Raptors Add two Free Agents <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> (October 4, 2004) -- The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed forward Ousmane Cisse (OOS-mahn SEE-say) and guard Norm Richardson. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. Cisse, 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, averaged 7.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.35 blocks in 20 games for the Brevard Blue Ducks of the United States Basketball League last season. He also appeared in five games for Orlando?s entry in the 2003 Summer League where he averaged 1.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 9.8 minutes in five games. A second-round draft choice (47th overall) by Denver in the 2001 NBA Draft, Cisse was an early entry candidate directly from high school. The native of Mali was named first-team All-America by Parade Magazine and a McDonald?s All-American after averaging 29.0 points, 16.0 rebounds and 12.0 blocks as a senior at St. Jude High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Richardson, 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, played overseas last season with Red Star Belgrade, leading them to the 2003-04 Serbia-Montenegro Cup. He also averaged 6.4 points and 1.3 assists in eight games during the 2002-03 season for the Charleston Lowgators of the National Basketball Development League. Richardson spent the 2001-02 season in the NBA, splitting his time between Indiana and Chicago. He averaged 2.7 points, 0.7 rebounds and 6.1 minutes in 11 games, and posted a career-high 10 points April 11, 2002 at New York. He ended his collegiate career as Hofstra?s all-time leader in three-pointers with 192 and sixth all-time on the school?s scoring list with 1,677 points.</div> <font color="red">Next time quote your articles and leave a source, refer to the JBB guidelines for more information. -Franchise</font>
Hopefully, these aren't pointless signings like the Raptors used to make because they were one of the reasons why the Raptors only got worse a couple of seasons ago.
I think these are just insuranced. If someone gets injured, they just call these people up to play for them. Our roster is already packed, so these 2 free agents wont really be on the roster
From what I've heard, Cisse is a pretty good player with loads of potential and post ability. It's nice to have him, but he might be the Ken Johnson of 2004.
found the whole article: http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/PR_cisse_r...son_041004.html i havent heard any of these players before but hte fact that htey were in semi pros/props is an encouraginf fact. And I agree totally with chungster. Also, are these not guaranteed like Bonner's(it was bonner who wasn't given a gauranteed contract right?)
I've heard that Cisse just got bad advice to come out of HS. He has loads of potential and is finally healthy. Will he crack the top 8 for the Raps? Probably not, but he is a shot blocker and is extremely athletic.
I really like Ousmane Cisse. It'd be nice to see him make the team. He has amazing potential. He could play some decent minutes for the Raptors if he indeed does make the team. He runs the floor pretty well, can block some shots for you, very athletic. I'd love to see him do well in the League.
Cisse is not like Keon. All he can do is block shots like Keon. He is quite a bit shorter and not skinny he is pretty built at 6'9 255.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The native of Mali was named first-team All-America by Parade Magazine and a McDonald?s All-American after averaging 29.0 points, 16.0 rebounds and 12.0 blocks as a senior at St. Jude High School in Montgomery, Alabama. </div> Those are some pretty impressive stats, even though it was only high-school. 12 blocks??? Hopefully, he will get some playing time and will evolve and develop as time goes on...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jenike:</div><div class="quote_post">ObieCent... Cisse kind of reminds me of a Keon Clark, but with defence. Is that a fair comparison?</div> Hmm, that's not the best comparison you can make IMO. I think that a poor man's Stromile Swift is the best he could be at this point in his career, since he's yet to play an NBA game. He's very well built, undersized (heightwise) as a center but alright height for the 4, blocks some shots, runs the floor. If you compare it to anyone in the draft, Al Jefferson would be a good comparison IMO.
