I wasn’t discounting the element of “risk” (luck) – meaning that some players will not work out, but you have to admit that at some point some picks become a question of choice, not luck.

1. LA – ok.

2. LeBoom – ok (although we had a shot at #1 recently and of course the pick is debatable to this day, depending on your concept of “ideal team”)

3. agreed – although, that trade was sooo covered in suspicion of fairness (just like the Gasol one, I suppose – which may also raise the question of negotiating skill, not luck – imo. but depends on your take of how it went down.)

4. Interesting. And how long before he went to Finals? So are we now saying (admitting) that we have not surrounded CB4 (if he’s our D12 as we have been told) with the right people? After being told this is the best team on paper? Is that luck or skill (lack there of) that created the situation? (of course this is where I will hear about injuries, coaches, etc.. other issues facing the majority of teams)

5. Hey! There’s a small market team. Oh, and The Robot being drafted in SA was due to a little tanking on the part of the Spurs…not sure if that really fits here.

At the end of the day, I hold BC and management responsible for creating this culture and environment.. and more importantly the subsequent results…not luck. I guess it just amazes me how easily people forget about who’s in charge and hence carries the burden of responsibility. Like and old NFL football coach told a bus driver, who got the team lost on the way to game: “It’s ok. I don’t blame you… I blame the guy who hired you.” You see, it is that guy who evaluated and hired the driver, thereby creating the opportunity (risk) for the team to get lost. (loose analogy.. but you get the point)

Like I said, the devil here will be in the details. And we can discuss those until the end of time, but suffice to say, IMO.. we cannot hang our hats simply on luck… or teams getting luckier then us. Unless of course, we still believe in Santa.. which I assume, for most Raptor fans, is still the case.

For one, you have to have great luck with the draft. Picking a player is not an exact science, and it gets more difficult the lower your pick is (i.e., the team with the first pick knows they WILL get who they want, while the team with the 10th pick has to have several options, just in case).

Look at the top teams right now:
1. LA: Big money, big market, and drafted Kobe Bryant. Where given a gift in the Gasol trade. Now talent flocks there for a ring.

2. Cleveland: Drafted Lebron James. Need I say more?

3. Boston: Drafted Al Jefferson. I don’t know much about how the trades went down, but I imagine the Garnett and Allen trades were virtually conditional on one another (which equates to them agreeing to be traded there). Either way, Boston was lucky to have 2 all-stars wanting out of their teams (but kudos to their GM for grabbing both).

4. Orlando: Drafted Dwight Howard. Slowly put a winner together around him.

5. San Antonio: Last but not least, the Spurs had the first pick and the fortune to have David Robinson available. Years later, they tank one year while Robinson is injured, and are “punished” with another #1 pick and Tim Freaking Duncan. Such horrible luck!

Part of my point here is that these guys were able to draft superstars to help them succeed. The Raptors, meanwhile, had to live with an underachieving Vince Carter (who did not want to stay here), an all-star who is not a true superstar (Bosh), and a long-term project as the consensus #1 pick when they did get that first pick.

To put it differently: what do you think this team would look like if WE had Dwight Howard? I’m quite sure we would have been the ones to make a trip to the finals last year, not Orlando. CB4 AND D12?? Yes please!

(Oh, the number of easy dimes that Calderon would get would be ludicrous!)

not so much of a conspiracy, only an interpretation of events.

(you are working under many assumptions and the unfortunate part is that this will end in a discussion over minor details, which we will undoubtedly disagree upon.)

Clearly, I understand this is a business. And, I don’t believe everything should be done for me. However, I would like to see EVERYONE happy. I would venture to say (without any on hand financial information) that MLSE has done quite well for itself, while the fans are still left (depending on your accepted level of success) empty handed. So, why is that if MLSE has been making money.. this team has not achieved success? You said: “With $ comes succes in the NBA.” Please elaborate and discuss.. I am all ears. Let me guess, we’ve just been “unlucky” while the other teams are making daily offerings to the Tooth Fairy?

This is not so much about if they are trying, rather what they are “trying” for.

Your perspective and mine are completely different simply based on time. I’ve been watching the “long term” for a while now.. should we go over the results of this franchise? Are we going to analyze every move made and disagree on every transaction? Probably. Because, regardless of what I say, you will view every move as a step, or attempt there of, in the right direction (In BC The Genius we trust no?) – where I will see steps being made backwards.

As a fan, I’m just tired of being sold propaganda that false and misleading.

Oh, and I appreciate all the wonderful assumptions you make about me… not sure what it quite says.

P.S. I could care less,if a team exists here. They should be so lucky to have a loyal fanbase. Remember, without Joe Public.. they are nothing.

They are running a business. They do what they think is in the best interests of shareholders (which includes investors, stockholders owners and fans). Its to bad the “fans” (and I use that term loosely) think everything SHOULD be done for them. When the team isn’t winning… they whine, “I told you so” comes out, its all such and such fault. Always so narrow minded in their view. Trying to win (or putting a winning product on the floor) will ALWAYS be more profitable than a losing team (think big… not just ticket sales. TV contracts, merchandise etc. sold not just in Canada and the US, but the world). So to think these guys aren’t trying is a stretch at best. But unfortuantely not everyone can win all the time, and no one will loose all the time. Some teams have better/worse stretches than others, of that there is no doubt. But its not a simple process to win in the NBA (or any sports league) regardless of how it looks sometimes. The luck of the draw (or the player) often is the difference maker.

This is why BC is a genius… he has sold this team to the world. As the world watches and buys products, the Raptors become more profitable. Investors and stakeholders take note of this and are more willing to invest more money in the company. MLSE opens the coffers allowing BC (or whichever GM it may be) to constantly improve the team. With $ comes succes in the NBA.

Just because you don’t have a business mind and are narrow in your view as a fan does not mean those running multi-million $ corporations do not. While you are thinking micro & short term…. those guys are thinking macro & long term.

P.S. Because of the strength and reliability of MLSE as a company, it also ensures a team will likely always exist here. You will always have a team to whine and complain about, you should feel lucky.

I love it.

This outfit of an organization is being exposed daily for what they are, and what some have been claiming for a while: A money grabbing and hungry bunch of thieves, who’s sole interest is to make you believe something is going on, when in fact NOTHING is and never will. BC has finally managed to recreate the business model from PHX, one where “fans” are screaming “Finals here we come”, but REAL ball fans know – it’s all smoke and mirrors.

What’s sad is that the eleventeen year old crowd will never stop being the majority part of the fanbase.. and while that is true…MLSE will make hand over fist, while we are watching feeble attempts at playoff runs, or 1st round exits.

IN BC WE TRUST!

When Gasol led the Grizzlies to several good seasons on a relatively stacked team, his obvious superiority over Bosh didn’t help them win a single post-season game. Not a single one.

Also hilarious that you would slight all of Gasol’s national team teammates (I guess it wasn’t their overall team effort). I guess if we can rag on the previous several star-filled Team USAs for lack of team effort (leading to early exits), we should also condemn Bosh for not being enough of a star on a team that finally won. Guess that makes sense when you apply selective reasoning.

Until this team has a big man with low post presence and gets a lot of rebounds ala Biedrins or Okafor with a litter of tested three point shooters like Matt Caroll, Sasha Vujacic or Jordan Farmar and a tested coach like Flip Saunders, this team is going no where.

Yeah, and maybe we could trade for a lowpost presence like Jermaine O’Neal – only then we would have a chance. Maybe pick up a shooter like Jason Kapono or Anthony Parker to surround our low post presence with! That is so clearly the smart thing to do to make us a better club!

If Bosh doesn’t get enough playing time, that will depress his 2010 market value … and Bosh will let BC know of his discontent. I don’t see any reason for Bosh staying with the Raps beyond 2010, and BC must ensure he gets more than fair value for Bosh.