here's an interesting article to offer a completely different perspective of all this bargnani talk. the following are excerpts from the real article. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Raptors-Bargnani talk all a con job Someone check up Colangelo's sleeve May 25, 2006. 05:24 AM DAVE FESCHUK As pre-draft strategies go, call this The Italian Job. And if you didn't see the movie of the same name ? either the 1969 original or its decent sequel ? you should know it starred a group of con artists planning the heist of their lives. To wit, Colangelo listed off his club's needs yesterday, and the needs ? contrary to all the nice words about the Italian ? spoke a different language. They need more "interior presence" and "rebounding help," the GM said, and Bargnani is a perimeter guy who averaged three rebounds a game during the regular season in Europe. They need a point guard. (And when haven't they?) And Bargnani, even if he is being billed as the latest in a long line of "next Dirk Nowitzkis," is certainly not that. So why would the Raptors feign hyper-interest? Perhaps they're trying to legitimize Bargnani as a No. 1 pick in other team's eyes. The Atlanta Hawks, holders of the fifth pick with no record of genius in their front office, have expressed love for Bargnani, and perhaps they're insecure enough to need someone to second that emotion. And maybe the Hawks would throw in an existing player to move up. There are a couple of point guards, Connecticut's Marcus Williams and Villanova's Randy Foye, who'd likely still be around at five. Either one is a better bet than Jose Calderon. Any way you look at it ? and the possibilities are endless, really ? this Italian Job reeks of a smokescreen. A deal's brewing somewhere, even if it's only in Colangelo's head. Raptor fans can only hope they're on the right side of any possible larceny.</div> full article
I read this, and it seems entirely plausible. Atleast, if the raptors keep the # 1 pick and use it smartly, it will seem like Feschuk is right.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting nkwu:</div><div class="quote_post">I read this, and it seems entirely plausible. Atleast, if the raptors keep the # 1 pick and use it smartly, it will seem like Feschuk is right.</div> for once feschuk did not annoy everybody and actually had something decent to say, since size takes longer to develop my guess is they will trade aldridge for size with experience or to draft a pg later in the draft and sign a center through free agency...lets see no harm in guessing
This could be a fake out to get aldridge if you get what i mean. Get chicago all hyped all think that the raps will take barginni with the first pick and make them real interested then trade down one slot so the bulls can have him and we get an extra pick or something then we take bosh's good friend aldrdidge and get an extra pick out of it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tinyballer:</div><div class="quote_post">This could be a fake out to get aldridge if you get what i mean. Get chicago all hyped all think that the raps will take barginni with the first pick and make them real interested then trade down one slot so the bulls can have him and we get an extra pick or something then we take bosh's good friend aldrdidge and get an extra pick out of it.</div> Too me, trading with the Bulls to get their 2nd and 16th makes a lot of sense for us. I don't like the idea of trading too far down, I mean why get to a position where we have to draft a Randy Foye (Mike James w/ less point guard skills?) or Marcus Williams (I think he's a bit over hyped in this draft, his off the court problems bother me a bit (although Pape Sow was involved in stealing something be fore we drafted him too), and I just can't see him as a point guard for the future of the Raptors)? With the 2nd and 16th I would go after Gay and BPA at 16th (which could range from O'Bryant, Shelden WIlliams, Rondo, Sefolosha, Lowry, etc). We then could go after Pryzbilla or even if we're desperate Cato in the Free Agency. In this way, we add the most depth to our bench and get the big man Bosh wants. We don't need more scoring, we lose games because of our defense not our offense. Picking up a future perimeter defender and interior defender in this scenario would advance us most in our future and makes Bosh happy. Great article on Rudy Gay: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Gay Wants Top Spot Forward Working To Be No. 1 Pick By DESMOND CONNER Courant Staff Writer May 26 2006 Rudy Gay was sitting in front of the television Tuesday night watching the NBA draft lottery from Secaucus, N.J. When the pingpong balls bounced the Toronto Raptors' way for the No.1 pick, there were two thoughts that rushed through his mind. "It definitely turned out different than what I thought it would," Gay said by phone Wednesday. "And then I said, `How good would it be to play with Charlie [Villanueva] again?'" Villanueva, as the story goes, was a guy who came to college with enormous hype but didn't equal it on the floor - like Gay. Both showed flashes but weren't consistent. Villanueva, like Gay, decided to enter the draft after his sophomore year. But behind closed doors in New York, Villanueva elevated his game, mind-set and approach during the individual workouts. It went well, so well, that the Raptors took Villanueva with No.7 pick in the 2005 draft and many folks were surprised. He followed that with a stellar first season and finished second to Chris Paul for rookie of the year. Gay, who played one season with Villanueva, is looking, hoping, to pull off the same thing - or better. The 6-foot-9 forward is still mentioned as one of the top picks in the June 28 draft with most sites have him being picked sixth. Gay says he's on par with any of the players being mentioned as the top pick. But Gay isn't naive. He's aware of the criticisms of him and his game - that he's not as assertive as he should be for a player with his size and ability; that he doesn't get low enough on offense or defense; and that he has to work on his ball-handling. As Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said Tuesday night, there's no denying Gay's talent and athletic ability. Now, more than ever, is the time to get it together. "I've been working out, sometimes three times a day," Gay said. "I think most of all what I need to do is be more assertive when I have mismatches. I've been working on all my strengths and weaknesses really, but I think when I have a mismatch, I just have to use it, use that person, go past the player and beat him at that time." Agent Lance Young said he believes his client will go in the top eight picks. "You know, teams have needs at the top and some are going to take the best player available," Young said. "Rudy, I think, is one of the best and most athletic guys among the guys mentioned as the No.1 pick. We'll see. I think he's definitely top eight. He's working hard. He's working on his game every day, getting about 400 to 500 shots up every other day. He's put on weight. We want to get him up to around 230 pounds [Gay's weight had dropped to around 215] He's added about seven pounds and we want him to gain about seven more. I'm talking about seven more pounds of muscle now." It was clear Tuesday night that Colangelo liked Gay. The Raptors could use a wing player like him and need a point guard. But in holding the No.1 pick, with cap room to boot, Colangelo can do a lot of things to make the team better next year, including using it to get a top-notch free agent, even one with a big contract. Whatever the Raptors do, Gay is trying to get himself in position to be the top guy no matter what team makes the pick. Time will tell. "I've talked to the top eight teams and they want to bring him in," Young said. "I think he's only going to work out for two or three before the predraft camp in Orlando." It has been reported that Gay is scheduled to work out for the Charlotte Bobcats on May 31. Gay's representation would not confirm the report. The Bobcats have the No.3 pick. </div> Source What do you guys think? Bosh was right, we don't need another finesse 4, we need a C that sets the picks we want and gets the rebounds we need. Bargnani and Aldrigde both don't fit the bill adequetely as far as I'm concerned.
I gaurantee you that Shelden Williams will be gone by #16 As for Rudy Gay going #1 is a mistake. Lamarcus Aldridge can easily play the C position and with him, bosh, and CV in the front court. Rebounding will be a breeze.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Toronto Raptors have the first overall pick, and have been widely linked to Italian forward Andrea Bargnani -- so widely, in fact, that Bickerstaff is starting to dismiss the speculation: "I just keep hearing the same thing" about the Raptors' intentions, Bickerstaff said. "Hearing it so much, it must be a smokescreen."</div> source
