I'm positive we'll get a draft pick. Even though teams will be clingy, BC will find a way to get a draft pick. I wouldn't mind giving up Dixon, Graham or Humphries and cash for a first rounder. This draft class is too good for Colangelo not to do something.
To get him would be hard, more and more teams see the energy he brings, and I also don't think he'll want to leave Cleveland. But yea, I would like him in a Raptor Uni.
Im not sure how much it will cost but I really like Darko Milic I think he has a lot of potential still being so young. Travis Outlaw is another free agent that comes to mind. what is confounding me is what is the ideal position for Andrea Bargnani 3, 4 or 5. I think everyone seems to think we have a need for an SF but if Bargnani emerges as our wing player than SF becomes a lower priority and addressing the centre position becomes more prevalant. I dunno maybe the raptors brass envision going smallball with Bosh at 5 and Bargnani at 4 or vice versa.
Bargnani, is a 5. He is 7 feet tall. He just needs to become a better rebounder. He isn't a swing-man. not speedy enough. Joey Graham was supposed to be that swing man, the next big small forward for the Raptors, be we can all see he isn't. He has had flashes, btu he just isn't that guy. Andrea will play the C, to strech out guys so Bosh can drive, or Bargs will get the 3 and Bosh will be under the hoop.
I can only partially agree with bargnani being a 5. While he does play the role on defense, he is not a center when we have the ball. The idea of forcing the tall guy to play center is somewhat outdated now, it’s more about what skills you have. Guys like Dirk play out on the perimeter and take jumpers because that’s the best way to utilize their game. I’d rather see Bargnani shoot jumpers than grinding it out under the basket. It's hard to have this debate because the idea of a position in the NBA is changing a fair amount. The C position isn't what it used to be. You have guys like Okur that shoot 3 pointers. There are very few traditional centres around.
True, but he should play C, becuase he can play kow, but now most C's stretch out Defenses, which help the PF's like Bosh. But I with there were more tradintioal C's like Rasho and Shaq around.
I've actually started to lean away from the Dirk style player, which Bargnani is similar to. If a 7 footer stays on the perimeter, the opposing team can put a shorter player with more stamina to guard him and is capable of defending him on the perimeter, however a 7 footer isn't quick enough to guard a 6'7 guy on the perimeter. I like versatility, however a center's most needed qualities are rebounding, low-post scoring, and help defense. 3 pointers, mid range jumpers, etc are secondary. I'd rather have a pointguard great at passing, 3 point shooting, and layups than a pointguard great at postups, dunking, rebounding, and blocking shots. Although if you can have it all, that is great too.
It all depends on his defense and rebounding, IMO. If he works onhis rebounding and just keeps on improving his defense (he's got good fundamentals, IMO) then he'll fit in nicely at the 5 spot. We can let him do his thing on offense without forcing him to be something he isn't (although I'd like to see him develop a bit of an inside game) if he isn't a liability on the other end of the floor. I'm not willing to scrap the "Bargnani at the 5-spot" plan just because Dirk got exposed by the Warriors. One of the main reasons I think Nowitzki struggled so much is because he's Dallas' only frontcourt player who can produce offense. That gave Golden State the benefit of being able to tailor their gameplan solely on stopping him. I can see Bargnani having a similar weakness in the future, but I don't think teams will be able to exploit it nearly as badly as Golden State did. They won't have the opportunity to have 2 extra players waiting to double him when he puts the ball on the floor, because Chris Bosh will demand too much attention. That 1-2 combination will make it difficult for teams to gear their defenses to stopping only on player. This year, we saw teams key in on stopping Bosh, but if Bargnani develops like he can, they won't have that luxury in the future. I think eventually we'll need someone to have a bit of a back-to-the-backet, lowpost game and I'm hoping Bosh will develop that eventually. If not we could always draft/sign someone to bring off the bench for that role.
I do hope Bargnani devolps that kind of game. A player who can shoot the 3 and play with his back, would be great. Bosh could improve on that too, but I much rather have him spot up, and drive or shoot. Hopefully he'll improve his 3 point shot, and have a better percentage. I also want Parker to develop a Rip Hamilton type game. Where is his great moving without the ball, and can creat his own shot. He started doing it against NJ, and I want him to develop it into a full time thing. I think the raps should go after a young up-coming SF, becuase garbo is 30, and we need a good explosive SF that Joey Graham just isn't. Hopefully we'll pull a deal for someone, or get someone through the draft.
Here's an interesting article about a point guard from Marist that hasn't gotten a lot of attention. Supposedly he's one of, if not the best, passer in this draft class and is projected somewhere around the 2nd round (no one really knows where). If we do get a 2nd rounder, it might be interesting to grab him. You can never have too many good pass-first PG's and he could be insurance with the whole Calderon issue looming. If not, and he doesn't end up undrafted, its still an interesting read: The Legend of Jared Jordan: Link
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">One time I saw him make a three-point shot, then steal a pass at mid court for an uncontested layup, then steal the subsequent inbounds pass and lay that in. Seven points in 10 seconds. "What just happened?" a guy sitting next to me said. Abracadabra. </div> Wow, this kid sounds like the real deal. I think Colangelo should look at him. I hope Calderon stays with the Raptors, I don't wan him to leave. He is such a good player, I think he will stay though. He is modest and gets tons of minutes. He even got to play clutch against the Nets in game 6. Jared Jordan sounds like a player who can rack up some assists. Hopefully we can land him, and he become a solid back-up or starter.
Wouldn't hurt to sign him if he gets undrafted like to a training camp roster or the summer league roster, it won't kill you cap wise or anything, but will he be willing to sign with the Raps?
<div class="quote_poster">Gotrunks226 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wouldn't hurt to sign him if he gets undrafted like to a training camp roster or the summer league roster, it won't kill you cap wise or anything, but will he be willing to sign with the Raps?</div> When you go undrafted, you are willing to sign anywhere. However, where would he fit if he does sign. Lets say we keep Ford and Calderon, when would he play. I think if we sign him, Ford or Calderon need to go unless we keep this kid for a while and play him when we are blown out, or giving the blow. I think he could be a legit backup, possibly a starter. He sounds like a flasher Steve Nash to me, which can't be all bad.
<div class="quote_poster">Ford_11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> I think he could be a legit backup, possibly a starter. He sounds like a flasher Steve Nash to me, which can't be all bad.</div> Jordan is not a good shooter he only shot 29% from the 3pt line lastyear. Marist is not in a great conference either but i would like to see some video of him before i write him off completely. But a pg's options are limited when a defender can sag off him because the passing lines become tighter and more diffiult to penetrate.
<div class="quote_poster">a13x Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We can sign a third point guard with an inconsistant shot? Sweet.</div> Lol, I think we don't need a third PG, now that I think about it. I really want Brian to go after a SF, who is under the radar, and con put up some consistent numbers.
lol, when you put it that way... I agree he's not something to break the bank for, but I'm just thinking about value picks in the late 1st and 2nd round. I think he could prove to be servicable player that we can always deal if he doesn't find a spot on our roster. Although it would be nice to not see Darrick Martin on the floor. And I'm not a very big Juan Dixon fan either.
The Ford/Calderon tandem worked very well for us last year, but I think we should be entertaining offers for either one of them this off season - - as we have a very rare commodity (a young pass first pg) If we could move either of them for a legit SF or centre and add a dependable back up pg either via free agency or the draft that is something i would be vere interested in.
