please don’t mention Bargnani as a rebounder… it wont work. Making him do that was what nearly torpedoed his career in his sophomore season. Marion would have been great but that’s done and gone… The only way I see this working at all is if you turn DeRozen into a defensive rebounding first shooting guard… or start A.W. otherwise we barely make the play-offs and are turned out in the 1st round of the play-offs. You’ve gotta have solid rebounding… you know as well as I know another team can’t score if they don’t have the ball.
I agree rebounding is an issue but if your looking for your shooting guards to save the day your looking in the wrong place. I think the unbalance in the first and second units is a big issue. Assuming the starters are Calderon, DeRozan, Hedo, Bosh and Bargs you really only have Bosh playing any D. I think it’s in the best interest of the team to start Rasho next to Bosh and bring Bargnani off the bench. He can still play 35 minutes. He would just play more of them against back ups. I have even wondered if Calderon should move to the second unit? Again let him against the back ups and have Jack guard the starter more. Calderon could again still play 30-35 minutes but just not the first 4-5 of each half. That way Hedo can handle the ball more with the first unit and then Calderon and Bargs can come in and run screen role with the second unit and Reggie Evans can make up for the lack of rebounding from Bargnani.
I doubt Calderon or Bargnani would be happy with this but it gives the line up balance and that is key as most of the Raptors are good on offense or defense but few can do both well.
Chris Bosh will not be traded during the season! I don’t know what is so hard for people to grasp about this situation but look at it this way. Who would any team trade quality players for Bosh when he is a free agent at the end of the year? He would have to agree to an extension before any team would trade for him and he has said repeatedly that he won’t do that. I have even heard speculation about a Amare for Bosh senerio which makes less sense. Why would you swap 2 players who are both free agents at the end of the year? That accomplishes nothing.
There is no risk of losing Bosh for nothing because agreeing to a sign and trade is more important to him financially than it is to the Raptors. The deal BC worked for Marion was as much about showing Chris Bosh that he will do right by him if he doesn’t pull a VC as it was to make Marion happy. I’m not saying Bosh won’t leave at the end of the year but $$$$ is way more important than winning at the end of the day so for those who think he would bolt and sign with another team directly so they don’t have to give anything up don’t understand that no matter how much you want to win you don’t walk away from 30 million! If that was the case LeBron and Bosh would go sign for 5 Million each in Maimi and win 10 Rings with Wade! Money Matters!!!!!
Bosh + Banks = Dirk …. ya think ..??!!!
That’d be awesome, but I highly doubt it. Dirk is a true franchise player (I love Bosh don’t get me wrong) and carried the Mavericks on his back for years, all the way to the finals once. Plus I think Cuban is too loyal to deal him. I’d LOVE to have Dirk though, he’s one of my all-time favourite players.
I think we can safely assume that Bosh will not be with the Raptors after 2010 … after all he did say “it’s just not the money”, and that to me indicates he really wants to return home to the USA, and Dallas is his home town where his family lives, and he supports them no doubt.
BC must be operating on that assumption too as he loads the Raptors with longer term player .. Hedo .. Jack .. Bargs .. Jose … representing a playing core that will be the face of the Raptors for years to come.
I also think that BC is not prepared to give Bosh max money, because that’s too risky investing so much money in one player .. when he could find two good players for the same money and: 1 + 1 > Bosh.
I think you are a little to confident in your crystal ball. If you can say that the statement indicates Bosh is leaving start reading palms. I do agree that giving Bosh the max is not a given and we might be better with a couple of good player in return. But remember, The Raptors can’t exceed the cap to sign FA so if Bosh walks without a sign and trade we don’t have 17 million to spend. The assumption that if he leaves we can sign a different star is false. It would ahve to be S&T.
Yup, and it’s unlikely that we’d get near Bosh’s value in a S&T, so the whole 1 + 1 > Bosh scenario is highly unlikely. The only way another team ships back two good players is if, for whatever reason, those two players aren’t in that team’s future, and you’d have to wonder why.
BC has built the core of the Raptor team with Hedo, Bargs, Jack, Jose, even DeDe … and the last chip is Bosh. I believe BC will see if Bosh can rally and lead the team for the first half of the season.
If Bosh doesn’t display game-winning form, BC will quickly pull the trigger on Bosh and deal him off by the trade deadline for whatever he can get.
If Bosh’s performance indicates he has reached his peak and is able to create wins, BC will either offer him a reasonable contract or just trade him anyway after Bosh showcases his abilities and doesn’t want to stay in Toronto.
It’s just a business to BC and Bosh with no love lost if either makes a thumbs down decision. The Raptor roster is ready for further development with or without Bosh and notwithstanding the feeeelings of the tribal honkers.
How does that address anything that either Mark or I stated? But thank you, Captain Obvious.
Again, HE WON’T BE MOVED AT THE DEADLINE. Thing about it. Any team that trades for him is going to be renting him for a few months. If you want another Vince Carter trade great but Colangelo isn’t that stupid. He will not walk without a sign & trade at the end of the year so he has more value after the season than he does at the deadline.
You are telling me a contender wouldn’t love to rent Bosh for a run at the championship?
We’ll get back young players and draft picks, which we need. I have to agree with FAQ on this one.
If the season is a wash, Bosh gets traded at the deadline.
only toronto fans will want to get rid of a 25 year old, gold medal winning us olympian, multi year all star who is known as one of the best in his position around the league and averages 23/10, for a slightly above average centre who is 24, averages 5 rebounds a game and bombed as the main cog on an italian basketball team. seriously? do you guys actually watch any basketball aside from the raptors?
bc can afford both players and will keep both players. let it go. if you want mediocracy, go back to watching the leafs.
co-sign
Not that I disagree with your statements about Bosh being a great player but I don’t think thats why some thing he isn’t the right player for us. Al Horford and Josh Smith are both good players as well but I don’t think they are a good fit as both are undersized for their position. Bargnani is showing signs of becoming a good player but he and Bosh don’t compliment eackother very well. I don’t think anyone would dispute that. Not saying it can’t work but its not ideal. They need Bargnani to fastly improve on the defensive end and Bosh to work his offense closer to the net for the pair to be successful. Having 2 bigs standing 16 out form the rim on every trip down the floor leaves no offensive rebounding and allows the opposition to run at will. They got killed in transition a year ago. They also don’t protect the rim on D very well and with under average perimeter defenders in Calderon and Hedo you need someone protecting the paint. Rasho and Evans can’t do it in 10-15 minutes per night.
Finally some sense.
Let’s hope others see the light.
Thats in response to b-baller’s comment not Mark
If I played GM through a video game, the first thing I would do is trade Bargnani for Chris Kaman and prospects/picks. The fit is outstanding, and although Kaman is 4 years older, he fits the age-group of our core players much better than Bargs. Buuuuut…. I cant really fault BC or fans for sticking with our draft pick as the overwhelming feeling is that people really WANT him to be successful, even if probability sees it unlikely… Its human nature.
Wouldn’t a player more like an Okafor be a better fit? (Not to say it’s a trade that either would neccesarily take – only that the style and needs are a better fit).
Negative – We need some kind of a offensive post threat, and Bosh just isnt it. Kaman could be considered an underrated Defensive player, since he has been tops in rebounding and blocked shots over some of the last few seasons…
Except that the scenario you’re talking about is purely video game land. The Clippers won’t trade for Bosh without knowing he’ll sign with them in the offseason, and Bosh wouldn’t want to be S&T-ed to the Clippers anyway.
Blake Griffin + Chris Bosh … Those two alongside one another would be frightening. Their mix of offensive skills and athleticism would be very tough to defend agains … plus B-Diddy + Eric Gordon + cap space on top of all of that. Wow!
Whew … man, that’s fun just think about.
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The Clippers could have a very good future, and in the near future (12-24 months time), if they play cards right. They’ve a lot of interesting options open to them. I’d feel a lot more confident about their chances if Dunleavy wasn’t their GM though! That might sink them.
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The initial trade idea had Bargnani and Kaman switching places, rather than Bosh for Kaman.
Anyway, I think the Clippers happily make either trade. They’ve been trying to move Kaman for months and haven’t been able to find any takers (mainly because of injury concerns I reckon). I have to belief that Bosh or Bargnani is a lot more value than anything they’ve been offered elsewhere, which is why I think they make the deal.
Blake Griffin + Marcus Camby + Andrea Bargnani = Talk about three different types of players. That would be an interesting mix to see.
Defense and rebounding are our problems, not offense. You’ll have Turk, Calderon, DeRozan etc on the floor with Bosh and say Okafor.
We’re on the same page! I think people who make the comments about how good Bosh is or how good Bargnani will be are correct but that doesn’t mean they fit together. Having the most talented players doesn’t mean having the best team. To have 2 finesse bigs playing 40 minutes per night is going to be very difficult to succeed. Again, not saying impossible but not ideal. You will need physical developement from both and I think a big SF like Gerald Wallace or how about LeBron? LOL
If you want to keep Bosh then you need a big physical center. Kaman isn’t bad but he’s not great on D. I like Emeka! Or maybe the answer is not in the league yet? We are a few years away from contention anyway so lets not rush. Give Bargs a year and maybe he puts up 20-7 and all the sudden is a hot commodity? Or maybe he developes physically anf starts rebounding 8-9 per night. He’s 23. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water. I think a 27 yeat old Bargnani could be a scarey scarey proposition. The Dirk comparisons are okay but he’s a lot bigger than Dirk. If he matures he could be a star!
Either way the pairing might not be ideal but the Raptors don’t have to decide now.
“Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water.”
What if the “baby” is PPG and the “bath water” is RPG and help Defense. We need some frankenstein action to get this job done. haha
I agree Edgar! But I’m not sold these 2 can’t get the job done in time. Vets win in the NBA and Bosh and Bargnani are still pups. Do we want to win a few more gaems now or a few more playoff series later? I have been as critical of Bargnani’s play as anyone but I am now starting to see the light. Look at the other young bigs in the league. Aldridge, Millsap, Lee, Tyrus Thomas, Noah etc. I am willing to wait and see if we have the best 2 of the bunch because I think a 27 year old Bargnani will be better than Aldridge and I think he’s already better than the rest! He can play center in this league but he will struggle until he matures.
Before we consider moving Bosh we really need to asses how good this roster is without him.
I don’t want Bosh to be injured, but if he misses a game here and there it could be a good benchmark for the rest of the roster.
In the past, this team was horrible without Bosh. I think we really need to know what we have in the rest of the guys before we even consider potential deals.
Take for instance the interview Andrea had with the euro reporter as to why he had a bad tournament:
-said that he does not understand why, he does it in the NBA all the time (rolled my eyes there)
-must be the coaching (nice one andrea, the coach sure is different)
Basically, I don’t see Andrea as the sort of player that is a leader or has the will to impose his game on others. Now, we already have this complaint about Bosh, and he faces double teams regularly. Andrea gets no where near the attention that Bosh does, if he did, he would be doing a lot more of those travels and TO.
Of the two, I would prefer if Andrea was the odd man out. If Bosh has to go, we need a serious banger.
Obviously we don’t want to get rid of Bosh.We will never trade him, and IF he does want to leave, BC will work out a sign-and-trade.
Absolutely!
Colangelo won’t “get rid of” talent. He might turn talent into another asset! And unlike past Raptor GMs, there is reason to believe that Colangelo will get value in the process.