If the Raps knew Portland wanted Telfair I think they shoulda made a pre arranged deal where they could get Aroujo and something else, like the VC trade. I woulda like Telfair here to, just because a guy that small didn't do it before doesn't mean he can't. I think our second rounder is gonna do much better than Moiso. WTF happened to Rod Strickland last season, he had some sick games and then he was benched, i don't get Kevin O'neal.
I have to admit that when I first heard of the pick I was in shock. My first feelings were that we picked him up way too soon and could have chosen a more talented player with #8 like Nelson or Igoudala or traded down a few spots at least to choose him. Then when I started to think of the bigger picture it all made sense. Babcock stated with that pick that he is committed to the developement of our future superstar in the making Chris Bosh. The Raps relied too heavily on Bosh being their centre and he was regularly outweighed by 20-30 pounds each opponent he played <font size="1">(mind you they always played man on man as well). </font><font size="2">If Aruajo can step in and play right away this would be a major advantage for the Raptors and Bosh. </font> Starting Lineup?: PG- Alvin Williams or free agent SG- Vince Carter SF- Jalen Rose/Donyell Marshall PF- Chris Bosh C- Rafael Aruajo I can see this lineup going to the playoffs. The Raptors have a ton of free cap space as well to make a run at signing a reliable player. Remember they only have 7 people under contract right now. I might have not agreed with the selection but I see where Babcock is coming from. He has a future stud in Chris Bosh who has been playing the 5 since he stepped into the league. He saw a player who can fill the void at centre and move Bosh to the 4 and he went for him. BTW...Why couldn't we grab Jameer Nelson from Denver?? Why did Duhon get selected by Chicago right before the Raptors? I thought the Raptors could have made a move to bring one of these players in.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ADubb20:</div><div class="quote_post">I definetly don't see him gettin only 5 mins a game and in summer league he'll get more points because he will be a specimen against that talent. My prediction is 28 min 8 points 7.5 boards, 1.5 assists .8 blocks and .8 steals. Donyell may not start games but he'll get more minutes than Aroujo. I like the idea of the Raps tryin to get Etan Thomas.</div> do u guys think babcock is some esoteric basketball genius? there is a reason why all the experts projected him to go late in the first round in a weak draft, he's marginal player at best. i saw tape of him and he was manhandling his opponents, but remember he was literally manhandling children, 190 pound lanky athletes. do u really think he can do that against nba frontlines? 8 points and 7.5 boards is preposterous. i think he's going to be injury prone because he obviously looks like he has conditioning problems. i want to be wrong about this guy but my instincts says he a scrub, don?t think he?s even a rotation player. yeah the raptors need etan thomas but i think they are going to use their exception on a pg.
hm.. VC at 11.3 million next season, Jalen Rose with 14.5 million, A-dub with 5.5 mil, 'Yell with 4.5 mil, Bosh earns 3 mil? That's total 38.8 mil and last season's salary cap was set at 43.84 mil.. this season maybe 44 or 45 mil? Oh wait.. Jerome Moiso and Roger Mason Jr. together earns total of appx. 1 mil Lamond Murray earns another 4.5 mil or so, and Rafael Araujo's gonna earn 8th pick lottery salary which is set at 1.66 mil.. that brings the total salary of the 9 players we have to 45.96 mil.. Even with Mid-level exception of about 5.3 mil we have barely 6 mil cap room to use on free agents.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ADubb20:</div><div class="quote_post">WTF happened to Rod Strickland last season, he had some sick games and then he was benched, i don't get Kevin O'neal.</div> He was getting smoked on the defensive end by all opposing guards. Since O'neil was too stubborn to play a zone, Stricklands man was having a feild day on him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">He was getting smoked on the defensive end by all opposing guards. Since O'neil was too stubborn to play a zone, Stricklands man was having a feild day on him.</div> lets be honest here, o'neill put him in positions to fail. he made him guard starberry and he got torched.
hopefully Araujo isnt a bust, but he has bust written all over him. As for a PG we could sign Nash, Hudson or Fisher, or even trade for one.
i was really mad when i herd they drafted that guy i was thinking to my self y didnt they draft nelson. anyway i found out that this guy wasnt so bad and that he can really play but know we need a point, there are really good point guards that are free agents that they can sign. jamalla crawford is a free agent and there is no way he will get a high contract and if not everyone forgets that rose can play point. but as long as we get rid of alvin williams im happy
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">lets be honest here, o'neill put him in positions to fail. he made him guard starberry and he got torched.</div> If O'neil took Strickland off of Marbury, who would Strickland guard? Houston? The fact is Strickland could not guard anyone. Have you seen his lateral movement? He plays defence standing up. He was an asset on offence but on defence he got smoked. Now if the Raptors had been playing zone......it would be a different story.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">If O'neil took Strickland off of Marbury, who would Strickland guard? Houston? The fact is Strickland could not guard anyone. Have you seen his lateral movement? He plays defence standing up. He was an asset on offence but on defence he got smoked. Now if the Raptors had been playing zone......it would be a different story.</div> well he should have of guarded houston, strikland is a big guard and fairly strong, i might even consider not even playing him in those games. nonetheless, one of my complaints against o'neill is that he micro managed the offense stifling the creativity of some of his most talented players, as witnessed by strikland offensive irrelevance after the first few games. o'neill clearly didn't want strickland on the team, he didn't fit into his ideal defensive first mentality so he put him in positions to fail embarrassing grunwald and exposing the management-coach rift. i don't think he wanted to be here, he tried desperately to get fired. i don't think its a conspiracy theory cause if read through the interviews, the articles and post facto statements it clearly shows that o'neill wanted to be fired. and most teams in the nba don't play zone but considering his personnel he should have considered it at least.
I'm confused about the posts saying that Donyell will be the 6th man. WTF? If he's not traded, Donyell won't be a sixth man. They didn't even start CB4 at the beginning of last year, why would anyone think that Araujo will be starting. I like the pick, but come on does anyone seriously think he will start? He's 15-20 mins. Most likely at the end on the first quarter into the second, and end of the third into the 4th. The only way he gets more time is if Babcock is a genius and this guy becomes a rebounding machine!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting "deception":</div><div class="quote_post">u got to be kidding, is it 8 and 6 in summer league? he's been compared to mahorn and brad miller (btw, a comparison i don't see at all) but he reminds of Andrew DeClercq, a glorified declercq at that. i'll predict his minutes a better evaluation of position on the team, 5min a game.</div>Oh common, he's not going to get 5 minutes a game, and definately not only put up 8 and 6 in summer league, in summer league he'll have like 14 points and 9 rebounds if they're giving him the minutes. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting "ADubb20":</div><div class="quote_post">I definetly don't see him gettin only 5 mins a game and in summer league he'll get more points because he will be a specimen against that talent. My prediction is 28 min 8 points 7.5 boards, 1.5 assists .8 blocks and .8 steals. Donyell may not start games but he'll get more minutes than Aroujo. I like the idea of the Raps tryin to get Etan Thomas.</div> I think 0.8 blocks is stretching it since that's what he averaged in 29.8 minutes a game in college, I don't think he'll average that in 28 minutes in the NBA, but I hope his blocking can improve, but it's not likely since he has a short wingspan and is not a high flyer, he's no Kevin Willis but his arms aren't too long. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm confused about the posts saying that Donyell will be the 6th man. WTF? If he's not traded, Donyell won't be a sixth man. They didn't even start CB4 at the beginning of last year, why would anyone think that Araujo will be starting. I like the pick, but come on does anyone seriously think he will start? He's 15-20 mins. Most likely at the end on the first quarter into the second, and end of the third into the 4th. The only way he gets more time is if Babcock is a genius and this guy becomes a rebounding machine!</div> Not they, Kevin O'neil didn't start CB4, but I don't see KO around, do you? What do yo uwant Bosh to play the 5 again? Marshall isn't going to play center unless he would've last year, so Araujo will likely start or we'll sign someone on the market to start. Donyell isn't going to start over Bosh at the 4, he can't play the 3, and if we have anyone that can play center, he's coming off the bench or getting traded. Trade Denver for Jam....or year Jameer Nelson is gone. It would've been sick to trade Donyell to Denver for Jameer Nelson and Rodney White
I really think that Donyell is worth more than Jameer and Rodney White. Take nothing away from Jameer but id rather trade Donyell for an established point guard who would be equal in value to Donyell. I like how everyone is starting to cool off about the Raptors pick. And he could be good for us. It'll defenitly help CB4 who I see scoring over 16 ppg and gettin 9-10 boards and even more blocks. I can 't imagine who hes gonna dunk on when he adds weight based on the fact he dunked on everyone last year.
Well, lets just hope that araujo will make atleast some impact on the team and if not trade him or something. Also, we still need our coach.
<u>Babcock on Fan 590</u> On getting boo'd at draft party I don't care about getting boo'd. We have to earn the cheers. I'd much rather get the cheers in January and get the boo's in June instead of the other way around On Papa Sow: Very active 6'9" forward not at the level of Ben Wallace but is similar player - aggressive, active athelete a rebounder. Believes he has a future. We'll give him a good look if he doesn't make it this year put him in Europe. On Matt Bonner: Will be on the summer league - looking forward to seeing him play. He can really shoot it, knows how to play and has quality character - something the raps are putting a high priority on. On Alvin Williams: Hasn't had a chance to see him as of yet. Hard worker, dedicated professional. Medical staff is rehabbing him to get him to the point where he can play. What Alvin does is up to him and the medical staff. On Free Agents: There are guys out there - been doing his homework. Staff has been getting videos and stuff preparing for July 1. Once coach is on board, will sit down and scour tapes. There are some PGs out there they will make a hard run at. Whether we can get them - we'll have to see. On Coach: Hoping to have a coach by 29th or 30th of June at latest. Needs to have coach in place to go over free agents, talk strategy etc. Need to have a head coach when calling agents so the agent knows who the coach is. On the Center Spot: Still looking at and evaluating needs - Moiso needs to be evaluated. Still needs to watch Toronto tape. Best way to improve is to develop players. Summer league play will help a lot too. On the GM Job Loves it - hard work and challenging but he enjoys it. Been a very intense 20 days but that's what he knew when he took the job. Gonna be watching tape for the next couple days on free agent players.
Pape Sow (POP Sow) is a big body 6'10 250. Pretty good numbers in college plus we got another second rounder.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kid Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">Pape Sow (POP Sow) is a big body 6'10 250. Pretty good numbers in college plus we got another second rounder.</div> u guys already have a Rafael Araujo avator's, this dude is going to be a nba joke. anybody remember alex radovic (sp.)?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post"><u>Babcock on Fan 590</u> On getting boo'd at draft party I don't care about getting boo'd. We have to earn the cheers. I'd much rather get the cheers in January and get the boo's in June instead of the other way around On Papa Sow: Very active 6'9" forward not at the level of Ben Wallace but is similar player - aggressive, active athelete a rebounder. Believes he has a future. We'll give him a good look if he doesn't make it this year put him in Europe. On Matt Bonner: Will be on the summer league - looking forward to seeing him play. He can really shoot it, knows how to play and has quality character - something the raps are putting a high priority on. On Alvin Williams: Hasn't had a chance to see him as of yet. Hard worker, dedicated professional. Medical staff is rehabbing him to get him to the point where he can play. What Alvin does is up to him and the medical staff. On Free Agents: There are guys out there - been doing his homework. Staff has been getting videos and stuff preparing for July 1. Once coach is on board, will sit down and scour tapes. There are some PGs out there they will make a hard run at. Whether we can get them - we'll have to see. On Coach: Hoping to have a coach by 29th or 30th of June at latest. Needs to have coach in place to go over free agents, talk strategy etc. Need to have a head coach when calling agents so the agent knows who the coach is. On the Center Spot: Still looking at and evaluating needs - Moiso needs to be evaluated. Still needs to watch Toronto tape. Best way to improve is to develop players. Summer league play will help a lot too. On the GM Job Loves it - hard work and challenging but he enjoys it. Been a very intense 20 days but that's what he knew when he took the job. Gonna be watching tape for the next couple days on free agent players.</div> og 15,i caught that as well, weren't u suprised that he said he didn't watch much toronto game tape? he was lauding himself working 16 hour days, wonder what he was doing all that time?
