Familar Faces Playing Pivitol Roles in Playoffs

As if Raptor fans weren’t feeling bummed out enough with the fact that once again we are all on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff basketball. Not only do we get to watch other teams competing for ultimate prize in basketball, but Raptor fans are witnessing a number of former teammates playing key roles on teams that may just win it all.

As always, there is a Raptor spin to this years post-season.  Players we gave up on, begrudgingly traded or didn’t appreciate enough at the time are playing key roles in this years playoffs.  In fact there are a number of players who may end up tipping the scale in their teams favour this year.

In no particular order here they are.

Ex Raptors in the 2013 NBA Playoffs

Marco Belinelli – On a Bulls team that seems to be put together by MacGyver (with duck tape and chewing gum) , Belinelli has been a key, unexpected contributor.  If you’re a Raptor fan, you’re likely as blown away by his presence as anyone.  He came up huge in game 7 of the first round series against the Nets and is continuing his clutch play in this second round matchup against the Heat.  Belinelli has always been a streaky shooter, but in these playoffs he has been someone his team can depend on late in games and at key points when the Bulls need a bucket.  Not something he showed much of in his Toronto days.  He has also held his own on the defensive end and at times has had LeBron James guarding him.

Belinelli has found his shooting touch just when the Bulls needed it most and helped the banged up Bulls advance to the next round. Bryan Colangelo, if he’s watching, is seeing the player he was hoping he acquired a few years back for the Raptors.  Only now, is he playing up to his abilities.

Jarrett Jack – Jack was originally brought in to Toronto to be a key backup combo guard for a team that was supposed to make many playoff appearances. He didn’t get that chance in Toronto, but he’s making  the most of the opportunity now with Golden State.

He has become a huge part of everything that is going right for Golden State.  He’s a veteran leader that is really helping take charge of this exciting young team.  When they needed clutch shots against Denver, Jack was there.  When they needed a veteran facilitator he was their man.  Jack has looked like a very valuable asset on this playoff team.  Against San Antonio he has been a strong veteran presence who knows where the ball needs to go.  He also isn’t afraid to take a tough shot when needed.  Don’t the Raptors wish they had him coming off the bench now.

Jarryd Bayless – When Bayless was in Toronto, everyone knew he had the potential to be something special.  It was simply hard to find a role on this Toronto team and they let him go in the offseason.  He’s found his role with Memphis, that is for sure.  In these playoffs he has been a spark plug for the Grizzlies off the bench.  He’s been the perfect mix of passer and shooter; exactly what you want in a combo guard.

The Grizzlies simply do not get past Denver without Bayless.  He was a classic clutch playoff performer.  He came in and hit big shots and came up with huge efforts when his team needed it most.  The Grizzlies bench looks a lot more scary now as they play a very difficult 2nd round opponent in the Thunder.  Watch out for Bayless again in this series.  He has the speed and ability to cause big problems for Oklahoma City. The Grizz are gonna need him if they hope to beat the defending Western Conference champs.

Bayless is showing Raptor fans what could’ve been as he has helped the Grizzlies during these NBA playoffs.

Chris Bosh – Once upon a time Chris Bosh was absolutely everything for the Toronto Raptors. He was the focal point of any and every opposing defense he faced and felt huge pressure in the playoff battles he had here in Toronto.  Fast forward to now and Bosh is still an amazing All-Star talent, but opposing defenses can’t always apply pressure on him because they are focused on stopping LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.

Bosh wasn’t a huge factor for the Heat in the first round against the Bucks, but then again, he wasn’t really needed.  If the Heat are going to beat the more troublesome Bulls and eventually the upstart Pacers,  Bosh is going to be a key part of any chance the Heat have to win. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer present huge issues for Bosh inside and if he handles them he has to face a Hibbert/West or Chandler/Stoudamire combo.  If this team hopes to beat either of those teams they will need major contributions from Bosh on both ends of the floor.  With Wade still not looking 100% and opposing defences ready to pounce on Lebron James, the secondary scoring from Bosh will be paramount to a championship repeat.  Look for him to heat up in this second round, if he doesn’t the Heat may face more difficulty than was originally expected.

Matt Bonner – Matt Bonner was a fan favourite in Toronto and an energizer off the bench for a bad team when he was here.  Since moving to San Antonio, he has become a very important part of the team off the bench and in spot starting duties over the years.  This year he, once again, finds himself in the role of energizer and a key three-point threat off the bench.

Bonner isn’t a major factor for the Spurs but he can be a dangerous player off the bench at various times.  He is a big body and can hit the three with consistency. Matt Bonner is to the San Antonio Spurs as Steve Kerr used to be to the Chicago Bulls.  Bonner likely won’t get heavy minutes, but he may come into the game late to take very important shots, especially if Danny Green keeps struggling with his three-point shot.

Tracy McGrady – Was once a building block in Toronto and was the best player for Toronto in the franchise’s first ever playoff appearance against the Knicks.  He was a star in Orlando and the major offensive threat when he was in Houston.

Now McGrady is relegated to the bench in a cheerleading role.  But what an intriguing player to have at the end of your bench.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Greg Popovich has something up his sleeve when it comes to McGrady.  He could provide some instant offense off the bench and he has been a solid defender his entire career.  If the Spurs get into trouble don’t be surprised to see a little bit more McGrady then you ever thought you’s see again.

Roy Hibbert – He never played for the Raptors, but is technically a former dino.  Traded as part of the Jermaine O’Neal deal, Hibbert has been a perennial All-star and looks like he might be the key to the Pacers playoff chances this year.

Hibbert is gonna have to step up to beat the New York Knicks who will send Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudamire against him.  So far he’s answered the call and has been the difference for Indiana thus far.  He has been unstoppable inside and provided Indiana with much of their offense.

If the Pacers get to the conference finals against Miami, it may be Hibbert that provides the biggest challenge for the defending champs.  He is a tough matchup for Chris Bosh and plays a position that the defending champs have trouble with.  Miami has trouble inside all season and Hibbert, who is just hitting his playoff groove, may be too much for them to handle.

Once upon a time a Raptor floor general, now an upstart coach who is leading the warriors to a surprising playoff run.

Mark Jackson – He wasn’t a Raptor for long, but this former PG great is now in charge of one of the most exciting teams in the playoffs.  He has this Warriors team playing the best basketball the franchise has ever seen.

Jackson may seem to be in over his head in a coaching matchup against the great Greg Popovich, but he’s held his own thus far.  He’s got this young team energized and believing in itself.  He is getting key contributions out of rookie (and almost Raptor) Harrison Barnes, journeyman Jarrett Jack and a returning Andrew Bogut, plus he has had to overcome injury issues to his star Stephen Curry.

Jackson, and his coaching decisions to come, will have a major impact on how the Warriors perform the rest of the way.  When Jackson was a point guard he was known for his ability to get steals, with any luck he may just be able to steal another series from the Spurs.

Photo Credit http://basketballschedule.net/hawks-vs-grizzlies-photos

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Colangelo’s Future a Matter of Perspective

Sometime in the coming days Raptors current GM and President Bryan Colangelo will sit down with the new man in charge at MLSE and plead his case for being allowed to continue as the man in charge of Canada’s only NBA basketball team.

No matter what side of the argument you are on it is hard to ignore Colangelo’s credentials and impossible to forget the last 5 years in Toronto without playoff basketball.

Some will argue he is the best man out there for the job and his recent moves in acquiring Rudy Gay and drafting Jonas Valanciunas have the ship pointed in the right direction, while others will point to his failures to get this team over the hump and that fresh blood is needed to take this team  to new heights.

There are two arguments when it comes to Colangelo and his future in Toronto:

The Glass is Half Full

Bryan Colangelo wasn’t able to build a winner around Chris Bosh, but since CB4’s departure for the beaches of Miami he has done an adequate job putting together a young, exciting core.  The young players on the team right now from Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, Amir Johnson and Rudy Gay seem to indicate that this team is on the cusp of playoff basketball.  In fact, the optimist would argue that if not for  losing 12 out of 13 games in Nov/Dec they would have been right in the mix for the 7th and 8th spot in this year’s playoffs.

Colangelo knows how to draft talent.  He caught hellfire for drafting Jonas Valanciunas with the 5th pick two years ago and there is not one person who would argue with that pick today.  Valanciunas is one of the better young big men in the league and the sky appears to be the limit for him.  Most GM’s wouldn’t have had the courage to take Jonas at that spot, Bryan did.  His drafting of DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross, Quincy Acy and Ed Davis have all resulted in serviceable NBA talent.  His drafting record is better than most GM’s out there.  The only major blemish on his resume is the drafting of Andrea Bargnani first overall in 2006, though that was the same year the big Italian helped the Raptors win and Atlantic division championship.

Colangelo cleans up the mess he creates and constantly looks to improve his team.  He was creative when adding talent to lineup with Chris Bosh in his tenure here and has been fairly successful in acquiring young talent and manageable contracts since Bosh departed.  The Raptors are not handcuffed by the NBA salary cap and have flexibility to add talent and make trades.  There are no “untradeable contracts” on this current roster.

With the addition of Rudy Gay the Raptors now possess a big name talent that can recruit other top-notch players here and one that can finally be depended on in crunch time.  Since Gay was added to the roster, the team has begun to find itself and gel.  The Raptors were one of the better teams in the closing weeks of the season. The team seemed to finally “click” and looked like a team that could compete in the Eastern Conference.  Given a full year of this young squad the raptors are likely playoff contenders.

If the Raptors go out there and take a look, there aren’t many who can do the job Colangelo can.  He has built an interesting young team and should be allowed to see the fruits of his labour.  The Raptors are a team that need a little bit more time to gel and build on the success they finished the 2012-13 campaign on.

Colangelo’s fate President and GM of the Raptors will be decided this week.

The team that Bryan has built is one on the rise, he deserves another year to see it reach the heights it is capable of.

The Glass is Half Empty

Colangelo has been in charge of the Raptors for seven seasons and has not seen the 2nd round of the playoffs once. Yes, he led this team to an Atlantic division championship in his first year on the job, but failed miserably to build a contender around star Chris Bosh.  He then failed to get anything of value for Bosh, whom he knew was leaving as a free agent.

Since Bosh left he hasn’t made any significant progress.  Yes he acquired Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry, but in a difficult Eastern Conference this team appears to be a treadmill team at best.  This young squad does not match up against the elite teams in the East and never will with this collection of players as its “core”.

Other than Jonas Valanciunas, Colangelo has never acquired an elite young player that could be considered a future star.  Amir Johnson is great, Rudy Gay is interesting, DeMar DeRozan is pretty okay. Name one of those players (other than Rudy) that would be a starting player on one of the top four Eastern Conference teams.

Then there is Bargnani.  Whether it is fair or not Colangelo will forever be judged by the Bargnani draft pick.  It was the franchise’s one and only first overall pick and it has been, simply put, a colossal failure.  Colangelo went against traditional logic to choose Bargnani. Though he looked like a future star after year one, other than a few months in the 2010-11 season, he hasn’t been able to become the star the Raptors need.  In recent years he’s been injured and when he is on the court he doesn’t rebound, hangs out on the three-point line and doesn’t seem to put in the necessary effort to succeed in the league.

The failures of Bargnani, fair or not, are directly tied to the future of Bryan Colangelo.

Pimply put, Colangelo should be judged on playoff performance. Any other GM who misses the playoffs for five years in a row and has a collection of players that may or may not compete for the 8th spot in the East (if their really, really good) doesn’t deserve to keep their job.

In closing, the Colangelo dilemma is a difficult one with solid arguments on both sides of the issue, but in the end it will be left in the hands of new MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke to decide whether this is a team on the rise or one that has already reached the heights of which it is capable.

Based on the success Leiweke has had in his career with the Kings, Galaxy and Lakers he is a guy Raptor fans should trust with this decision, no matter which way he goes.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Life Without Jose

Jose Calderon is no longer a Toronto Raptor.

That sentence hasn’t quite sunk in for a lot of people in the city of Toronto.  If you’re a basketball fan in this city, then Jose Calderon has been a part of your conversations, frustrations, high and lows for the last 7 and a half years.  He is as entrenched in the minds and hearts of basketball fans in this city as any player ever to wear the Raptors uniform.

And now he is a Detroit Piston.

On Monday night he officially joined the Pistons on the court after the three team trade that saw the Raptors acquire Rudy Gay.

You’d be forgiven if the sight of Calderon in a Pistons jersey made you shake your head a bit.  It didn’t really seem right.  For his entire career he’s been a Raptor.  On Monday night he was on another team.  Not the Raptor red that we were used to seeing, but still the same player.

Calderon shot the ball well, distributed, but did not show off high defensive ability and watched as his new team got beaten soundly by a much better New York Knicks team.  As Jerry Seinfeld famously quipped “we are all really just cheering for laundry” and there was Calderon plying his trade in different laundry.  But you couldn’t help but cheer for the guy wearing #8 in Pistons blue (as weird as it was).

The trade of five days ago, that once seemed so surreal, is now beginning to sink in.  Rudy Gay is tearing it up after two games with the Raptors and giving fans hope that we may be witnessing a new brand of Raptors basketball.  And the player once cheered loudly by Toronto fans is leading another rebuilding team a few hours south of the city he called home five days ago.

Jose, traded last week, will always be a fan favourite no matter what laundry he happens to be wearing.

Calderon will always have a place in Toronto sports lore.  He was one of the good guys in a world of sports that has too few.  He always put forth his best effort on the court and took a huge amount of criticism from fans, bloggers and reporters for the shortcomings in his game.  He never wavered or fought back, he simply went on doing his best.

Calderon was brought here by Rob Babcock in 2005 to be a second or third string point guard.  He quickly emerged as a talented player worthy of so much more and quickly earned his backup minutes the following year playing an integral role in the Raptors Atlantic Division championship.  His real “coming out party” was during the playoffs in 2007 when he played some of the best basketball of his career.  He was, arguably, the best player on the Raptors team during all six games of that series.  Though the Raptors ended up losing that series to New Jersey, Calderon emerged as a potential starter.

Over the next few years he battled through various point guard tandems.  Every single tandem ended with another player leaving Toronto and Jose remaining.  Like a season of Survivor, Calderon stayed while others were voted off the island. TJ Ford, Jarrett Jack, Jarryd Bayless and for a period Kyle Lowry all couldn’t match Calderon’s production and team chemistry.  He simply proved himself to be too valuable to let go.  Hell, the Raptors even traded Jose to Charlotte with Reggie Evans for Tyson Chandler and Boris Diaw only to have the deal cancelled by Charlotte owner Michael Jordan.

Jose seemed destined to stay a Raptor forever.

Though his numbers slipped this year he just kept battling and seizing every opportunity that arrived.  When Kyle Lowry went down with an injury this year, Jose stepped in and led the Raptors to a season changing run that now has this team within striking distance.  The results of which, he will not be around to enjoy.

Jose has always had good offensive numbers highlighted by a high assist to turnover ratio and FG% every year and has helped other young players on this team emerge because of his great ability to get teammates involved often at the expense of his own production.  All aspects that make him a truly special player.

He will be greatly missed by his teammates, coaches and most of all the city.

In a sports world full of ego-maniacs, self-centred prima donnas and jerks, Jose was a breath of fresh air.  He was quiet, humble and happy to accept whatever role he was asked to fill.  He never complained, never shot back at reporters that called him a porous defender or fans that begged for him to be traded.  He took it all with a grain of salt and went on being the player that he is.

In a city that has been scorned by former stars like Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and Tracy McGrady, Jose embraced the city and the fans with open arms.  He embraced them on and off the court, was always happy to talk to fans, sign autographs or take pictures with them.  When he was criticised by fans or reporters he simply let his game do the talking.  He didn’t shy away from his critics.

Whether playing off the bench, in a starter’s role or as a cheerleader on the sidelines he embraced every role he was given.  He was a consummate professional and the very definition of a team player.

In typical Calderon fashion on his way to another team, his only wish was for the Raptors continued success. “”It’s been my home for eight years…I’ve done everything possible for this team…the fans have been with me since Day 1. It’s tough…Hopefully this team is back to the playoffs as soon as possible.”

Even on his way out he was gracious and thankful.  A true team player to the bitter end.

Players like Calderon are not a dime a dozen.  He was truly special player.  He will be greatly missed.  Unlike other former Raptors (most notably Vince Carter and Chris Bosh), Jose’s Raptor jersey will be worn with pride around the ACC, despite not being on the team anymore.  When word of the trade hit, his jersey was apparently sold out in the team shops around the ACC, something never before seen in these parts.

I’m not afraid to admit that he has been my favourite player since the 06-07 season and I proudly own a Calderon Jersey.  I will be honoured to wear it upon his return to the ACC on April 1st when he accompanies the Pistons to Toronto.

It’ll be weird, as it was on Monday night.  He’ll be wearing different laundry, but it’ll still be the same Jose.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Becoming Number One

There has been no shortage of stories in Raptorland lately as they begin to put the pieces of their season back together again.  There has been the inspired play of Amir Johnson, the leadership of Jose Calderon and the energized return of both Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields. Of course, there is also the continued absence of Andrea Bargnani.

It is debatable which one of these stories has had the biggest impact in the Raptors recent turnaround.  But , possibly the most “feel good” story during the first half of the season (so far) may be the emergence of DeMar DeRozan.

Raptor fans have been waiting with bated breath for DeRozan to up his game and become the upper echelon player he was pegged to be when he was drafted 9^th overall out of USC in 2009.

DeRozan has begun to assert himself as the Raptors team leader and number one option on offense. In the process he is proving his naysayers wrong and justifying his large contract extension.

In the span of the last few months we have watched DeMar grow from a player, struggling to adjust to the pressures of being a top option, to a confident young man who is comfortably leading his team to some of the best basketball they have played in a long time.

When DeRozan first came to Toronto he was used as a complimentary player to the young core the Raptors had at the time.  At just 20 years of age and thrust into a starting role on a competitive Raptors squad, he was expected to take the ball to the rack off of cuts and provide steady defensive play.  He thrived in this complimentary role and earned the praise of then coach Sam Mitchell.

His efforts that first year were one of the key reasons the Raptors stayed in the playoff picture until the last day of the season.   In subsequent years he became an increased part of the Raptors offense and gained valuable experience along the way.

When Chris Bosh took his talents to South Beach, DeRozan was no longer looked at as a complimentary piece by the organization.  The Raps needed him to step up his game and become a top flight player to compliment the newly anointed number one, Andrea Bargnani. With the increased expectations, DeRozan struggled.

He was asked to become a top flight shooter, which he wasn’t yet. They needed him to shoot the three with some consistency, he could not.  They needed him to drive the lane more, but instead, he shied away from it.

As a top option in Toronto he garnered more attention from opposing defenses and he wasn’t ready for the adjustments he needed to make.  Questions began to swirl about whether DeRozan would ever become that top-tier player for Toronto, whether the Raptors would be better off letting him go as a free agent or packaging him in a trade.

Last season he was forced into an increased role when Andrea Bargnani went down with injury.  He needed, not only, to be a top scorer, but a team leader.  Though he struggled with his shot and continued to be marred by issues with his three-point range, the team developed an identity around him.  Much of this ‘change in culture’ was rightfully credited to Dwane Casey, but the Raptors were able to share the ball, play team defense and get along  with DeRozan as the number one option. DeMar is the type of unselfish player who is happy to defer to his teammates.  He isn’t a player that needs to have the ball in his hands all the time, the offense doesn’t need to flow through him.

Although DeRozan’s numbers were still mediocre on paper last year, he was beginning to show signs of maturity. He began taking the advice of coach Casey and kept driving the lane.  Slowly his free throw attempt numbers went up and he began to get more and more calls from the officials. Casey was tough on DeRozan, but in the process earned his respect.

“It was tough last year. Even though we did well on the defensive end, you still struggle at parts. You’re still learning. Casey is definitely good for us.”

Coach Casey has cracked the code with DeMar since arriving in Toronto and the forward has responded with inspired play.

This season, armed with a controversial 4 year contract extension, DeRozan has taken his game to the next level.  His numbers are better across the board, but it isn’t the modest increases in his percentages that have Raptor fans smiling; it’s the way he is carrying himself and his team.

Gone are the rushed shots taken early in the shot clock, the fear of driving the net and the reliance on a high number of mid-range jump shots.

Instead DeRozan is driving the net and demanding the respect of the leagues officials.  He is taking open jump shots within the flow of the offense, he’s using his size to take advantage of opposing defenses with impressive post-up moves and he is helping facilitate the ball movement that has inspired the Raptors recent play.

“I need to play within my game. I know if I get a shot in rhythm, I can knock it down. But for me, I’m an aggressive player. We’ve got a lot of 3-point shooters on this team. If I’m being aggressive, that can open up a 3-point shot for them.”

DeMar looks and sounds like a completely different player on the court.  He looks confident, aggressive and most of all he is taking control on the court. He is doing a better job of knowing when to shoot and when to make the extra pass.  He isn’t hesitating when he goes to the rim because he knows, if he keeps doing it, he’s gonna get the calls more times than not and he is learning how to exploit mismatches on both ends of the floor.

Dwane Casey has been impressed with his play and knows DeRozan is a key part of the Raptors future.  “He’s one of our core guys”.

Much of the credit for the Raptors recent run of good games has been, very fairly placed on the play and leadership of Jose Calderon, but quietly DeMar DeRozan has emerged as a leader as well.

He is the player the team looks to for guidance.  The ball flows through him. But he isn’t just taking more shots, he is getting his teammates involved as well.  They trust him, his coaches trust him and mot importantly he trusts himself.

So far this season DeRozan has erased any doubt that may have lingered over the max extension.  If he keeps up this strong play, his extension may turn out to be a bargain.

He’s becoming everything you want in an on-court leader.

The scary part is,  he’s still getting better.

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Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Magloire Back Where He Belongs

On the surface, the Toronto Raptors signing of veteran big man Jamaal Magloire would appear to be a small, bench building move.

The Canadian is in the twilight of his career and would like to finish his basketball career where it all began.  The Raptors need a big man off the bench that can play minor minutes and add another big body to match up against the Chris Boshs’ and Dwight Howards’ of the league.

Magloire, a 13 year veteran and former Eastern Conference All Star, knows how to win games and can certainly be of help to younger front court players in Toronto.  Most notably, he will be asked to assist with Jonas Valanciunas.

Jonas is the future of the Toronto Raptors, at least in the minds of many in the front office and the fans that have been drooling over his hotly anticipated debut.  That makes Magloire’s role on this years team one of the most important ones for fans.  Getting Valanciunas NBA ready is seen as the key to the Raptors future success.

Magloire, who has played in All Star games, NBA playoff battles and most recently the NBA Finals, can offer a great deal of insight and assistance in how to adjust to the pressure of NBA life.  It is advice that Jonas is unlikely to be able to get from anywhere else on the current roster.

After a stellar NBA career, Jamaal Magloire seems to be embracing his new role as veteran mentor for the Toronto Raptors. With Jonas Valanciunas arriving in Toronto this season it could be an important year for the Canadian born centre.

This is becoming a bit of a habit now for Magloire, who will also play a mentorship role with the new look Canadian National team.  He is being asked by Jay Triano and Steve Nash to come in and prepare the young Canadian kids for the battles that lie ahead.

It all seems like a bit of a turnaround for Magloire, who once declined to get involved with the National team.

It is clear he has turned over a new leaf and appears to now be embracing his role as veteran leader.

Last year in Toronto it was clear that Dwane Casey trusted Magloire quite a bit and would often sub him into games to send a message to the Bargnani’s and Ed Davis’s of the team to improve their defensive efforts.  Magloire would then go out and show them how to play tough defense against difficult opponents.

Casey wants defense and toughness, especially from his inside defenders; qualities that Magloire possesses in spades.  With the arrival of Jonas Valanciunas, the on court lessons will become even more important.

Magloire is in the twilight of his career, but as a former All-star, NCAA champion and strong and steady NBA playoff performer he has been through the toughest battles a player can go through.  This knowledge and experience make him a perfect guide for a young player like Jonas Valanciunas. It makes him a great player/coach for the National team.

Last year he seemed to relish his role as team leader.  He was vocal with teammates, active in scrums and at practice and was chosen by the franchise as the player to address the fans at the end of last season; a role usually reserved for the vocal leaders of the team.

For Magloire it is a nice way to cap a successful career.  He’s finally home in Toronto and has finally joined the national team he was reluctant to be a part of.

There are many fans out there still upset by his refusal to play for Canada back in the days of Nash, but all is well that ends well.  Magloire’s role shaping the performance of Andrew Wiggans, Tyler Ennis, Andrew Nicholson and Robert Sacre may be  even more important than his role would have been playing back in day.

Magloire’s role is now about shaping the future in Toronto and for the National team.

That new role seems to suit him just fine.

Despite what may be said, this small transaction of bringing Magloire back could have a seriously profound impact on the Raptors season.

Welcome home Jamaal.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Managing Expectations

So the Olympics didn’t show us what we wanted to see from Jonas Valnciunas.  After a very strong year in Europe with Lietuvos Rytas and a stellar Under 19 World Championships, Jonas spent most of his London Olympics stuck to the Lithuanian bench.  He finished the Olympic tournament averaging 4.2 Pts, 52.4 FG%, and 4 Reb.  This isn’t bad for a guy who only averaged about 11 minutes, but a far cry from his numbers in Europe (11.7pts, 7.6 reb).  And of what was hoped from his new NBA home.

Raptor fans were expecting more. Fans wanted to see him dominate the post, swat away competitors jump shots and show himself to be NBA ready.

Newsflash: He’s not quite there.

Valanciunas showed flashes of excellence in London, but Raptor fans are going to have to remember that his development will take time.

This is okay.  Jonas is only 20 years old and isn’t expected to come in and be the savior of the franchise right away (at least not by fans with a sense of realism).  Impatient Raptor fans need to give him some time to become familiar with the NBA and to work hard on becoming part of a system (under head coach Dwane Casey) that will maximize his strengths and minimize the weaknesses.

In London he seemed to have a problem with his interior defense and often got beaten to the rim by faster players. He wasn’t able to get proper positioning and often ended up accumulating fouls.   This is something he is going to have to learn to do better in Toronto, but Casey is the coach who might be able to help him.

Jonas fouls a lot.  Not a good habit to get into, but something that is not uncommon for young players.  There are going to be many nights in Toronto where Jonas has brief stints on the floor because of poor positioning or being too active with his hands.  He will learn.  Raptor fans will have to be patient.

Jonas is not Alexander Radojevic, he’s not Rafael Arujo.  Raptor fans have to give him some time to become more familiar with the NBA game and with Dwane Casey’s system before pushing the “bust button”.

If  Casey can implement a system that minimizes the defensive inefficiencies of Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani then I’m sure he can create one that keeps Jonas on the floor.  Especially when Jonas will now be surrounded with defensive stalwarts in Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields.

Jonas has shown that he is active on the boards.  In Lithuania he averaged double digits in rebounding and showed himself to be very active on the glass.  He’s got a big body and if he can bulk up and learn to position himself right, he’s gonna be active on the glass in Toronto.

Far too often Raptor fans over hype their own players and are also often quick to dismiss them completely after a couple of bad games.  Jonas is going to require much more patience than that. The “hype-machine” in Toronto has not helped set realistic expectations for Jonas and as a result we are currently setting ourselves up to be disappointed.

He is not going to dunk over top of French centers. He won’t win defensive player of the year and he likely isn’t going to average double digits in anything.

Disappointed Raptor fans who were watching the olympics and focusing on his stats were not watching the right things.  This kid showed he could hang with NBA calibre talent.  He ran the pick and roll well which will be a staple of Dwane Casey’s offense and something he’ll likely be running a lot with Jose Calderon off the bench.   He was frequently one of the fastest players up and down the court as well.  For a big man he is going to cause issues for whoever is guarding him and if he plays with Kyle Lowry there might be some unexpected fast break opportunities.

He will learn the defensive game, learn that the referees do not give the benefit of the doubt to rookies and that the whole is almost always better than the sum of its parts.  With a vastly improved perimeter defense in Toronto, he will be put into a position where he can be successful.

Raptor fans just need to chill.  Jonas’s lack of Olympic dominance is not a sign that he is a bust.  In fact, the Olympics showed us he has a great deal of skills that will benefit this young team and also reminded us that his progress will not happen overnight.

The fact that Jonas is developing his skills should be reason enough for Raptor fans to remain positive.  He’s getting better and although he may not end up being the immediate saviour we all were wishing for, he has and will continue to show flashes of the player we want him to be.  With every rebound, every alley-oop slam and every game he isn’t removed for foul trouble he gets closer to what we want him to be.

His performance and productivity will be heavily watched and appraised by Raptor fans, but in the end I think the city and its basketball fans are going to really like this kid.

He just isn’t there yet.  And that’s okay.

Like McGrady, Carter and Bosh before him, he will take time to develop. But also, like those players, fans will enjoy watching Jonas grow and develop before their eyes.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Lady Luck not Really a Raptor Fan

On Wednesday night the Raptors, and their fans will be hoping and praying for some lottery luck to help expedite the turnaround of this franchise. Whether it’s a rabbit foot, a troll doll, or a purple horse shoe, fans will be bringing out their lucky charms to help send the Raptors positive energy in the hopes that one of the Raptor ping-pong balls comes out first.   

Though the team has shown glimpses of success and has a great deal of free agent money to spend, The Raptors really lack a clear franchise player. This type of player is available, but not likely if they stay where they are at the number 9 spot. 

Either Anthony Davis or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could turn the Raptors fortune around immediately if the Raptors were to have the opportunity to select them.

The days of Vince and CB4 are gone.  Although there is little reason to doubt that Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan will turn into serviceable players, they likely are not going to become franchise players.

This NBA draft offers a couple of almost sure shot superstars in the opening round in Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.  The Toronto Raptors are currently slated to draft 9th if everything stays the same, but could move up or down depending on what happens around them.

Lady Luck needs to smile on the Raptors at this Wednesday night lottery.  I hate to say it, but it isn’t likely to happen.

Take a look at our draft lottery history. 

The Toronto Raptors have never really had great success in the draft lottery.  Even in their first season they were put in the 6th position by the NBA offices.  Something that had never happened before until Canadian expansion.  True, the Raptors went on to draft eventual rookie of the year Damon Stoudamire, but still, a lottery win could have been exciting and the team missed out on players like Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett and Michael Finley all who went on to have better careers than “Mighty Mouse”.

The Raptors actually won their second ever draft, but because of league rules were forced to draft 2nd.  That turned Allen Iverson into Marcus Camby.  Don’t even mention that Isaiah Thomas missed out on Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Peja Stojakovic.  Luck just wasn’t on their side.

The Raptors have only ben able to draft in the first position once in their history and chose Andrea Bargnani. Six years later, the Raptors are still searching for their franchise player.

The Raptors did eventually strike the number one overall pick in 2006, the same year the NBA ruled that it would no longer allow underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft.  Had high school students been given that opportunity that year, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant would have been very serious possibilities to join the NBA.

Nothing against Andrea, he has turned into a very good player and probably one of the top five players from that draft, but I’d rather have Kevin Durant.  I think everyone in the history of time and space would agree with me as well. We may have actually dodged a bullet with Oden, but still, the universe has seemingly been against us. 

Lady luck just hasn’t got it done for the Raptors.  They’ve had to make the best out of their poor draft position and, for the most part, they have.  Early on the Raptors found diamonds in the rough in Tracy McGrady at number 9 in the 1997 draft, Morris Petersen at number 21 in 2000 and DeMar DeRozan at number 9 in 2009.

They were also able to create their biggest success through a draft day trade that moved Antawn Jamison to the Warriors for Vince Carter.  The rest is, of course, history.

It would seem that Bryan Colangelo, Ed Stefanski and Dwane Casey are going to have to make the best of their current draft position, but you never know.  This could be our year.  This could be the year the Raptors get to draft that highly touted “game changer” that has alluded them since the franchises inception.  I mean it is mathematically possible according to Jay Satur  but it really isn’t all that likely.

Raptor fans are better to hope that some bigger names drop for some inexplicable reason like Peterson, DeMar and Ed Davis did in their draft years. Or the Raptors will have to hope Bryan Colangelo does his homework as he appears to have done with last years surprise Jonas Valanciunas. The pick was widely panned at the time until common sense and the opportunity to see him play changed people’s minds. 

Still, at the end of the day; I’ll cheer for our 12.3% chance of landing one of the top three picks and our 3.5% of winning the whole thing.  It could happen.

I mean it’s already happened twice.

Hopefully this time it will land the franchise player the Toronto Raptors so desperately need.

And if not, well we’re going to have to trust the Raptor brain trust to make a smart move at a lower position.  Something, we know, they have been able to do over the years. 

Happy Draft Lottery Day folks!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Ex Raptors Could Be Keys to Success in Playoffs

So the Raptors are once again not in the post season, but there is still plenty for a Raptor fan to enjoy as this years playoff series’ get under way.

How about all the familiar faces playing key roles in this years playoffs?  Players that maybe didn’t get the chance to excel, or even play, in the postseason in Toronto have opportunities to make major contributions to their teams’ playoff run this year.

From big name talent like Chris Bosh to role players like Matt Bonner and Reggie Evans, there are plenty of ex-dinos out there that could play pivotal roles in the first round of the playoffs.

Make sure you watch out for these guys:

1) Chris Bosh – Although the Heat will live and die by the hand of Lebron James in the fourth quarter, Chris Bosh will once again be an important part of any hope Miami has of coming out of the East.  Bosh will have to match up against some very stiff talent and his offensive efforts could be what makes or breaks it for the Heat.  With all three members of the “big 3” firing on all cylinders there really is no stopping the Heat.

Chris Bosh will be a key reason the Miami Heat win or lose a game this year in the playoffs.

Bosh will have to score when needed and will really have to help contain the bigger bodies of Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler and Carlos Boozer if the Heat hope to advance back to the NBA finals.  Last year he played well offensively but wasn’t as effective on the defensive end (a trait that plagued him during his Raptors days).

If Chris Bosh excels this year the Heat will likely win it all.  If he buckles under the pressure, the load his teammates are left to carry may be too much to handle.

Chris Bosh may be the difference between championship and heartache for the Heat.  

2) Leandro Barbosa – When the Indiana Pacers acquired Barbosa at the trade deadline for a 2nd round pick they didn’t acquire him for the regular season.  They really acquired him for the playoffs.  After one game in the series against Orlando it is already clear why this young team needs the veteran Barbosa to step up.

Most of the Indiana players really lack playoff experience and success.  They’re a young team and they showed their youth in Game 1, dropping it in catastrophic fashion to the veteran Magic.  Orlando dominated the last four minutes of the game and stole the victory from a stronger Pacers squad.

Barbosa will likely get more minutes in game 2.  He’s been to the dance before and has had some great playoff success in Phoenix.  He’s a crafty veteran and knows how to handle the pressures of the playoffs.  His presence on and off the court will be of great help, specifically, to George Hill and Paul George, who were not sharp in game 1.

Barbosa has experience in the playoffs and can hopefully help the young Indiana backcourt shrug off their difficulties and get the Pacers back into the series.

When Barbosa was with the Raptors he was instant offense off the bench.  Indiana, with only 77 points in game 1, could use that bench production especially when their starting back court is having difficulty.

The Pacer bench, and Barbosa in particular, are going to be key factors in this series. 

Matt Bonner is a perfect example of a bench player that could have a huge impact off the bench for San Antonio.

3) Matt Bonner – The San Antonio Spurs came into the playoffs playing some pretty darn good basketball.  They captured the number one seed in a very difficult Western Conference and looked primed for a good run at the championship.  Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli, once again, lead this team into battle with their eyes on yet another championship ring.

The Spurs also have a phenomenal supporting cast as well consisting of Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw, Kawhi Leonard and Matt Bonner.

When the starters need a rest, the bench doesn’t miss a beat.  Jackson does the scoring, Diaw defends the paint and Bonner is there to throw in some dagger three’s.

When Matt Bonner used to hit three-point shots for the Toronto Raptors it would send the ACC crowd into a frenzy.  There almost wasn’t a more exciting play at the ACC during his tenure in Toronto.  When he hits them for San Antonio there is that same excitement in the air.

There is something about a Bonner three-point shot that sends electricity through a crowd.  When he hits a big shot it usually has an impact on the game as well.  I have a feeling Matt Bonner is going to be hitting big shots throughout the playoffs for the San Antonio Spurs.

In Toronto, we’d call Matt Bonner an “X-factor”. In this series, he could help San Antonio steal a game or two.  

4) Reggie Evans – Every year it seems that a rare playoff performer emerges to the forefront and helps a team win a game a series or even a championship.  Last year names like Ian Mahinmi and Tyson Chandler became household names.  This year one of those names could be Reggie Evans.

In the playoffs in hockey you need toughness and forechecking. Someone who is going to bang it out and do the dirty work that doesn’t get noticed on the score sheet.  Throwing a pick, chasing down a loose ball, tapping an offensive board back to your teammates are some of the intangibles that give teams a better chance to win and become far more valuable in a playoff series.

Reggie Evans is a player that does those things.  He’s tough, he’s strong and if he’s defending you, you are going to have to work.  Watch out Gasol, watch out Rudy Gay, the lane is about to be clogged.

Reggie is one of those X-factor type players that could end up making a huge difference for LA, even if it doesn’t show up on the score sheet.  

5) Shawn Marion – He wasn’t a Raptor for very long, but it was clear during his time in Toronto that Shawn was a very offensively gifted player.  He is lightning quick and can get to the rim easily.  He has quick feet and can keep up with defenders. He has also shown throughout his time in Dallas that he is a valuable defensive presence as well.

Marion is another playoff veteran, having had successful runs in Phoenix and he finally won a championship in Dallas last year.  Marion was a key reason Dallas was able to win and provided stellar defense during their championship run last year.  He took care of Lebron James in last years final and is becoming more known for his defense around the league.

This year he has been handed the task of guarding Kevin Durant.  Not an easy task, but if anyone is up to it, it’ll be Marion.

A playoff veteran, Marion has been handed the most difficult defensive assignment of anyone in the playoffs.  It’s not going to be easy, but something tells me Marion’s defensive abilities could make or break his team this year.  

So, Many former Raptor players are going to potentially play large roles in how this years championship is ultimately decided.  Lots to watch during the playoffs, even if the Raptors aren’t a part of them.

Enjoy!

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Final Message Should Come from the Coach

On Thursday night the Toronto Raptors will gather at the ACC and celebrate “Fanapolooza”.  Tonnes of giveaways and prizes will be handed out to fans to celebrate the year that has been.

At halfcourt one raptor will be selected to give a “rah, rah” speech about the year that was and why all of the fans should expect better next year.

In the past, Raptor players like Vince Carter and Chris Bosh have taken turns addressing the crowd.  Last year it was Demar Derozan.

Who will be standing at center court to address the ACC crowd this year?

If the Raptors are smart they will let the coach do the talking.

Every Raptor player from stars like Bargnani and Derozan to popular players like Calderon and Amir Johnson have had up and down years at best.  Should they address the crowd? It’s possible they might hear it from the fans the way Golden State owner Joe Lacob did during Chris Mullins’ jersey Retirement a few weeks ago. This city isn’t in a good mood when it comes to MLSE after the Leafs missed the playoffs once again.

Bryan Colangelo could take on the duties, but that could get even uglier since he has yet to turn this team into a consistently achieving franchise since he arrived in 2006.  Toronto sports fans have shown that they aren’t shy when it comes to management, having gone after Ron Wilson and Brian Burke publicly during games. Though unlikely, Colangelo could be a target for the fans frustration.

Though it would be admirable for Colangelo to take the mic.  Glen Grunwald used to address the crowd to a smattering of boos and took responsibility for the mess that was his team and promised to turn it around.  Colangelo would be a good choice, but not the best.

Dwane Casey has turned the Raptors franchise around this year and in doing so has changed the way fans view the franchise. He should therefore be the one addressing the ACC crowd on Thursday night.

If I am the Raptors brass, I bring someone out who the fans have no choice but to cheer.

Dwane Casey.

It was Casey who came into camp and preached “pound the rock”.  It is Casey who has done far more with this team than any other coach could have been expected to.  It’s Casey who has turned this team from a defensive laughing-stock to a respectable defensive team. He said he wanted to change the culture in that dressing room and for the most part, he has.

There will not be one single person at the ACC on Thursday night that could possibly boo Dwane Casey or the job he has done this year.

He is considered by many to be one of the best coaches in the league this year and if it wasn’t for the Raptors win/loss record he could be among those receiving votes for Coach of the Year.

Dwane Casey should be the one speaking at the ACC on Thursday night because Toronto fans have no reason to doubt his words.  He represents the hope that many raptor fans feel despite another year out of the playoffs.

Casey preached defense and then brought the goods.  He said this team would work hard and compete and despite the low-level of talent on this team, they did. He promised the team would work hard and from all indications they have.  Harder than anyone thought this group of players could work.

Casey turned Andrea Bargnani into an All-star for the first 20 games of the season. He hid the defensive deficiencies of both Bargnani and Calderon and made the team look very strong on the defensive end for the first time in I don’t know how long.  He was able to “crack the code” and turn Demar’s season around in the second half and he got incredible performances out of players that many coaches never could have (J. Johnson, Aaron Gray, Bayless, etc).  He’s been an absolute blessing this season.

Dwane Casey has given this city a little bit of hope for the future of this franchise and so on Thursday, a night when the franchise wants to sell “the future” to the fans, he should be the one to deliver the last word.

With an improved roster next season fans in this city can start legitimately thinking about playoff basketball in these parts.  The reason is Dwane Casey.

Hopefully he has the opportunity to address the crowd on Thursday night and ignite some excitement in a city that is dying for something to cheer about.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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Deadline Day in Toronto Nears

This week the NBA will have its trade deadline and there will be rumours all over the web this week about “this player” and “that player”.   Names like Josh Smith, Pau Gasol and even Chris Bosh are already getting tossed around trade circles.  It’s a nutty time of unsubstantiated rumours, people with little to no knowledge of anything spreading baseless gossip and reporters, fans and players reading into things that may or not be there. And in the end there is usually more talk than action.

The Raptors have not been frequently involved in trade rumours, but they do have some chips to play in the possible wheeling and dealing that will be done over the next few days.

The NBA deadline, unlike the NHL and MLB, usually has a calm feel to it.  There isn’t a great number of trades, but often there are a few that change the course of the post-season.  The Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green trade stands out from last year.

And sometimes the trades are small ones that help teams in the future.  In years past the Raptors have made small trades that ended up having longer term benefits.  A young Doug Christie was acquired once upon a time from the Knicks for Willie Anderson and Victor Alexander.  That trade looked okay when it happened, but the Raptors ended up enjoying many successful years with Christie as a starter.  A move of veteran players for one that would help in the future.

Last year the Raptors swung a deal with Chicago, giving up a first round pick, for a guy named James Johnson.  That has turned out swimmingly for the Raptors so far as well.  Johnson now looks like he’ll be in Toronto for a long time and is quickly becoming a fan favourite.

So the trade deadline can certainly be intriguing, if nothing else.

Let’s take a look at some Raptors that are out there in the trade market and the likelihood of them being moved.

1) Leandro Barbosa

This remains the most likely Raptor to be traded.  He has an expiring contract that makes him financially attractive to potential suitors and he is a speedy veteran that would be a welcome addition to any bench in the entire league.

Barbosa is instant offense.  He can get to the rim quickly and scores in bunches.

He certainly isn’t a pass first point guard, but he would look great coming off the bench for any playoff team out there.  He scores, gives his team a boost when he comes into a game and can play a number of positions.

For a team like the Lakers or the Celtics he would be a welcome addition and would bolster their second unit scoring.

What makes Barbosa the more attractive is that his large expiring contract for this year ($7.6 million) that the team acquiring him could turn around and use to add other players, with the cap space,  at the end of the year.

The likelihood of this happening seems to be lessening however as Barbosa has stated that he’d like to sign and is willing to talk extension.  Whether Bryan Colangelois interested in this remains to be seen.

Leandro Barbosa is the most likely Raptor to be on the move on Thursday's deadline. He wants to stay in Toronto, but if the price is right, Colangelo might look to move him.

If a team is willing to part with a young wing player or a first round draft choice I think Colangelo would do a trade in a second.  It, however,  remains highly unlikely he’ll be offered that much for Barbosa’s services.

Outlook: Teams will be interested in Barbosa and will make offers but they likely won’t be what Colangelo wants.  Barbosa could prove to be more valuable this off-season when they use his millions in cap space to sign a free agent.

2) Jose Calderon

Say it Ain’t so!  Jose is my favourite player on the Raptors.  He has been since he wrestled the starting spot away from TJ Ford back in 2007.

He remains a solid point guard, but it is beginning to look like Calderon may not fit into the youth movement that is currently under way in Toronto.

He is a veteran Point guard that protects the ball and doesn’t turn it over and has the ability to score from anywhere on the court. In a playoff series a player like Calderon would be perfect coming of the bench.  A JJ Barea type that can score and pass, but unlike Barea, Jose plays the game safe.  Perfect attributes of a backup playoff point guard.

Now tonight, in the worst game ever played on the planet Earth, Calderon was injured and could miss significant time.  If he is still healthy I believe that it is unlikely he gets moved, but then again the market for point guards just got another buyer in Minnesota.  (We know how much David Khan likes his point guards).

If a team feels like they need to have a point guard that can score and protect the ball then you may see Calderon move, but thanks to his potential injury he likely wont.  His contract, once considered one of the worst in the League, is getting more attractive every year.  He now only has this year and next before free agency.

If Jose is not traded this week, his name will likely be mentioned again next year.  His contract expires next year and that capspace will be very attractive to somebody, plus he’s a good player.

Then again, if he ends up being healthy I could see the Lakers or Blazers being interested in him as either a starter or back up.

The Raptors would likely want a draft pick and/or an expiring contract that runs out this year in return.

Can they get that for Jose?

Outlook: Despite his defensive liability, Jose is one of the better point guards in the league.  He protects the ball, gets his teammates involved and shoots the lights out from pretty much anywhere on the court.  He’s great in the locker room and constantly works hard.  Any team would be lucky to have him.

His contract and potential injury, however, make it highly unlikely that he will be moved this year.

And that’s just fine with me as I feel Jose could be a strong part of the rebuilding process and the steady hand that helps guid this young team.

3) Amir Johnson

Amir Johnson, although only 24 years of age, is playing in his 7th NBA season.  He has all kinds of talent, but still struggles to be consistent on both ends of the floor.

With Toronto’s front court becoming more and more crowded the time has come to move either Amir Johnson or Ed Davis.  One or both of them could be on the move at the deadline.  Amir is a good rebounder, energizer off the bench and just a great all around guy.

He would be a great asset for any team in the league whether it’s a team in the playoffs or not.

Outlook  – It would be a good idea to hold on to Amir.  His potential has still not been realized and will likely make a great partner for Jonas Valanciunas next year.  He’s willing to play center or power forward  or come of the bench. If he can ever get his fouling under control,  would be a valuable piece to a playoff teams bench.  The Raptors hope to be a playoff team next year.

Ultimately, moving his contract at the deadline will be hard to do at mid-season.

If Amir is going to go it’ll likely be in the off-season when it is easier to organize a deal. The crowded  front court needs to be solved, but not until the off-season.

5) Ed Davis 

As with Amir, Davis is part of a very crowded front court.  It is almost hard for him to find minutes now and will be even harder when Jonas arrives.

Ed is on his rookie contract and is therefore not tricky to move at all.  Any team looking for depth at power forward could take a chance on him. He’s young, plays strong defense and rebounds the ball well.  He still has lots to learn and needs to put more effort into getting stronger, but if he’s available there would be plenty of teams interested in a promising young PF.

Outlook – Might be the easiest to trade this year because of his manageable rookie contract.  He still has plenty of room to grow and mature and the Raptors have only begun to see the type of skills he is capable of.  It might not be time to walk away from Ed just yet.  Getting rid of Davis is a tough call that will likely be made in the off-season.

6) Rasual Butler

He seems like the most likely to get traded in my opinion.  His imprint on the Raptors this year is rivaled only by the impact Solomon Alabi has had. He has been invisible on the court and on the scoresheet.  He is not going to get Colangelo much more than a late 2nd round pick, but for a team looking to add some veteran presence, Butler might be worth a look.

Outlook – He isn’t high on anybody’s list, but he would certainly add veteran depth to a contender and would cost next to nothing.  He plays tough D and can apparently shoot the 3.  Players like Rasual are the ones that usually get moved at the deadline.  It is possible.

At the end of the day, the Raptors are already in a good position for next year with a high draft pick, lots of capspace and a pretty solid core of young players to build toward the future.  A trade isn’t necessary, but if there is something out there that will help the Raptors get better, expedite the rebuilding process or add a first round pick or two then Bryan and Ed Stefanski would be wise to consider a move.

I have a feeling it will be status quo leading up to Thursday. However, I had that feeling last year and Colangelo ended up going out and picking up James Johnson.  That move has paid off well and hopefully so will whatever move he chooses to make this week.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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