Question #1: It seems apparent that the Raps will probably make a move on Dec. 15 - when players that have signed a new deal with their new teams can be traded, but who is available or who might the Raps be particularly interested in...if they were to make a move at all? Question #2: How many draft picks do the Raps have for 2006? Are there any awesome center candidates that the Raps may have on their radar or can we expect the same "pick the best player available" scenario and just rely on a trade that will possibly land Toronto a decent center? Question #3: A proposed rumour that Jalen could be traded for Hardaway from NYC- I think it wouldn't make a difference because it wouldn't really solve the Raps winning situation, and Jalen is a much better player also. The only thing that is a positive on this deal is that Hardaway's big contract expires after this season, which would give Toronto 18 million to work on in the Summer, which makes the 2 questions above more flexible to work with. So, if you're the GM...execute or not?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Question #1: It seems apparent that the Raps will probably make a move on Dec. 15 - when players that have signed a new deal with their new teams can be traded, but who is available or who might the Raps be particularly interested in...if they were to make a move at all?</div> Ummmm, everybody is tradable in this league, but it takes two teams to make a deal. The Knicks/Raps rumours have been cooking for a while though, so maybe Zeke/Babcock are waiting for the Dec. 15 deadline to include some rooks/FA's in a trade. My guess is yours man. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Question #2: How many draft picks do the Raps have for 2006? Are there any awesome center candidates that the Raps may have on their radar or can we expect the same "pick the best player available" scenario and just rely on a trade that will possibly land Toronto a decent center?</div> We have 3 picks. Our own 1st rounder, Denver's 1st rounder (top 5 protected) and our own 2nd rounder. As far as centre prospects, well the college season hasn't started yet, but there are few players that are supposed to declare and I'm somewhat intrigued by. Andre Bargnani is a very verstile 7 footer from Italy. He got very good range for a man his size but I'm not sure he can be a 5 in the NBA. He's too thin for my liking and lacks toughness from what I've seen. He's got great fundementals and is a really really smart player with outstanding passing abilities. I think the Divac/Illgauskas comparisons are not way off. Also, I really like LaMarcus Aldridge from Texas. Although he probably isn't a top 3 pick, I'd very ecstatic if we can get him with the Denver pick. He's 6'11 but again as I said about Bargnani, he isn't big enough to play the 5. Ofcourse there is also Tiago Splitter who has been well covered in this year's reports that led to the draft. He also played with Caldeorn on TAU and is currently playing with Roko Ukic, so that's a plus I will however draft the best player available. Always (remember Hoffa?). Unless obviously the BPA is a power forward and there isn't a big gap in talent between him and the next best player. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Question #3: A proposed rumour that Jalen could be traded for Hardaway from NYC- I think it wouldn't make a difference because it wouldn't really solve the Raps winning situation, and Jalen is a much better player also. The only thing that is a positive on this deal is that Hardaway's big contract expires after this season, which would give Toronto 18 million to work on in the Summer, which makes the 2 questions above more flexible to work with. So, if you're the GM...execute or not?</div> The thing is, I'm not sure MSG would approve of this trade. I'm not sure but the notion I get from New Yorkers is that they're trying to stop piling up large contracts and are trying to rebuild. And Jalen's contract isn't the most desirable thing when you're rebulding. Also, the misconception seems to be everyone assumes that if we trade JR for Penny we're going to have 18 Mils to play with in the off season which is not true. We're still going to be on the edge of the cap and the only thing we can do is use our full Mid Level Exception which is about 5 Mils. Unless MLSE want to pay some hefty luxury taxes, which is highly unlikely, we can't spend more than the MLE this summer if we swap Rose for Hardaway. I hope this helped you out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">We have 3 picks. Our own 1st rounder, Denver's 1st rounder (top 5 protected) and our own 2nd rounder.</div> I expect the Raps to draft the best possible player, possibly a wing player to replace a player like Rose, but that's my guess. There is a strong possibility that the Raps may draft a center, but my gut tells me they will likely choose to try and make a deal with another team to get an experienced, proven center. What exactly does "top 5 protected" mean? Is the possibility of Magloire coming to Toronto a doubtful situation or maybe the Raps can pull something off, adding a draft pick (preferably the Denver pick) to this scenario? <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">The thing is, I'm not sure MSG would approve of this trade. I'm not sure but the notion I get from New Yorkers is that they're trying to stop piling up large contracts and are trying to rebuild. And Jalen's contract isn't the most desirable thing when you're rebulding.</div> I think NYC is in a much worse state than the Raps. In terms of rebuilding, I don't think they'll ever be in a not-rebuilding-state because Isaiah just keeps signing/trading players. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if they pushed for this trade, as it seems that the Knicks are in a desperate situation right now. I mean, they acquired Maurice Taylor and Malik Rose- two very highly-priced players that don't really do much...or how about Jerome James? They just signed him and now they're thinking of moving him as well. So, I don't think the piling of contracts has even stopped Isaiah from his absurd movements, but at least he's doing something, right? Anyways, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, but one other thing- who would you choose for those draft picks? I'm very curious.
This draft is PF heavy... i mean there's a lot of Power forwards and most of them aren't capable of playing center.. I say trade the pick during draft time for a good young Center and something else like a swing man
^ you better be talking about denver's pick right? With our draft pick--if we can land either Rudy Gay or Andrea Bargnani we'll be set Rudy gay is an amazing player..he'll be an all-star plus he played with CV31 before and they are close friends While Bargnani is a tough international player and he is capable of playing at C
I'd really like Rudy Gay with our 1st pick. We'll probably land a top 3 pick for ourselves by the way we're playing so far, and that's a good thing. Gay can replace Rose and Graham can move to the 2 spot. Then all we'd need is a C, whom we could draft with Denver's pick, whether their proven or not, it can be a project. A risk. We'd still have some pieces left to trade for a proven center as well.
honestly looking at our progress thus far IMO we should honestly pull the rose-hardaway trade look at it this way--Raps will struggle no matter what this year if we get hardaway..his contract will expire by the end of this season therefore--allowing us to sign a solid C nextyear and than next season..if we draft rudy gay and another C we can maybe even pull a peterson trade
If we are to make a deal with the Knicks after Dec.15 I think it will most likely involve Channing Frye because IMO he's big enough to play center and he just started cracking into Browns rotation. Frye's a good big man and I think him Bosh and Villanueva could make a great frontcourt. I think thats the only reason the Knicks trade hasnt been done thus far if the rumors are true. If not, I hope we draft a big man with Denver's pick and get Rudy Gay, Daniel Gibson, or Sergio Rodriguez with our pick which it seems at this point will be a Top 5 if not Top 3 pick.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PlaTsanity:</div><div class="quote_post">his contract will expire by the end of this season therefore--allowing us to sign a solid C nextyear </div> Which centers are available at the end of this season?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PlaTsanity:</div><div class="quote_post">^Knicks will not trade frye</div> I agree- the Knicks are not going to trade any of their rookies. If Rose gets traded to the Knicks, it will most likely involve guys like Penny Hardaway, Jerome James, Maurice Taylor, Malik Rose... you know, those dudes that will pretty much just bloat the cap space. I still think the Raps should probably draft a few wing players, rather than a centre- maybe with a second rounder. The Raps should go for a proven centre and I still have high hopes for the Raps landing Magloire on December (crosses fingers).
