Bryan Colangelo and his merry band of talent evaluators are headed to Orlando today for the pre-draft camp that starts there tomorrow.
About 15 of the top players are invited, mainly to meet, get measured, take physicals and do drills rather than play games, and depending on how the draft actually breaks down, there’s a good chance Toronto’s No. 17 pick will be at the camp.
Talking to Sam last week, he gave no hints of what exactly the Raptors would be looking for and Bryan was equally elusive in a conversation.
As has been mentioned many a time before, there will be players of every ilk available at No.17 – big, little and in between – and I know the braintrust is going into this with very open minds.
You should, too.
So for the talk coming out of Toronto about the Raptors possibly interested in the Heat’s No. 2 pick for a package that includes restricted free-agent guard Jose Calderon, it would require the Heat first to pick for the Raptors and then a leap of faith that Calderon would, two weeks later, agree to a contract and deal to Miami.
Today I thought I would start with my top ten Raptors of all time. This is not based on anything, just guys over the years that the Dino Blogger has enjoyed.
I was just thinking about the possibility of the following trade:
Cavaliers get:
T.J Ford
Mike Miller
Grizzlies Get:
Jorge Garbojosa
Alexander Pavlovic
Anthony Parker
Raptors Next Year 1st
Raptors Get:
Kyle Lowry
Wally Sczcerbiak
Joe Smith/Andy Varejao
Cavaliers 2nd Round Pick
On came the playoffs, The Raptors were thought to have the best match up in the first round in an Orlando team that clearly had the inferior point guard tandem to Ford – Calderon. In the end it turned out to be the Raptors point guards being inferior ad Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis ripped them to shreds, and let’s not forget Dwight Howard averaging 20 points and 20 rebounds in the series and Hedo Turkoglu looking like the next reincarnation of Larry Bird. The end result was a 5 game loss to Orlando and the Raps being labeled as “soft as Cottenelle tissue” according to some NBA observers. Just like their MLSE counterparts, Colangelo and co have a lot of decisions and changes to make.
The Raptors are in trouble as they have two starting point guards. T.J. Ford or Jose Calderon are going to have to leave. Calderon is a free agent and was very consistent all year. Expect him to stay.
The Raptors also need a star since Vince Carter has been gone. Allen Iverson is that man. AI has killed the team chemistry in Denver and he needs to move on. The Raptors would trade T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and Joey Graham for AI.
The Raptors also need a big man and as said earlier, might be able to convince Jermaine O’Neal to opt out. He would be a nice fit next to Bosh. These moves would make the Raptors a contender.
Joey Graham, Toronto Raptors – Put Graham in the same category as Garcia. He improved a lot this past year, became a more reliable player, but will he be a starter in this league? If he’s not going to be a starter, there isn’t any point in talking extension until necessary.
17. Raptors – Roy Hibbert – A top ten pick last year. All they need is a center and Hibbert is the best over all. Reminds me of Ilgauskas. Can shoot midrange and is the best passing big man in game. Helps with all the shooters Raptors have. A steal.
Besides Bosh and Calderon did any Raptor player this year do anything offensively besides shoot threes? CDR is a slasher, with a killer first step. Pure scorer, which is just what the Raptors need to complement their outside game and Bosh’s beastly inside game. College Team – Memphis
Related posts:
re: the Hoop Doctors
My respect for CB4 is immense but anyone who writes … “for his beastly inside game”, concerning Chris Bosh, only tells you that he (or she) doesn’t know what he (she) is talking about.
When you’re searching on-line, look in a different direction than that one.
khandors last blog post..Rock & Hammer – How the Spurs won Game 3
I second khandor’s comment.
well, compared to the rest of our roster……
Scotts last blog post..Linkage – May 26
Anyone else think that Joey Graham “improved a lot this past year, became a more reliable player”? I didn’t see significant improvement out of him.
As for the RealCavsFans’ trade proposal, I like getting Lowry and Smith or Sideshow Bob, but what would we do with both Wallyworld and J-Kap at the 3? And is that fair return for TJ (starting PG w/ a couple contract years), Garbo (expiring), AP (expiring) and the 2009 first-round pick?
I think the Cavs proposal is insane. Not even Liar would do that deal, unless daddy was involved.
I think the best term to use when it comes to Joey is…..consistent.