Wednesday July 2 2008 - 6:45am Eastern
Word is that the Raptors are set to announce the signing of SG Hassan Adams. And as I’ve talked about in this blog before, Roko Ukic appears poised to join the Raps as well.
Once those deals are finalized, Toronto’s roster will sit at 12.
Chris Bosh, Jermaine O’Neal (unofficially official), Jason Kapono, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Andrea Bargnani, Kris Humphries, Joey Graham, Nathan Jawai, Adams, Ukic, and Jose Calderon - who re-signed on Tuesday … according to his personal website.
Barring something unforeseen, don’t expect any major moves for the rest of the summer. Toronto may actually be very content carrying only 13 players to start the season - instead of maxing out at 15 (the most allowed on an NBA roster). Thus, that would leave just one more hole to fill — likely a veteran PG to help out Calderon if Ukic struggles in his first season on this side of the world.
So what do the Raptors have? Well, let’s take a look:
Bosh - All star forward finally gets some help up front and some pressure off his shoulders with O’Neal in town.
O’Neal - Has a chance to rejuvenate his career and prove that he’s healthy and ready to return to the form that saw him become a 6-time All Star.
Parker - Entering the final year of his contract and could become a mid-season trading chip depending on what direction the team is going in February. Still a deadly 3-point shooter.
Kapono - Will likely get a chance to start at the beginning of the year and the 1-2 punch of Bosh and O’Neal down low should have defences scrambling to get to the perimeter to cover Kapono.
Calderon - No more PG ‘controversy’. This is his team for the next 4+ years (unofficially). Should continue to excel in the pick and roll game with Bosh.
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Bargnani - Will be looked at as the primary scorer in the 2nd unit. He has a lot to prove this year after a rough year two. Moon - Needs to bring his defensive intensity and energy EVERY night and use his athleticism even more. Could push Kapono for the starter’s job again.
Humphries - Frustrated at times last year … due to inconsistent minutes. With Rasho Nesterovic gone, Hump should see his role increase quite a bit. Needs to hustle and be a banger; not focus on scoring as much.
Ukic - The pressure will be on. It will be a baptism by fire.
Graham - We’ve probably said this for 3 years now: Can he finally live up to his POTENTIAL?
Adams - May be a little undersized at the two-guard and not a good enough ball handler to play the point for any extended amount of time. But he’s a hard worker and apparently has a great attitude and he should simply be thrilled just to be back in the NBA.
Jawai - The great unknown. Has only be playing basketball for about 5-6 years. A BIG body with great hands. Likely not a major player in his rookie season, but who knows if he could be a sleeper that actually finds some minutes here and there in the front court rotation.
Keep listening and reading in coming days to find out if the Raptors do anything else before or after the NBA’s moratorium ends on July 9.
E. Smith
NOTE: I’m off to a golf tournament in Uxbridge, Ontario … that’s why I’m posting this so early today. I won’t be back on the computer to check comments and emails, etc. until later on this evening.
Excuse me for living under a rock but whatever happened to Delfino?
- Beburg aka The relief pitcherI am more excited than you Eric
Bosh has improved every year.
- MilesONeil and Bosh will both compliment and compete with each other
Jose was pushed into a shell by TJ but showed massive improvement last year. If he gets his January game and becomes more dominant Bosh and ONeil will be terrors. Jose shot an outrageous percentage but more than that he made Bosh much better and everyone one else.
Kapono was the only guy the other teams would harrass everywhere. ONeil and a confident Calderon will make more space for everyone including and especially Kapono.
Andrea was not a better basketball player last year but he was much more athletic. If they simplify his game he will improve dramatically.
Humphries was great whenever he played. Bosh and ONeil both have health issues so Mitchell would be dumb to overload them. Andrea and Humphries should really develop this year.
Parker was a better all round player last year and this year he should have more space. Unless our team is elite I also hope his leadership qualities and skill and being a wonderful team player makes him great trade bait.
I sold my seasons but I will go to many games this year.
need to get graham on a team that thinks they can tap into his potential and athleticism and who may want to dump a salary.
- anthony ciardulligraham for John Salmons would be nice.
hey Eric,
Any chance of you getting an interview with Jawai? I wanna know what this guy’s all about.
- JasonJason - Not until the move (drafting Jawai) is made “official” on July 9
- E. SmithAnthony - I’m not a big fan of fantasy trades, etc.
That said, Salmons is not getting traded for Joey Graham. What’s in it for the Kings?
Plus, Salmons shunned the Raps as a free agent last year (after agreeing to a deal) so I don’t see Toronto lining up for him anytime soon.
- E. SmithThings could change Beburg, but as of right now, it looks like Delfino is not in the plans for the Raptors. I believe they’re prepared to let him walk.
- E. Smithlets hope delfino’s back. if this is the team it gonna be a long season. Ausi-shaq looks good though. Parker has to be great. Personally would take delfino over parker/kapono. Am I the only one that seen delfino take it too the hole against orlando. Stuffed or not he was still willing to bang. This is B S .
- joe dirtehIt makes no sense to me that Delfino is not in their plans based on the current roster they have. I believe we have the financial flexibility to offer 1 player the mid level exception, so why not try to get Maggette or Monta Ellis. We are still one good starter away from contending in the east. And I seen Adams play, yes he’s an energetic guy but he’s not a better player the Delfino. Your thoughts….
- Paul OIn theory, they have the mid-level but they won’t spend it because it will put them over the tax. The mid-level applies to the cap, not the tax.
Toronto’s payroll is hovering around $70 million right now. The cap is around $60 million.
The Luxury tax number is just over $70. So Toronto is pretty much at their limit.
They’ll have about $750,000 to $1.5 mill to spend on someone. That’s it.
- E. SmithIs picking up either Roger Mason, Tony Allen or Eddie House a legit possiblilty? They’re all UFA’s and I hope they get Allen on a minimum contract if Boston let’s him walk. He is a good defender/slasher, and I think he would end up playing more than Adams, and maybe even more than Moon. Your thoughts?
- Omari J.