Raptors Trade Rafer for Mike Jaaaames (Article)

i think both players have ended up in the right places

 

I dont know what to fell because i havnt seen mike james play.. soo we'll have to see when the season starts.. but as i like at it now rafer avgs about 4 more points and more assists than james... im not sure

sorry bout spellin this keyboards messed
like - look***
fell - feel***

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">While I like to see Rafer his contract and his issues go away, I really wanted to see how he would fare this season with the Raps.</div>

took the words RIGHT out of my mouth. He's my favourite player too. Oh well

One of his greatest traits, was his downfall - his emotions. I really thought he could be better this year and I got the impression that Babs and the MLSE were gonna ride him out for atleast the first third of the season. He said he was gonna be determined and it looked like Mitchell and him had things on the same playing field.And honestly, I might be the lone person in this, but I didn't see much negativity from Rafer. Oh well, it's not like Mike James is any worse or has any big negatives that come attached to him.

And with all the stat discrepancies, I think Mike James iwll easily fill the gap with a slightly larger role with Toronto

 

I like the trade in the fact that the Rockets are getting the true PG that they have coveted...From reports, Alston is a nice passer and can shoot well...however, he is much more comfortable running a team than Mike is since Mike is a scorer...James has questionable shot selection and can be selfish...I personally like the deal for Houston because I believe it's the best they would've gotten in return for James, considering that he was planning to opt out of his deal next season...

 

Wow I definitly didn't see this coming.

I don't mind this trade. Mike James is a solid player and an improvement at the point guard spot but I'm going to miss Skip and his crossovers and floaters. But yeah Mike is a great player so I guess I'll learn to like him.

 

Mike James has game. He's a good player with a nice all-around game, nothing extraoridinary but it is above average. I just hope he can get his assists up a little.

I think this move could spark the A-Dubb comeback, Alvin is my boy and I wish he didnt get injured. Alvin is going to be a good backup and possible starter this upcoming season if he's back to even half of what he was before the surgery.

 

I don't know too much about Mike James. What is the age differencebetween him Raefer? Do they have similar amounts in contract years? Also, as someone asked earlier, are there any fillers?

 

wait wait, Does Mike James mind being traded? or is his attitude negative about being traded/does ne not want to be here?

 

I like this trade.
While Rafer maybe more talented, his contract runs for 5 more years compares to James's contract which ends after next season where he'll be making 3.7 Mils.

James is a much better defender and one of the crucial parts in Detroit's championship run two years ago and Houston's late season/playoff push last year.

He's a very capable shooter (39.9% from 3PT FG%) and can run an offence efficiently.

Good luck to Alston though. Good move Babcock.

 

I also have mixed feelings. I don't think it's a bad trade by any means, but definately not great. Babcock is very cunning, from how he was talking, you'd think he wanted to see how Rafer does this season before making a decision.

Mike James is a nice player though, he's a good defender, a good shooter, and he can score fairly well. He's not really a playmaker though, he's a decent passer, but not a true PG by any means.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">I also have mixed feelings. I don't think it's a bad trade by any means, but definately not great. Babcock is very cunning, from how he was talking, you'd think he wanted to see how Rafer does this season before making a decision.
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yeah i just got home from school, hearing the news for the first time on the car ride back home on the radio like 45 minutes ago. "cunning", how about outright liar, this guy is smooth. it seemed like they couldn't trade away rafer and were going to make amends with rafer. but thinking about media day now it hits u like deja vu; sam mitchell who isn't "cunning" -never mentioned rafer''s name, almost acting like he wasn't on the team which is curious since he was going to be the starting pg.

 

I don't think Mike James wants to be here. He was the incumbent starter at Houston, a championship contender, and I doubt any player in that situation would like to come to Toronto.

James is one of those guys that would count themselves lucky to average 5 assists per game. For those of you who say that James is a better passer, he'll prove you wrong. He's best off the bench to put up a cluster of points in a hurry, and his hound's defense on the ball will definitely erase any memories of Alston getting killed on the pick-and-roll, but I don't think James will be much of an upgrade over Alston. Yeah, MJ is a low-profile guy, but he won't have as much of an impact on the floor than Rafer.

 

My personal scouting report of Mike...

Good shooter...uncontrollable shot selection...great at breaking down defenses and penetrating...can be selfish and hog the ball too often during a game...decent defender yet gambles a lot...doesnt have a very high bball IQ, IMO, and the Rockets offense seemed inconsistent and unstable when he was running the show...definitely more of a 2 than a 1...thinks shot-first, shot-second, then pass as a distant third...

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Houston:</div><div class="quote_post">My personal scouting report of Mike...

Good shooter...uncontrollable shot selection...great at breaking down defenses and penetrating...can be selfish and hog the ball too often during a game...decent defender yet gambles a lot...doesnt have a very high bball IQ, IMO, and the Rockets offense seemed inconsistent and unstable when he was running the show...definitely more of a 2 than a 1...thinks shot-first, shot-second, then pass as a distant third...</div>
Where was this criticism when James was in Houston?

I don't think James's shot selection is any worse than Alston's. James at least takes shots he can make, while Alston just forces up wild shots on the regular and doesn't think twice about shooting with 15 seconds left on the shot clock. Milt Palacio was the stabling presence on the Raptors last season, not Alston. I think James is a great defender. Yes, he gambles for steals, but when he's not doing so he can force a lot of turnovers. Comparing him to Alston is like comparing Ron Artest to Jalen Rose.

I also think James is a very smart player, unlike you. He sees advantages and disadvantages well. When he knows he has a slower defender than him, he would drive straight to the bucket, and he didn't force the issue when guys like Darrell Armstrong or Devin Harris were on him during the playoffs. His shot selection is definitely not "uncontrollable", as you make it seem.

 

I've noticed many Raps fans feel that they will miss Rafer's flair and the flashes of Skip to My Lou that would breakout every once in a while. Just a little tid bit, Mike James tried out for the Houston And1 exhibition and led the home team to a V over And1 (albeit without Rafer, but still, he can get down and he's got some show in his game).
I don't see a dime of difference in their leadership quality and this is a rare one, but I totally disagree with Locke on the matter of passing. I don't know that his assists will be high, but he's a good enough passer. I actually am fonde of the combination of Chris Bosh and Mike James. I think their styles will complement each other well.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Culperfect:</div><div class="quote_post">I've noticed many Raps fans feel that they will miss Rafer's flair and the flashes of Skip to My Lou that would breakout every once in a while. Just a little tid bit, Mike James tried out for the Houston And1 exhibition and led the home team to a V over And1 (albeit without Rafer, but still, he can get down and he's got some show in his game).</div>I don't think anyone really will miss Alston's streetball style of play. Yes, most do like that as a bonus but we're solely talking court production here.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't see a dime of difference in their leadership quality and this is a rare one, but I totally disagree with Locke on the matter of passing. I don't know that his assists will be high, but he's a good enough passer. I actually am fonde of the combination of Chris Bosh and Mike James. I think their styles will complement each other well.</div>James is rather outspoken on and off the court, definitely unlike Alston, who never starts talking. James, during his time with Houston, never impressed upon me as a leader on the court. He seemed content to defer to TMac and Sura leadership-wise. Solid role player, but I think Alston has more of an effect on his teammates, although Rafer is too vocal for my liking.

James' assist numbers have never been higher than 4.2. He averaged 4.4 in 55 games with Boston, with 30.6 minutes. Those numbers aren't really too good numbers for a point guard. On the Raptors, I think it's very possible that Calderon will start at point guard and James will come off the bench to spell him. Don't get me wrong, I think James will have a great season off the bench. He is a great tempo-changer off the bench and can score 14 from the bench every night. He'll be one of the better sixth men in the league, and gives the bench a big boost scoring-wise.

 

Babcock as "cunning" seems very suitable and a very good description of him. After taking some though, I perosnalkly think this wasn; tmuch more to improve our team, but to "make ammends" with Toronto, admit his mistake. More Politics than anything

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know much about Alston, but I'm rockets fan that's here to tell you that you guys will love Mike James.</div>


just in the media interviews he's done since coming up here to T.O., he sounds like a very positive person...

he knows his objectives, he said in houston the team objective was to win a championship,

here in toronto the team objective is to make the playoffs, and he said he's will give his all to reach that goal... (this was courtsy of The Score)

 

Thanks Locke for an honest opinion on Mike James. I dislike when people are so heavily biased about something that they start exagerating things about players to make the deal seem one-sided.

I am impressed about Mike James optimism, and maturity about being traded. I'm glad that we don't have someone like Jimmy Jackson who immediately wants to be traded.

On the other hand, its too bad to see Rafer go so soon. I believe he wanted to play for Toronto, and that he has an awesome passion for the game. I really wanted to see him have a second chance before we decided to trade him. But I guess that is the business of the NBA.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Eclipse:</div><div class="quote_post">Rafer isn't going to blow up like Carter, isn't going to happen.



And Rafer is? The way I see it, we get less flash but better defense and consistency plus cap relief. I just wish Babcock didn't sign Rafer in the first place (especially not to a 6-year contract). Another one of his bad moves that he's trying to make up for.</div>
with palacio as our only point gaurd and troy hudson as the only other available gaurd who went back to minnesota babcock had to overpay and remember the whole contract is not gauranteed.
Cant wait to see mike james play, also he reminds me of pinball clemons for some reason