Raptors 2009 offseason thread

[octothorp]

Place to discuss all the Raps 2009 offseason moves, including trades, drafts, free agent signings, and first and foremost, the re-signing of Jay Triano as head coach.

http://tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=278343

I'm really split on this. I like Triano a lot and it seems like the players really respond well to him, but at the same time I was hoping that they'd bring in a fresh perspective (particularly Messina). Could have done worse, but I think they probably could have done better, too. Triano and Bosh seem to have a really close relationship and I think this tips Colangelo's hand that he's going to be trying hard to keep Bosh.

[pria(kin)16]

I dont mind Triano, and if it helps with CB, thats nice. I would have liked to see the Raptors hire Flip Saunders when he was available. Seems like a good players coach, great track record etc. Anyways, I trust Colangelo, hopefully he gets a nice contributor in the draft, I'm hoping for Tyreke Evans or James Harden if he slips. Some decent free agents out there, re-signing Parker is important, wouldn't mind Marion if he didn't want to so much money. Go Raps Go!

[Machiavelli]

I don't understand that signing at all.

What has Triano proven?

Brutal.

[malcolmk14]

Horrible signing with all the talented coaches out there right now.

[Da_Chief]

Ya no kidding, I could care less for Bosh factor. The fact is Bosh has value, trade his under-achieving arse and get some good return back.

The only good thing he did was let Bragnani play. There were better options out there but lets see this now.

[flamingreen]

Unless Colangelo was going to bring in a coach like Greg Popovich or Phil Jackson it really wasn't going to matter anyways. For the most part NBA coaches are interchangeable and are more dependent on the talent on the floor than anything.

The players like Triano, he's cheap (I assume) and he buys into whatever plan for the team Colangelo has, win/win for Brian.

[Gozer]

So glad we have Coangelo the genius *eyeroll*

[JohnnyFlame]

They are still paying Smitch for another year and MLSE is all about making money. I'm waiting for the roster moves to judge whether BC is actually trying to build a winner or just content to make more moolah for MLSE.

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

They are still paying Smitch for another year and MLSE is all about making money. I'm waiting for the roster moves to judge whether BC is actually trying to build a winner or just content to make more moolah for MLSE.

Didn't they sign Triano for 3 years now? Why not sign him to 1 then and go after an experienced coach in a year?

I would have liked someone else, Colangelo hasn't done anything to impress me in the past year.

[bluejays]

Colangelo hasn't impressed me either recently as no move of his has made an impact. What I do know is, this guy really doesn't stand pat very long (look at his deals while on Phoenix) and this offseason is going to be a good one. The honeymoon is long over, everyone knows it, and I'm willing to bet he makes a trade to somehow take a higher priced swingman who's locked in for a couple years, in order to make Bosh happy. Going for a defensive specialist is absolutely useless, unless you change the whole makeup of the team, considering one defensive guy on this team will make zilch of a difference, when others do not play it. I really hope he does not get fired this year or next year no matter what he does, simply because he makes bold moves and rarely gets robbed. That alone makes him valuable.

[killer_carlson]

I don't mind the Triano hiring. Colangelo said it best when every single player supported him in the end of season interviews. That says a lot.

This roster needs a shakeup though. I would like to see Rosho back to support Bargiani. Parker needs to go and someone with some talent at at least one end of the floor would be appreciated.

I like Calderon. I really like Ukic as a back up.

I really think they need Marion as well.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I don't mind the Triano hiring. Colangelo said it best when every single player supported him in the end of season interviews. That says a lot.

This roster needs a shakeup though. I would like to see Rosho back to support Bargiani. Parker needs to go and someone with some talent at at least one end of the floor would be appreciated.

I like Calderon. I really like Ukic as a back up.

I really think they need Marion as well.

Personally, I thought the Marion deal was going to work out, but it never did. Marion didn't even attempt most of the time to create his own shot. If you can get the guy at $7M for 3 years, sure, but it's not gonna happen. As for Calderon, I'm not sure about the guy to be really honest. I really really like his play, but for what this team needs, I wish he showed more aggression to taking the ball to the basket. Teams know he's a pass first guy, and only if there is a completely open lane will he take it up aggressively. There aren't many of those guys who lead their teams to championships. He is a smart player though with a fairly good reaction. Just that one part irks me as to why he doesn't play more to the rim. Ukic is a fine 2nd backup (so far) like he was this year. Bargs I'm really concerned about considering he puts up solid numbers, and for his size is a well conditioned guy, but the team just lacks that aggression and fast break when he's on the court. I can't put my finger on it, but he's either here nor there. Just a midtempo kinda guy - somebody I figure would make a very nice 6th man, but not quite the guy I'd want as my everyday starter. Just a really odd thing to say, but I can't describe it.

Just some random musings.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by I wanna be like Miikka

Didn't they sign Triano for 3 years now? Why not sign him to 1 then and go after an experienced coach in a year?

I would have liked someone else, Colangelo hasn't done anything to impress me in the past year.

It's really just a two year deal as the last year is not guaranteed. Really not much point in bringing in a veteran coach with so much up in the air. If Bosh is going to stay then they have three at best average starters defensively in him, Calederon and AB. The 2 and 3 spots better be able to play some really good defense. The bench stinks and they have 10 million tied up in two bozo's.

They are going nowhere unless they make some big changes to the intensity, defensive ability and athleticism of the roster.

[Gozer]

http://www.raptorblog.com/090512a.php

Nice mini analysis. Raptors swing players are awful and hinder the team. The Raps need an Igoudala/Magette SG type addition. There has to be one position on the floor that is a bit of a "bully".

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Goze,

I agree with what you exhumed. I think our wings have been plaguing this team. The 2and3 spots don't generate enough offense, nor enough defense save for AP. AP is a serviceable player, but he was out of the league so long for a reason. He's a class act but nothing more than a set shooter who handled the point out of necessity. Joey Graham is expendable. I still mourn that we didn't take granger with that pick. The pacers snatched him up immediately after us at 17 and the rest is history.

Calderon is a stud, but his Hammy was considerably hindering his play last year. He was unable to drive like he's capable of. He wasn't able to hold a tissue to the perimeter last year, but he still was quite serviceable.

Another problem is our bigs. All of them are soft and svelt. None are burly, nor bulky nor truculent. The last one we had was Oak who was a revelation for this team, when backing up AD. If the Raps can swing a trade like the Bender for AD trade this year we would be considerably more competitive.

Thus, we need to get meaner in the post. We need to be tougher on the perimeter. And we need proven scoring to ease Bosh.

PS, Bosh isn't an MVP. He is a Co-MVP. He can't put teams away in the fourth quarter and relies to heavily on his jimmy if he can't get to the hole. We need another scorer from a different position other than our current scorers: Bargs and Bosh.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

AP is a serviceable player, but he was out of the league so long for a reason. He's a class act but nothing more than a set shooter who handled the point out of necessity.

I think Parker is a terrific 6th man on a playoff team. "Nothing more than a set shooter" is really selling him short, but as long as he is our best swingman we are not a playoff team.

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Joey Graham is expendable. ...Another problem is our bigs. All of them are soft and svelt. None are burly, nor bulky nor truculent. The last one we had was Oak who was a revelation for this team, when backing up AD. If the Raps can swing a trade like the Bender for AD trade this year we would be considerably more competitive.

I think Graham should have been handed a starting spot at the "3" until the Marion trade happened, see if he can fill the role that we all see as a weakness. Instead, we probably drop him and he'll have a solid career for someone else.

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Calderon is a stud

Great on O, weak on D. Half a stud.

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

PS, Bosh isn't an MVP. He is a Co-MVP. He can't put teams away in the fourth quarter and relies to heavily on his jimmy if he can't get to the hole. We need another scorer from a different position other than our current scorers: Bargs and Bosh.

I disagree with that sentiment of Bosh, relies on his jump shot and is erasable around the net. It's anecdotally true, but its not true about Bosh.

I'd like to see how many players could dominate the paint with Bargs, Kapono Parker and Calderon as his supporting cast.

The team's composition is weak, and that's bad GMing.

[killer_carlson]

Graham handed a starting spot? On what grounds did he ever show being anywhere near capable of handling that?

Graham should have been shown a ticket to the waiver wire - and take Humphries with him.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Graham handed a starting spot? On what grounds did he ever show being anywhere near capable of handling that?

The #16th overall selection.

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Graham should have been shown a ticket to the waiver wire - and take Humphries with him.

So on a team that lacks toughness we should get rid of the two toughest players?

We could sign Kristic and draft Curry and see if Kobe can break his record 81 next year!

[Da_Chief]

Ive heard the Knicks are taking Curry at the 8th spot (which they've actually promised him if they didn't move up in the lottery and they didn't).

Raps though need a swing man. Calderon wants to play for Spain again, Raps need to force his ass ti sit down and get ready for next year, he was basically hurt the whole year. Trade Bosh and you could probably get 2 above-average starters and a decent bench player. Hand the team to Bragnani, make it his team.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Ive heard the Knicks are taking Curry at the 8th spot (which they've actually promised him if they didn't move up in the lottery and they didn't).

Raps though need a swing man. Calderon wants to play for Spain again, Raps need to force his ass ti sit down and get ready for next year, he was basically hurt the whole year. Trade Bosh and you could probably get 2 above-average starters and a decent bench player. Hand the team to Bragnani, make it his team.

Handing the team over to Bargnani, a medicore, soft, one-dimensional player, seems to me like a recipe for the lottery for the next 10 years.

The Raptors really got screwed by getting the number #1 pick in the first year HS weren't allowed to go straight to the NBA. Instead of getting another star to par with Bosh they got Bargnani instead.

I don't see why Bosh would re-sign when his deal is up so I think they should really look at moving him sooner than later. The team isn't going to be competitive next year anyways so you might as well maximize the trade value by moving him early.

Its great that Colangelo likes the international players/game but I think he may focus on it too much and therefore showhorn guys into roles they really shouldn't have.

Graham may be tough but he can't play basketball so that toughness sort of goes for nothing when he constantly hurts the team by being out there.