2010/2011 Toronto Raptors thread

[Cheese]

The Toronto Raptors have signed veteran free-agent forward Rasual Butler, the club announced Saturday.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=382420

Scouting Report

Assets Has evolved from a slasher-type to a well-rounded player. Can consistently hit the three-pointer. Takes care of the ball and is an underrated defender. Flaws Shot selection is a problem, and he doesn't go to the hoop as much as he should & could. Also not a very active passer or rebounder for a player with his physical tools. Career potential Solid scoring swingman.

Butler's best statistical season came in 2009-10 with the Clippers when he averaged career bests of 11.9 points and 33.0 minutes in 82 games. He set a club record for made three-pointers in a season with 145.

[bluejays]

^ A much more versitile Jason Kapono. For a second I thought it was Caron from the TSN headline.

On a side note, it's disappointing Turiaf won't be coming here. Solid player they could have kept more than just this year, would have been a fan favorite in a crappy year, and could have possibly taught Bargnani a thing or two about defending.

[octothorp]

Sounds like Pietrus trade is off: his physical with the Raptors turned up lingering knee issues. Probably why they went and got Butler.

edit: and they've signed PG Anthony Carter. 36yo PG, definitely the mentor type who'll be at the end of the bench.

So thus far we've picked up (with their PPG averages from last season):
Anthony Carter (3.3)
Aaron Grey (3.1)
Rasual Butler (5.0)
Jamal Magloire (1.9)
Gary Forbes (5.2) (if Denver doesn't match offer sheet)

Nobody can accuse BC of going after the flashy offensive player this year!

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Filler...but decent filler. 7-2 272pds. Big body at C

This is the one of the fill the roster moves that I like. I'm resolved to watching them tank for another year. However I'm sick and tired of watching them get pushed around and sucking on defense. AG and JM along with AJ(much heavier this year) should solve that problem.

Be fun to actually see them battle on the defensive end. Plus to see a center get some rebounds will be a nice change. Need some little things to enjoy as I'm hoping the tank job is extremely efficient.

[octothorp]

Rumour is that Denver is going to match the qualifying offer for Forbes.

Raptors might be looking at Reggie Williams as a backup plan. Which seems a little odd, because he's a scorer, first and foremost, very different from all the other guys that they've brought in. But he's young, a good building-block, and he's apparently got a great work-ethic after going undrafted and working his way up from Europe and then the development league. He could basically be the Barbosa replacement on this team if he gets traded, as a SG scorer off the bench. Sounds like a lot of teams put in offer sheets on him though.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Rumour is that Denver is going to match the qualifying offer for Forbes.

Raptors might be looking at Reggie Williams as a backup plan. Which seems a little odd, because he's a scorer, first and foremost, very different from all the other guys that they've brought in. But he's young, a good building-block, and he's apparently got a great work-ethic after going undrafted and working his way up from Europe and then the development league. He could basically be the Barbosa replacement on this team if he gets traded, as a SG scorer off the bench. Sounds like a lot of teams put in offer sheets on him though.

I've read lots of Raptor fan's saying they hope Denver does match. They would rather have Williams. I'm thinking the same as you in why the heck would you want him over Forbes?

But yes I cannot see Barbosa lasting very long on the roster. Frankly wouldn't be surprised to see him gone before the end of the year. He would surely fit on a bunch of rosters and he won't be helping the tank job.

But of the vets who will eventually get shown the door I'm thinking he is very much at the top of the line. After Casey watches Jose play defense though he might be begging BC to make him the first one to go!!!

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

Not his MO at all. He has tended in the last few years for sure to just be workman like(that being a generous outlook on him).

He is a vet who can be filler and is marketable as a Canadian. So check, check and cost nothing so another check.
.

tsn.ca article likening Magloire's role to that of Charles Oakley.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=382676

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

tsn.ca article likening Magloire's role to that of Charles Oakley.

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=382676

You really are desperate to make this comparison aren't ya. I don't think the 33 yr old who has been racking up a couple minutes per game on a team that so badly needed a center is the 2nd coming of Charles Oakley. Half a dozen years ago he might have helped a bit on the floor.

But whatever I'll give it to ya. He can be the Charles Oakley bench/locker room presence. I don't see him getting much playing time with both Johnson and Gray getting the minutes at center. Gray is the one who will be providing the thump. Younger and coming off a season where he played his most minutes ever. And he is nasty which is just what they need.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Rumour is that Denver is going to match the qualifying offer for Forbes.

Raptors might be looking at Reggie Williams as a backup plan. Which seems a little odd, because he's a scorer, first and foremost, very different from all the other guys that they've brought in. But he's young, a good building-block, and he's apparently got a great work-ethic after going undrafted and working his way up from Europe and then the development league. He could basically be the Barbosa replacement on this team if he gets traded, as a SG scorer off the bench. Sounds like a lot of teams put in offer sheets on him though.

So Denver didn't match the offer which in the rumours I'm reading was around 2.5 a year. So that about does it for roster moves.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

So Denver didn't match the offer which in the rumours I'm reading was around 2.5 a year. So that about does it for roster moves.

Yeah, I would expect so. Approximate depth chart is:

PG: Calderon / Bayless / Carter
SG: DeRozan / Barbosa / Butler
SF: J Johnson / Kleiza (injured) / Forbes
PF: Bargnani / Davis / A Johnson
C: Grey / Magloire / Alabi

Bayless and Calderon I expect to be 1A and 1B; wouldn't shock me to see Bayless as the starter and Calderon as the finisher.
I've said before, I think Barbosa is trade bait, and keeping him fresh and healthy yet showcasing his talents will be key. As long as Kleiza is out, Butler and Forbes probably both get solid minutes at SF; position is still J Johnson's, though.

As for bigs, I think there will be a lot of times when we'll see two of their so-called PFs on the floor and no true C. Grey has never played more than about 12 minutes a game, Magloire has been at about 10 for the last couple years, and Alabi averaged about five minutes in the 12 games he played for the Raptors last year. I'd expect to see roughly similar numbers for those three. Meaning that for about 18 minutes a game, one of the PFs will be at C. Baring injuries, minutes are still going to be hard to find for all three of them, since each could handle 30+ minutes a game.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Yeah, I would expect so. Approximate depth chart is:

PG: Calderon / Bayless / Carter
SG: DeRozan / Barbosa / Butler
SF: J Johnson / Kleiza (injured) / Forbes
PF: Bargnani / Davis / A Johnson
C: Grey / Magloire / Alabi

Bayless and Calderon I expect to be 1A and 1B; wouldn't shock me to see Bayless as the starter and Calderon as the finisher.
I've said before, I think Barbosa is trade bait, and keeping him fresh and healthy yet showcasing his talents will be key. As long as Kleiza is out, Butler and Forbes probably both get solid minutes at SF; position is still J Johnson's, though.

As for bigs, I think there will be a lot of times when we'll see two of their so-called PFs on the floor and no true C. Grey has never played more than about 12 minutes a game, Magloire has been at about 10 for the last couple years, and Alabi averaged about five minutes in the 12 games he played for the Raptors last year. I'd expect to see roughly similar numbers for those three. Meaning that for about 18 minutes a game, one of the PFs will be at C. Baring injuries, minutes are still going to be hard to find for all three of them, since each could handle 30+ minutes a game.

Casey said today that Jose will be the starter. I'm thinking that will just be in name only as in 24 for Jose, 20 for Bayless and 4 for Carter.

I think Alabi will spend most of his time wearing a suit.

They could do the Rasho thing and have Magloire play the first five minutes and then sit. But Johnson is going to get the most minutes there unless they give up on the AB experiment at 4.

With the insane schedule methinks dang near the whole roster is going to get some minutes. So I think we will see plenty of Butler, Forbes and Gray.

For a laugh I was trying to think of what would Casey's all defense five be. Not Jose or Bargnani or Demar or Barbosa. Bayless? Hmm don't think so.

So I guess Carter, Butler, Johnson, Davis and Johnson. Man I don't envy Casey -- he gets this bunch up into the middle of the pack defensively he should be Coach of the Year.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

You really are desperate to make this comparison aren't ya.

No. To the contrary, I'd say you're trying really hard to say that it's not a valid comparison.

[moon]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

No. To the contrary, I'd say you're trying really hard to say that it's not a valid comparison.

No matter who is trying to do what Maglorevis not Oakley in the least and will not provide what Oak did.

Magloire provides adequate minutes off the bench for what will be a horrible Raptors team.

Nothing wrong with that but certainly not the toughness/rebounding that Oakley did.

[killer_carlson]

Oakley was all about adding the attitude to the team. We can all agree that is what the team needs.

Its redundant to say that Magloire is not Oakley. No one said he was. He is here to bring attitude though and that's a good thing.

My hope is that he leans on Bargiani in practice a fair bit and toughens him up. I have no problem if he pulls a Bill Laimbeer and beats him up either.

[flames_1987]

Was at the open practice today for the Raptors and it's very obvious Maglore is taking on a big leadership role with the team as he addressed the fans to begin the practice speaking about how hard he promises this team will play.

[killer_carlson]

how did Johnson look? He's supposed to be up to 250 lbs. Is he more Antonio Davis or is he more Oliver Miller?

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

how did Johnson look? He's supposed to be up to 250 lbs. Is he more Antonio Davis or is he more Oliver Miller?

You can notice he's bulked up but it looks like muscle mass much more then Fat Alber aka Oliver Miller.

Derozan looked to be in great shape as did Andrea. It amazes me with Barngani just how high his release point is with his shot, seeing it up close for the first time. That being said, I can't take too much away from just watching one practice

[St. Pats]

Well game one(pre-season) in the books. Hard to really pick up a lot off of a game where they look they haven't played a game in forever. Defensively they did hold them to a more than decent total but the offenses looked lost in space.

So more to just what stood out.

The only guy I really noticed was Forbes. Just as advertised the guy is quick and has a brain. He played well defensively and was decent on offense.

As for the other new guys Carter didn't play. Butler was ho hum. AG and JM stood out only for picking up fouls setting screens.

Of the vets I thought Ed Davis looked good. Nice moves underneath and a good physical game on the boards.

Game itself was kinda of a plodder but hey it's preseason. Was interesting to watch anyway if you focused on looking at what the new guys are bringing to the team.

[St. Pats]

2nd pre-season game and the tank is looking very, very good. They will have a hard time winning 15 games. They can't score, defense is as sucky as ever. Both point guards suck offensively and defensively. SF is a disaster offensively(good defensively), Bargnani still can't rebound and is inefficient on offense as always. Demar looks to have at best marginally improved his shot.

The scrubs they brought in are as bad as you would have thought.

They could sometime in January when Kleiza is healthy put out the all chucker lineup. Bayless, Barbosa, DD, Kleiza and Bargnani. That would be funny to watch for a few minutes.