Okay, so if I'm reading things correctly, here's the Raptors' lineup for the 2011-2012 season:
Bigs - Bargnani, Amir Johnson, Davis
Wings - Demar Derozan, James Johnson, Kleiza (but who know's when he's back)
Guards - Calderon, Bayless, Barbosa
Free agent Raps include Reggie Evans, Dorsey, Weems, Ajinca, Julien Wright
I'd like to think I'm not delusional, so unless something huge happens, the Raptors will still be hard pressed to make the playoffs next year. So what do the Raptors need to begin to compete next season?
Let's pretend that we're the GM and we can make some trades or sign free agents (and let's assume the trades or signings would have to be plausible, e.g. no there will be no Durant here next year, though one could dream). Conventional wisdom would say they need a legit big and another rotation-worthy wing player (possibly even a starter, fingers-crossed). Possibly also an upgrade at point guard (though I'm not as down on Calderon as many other in the blogsphere). So who should Colangelo trade for? Who should they target in free agency? (Assuming the rules stay the same in the new CBA, which they won't, but no point in trying to predict the NBA future for our purposes today.)
Here's the list of free agents this summer. Also, here's ESPN's trade machine.
First, in terms of centres, it might be best that the Raptors go after a free agent (seems to be some decent ones there that make sense). High on that list are Chandler (not gonna happen), Nene, DeAndre Jordan, and Marc Gasol. Raptorsrepublic argues that the Raptors should go after Gred Oden - I'm thinking he's a bit too injured, as in, he's always injured. I think another name worth considering, and someone who might come at a relatively cheap price, is Samuel Dalembert. He won't score, but he's solid defensively and gets rebounds and blocks.
As for the wing spot, how about the Raps go after Andre Iguodala for Bargnani, Kleiza and Alabi. It would give Bargnani a fresh start, give the Raptors an athletic, defensive wing (which Casey would like) that could fly along side Derozan. The 76ers would open up more playing time for Evan Turner and have Kleiza as a backup whenever he's ready to return. Alabi just makes the deal work number wise.
What says you?
Diego
Although I like the idea of Andre Iguodala in the 3 spot for the Raptors, I think it is too early in the rebuild to get a guy like him. Plus, I don't think there is any way that the sixers bite on Kleiza and Bargs in the same deal.
ReplyDeleteMy 2011 Raptors Rotation would look something like this:
Bayless/Jose/Barbosa
Derozan/Barbosa/Weems
James Johnson/Kleiza
Ed Davis/Amir Johnson
DeAndre Jordan/Andrea Bargnani/Joey Dorsey
That team still finishes bottom of the pack, and gets the high 2012 draft pick while maintaining the group of young talent we have acquired and not handcuffing us with any long term contracts.
Then I target one of these players with that pick based on where we go in the lottery:
2 Harrison Barnes SF
19 years old; 6'8"; 210 lbs.
North Carolina, Freshman
5 Quincy Miller SF
18 years old; 6'9"; 200 lbs.
Westchester Academy, HS Senior
7 Michael Gilchrist SF
17 years old; 6'7"; 205 lbs.
St. Patrick's, HS Senior
19 LeBryan Nash SF/PF
19 years old; 6'7"; 220 lbs.
HS Senior
And if we can manage to get a second 2012 pick (that could be top 10 protected) for Bargs and a future first maybe:
10 Austin Rivers SG
18 years old; 6'4"; 195 lbs.
, HS Senior
14 Myck Kabongo PG
18 years old; 6'1"; 160 lbs.
Findlay Prep, HS Senior
20 Marquis Teague PG
18 years old; 6'2"; 165 lbs.
, HS Senior
2012 Raptors Ideally:
Myck Kabongo/Jerryd Bayless/Jose Calderon
Demar Derozan/Free Agent Shooter
Harrison Barnes/James Johnson/Kleiza or Weems
Ed Davis/Amir Johnson
DeAndre Jordan/Jonas Valenciunas
That should provide adequate to good defence at each position with shooting in the starting lineup (Barnes), athleticism (everyone else), shot blocking (Davis) and muscle (Jordan). Bit of a pipedream though really to get two picks next year, everyone knows how valuable they are and you'd have to blow someones socks off with a deal to get another one.
Dream away, Jesse, dream away.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I'd add is that I'm not sure your 2011 Raptors would be that bad, or at least bad enough to pick up a high draft pick in next year's draft. I've read that it's a deeper draft, as good or better than 2003, but when you drop out of the top five or six, usually, it's hard to find a superstar (and let's face it, right now in the NBA, as many have noted, you need at least one superstar to compete for the championship - arguably, it's always been that way).
You figure Derozan gets a bit better, Davis gets a bit better, maybe even Bayless. Let's assume that Dwayne Casey can get us a victory or two we didn't get last year. Assume we get five more wins than last year, which I don't think is out of the world. That moves the Raptors wins total from 22 to 27. You figure this year Charlotte's going to be worse, same for Sacramento, maybe even the Nets and Wizards (though perhaps less so). All of a sudden, you're dropping out of the top 5 or six (based on lottery odds).
All of this to say, I can see the Raptors creeping back into the dreaded crappy, but not crappy enough to get a high pick, regardless of the depth of the draft.
So I figure, for your plan to work, you'd need to get worse, meaning even younger. So you'd have to get rid of Bargnani, Calderon and Barbosa. Then pick up young talent via trades and the 2011 draft, which can then be flipped for some complementary vets. Best case scenario, you're OKC. Worse case, I dunno, you're Sacramento.
If the Raptors cannot offload Bargnani then I suggest a modern day remake of "My dinner with Andre." "My dinner with Andrea" would feature him gnoshing on Primo pasta while awkwardly nodding and offering quips about his lackluster defense due to carb-overloading. A cult clasic in the making...bring on the luxury tax!
ReplyDeleteHaha - I can see Andrea now cast along side Wallace Shawn. The juxtaposition in size along is good for a laugh. At least your proposed movie couldn't be worse than "First Ink" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZdqyGt5sOo
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