Tuesday April 20 2010 – 10:26pm Eastern – Toronto, ON
Between the NBA playoffs, pre-draft workouts, the NBA draft, free agency, trades, Team Canada, the World Championships, and then Training Camp … there will be plenty to talk about in this space.
I will try to continue to submit stuff on a daily basis and welcome the interaction and comments below.
Today … I figured I’d go with some Random Raptor Thoughts:
1. Bryan Colangelo is heading into the last year of his contract with the Raptors (next season). Given that this is the most important summer in recent memory for the Raps, the MLSE board needs to decide right now what they want to do with Colangelo. You can’t hand the keys to your organization – and your future – to a guy that is in the final year of his contract. Thus, you need to make a decision on him right now. If it were up to me, I’d give Colangelo an extension right now. I know Jack Armstrong feels the same way — we both chatted about this on The Game Plan on Monday afternoon. Colangelo is not without fault. Two straight years out of the post-season is not a traditional time to be handing out extensions either. However, for the stability of your present and future you need to ensure that the man orchestrating and directing that future is a part of it.
2. I can’t believe people didn’t make more of the fact that Colangelo revealed on Monday that the Raptors offered Chris Bosh an extension over the course of the season and CB turned it down. That’s not only new news but I think it’s significant news as well. And is it a sign of things to come this summer?
3. For those that have been asking about the Raptors 1st round draft pick this year (which would have gone to Miami if Toronto had made it into the post-season) … Here’s the official terminology I was given by the Raps: “A lottery protected 1st round pick was conveyed in the original deal. If the pick has been conveyed by 2014, then the 2015 pick is unconditional and must be conveyed. Additionally, if the pick was not delivered in 2010, then our own (Toronto’s) own 2010 2nd round pick is conveyed.
4. Another interesting tidbit dropped by Colangelo on Monday that got little play: Reggie Evans still isn’t 100% healthy and if the doctors don’t feel that Evans’ foot is good-to-go, Toronto could very easily cut bait by next year. That said, though the ‘toughness’ factor will be missed (even though he didn’t have a chance to bring much of it this year because of his health), the minutes could be sparse again anyway given the fact that Andrea Bargnani is likely back, Amir Johnson being re-signed is a priority, and Chris Bosh or his ‘replacement’ will be in the mix too!
5. Informal poll time: If 1 of the 2 point guards is on the move this summer, who will it be … Jose Calderon or Jarrett Jack? Calderon has a bigger ticket which may be harder to deal but he needs to be a much better defender for his team to be effective. Jack’s price tag isn’t as hefty which may make him easier to move but is he considered to be the kind of play-maker that Jose is?
Should be interesting.
—–
Have a good one folks
E. Smith
12 Responses to “Random Thoughts”
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-I’d rather have Jarret Jack who plays hard, plays defense, and trys to get to the net aggresively. Instead of No-defense Jose Calderon. I don’t think anyone would trade for Jose.
-I can’t stand Colangelo and the way he built this team (softer than a pillow). I can’t watch AB stand at the 3 point line all game and get 6 rebounds. Honestly, just get some hard-nosed players not these jumpshooting international players. I would not resign him because he has done NOTHING to make me believe that he can build a team here in Toronto.
-I don’t see why in the world CB4 would return. He deserves to go to a team that is going to win with.
-Triano has to man up. Hedo (who makes me cringe) should have been benched long before he was.
Now lets watch some playoff basketball with teams that aren’t going nowhere!!
- emoneyBosh turning down an extension would make perfect sense. We can see from Bosh’s perspective about needing a star guard. Just look at his peers from Lebron, Dwight, Melo, Wade to Deron, Durant, Rose, Chris Paul, Roy.
All have had great seasons and great teams. Assuming they all stay with their teams long term, how are the Raptors going to have a chance, especially without Bosh? Bosh’s comments on sharing the #1 role is a reality of today’s NBA – two stars are needed to win 50.
I agree with the first point above. It is critical for stability but more critical Colangelo has to be able to resign Bosh and bring in a wing player with talent and toughness.
The Raptors won 40 despite terrible defense and mental breakdowns. It isn’t all doom and gloom but the management has to deliver this time.
- SidI think Jack will be traded because Calderon’s contract will be too hard to move. Despite what many people think, this could, and I emphasize could, work in the Raptors favour. Calderon is a better point guard than Jack but he’s obviously a lousy defender. If Jack goes it is mandatory that the defence in the starting five is shored up. A team can deal with one bad defender in the starting five but it can’t handle two, three or even four poor defenders on the fllor at the same time. To me the biggest issue is Bargnani. It’s pretty obvious that he’s going to remain a starter but his team defence and rebounding is brutal. This absolutely must be addressed.
- sg60-Resign B.C., Does anybody remember before Colangelo?
Bosh is a goner, BC should go after Joe Johnson or Amar’e stoudemire. 2 guys who BC has a history with and could really turn around this franchise.
- ArkI think who they keep will depend on who is at the two position. If it’s anthletic, defensive, and off-the-ball kind of guy like they already have then Jose makes sense to stretch the D and penetrate.
If they somehow get a dynamic 2 with more of an offensive package, then the hard-nosed Jack is the answer.
You can see these scenarios work throughout the league: Kobe with Fisher, or the opposite with Deron Williams and a Matthews/Brewer or Billups and a Afflalo/Dahntay Jones.
I think the question here should be: Do you believe Jose can get to that All-star reserve status he had in his ONE solid year as a starter? Or will it be more realistic to find a stud number 2 to play beside Jack?
Right now both look tough hills to climb, good luck BC.
-Nate
- nate.
I gave Colangelo full credit for his rebuilding job over the last off -season .
Imo what hurt the team was the failure of the team to come together .
Colangelo mentioned the loss of team player like Parker.
Bosh is not an elite leader. To sit out the last week with a broken nose is lame, unless the doctors insisted on it.
Turk also was a major disappointment .
Triano got the job because Sam Mitchell (47-35)would not kiss up to the GM , whereas Triano I presume shows him the respect he expects . Firing Mitchell was not warranted.
Triano is a solid BB coach, a hard worker, but imo he lacks the stature, the air of authority, that top coaches need dealing daily with NBA egos .
What is disappointing is the failure to make the playoffs after showing so much promise .
- Chas1. Yes BC needs an extension. He has not been given to opportunity to BUILD a team. other than Bosh and Calderon and Bargs the team has been new faces each year. Some of that is his own doing, but some of it is also because of what he inherited.
- Mat L.2. I don’t think it was a big deal because Bosh was asked at the end of last season and before this season about an extension and from the interviews i heard\read he seemed pretty set on leaving contract talk until the end of this season.
3. uhhh what the heck does that mean
4. I think you referred to it in another blog… Reggie must learn that his toughness doesn’t make him the scoring option on the floor. Still injured or otherwise if he can’t learn to pass out of the post then his toughness is not worth keeping.
5. Calerdon or Jack? After the year they both had it doesn’t matter. Personally I think Calderon has the abiltiy to be a more rounded player than Jack but this year was hurt by the player turnover, specifically the loss of AP. And defensivley while I’ll agree that Jose can be a liablity at times in one-on-one situation he really know how to move his guy to where the help SHOULD be… it is just that the Raps have crappy help D so it always looks like someone blowing by him. I think the same thing happened to Jack on a pretty consistent basis, but it was Jose who got focused on because of his reputation for being a bad defender.
I really don’t understand why anyone WOULD make a big deal out of the fact that BC offered Bosh an extension mid season to be turned down.
BC certainly didn’t expect him to accept it, that’s for sure. It was simply an olive branch among a number of dances to decision time.
Bosh has stated over and over that he will test free agency and take the best situation.
$$$, winning, being #1 or
1-A, city where he’s comfortable in that order imo
Bosh needs to see a major addition, a proven winner to play alongside and he will take the $$$ here.
As for Jose and Jack? Jarrett is CB’s buddy and another small reason he would consider staying.
- GaryIn my opinion, the team played best when Jack was starting and Jose was coming off the bench (even though Jose is the better point guard). People complained less about Jose’s defense (thank god!), and he finished more games. That gave the team 48 minutes of solid point guard play each and every game. And together, their contracts aren’t exorbitant. So what’s the problem? Are egos in this league so unmanageable that two grown men can’t share a role/job? That after one year together, one has to be traded? I wouldn’t trade either of them, and expect both of them to come to camp ready to do their jobs like the professionals they’re supposed to be.
- Michel GHope the Raptors some how get lucky and get one of the top 3 picks.
J-Jack and Sonny Weems for Devin Harris.
- Raps FanJack for his energy, defence and fearless offence. Calderon is a great guy (I have his jersey and respect his game) but he’s not a good fit for the Raptors…and I believe the point guard has to be the most vocal and involved with the team and that’s difficult to get from a european.
- SpencerYou could see the writing on the wall with Chris Bosh if you really listened to how the team and CB handled questions about free agency. It subtlely changed from “I’m not thinking about that til the offseason. Im a raptor and want to win with this team.” to “We will see what happens in the offseason. I just want to play for a winning team”. Once a player starts talking about playing for a winner, rather than helping create a winner… 95% of the time, they are long gone in their own minds.
BC’s revealing of the offer that got rejected midseason was kept under raps well but are you really all that surprised? I would have been surprised to hear that an offer wasnt rejected because you have to assume that behind the scenes, the GM is always actively trying to gain information about his franchise players’ mindset.
Im looking forward to the sign and trade and would love to see a guy like andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol come from the lakers (assuming they dont win another ship). I think the dominant Centres of the league do a lot more in helping team defense and making their teammates better on offense because the way in which they score and defend is more predictable.
Power fowards like Bosh and Garnett cannot be #1 players on contending teams because despite their monstrous statlines, they arent making their teammates better the way that the slightly bigger guys with the dominant low post game are.
Just take a look at anyone PF who was a #1 scorer. If his #s were anything even remotely close to Bosh’s he likely didnt play for a contender. Its not Bosh’s fault either, its just the way basketball works. Perimeter players are used to playing off of a true Centre and therefore their game is elevated because of their comfort level in the flow of the offense.
I also think that Bosh’s defense always left something to be desired. He alwasy struck me as a guy that taught himself at an early age how to play defense without taking any fouls (in order to keep himself in the game)… and his defensive prowess never really expanded. he is still a guy who is just gonna move his feet and put a hand in your face but will never be a good defender until he does what KG did and give up some of his offense in order to provide a more physical and fierce mindset when it comes to protecting the rim at his own end.
KG had the ability to make that change because he was playing with pierce and allen…. but its not like the Raps dont have very good offensive options who could have picked up the scoring.
sorry for the length… I can go for hours about this team.
Comment on anything that intrigues you E and Ill enjoy reading your thoughts.
- B Carter