[OhCanada-Participant]

Things are not going very well for Raptors management this offseason. Other than a flukey trade of extreme underacheiver Hedo Turkoglu and a luck enduced Draft where 2 players high on their radar slipped to reachable positions the Raptors offseason has been full of overpriced signings and dissapointment through and through.

 

 A trade that would have possibly made up for the loss of Chris Bosh including the departure of Jose Calderon and adding Tyson Chandler and Boris Diaw was nit finalized due to a sudden change of mind by the Charlotte Bobcats. What happened was the Dallas Mavericks and Mark Cuban immediatly undercut Bryan Colengelos attempts of acquiring the C by offering an expiring contract in C Erick Dampier.

Anther trade including Indiana’s TJ Ford, who some believe should never been traded as appose to Jose Calderon was also cut short when Indiana found a better offer acquiring young PG Collison.

Deals including Charlottes Erick Dampier were aslo dismissed when Charlotte released the veteran center and his non-gaurenteed contract.

Since then Calderon has been injured and trade talks have died down.

 

During light basketball Rookie Ed Davis who had a fine showing during Summer League suffered an injury to his knee which will keep him out of action for 6 weeks. This is not good at all especially due to the fact that Ed Davis needed the pre-season as much as any NBA player let alone rookie to get his body back into gameshape. Not only has the development of Ed Davis been hampered by this injury but it exposes the true weakness of the Toronto Raptors frontcourt who are left with Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson, David Anderson, Reggie Evans, Joey Dorsey and Soloman Alabi. Only 4 of those players are considered NBA ready, and only one of those players is considered capable of 25+ minutes.

As a result of this injury the Raptors are now in the market for a true Center, something they should have been searching for all year. Perhaps attempting to trade Jose Calderon, Marcus Banks or Reggie Evans. They are said to have deemed their $14.5 MIL TE untouchable and have no means of intrest in assisting Carmelo Anthony’s departure from Denver to the Eastern Conference.

To top this off Bobby Brown has reportedly declined an offer from the Toronto Raptors to play in Poland with Asseco Prokom. My Toronto Raptors eyes sees a dark dark immediate future, with a gleam of light in the distance.

 

The question is, Barnes, Perry, Kanter or Irving?

 

 

[ChrischiParticipant]

Where do you think will they finish?

 

It’s hard to find a worse team, maybe GSW or the Wolves.

[nateoak10Participant]

 When they have 3 potential all stars and are getting Biedrins healthy again? and a 6th man who average 14+ a game? Okay than

 

 

Back to the topic, I think they need to clean house. There worse than Minny imo 

[OhCanada-Participant]

LOL at clean house. What is there left to clean other than Jose Calderon. They have cleaned house… Now it is time to see how their young players develop and what the draft surprises them with.

[OhCanada-Participant]

They  should finish within the bottom ten although I see an injury plagued Season. Once Bargnani gets hurt we could see a New Jersey Nets like stretch of games until he is healthy.

Bottom 5…

[OMARtheLEGENDParticipant]

whatever im still going to watch them religiously.

[ChrischiParticipant]

Bottom 5 is very optimistic imo

And about GSW.

Yes they have two guys who are all-stars or close in David Lee and Curry. I think Mona Ellis is very overrated and never an allstar but yeah, he is good player nevertheless.

The main problem is that they have no depth and suck on defense. I think it’s good that they got a new coach, maybe Curry learns to show his defensive abilities in the NBA and not only for the USA-Team.

Yeah, Biedriens was an okay starter 1 year ago but who knows how healthy he will be.

Tell me what teams are worse in your opinion.

[hoodwinkParticipant]

 hang in there, man. going into two seasons ago i had the same feeling my kings were going to finish last; and they did. lol. fast forward to now, we’re still below average but that gleam you mention is much brighter. the raps will climb out soon enough, too. 🙂

[sheltwon3Participant]

GSW will be close to a 40 win team with Nelson gone.  They have a lot of talent.  Talent was never their problem.  They played little defense and had bad chemistry and injuries and play in a tough West.  Even with Nelson, GSW would be a playoff team in the East.  Monta Ellis is not over rated.  Also a healthy Biendrins would give them a solid big man to go with a very good starting five of  Curry, Lee, Ellis and either Dorell Wright/Reggie Williams.

[sheltwon3Participant]

Toronto should be better than Minny and also could overtake Cavs in DeRozan can show he is the real deal.  There is talent and possibly some direction for this team without Bosh.  They need to find someone to take Caulderon though and fast.  Clippers may be stupid enough to give B Diddy for Caulderon and some picks.

[nateoak10Participant]

 teams worse than GSW

 

TOR, CLE, MIN, DET, LAC, DEN w/o Melo, 

[TooNice4TVParticipant]

i feel that our raptors team is going to be the worst team in the league in terms of talent alone.

but then again, we now have the opportunity to see if bargnani will live up to his hype, now being the number 1 option on the team and getting his consistent 15-25 shots a night.

and i hope we do end up the worst team in the league this year to nab the best chance to get the first pick next year cause there’s definitely no chance of us making the playoffs this year.

the wolves have better talent on paper, even the nets from last year’s roster is better than the raptors this year i think.. it scares me lol, but hopefully we do end up getting the first pick if we do indeed finish last 

 

 

[shannon92Participant]

Why does everyone think Golden state are so bad? they have 2 good gaurds and a good big man? they play a fast tempo so they can beat anyone on the right night

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

Shooting Guard…Then if they are a bottom five team they get Harrison Barnes or Perry Jones…This team gets it done IMO…

Curry-(True 2 Guard for Ellis ???)Perry Jones-Lee-Beidrins-Udoh-Williams …thats a nice young core….

[nateoak10Participant]

 He’s small but he’s 100% SG. And we need a center upgrade, we need a tough center to pair with Lee. A defender, a Perkins guy 

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

Ellis can be that 6th man Barbosa type…which is great but he’s paid a lot for an ideal 6th man…If you can trade him for a taller 2 guard hell I’d take OJ Mayo and a big like Darrel Arthur from the Grizzles…and as far as the draft it’s Perry Jones or Enes Kanter if you have a top 5 pick…if their gone getting the top 2 guard and trading Ellis for a Sf becomes plan B…In a perfect world u keep all the good talent and get better but they can only get 1 young stud this year because I do think they will be a lotto team and maybe get a top 5 pick…It’s what they need…That and trading Ellis would be a blessing …Ellis for JR and Birdman would be a steal IMO…the Nuggets will need talent after they dump Melo and why not get a 20 ppg scorer like Ellis for the head cases JR and Birdman…for the Warriors they can take the risk on JR as the starting 2 next to Curry because he’s up in a year…you can keep him or let him walk…and with Curry and JR shooting Lee,Beidrins,Udoh,Amundson and Birdman would get plenty of rebounding chances…Perry Jones should be the top target unless they get the # 1 pick and Barnes is that surefire pick everyone says he is…but getting Perry to play the 3 next to Lee and Beidrins would be Huge

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

but I’m trading Ellis ASAP and waiting it out til Perry Jones saves the franchise…The Baylor boys will bring that team back to the playoffs…Jones and Udoh boys…Jones and Udoh

[torontoraptors10Participant]

 I will still watch the Raptors all season long because I am not bandwagon rider and I won’t jump on the Miami bandwagon. Things are so low right now for the Raptors and their only option is to move up. This year will be crucial to our developing core in DeRozan, Johnson, Davis and Weems. We will not be the worse team in the NBA. I still feel the Cavs and T-Wolves will be worse than us. I do agree Calderon does need to go. I was hoping since the Bobcats didn’t want to involve Augustin in the deal to NJ, that Toronto would offer Calderon to the Nets and we get something in return.

Barnes, Jones, Kanter, Irving? I hope we get Perry Jones. If he can pan out to his potential, Tracy McGrady, then we have a superstar in the making(hopefully he isn’t as injured though as T-Mac)

 

All in all, Toronto will have a top 5 pick in this years draft and I am looking forwards to the next couple of years to see how we develop as a team and the players that we get this year.

[TooNice4TVParticipant]

I’m from T.O. too, but I think the cavs are still better than us.

 Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Antawn Jamison, JJ Hickson

vs

Jose Calderon, Demar Derozan, Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani

come on now lol… Our future is possibly better, but right now, we’re a really really raw team

 

[sheltwon3Participant]

Since When did Ellis not be anything but a shooting guard. There was a time when B Diddy was there that he shot 50 percent while averaging close to 20 points.  He maybe needs to work on his defense but other than that he is a legit 2 guard.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

Barnes or Kanter??? yeah Barnes would be the No Brainer but would think it would be best to move back a few spots draft Perry or Kanter and get another piece or two for a # 1 pick and No Brainer pick so we think Harrison Barnes…I also think they need a PG/SF and C…maybe in that order…A top flight Pg has eluded Toronto…maybe trading back getting Irving/Selby or Knight and getting another piece like a Defensive Center…I think the Suns and Raps would do a trade to the tune of Raps # 1 and Jarret Jack for Suns # 5 and Robin Lopez…Then the Suns get Harrison Barnes and Jack to help move Nash to another Team next year…Jack and Dragic could help ease the Nash Transition…maybe Nash gets moves to Toronto in that deal to let Steve go out in T.Dot…

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

Don’t make me call the hypno toad…he’s a classic tweener maybe the best in the game at times…He’d play well in New York as your Barbosa type in Mike D’s system…question…iF Melo is gone by the deadline and resigned in lets say Philadelphia in an Iggy and Thad Young for Melo deal…would you trade New York’s 1st rounder and Eddie Curry for for Ellis…If that 1st rounder turns out to be a top 16 pick and the Warriors get a legit starting 2 guard like Buford or Burks then it’s a steal…Ellis can be the spark the New York back court needs…Ellis and Stat is better than nothing after the deadline right??? would you do it Shewlton??? Ellis for Curry and NYC’s 1st rounder

[torontoraptors10Participant]

 The only better positions Cleveland has is PG and PF. Williams is slightly better than Calderon and Jamison is better than Johnson. Bargnani is quicker, better shooter than Hickson and I’d rather have DeRozan over an again Parker and Weems is much better than Moon. If I were Cleveland, I would have my starting line-up as:

C – Varejao
PF – Hickson
SF – Jamison
SG – Parker
PG – Williams

If you look at Cleveland’s bench they have:

C – Varejao/Hollins/Samuels – Samuels hasn’t played a game in the NBA and Hollins ain’t that great.
PF – Powe/Varejao/Williams – how many games did Powe play last year? Is Jawad Williams a good role player?
SF – Eyenga/Graham/Green – Eyenga hasn’t played a game in the NBA, Graham is decent but offensively struggles and Green was a bench warmer last year.
SG – Eyenga/Green
PG – Sessions – he will be one of their better players off the bench.

 

Now if you came Toronto’s bench:

C – Anderson/Alabi – Cavs will have a stronger C position than the Raps.

PF – Davis/Evans/Dorsey – the PF position is tricky because, Davis played well in the summer league and Powe hasn’t played a significant amount of games (only played 20 last year)
SF – Kleiza/Wright – Kleiza has been polished up in Europe and Wright has a fresh start in Toronto. This is a much better position than what the Cavs have.

SG- Barbosa/Dupree – Barbosa is one the best sixth men in the league and he is a great scoring option off the second unit and the Cavs don’t have one coming off the bench that can do that as opposed to Sessions.

PG – Banks/Calderon – Calderon can start on a lot of teams but I see Jack as the starter. He plays better defense and leader. Calderon off the bench can create plays for teammates and he is a good shooter. Banks is good defender. Watching him last year, he has a strong body and can play man to man really well.

The Cavs have a better coach, but I can see the Raps finishing better than the Cavaliers.

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

Don’t make me call the hypno toad…he’s a classic tweener maybe the best in the game at times…He’d play well in New York as your Barbosa type in Mike D’s system…question…iF Melo is gone by the deadline and resigned in lets say Philadelphia in an Iggy and Thad Young for Melo deal…would you trade New York’s 1st rounder and Eddie Curry for for Ellis…If that 1st rounder turns out to be a top 16 pick and the Warriors get a legit starting 2 guard like Buford or Burks then it’s a steal…Ellis can be the spark the New York back court needs…Ellis and Stat is better than nothing after the deadline right??? would you do it Shewlton??? Ellis for Curry and NYC’s 1st rounder

[The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipant]

those sots…Jamison is also on the down swing and Varejeo will be exposed with no Lebron to cover his flaws and get him easy looks …the lost of Delonte hurts them too…The Raps though have a young unproven team at every position..Calderon must go but won’t and Bargnani needs to prove he was worth that pick and money after…Derozen also needs to  make this his team …he’s coasting and he and Bargs have to become a great scoring duo for Toronto to win 15 games…The Cavs will be in games all year because of will and experience but then teams will start racking up wins and they’ll fade late…there is no team in Ohio…Harrison Barnes or Perry Jones await…Though I would draft Sullinger if I where Cleveland and sign Micheal Redd on a home town discount…that way you become a team again with a lineup of Mo Williams-Redd-Jamison-Sullinger-Varejeo

[Mr. JewboyParticipant]

wow i didnt know there were so many raptor fans on this site, well good luck for you guys

and i agree that they are the worst team in the league(maybe tied with minnesota)

[Toronto16Participant]

 As soon as we bring in a decent GM, and ownership actually starts spending like they do on the Leafs, we can turn this around quickly.

[ChrischiParticipant]

@sheltwon I know that Monta Ellis is a good player. But he is overrated in that aspect that he isn’t close to being an all-star. His eff is only 20, the same as Jason Kidd who scores only 10ppg. His ppg is good, but he avg 41min a game and close to 4 TO and his defense was bad and that on a bad team. Sorry but he wasn’t close to being an all-star last season.

And GSW won’t get 40 wins. Yes, they will probably improve their D with their new coach but I think that’ll take atleast a year or two and a healthy Biedrins.

@nateoak10

The only team which I forgot is Cleveland that’s right. They have atleast someone in Varejao who plays D, but I don’t think that’ll give them 30W. It’s very possible that they will finish behind GSW.

But LAC? I mean they have Baron Davis who is still a good PG. They have a 20-10 guy in Kaman and a NBA ready 1st pick Griffin. Eric Gordon will probably improve also. They also have some talented backups. I think they’re better than GSW.

I still think Detroit can easily win 30 games. Prince and Rip were injured last season and they got some nice picks. They don’t have more talent than GSW but they have more veterans who are actually capable of playing defense right away when the season starts. If they trade those veterans they’ll probably drop below GSW.

I don’t know what Denver will get for Melo. I think it will be close between them and GSW but in the end it depens how healthy Kenyon and Anderson are. But yeah, GSW might catch them if they don’t have health problems and if Martin and Chris Anderson aren’t fully healthy.

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