Now, had a couple of requests for a “report card” on the players, coaches and season. I generally don’t like them – they are far too subjective – but what the heck. I’ll put grades on but they will be based on a player’s ability, not against the rest of the league. A ‘C’ is an average year for that player. Let the arguments begin.
D’Antoni has two years remaining on a contract that would pay him about $8.5 million. And although he has already been mentioned for job openings in Chicago and New York and for a possible reunion with close friend and Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo in Toronto, scenarios of D’Antoni resigning or the Suns firing him are strewn with financial complications.
If D’Antoni leaves, it’s assumed he also will be courted by the Toronto Raptors, who currently employ Bryan Colangelo as general manager. Colangelo was the guy pulling the personnel strings in Phoenix when D’Antoni and the Suns rallied back from the Stephon Marbury Era (a period Colangelo was in the middle of, too).
It’s no secret that Colangelo and Raptors coach Sam Mitchell are miles away from reaching the same page at the same time. While Toronto was being spanked by Orlando in five, the GM suggested his roster maneuvers had yet to be exploited. The coach, no slouch when it comes to deflecting blame, made a big effort to salute the skill and depth of the Magic roster.
The dominos are lined up.
Toronto of course has a first round pick, slotted to be seventeenth overall barring trades etc, and while their second-rounder was dealt last year, the depth of this draft may mean that Bryan Colangelo gets involved there as well.
On top of this, Toronto has a number of expiring contracts after next season which may be able to be moved about and with the disappointment of the season, it’s more obvious this summer than last that moves need to be made.
Let’s take a look at 10 questions concerning this current Raptor club.
1. I was wrong about the Raptors. I thought they could give the Magic a run for their money and even upset Orlando in the 1ST round.
2. For the second-straight year, it was Jose Calderon that was on the floor during crunch-time for the Raptors … in the most important game of the season.
3. Anybody that thinks Dwight Howard isn’t a great player – just because he “can’t shoot” – is out to lunch.
4. Carlos Delfino is a great ‘2ND Unit’ guy … but his inconsistency is frustrating to figure out … and it may have personally cost him millions of dollars as well.
5. How is it that Jamario Moon took so long to make it to the NBA?
6. The negativity (even “hate”) in this city towards TJ Ford is absolutely ridiculous.
7. No, Sam Mitchell should not be blamed for every miscue the Raptors had this year. The coach, his staff, the players, and management all share in the disappointment of a 41-41 season and another 1ST round exit.
8. Keyon Dooling may be the perfect back-up: energy; defense; attitude; decent jumper; and most important … he ‘knows his role’.
9. Gangsta Brezec is the strangest dude I’ve come across in Toronto (including Charles Oakley, Gary Trent, and others).
10. Though they still lost the series to Orlando 4-1 … how bad would it have been for Toronto if not for the contributions of Jason Kapono? He may have been AWOL for much of the season, but he sure made up for it in the playoffs.
This team does not have any chance to win even the lowly Eastern conference. There already needs to be drastic changes in the make-up of the team in order to make any inroads into improving as a team. But alas, as long as there are home playoff dates MLSE is content with the performance and are happy with the paycheck that Raptor fans write to them. How is it that 2006-2007 last place team the Boston Celtics have enough in the front office to go from the basement to the penthouse. (Well at least the patriots and Bruins lost). Just wait until next year when ticket prices again increase, for just another playoff appearance.
Another name that Eric Smith and the Dino Blogger have mentioned we both feel would be a good move for Raptors is Ron Artest. He is of course the poster child of NBA bad boy. The guy started a brawl and got the longest suspension in NBA history. Things have calmed down in life of Ron Artest since then. He has had some personal life issues that involved his young daughter. She had some serious medical issues involving cancer. Thankful his little girl thanks to modern medicine appears to be fine and going to live a normal life cancer free. Despite whatever you may think of Artest, I think everyone can agree that is a good thing. Unfortunately many of us have had Cancer impact on our lives through people we care about. I think if you have it is something that has a major impact on you view of life forever. Ron Artest being a human being would also feel that same impact that any average person would. I think it may have helped Artest put life in perspective in a new way. Sam Mitchell and Ron Artest has the potential to be a stormy coach/player combo. But it could actually be a marriage that will work. Do the Raptors ever make this move? Again based on the way this organization has acted in the past you would say no. I say why not.
Sam Mitchell is a defense-first, grind-it-out coach, which doesn’t gel with the “Suns North of the Border” scheme that Colangelo wants to build. Making the playoffs last year is what saved his job. However, this year’s first round exit will be enough to allow Colangelo to justify showing him the door, especially with the news that Mike D’Antoni is now available. I’m not sure where a guy like Mitchell fits in, so it might be a few years before he gets another head coaching job in the NBA.
Calderon’s a restricted free agent, and (unless Shawn Marion or Elton Brand opt out) no team will head into July with both cap space and a pressing need at point guard. If that’s the case, the only thing that would stop the Raptors from keeping Calderon is Calderon demanding too much money (something that, for some reason, seems unlikely).
Related posts:
Assuming there is going to be:
1. No change to team’s ownership
2. No change to the team’s GM
3. No change to the team’s head coach
at this time …
then that leaves only
4. Prospective changes to the team’s player personnel
as a way for the Raptors to improve their operation for next year.
Despite what some might expect … IMO, the current version of the Raptors are not as far away as some others might think from becoming a perennial ‘Top 4 Team’ in the Eastern Conference … if they make the right moves this off-season.
khandors last blog post..Staying the course in Raptorville
Really? I still think they are 2 consistently good players away and I’m not sure we have the assets to move to acquire these pieces to become a “perennial” top 4 team.
We might rent a few bodies here and there, but I can’t see BC acquiring long term contracts to allow us to stay at the forefront of the conference.
Scotts last blog post..Linkage – May 1
2 consistenlty good players, one of who can defend the perimeter and drop 18-20 a night, and the other who can defend the paint and grab 10 rebounds. tall order i think.
as far as pieces, rasho’s expiring contract and tj are the best of the lot. contrary to what people think, tj’s value only diminishes because of his health, not his play/mental. he is a top tier point guard in the league, i just think he is a punk cry baby, otherwise if he didn’t have that meltdown, i would be on the fence as to who to keep this summer.
Raps Fans last blog post..Raptors Exit Interviews
Scott,
Do you not believe that a line-up which looks like this:
STARTERS: Calderon, Kapono, Moon, Garbajosa, Bosh
BENCH: Parker, Delfino, Player A (in exchange for Ford), Bargnani/Humphries, Nesterovic
RESERVES: Graham, Humphries/Bargnani
EXTRAS: Player B (replacing Martin), Player C (replacing Baston), Player D (replacing Brezec)
is capable of finishing in 4th place in the Eastern Conference next year?
khandors last blog post..Straight talk from a straight shooter
Next year? Sure. Moving forward? Not so much. Parker is old, Rasho is old, Jorge is only signed through next year and I’d be shocked if he stayed. Not sure why you have Maceo going unless you are assuming a trade or a buyout. If not, then he is here next year.
When I think “perennial” I think Detroit, San Antonio, etc. I think, looking at the salary cap room and the FAs in the summer next year and the year after, the east will see a lot of change. Colangelo seems to feel that way as well, judging by his comments.
Unless we are able to add an AllStar and a Bargnani or a Moon play out-of-their-minds for 2-3 years, I’m not sure we can be a sure-bet top 4 team.
One player I think that would like to come here if we were able to make the financial and playing time commitment: Igoudala. He loves the city, likes how we play.
Scotts last blog post..Fore What Purpose?
I tend to agree with Khandor that we really are not far from being very competitive in the East. I think we can probably get something better than a bench player for Ford, especially if he’s packaged with someone like Parker (Who, I agree, has seen his best days already, but could fit in just about anywhere), or Moon (who has some talent, and is a bargain).
As for Iguodala, I have to disagree. I think signing him to a big deal will be a mistake for whoever does it. Maybe I’ve been influenced by watching him get completely neutralized by Tayshaun, but I think he’s just another athletic non-shooter. Talented, no doubt, but I feel his lack of jumper would keep him from reaching his potential with our team. But, I’m also assuming he’d want a huge contract, so if the price tag were reasonable (I’m thinking something along the lines of what TJ makes), then sure.
Either way, you certainly raise an important issue in that we need to make sure we find players that actually want to play in Toronto.
I’d love to see us try to put together some pieces to make a run at a guy like Kleiza from the Nugs, although his rookie contract would be a problem talent-wise to match. (assuming they would resign JR Smith this year and look for some more outside shooting) Parker/Kapono and Delfino for Kleiza and Najera? they probably like Kleiza too much for that, but hey…
I was careful to say I didn’t support the Iggy move. I appreciate what he can bring, but not sure if his value is equal to what he would be looking for. I can assure everyone, though, that a call will be made to Toronto to judge any interest. In my opinion, too many lineup adjustments would need to be made to accommodate him.
Kleiza is a pipe dream. He has shown more upside than, say, Bargnani has and I can’t see Denver wanting to let him go especially for any package including Delfino.
My issue is that, to use your post as an example, you are packaging Ford’s huge contract and risk with one of our better “bench” guys (I use bench because I’m assuming AP and Moon are bench people elsewhere) to get back someone that starts and, possibly, another bench player.
So, you ship out your starting guard and a good bench player to get a starting wing and a bench player. You move your backup PG to start and you’ve added another warm body to what has been a mediocre bench this past season with little to no injuries affecting them all season.
Not sure where I see continual years of greatness here.
Sadly, I think we are being hindered by average talent taking up a lot of our bench spots. Unless we can find a few diamonds in the rough, we are who we are. Hench the braintrust saying that we need to get better from within.
Scotts last blog post..Fore What Purpose?
Glad to see we agree on Andre3000. He’s going to want to get PAID.
True, I’d certainly include Bargs in a trade for Kleiza at this point. I love that dude’s game, and I’m just thinking that the Nugs are going to run out of money at some point. But, no doubt they’d like to keep him, but he’s going to want a lot of money after next year, assuming he continues to develop.
With regards to Ford, I don’t think his contract is quite as terrible as you’re making it out to be, assuming he finds the right situation. 8M isn’t all that bad for a good starting PG. Here are some PGs making about as much or more than that, with similar ability: Hinrich, Bibby (granted, his deal is an anchor haha), Eric Snow, Tinsley, Jason Williams, Mo Williams, Jaric, Jameer Nelson, Dre Miller (although he’s looked great of late), Watson & Ridnour & Antonio Daniels (all making slightly less). My point is just that I think we could certainly package him with someone who’d be a good bench player on another team (Parker or Moon) for a starter. Not sure how you got the idea that I thought we’d get two good players in return… my first post said we could do better than a bench player haha
Anyhow, trades are for BC to figure out.
But yes, I totally agree on the growth from within… which was partly why I hated giving up two 2nd-rounders for Delfino. I like Delfino, but Joe Dumars was more than willing to gamble he’d be able to find something better given two chances in the 2nd round… and lord knows he will. Bad drafting has killed us over the past number of years (have we drafted ANYONE good other than Bosh and Jose?), and we need to figure that out. Drafting well is what has kept teams like detroit good, and is also what has been key to Boston being so good as well. (And orlando, etc)
Scott,
Being a perennial ‘Top 4 Team in the Eastern Conference’ isn’t the equivalent of being a great team that challenges for a championship every year.
Depends largely on how good you believe these 5 players are in combination with one another:
Calderon + Kapono + Moon + Garbjosa + Bosh
… running (A) ‘Pick & Roll/Pops’ for Calderon & the Bigs and (B) a number of set plays for Kapono & Calerdon as shooters.
For example … if you match up this ‘Group of 5′ with Orlando’s
Nelson + Evans/Bogans + Lewis + Turkoglu + Howard
can you see the Raptors holding their own?
Now, what about when you go to the bench for each team with …
Parker, Delfino/Player X (acquired for Ford), Humphries, Nesterovic
vs
Dooling, Bogans/Evans, Gortat, Foyle
Can you see the Raptors holding their own?
If (i) Garbajosa can return to full health & (ii) Ford can be traded for a solid young Wing (Player X) … thats a very capable team right there … even with zero contribution from Bargnani.
khandors last blog post..Straight talk from a straight shooter
Scott – I was tying TJs contract into his health. $8mil for a guy that could be out 25% of every year of his contract is a bit steep. Unlike the majority of those you listed.
Khandor – of those 5 you listed, we had the services of 4 for the majority of the season, and the one we didn’t had no effect in the preseason games he played in and only marginal input in a good portion of games he played last year. So, in saying that, I don’t put much faith in 3/5 of those players moving forward.
Scotts last blog post..Fore What Purpose?
Subtract Bosh, and I think the Raptors struggle to win 30. I don’t know of any top 4 team in the game that would falter so badly with the loss of just one player.
The current edition of the Clippers are a good comparison, I think. Seriously, look at the rosters and you’ll find a number of similarities, in the mix of players and their flaws.
If Colangelo claims that the #1, #2 and #3 questions of this off-season can’t all be answered with the word “Jose”, he’s lying. The fact is that it’s very hard to talk about throwing even the MLE out there when you have a restricted free agent floating around.
Colangelo’s time in Toronto thus far has been a study in the art of the small move, and it looks likely to continue. Parker, like Nocioni, Bowen, and Battier, is probably always going to be undervalued as a trade asset — in other words, I don’t see any team that will give the Raptors more value than they have already with Parker.
Moon, for his salary and unrealized potential, is a throw-in. I mean, yay, he went from summer league to starter. So did Ime Udoka last year — yay, great story — and he’s currently an important but nonetheless minor player for the Spurs. The Lakers are the only playoff team that I can MAYBE see Moon starting for (I wouldn’t have him starting on the Raptors either) — and even that’s arguable. They already have their cheap, raw SF “talent” in the perpetually injured Trevor Ariza.
When a guy is going against largely one-dimensional players and still hasn’t overwhelmingly claimed the starting spot on his own team, there’s a pretty good chance that other teams won’t be knocking themselves out for him either.
I expect that one or both of Baston and Humphries will be moved, or Colangelo will try to at least, as an 8 to 10 mpg power forward is really not terribly hard to find for the veteran minimum (Malik Allen, Brian Skinner, etc.), and you are always better off hiring a journeyman who understands what he can do in that very limited and unglamorous role than a younger player upset that he’s not on Sportscenter. It might be financially necessary to move them if Jose puts them perilously close to the tax, too, similar to the Spurs’ mini-salary dumps of last summer.
Granville Waiters Ghosts last blog post..Fore What Purpose?
Great points, Granville.
I still scratch my head at the Humphries extension, even as a huge fan. I would think if you kept him as-is and not extended him, a trade involving a Rasho/Hump package might tempt some team next year. Not sure that still applies with another year tacked on to Humps deal as it stands now.
Scary thing is, when you say it’s fairly easy to find that certain type of player, we instead have only been able to sign/trade for Maceo Baston and Primoz Brezec. Not sure what that says.
Scotts last blog post..Fore What Purpose?
Coming up in FA this summer, I spy a few names — Allen, Doleac, Ruffin, Skinner, Francisco Elson — that could be cheap, short-term pick-ups. Don’t get me wrong: Humphries and to a much lesser degree Baston (he’s an airhead, is his basic issue) would probably kill all comers in a game of 1-on-1, but that’s not necessarily what’s best for a back-up PF, particularly if you accept that some combo of Bosh, Rasho and Bargnani are going to eat up the majority of minutes there, with Garbo as a question mark. And sure, you’d like someone more dynamic at that slot, but that would almost certainly mean more money.
If you look at the Raps’ salary charts, this off-season is more or less a holding pattern. Just about half the rotation is up for FA in 2009 (a slight exaggeration, but not much: Parker, Garbo, Rasho, Moon, etc). I don’t think it’s an accident, so I think Colangelo’s going to be working the small deals rather than the big ones.
Granville Waiters Ghosts last blog post..Fore What Purpose?
I don’t think that starting lineup is all that great, actually, even assuming Garbo comes back equally effective (which is, unfortunately, a big assumption to make). When you compared our starting lineup to that of Orlando, they have 3 of the best 4 players on the court, and that spells trouble for us. Unless Jose continues to develop into a top-level PG (which is entirely possible, although I think he’s somewhat limited physically), I just don’t think starting Kapono and Moon on the wings is enough. I think Kapono should either a) start as more of a spot-up role player (like he did in miami) or b) come off the bench as instant offence. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think he’s good enough to be a full-time scorer. I think we need to package someone with TJ and upgrade to a higher-level wing scorer.
Having said that, our cap situation is difficult to manage, since (as I’ve seen someone here point out before) we have too many guys making in the 4-6M range (Parker, Garbo, Bargs, Kapono) clogging up our cap and contributing like 1-2M guys. Small moves are more likely, as you point out.
As for backup PFs, I actually think a younger guy would help us more. Someone like maybe Maxiell, Brandon Bass, Leon Powe, etc? I think we suffer from a lack of frontcourt athleticism, especially in the rebounding dept. No question that finding someone like that would be a little harder, but I think it would help us more going forward. Of that group, Elson would be great for us since he could play center. You’re right though, that we need some help inside, so whatever it is, I’m all for it.
Lets also not forget that Colangelo showed his had at the exit interviews: not a player in free agency and any trades coming in must either be for short contracts or for a longer term allstar type player, which would then mean they are out of the horserace/auction that is coming up in a few years.
I think we also need to be realistic: our dropoff in talent on our roster is huge. This also means the dropoff in attractive trading pieces is huge.
Scotts last blog post..Fore What Purpose?