<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Once free agency starts, the Raptors have their mid-level exception set aside for Golden State's Mickael Pietrus, who could start for them next season at small forward.</div> Source Decent solution to getting a starting quality SF, though the MLE might be a bit high for him.
Wow so we will have, Anthony Parker, Garbajosa, Carlos Delfino, Joey Graham, Luke Jackson all available at the SF spot.
I don't understand we have too many SF/SG. Looks like Graham/Dixon are gone, we need to trade for some big men.
<div class="quote_poster">Skiptomylue11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wow so we will have, Anthony Parker, Garbajosa, Carlos Delfino, Joey Graham, Luke Jackson all available at the SF spot.</div> Parker is not a SF.
Parker has the size and versatility to move over to that position, especially if Mitchell wants to employ his predictable Calderon-Ford combo. If he signs Pietrus, then it spells the end for Graham, period.
Yea, I think Garbajosa, Graham, and Jackson are the only true small forwards we currently have on the roster (Parker is really interchangeable between the 2 and the 3. The Raps can move him around depending on who he's playing with and who the best guard on the opposing team is). I'm split on this potential move. I've always been enamored with Pietrus' athleticism and potential, but whenever I check the Warriors board, all I see is complaints about his lack of basketball IQ and lack of development. I wouldn't want this to be a long-term deal.
I'm not that big on Pietrus right now. I was earlier in his career, but he hasn't made the improvements I expected, and I don't consider him a quality "starting" SF in this league right now. This is not to say he's bad, last year he did impress me shooting 48.8% FG and 38.8% 3PT, but I don't want a role player based on how his offense looked in Don Nelson's offense. His FT shooting is still poor, he doesn't put the ball on the floor well, and he's a weak passer, but he is athletic, does still have potential being only 24-25, and he does have some potential defensively if he can stop fouling too much. To me part of it is also about how much money he's being signed for. We can't give Pietrus the full MLE, that would be stupid, he should get a 3-4 million/year contract at most, and shouldn't make more than AP. Also looking at his PER 40 numbers for the past 3 years: <font color=""Navy"">04-05:</font> 19.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 2.7 TPG, .494 eFG%, .539 TS%, 4.1 FPG, 14.2 PER <font color=""navy"">05-06:</font> 16.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 2.6 TPG, .471 eFG%, .500 TS%, 4.5 FPG, 10.0 PER <font color=""navy"">06-07:</font> 16.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.2 TPG, .567 eFG%, .590 TS%, 4.5 FPG, 13.0 PER His scoring rate isn't bad, but outside of this past season, I wouldn't have wanted him shooting too much for his efficiency as a role player. I still don't like his passing, but on the Raptors, the offense doesn't require the SF to be able to pass, so it's okay. I posted some per minute numbers for other guys before, I don't know if I added him in there, but I'd like to see him in comparison.
og15, I think you pretty much nailed it concerning Pietrus' game. His main problems are focus and consistency, hes got all the talent and athleticism in the world but just needs to put it together consistently and I don't know if he can do that. Last year he was having a career year until around March when playing time was hard to come by with the emergence of Matt Barnes, return from injury of Jason Richardson, and the trade that brought us Jackson and Harrington. When hes playing well hes nailing corner 3's at an insane clip, getting to the rim, locking down his man, getting rebounds and even blocking shots near the rim. Conversely when hes not playing well you'll get a ton of turnovers (many times off of travels), ridiculous amount of fouls, many of which are away from the play, and poor shot selection. In an average game you'll probably see a combination of both, where he shows amazing potential on one spectacular play followed by a complete bonehead mistake that most 5th graders wouldn't even make. I'm quite sure that if anyone offers him the full MLE he'll be gone because hes just not worth it (at least to GS).
Did anybody catch the bit before this sentence? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Toronto has been trying to find backup PG Jose Calderon a new home.</div> I don't know how credible this article is, because I got the impression that he was throwing as much crap as possible and seeing what sticks. But I'd hate to see Jose go. Of course, it might be a case of BC believing that his value won't ever be this high and he'll have to make the decision eventually. But, that'd be a hard move to swallow (I think Doug Smith's head would explode).
Funny that you mention that Chutney, I just read this in a Bay Area newspaper this morning: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> A plan is unfolding ... The Raptors are making it no secret they covet Warriors free agent Mickael Pietrus. And while they could offer the swingman a deal starting at about $5 million a year, the Raptors could save their midlevel exception by working a sign-and-trade with Golden State. Lo and behold, word out of Toronto is the league's best backup point guard, Jose Calderon, is available. I'd love to get him (plus a cap-required throw-in) in a deal for Pietrus. </div> Source Granted this is just speculation, if the Raps are really looking to move Calderon it seems like this could be a potential deal. I'd love to have him on the W's but I can't see any logic behind Toronto shopping him unless they have their hearts set on a PG in the draft.
Yea, word definitely spreads fast: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The New York Daily News reported today that the Toronto Raptors may want to trade point guard Jose Calderon. I know for a fact the Cavs like him a lot. I also think the Raptors like Sasha Pavlovic -- they want to collect versatile international players who can shoot and Sasha fits the bill -- although, I'll bet Luke Jackson wouldn't be thrilled with that. But it's all rumors, I'm just commenting on them, I have no sources saying the same thing.</div> <div align="center">Source: Akron Beacon Journal</div> I have a hard time believing that Colangelo would be shopping Calderon if these are the type of offers he'd be getting. He's much too valuable to give up for a swingman. Personally, I believe that he's entertaining offers, but not shopping him around yet.
<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Granted this is just speculation, if the Raps are really looking to move Calderon it seems like this could be a potential deal. I'd love to have him on the W's but I can't see any logic behind Toronto shopping him unless they have their hearts set on a PG in the draft.</div> This doesn't make any sense for Toronto. Why would we want to trade Calderon, who is undoubtedly our most valuable trading asset for someone who is a) inferior and a free agent which we can sign without losing anyone? I don't doubt that BC is trying to use Calderon as trade bait to improve our team though. His value is pretty high right now and no other expendable players could get the same value back as he could.
We can get Mickael without a trade, and he's not as important as Calderon to the team, so I can't see why we would trade Jose for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Eclipse Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Parker is not a SF.</div> Yea, he is a SG, but I think he can play SF. If we look at who we have, SG: Parker 32 mpg, Delfino 11 mpg, Dixon 5 mpg SF: Garbajosa 30 mpg, Luke Jackson 10 mpg, Delfino 5 mpg, Joey Graham 3 mpg, Michael Pietrus 30 mpg Unless we plan on playing Garbajosa at PF, and Bosh at C, I don't think it would be great to give Pietrus the MLE to be backup SF playing 10-18 minutes a game. When we could have Luke Jackson/Delfino/Graham doing it.
How credible is draft express? I know the NYP really puts out some BS from time to time. I'm generally fascinated by the work Colangelo is doing but I'd be pretty disappointed if we shopped Jose. Let's not kid ourselves here, when he's not off the bench our production is crap. Having TJ Ford as a primary guard with no solid 2nd option would cause me to die to high blood pressure from watching his stupidity.
<div class="quote_poster">Eclipse Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This doesn't make any sense for Toronto. Why would we want to trade Calderon, who is undoubtedly our most valuable trading asset for someone who is a) inferior and a free agent which we can sign without losing anyone? I don't doubt that BC is trying to use Calderon as trade bait to improve our team though. His value is pretty high right now and no other expendable players could get the same value back as he could.</div> Did you read the piece from the article I posted? It said it was possible that Toronto wants to save their MLE so they could opt to S&T for Pietrus instead and the deal would most assuredly involve more than just those two players so it would end up being an equal exchange (or close to it). Wasn't my idea, it was this writers and it has some logic behind it. Toronto clearly has a giant hole at SF. Right now all they have is Luke Jackson, Joey Graham, and Carlos Delfino with Mo Pete as a FA after a horrible season. Assuming Mo Pete isn't coming back, none of those guys are starters, hell Jackson and Graham seem like borderline D-League players just from looking at the stats (they don't show a whole lot of Raptors games around here). Pietrus is a guy who can actually start and average 14 pts, 5 rebs, a steal, and a block every game and give you tons of athleticism and a solid defender and shoot a high FG%. I know Calderon is important to the team but the Raps have a quality starting PG and need to shore up their other weaknesses. Last year Colangelo made a big "WTF" move in trading Charlie V for TJ Ford and it worked out pretty well. Trading your backup PG for a SF who can legitimately start isn't too bad of a trade IMO, especially when you've got TJ Ford starting at PG and a bunch of scrubs at SF.
See, most people outside of Toronto don't know Garbajosa can play SF. He's a big guy, but he has good lateral quickness and moves his feet. I'd much rather have Garbo than Pietrus.
The problem I have with Pietrus is he can't dribble the ball all that well. We already have a SF in Joey Graham who has that exact same problem and, with our rather simplistic offense, it really stands out. It all depends on quick ball movement and decisions, and Joey's crappy dribbling slows the offense down and leads to turnovers. I don't think he's a bad option at all, but he's not worth the full MLE and I wouldn't trade a significant player on our roster for him. Besides, there's not much else to spend the MLE on this summer anyways. I can see Colangelo just saving it, if nothing ends up materializing.
I would love Pietrus, but not for Calderon, the best back up in the league, no way. I would much rather give up Ford because Calderon has a better PG mentality then Ford. He is a better Jump shooter, passer and almost helped us beat the NJ Nets.
