Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Raptors Off Season - Bryan Colangelo:Jedi Master
Well wasn't that a turn of events!
Go to sleep thinking the best the Raptors would do in the Marion Sign and Trade would be a 2nd round pick. Only to wake up today to see that in some crazy turn of events Colangelo has managed to involve Orlando (who get a HUGE 10 million Trade Exception) and retain the Mid Level and Bi annual exceptions as well as obtain Antoine Wright and Devon George.
The deal which isn't finalized yet breaks down like this (from Fanhouse):
The trade involves the Mavs, Raptors, Magic and Grizzlies. It sends Marion (5 years, $39 million), Kris Humphries and Greg Buckner to Dallas; Jerry Stackhouse (gonna be waived), Quincy Douby and cash to Memphis; and Hedo Turkoglu (5 years, $53 million), Antoine Wright and Devean George to Toronto(both have expiring deals). The Magic get a trade exception in exchange for Hedo, and Toronto gets to keep their mid-level exception money since Hedo becomes a trade acquisition.
Basically Colangelo saved this team.
He can build a bench now likely adding Carlos Delfino. The departure of Humphries likely means the return of Rasho Nesterovic. He will in all likelihood have money to also get a decent backup point guard as Jose insurance.
The lineup from what I gather will happen and I'm just speculating will look something like this:
PG Calderon, Ukic, Free agent, Banks
SG Delfino, DeRozan, Wright
SF Turkoglu, George
PF Bosh, Evans
C Bargnani, Nesterovic, O'Bryant, Jawai
Now I realize that is too many bodies so hoping for a backup point might be a bit much to ask but still!
Regardless I am amazed that Colangelo was able to Jedi mind trick 3 other teams into helping him.
So today I bow to you Mr. Colangelo. I Bow to you and say thank you. Thank you and congrats on your 3rd EOY!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Raptors Off Season - Another 5 years of Lasagna
The first big signing this off season for Brian Colangelo and Company isn't the Hedo Turkoglu deal. Raptors fans woke this morning to learn that their favorite Italian has reached an agreement for the next 5 years for $50 million.
Raptors fans jumped on the forum's and blogs and are chastising this move by the club as dumb and a waste of money.
My question to them is why?
What about signing a multi-skilled 7 foot big man in his early twenties to a reasonable contract makes this a bad move?
Yes Bargnani had a poor sophomore season but that had more to do with the coach than anything else. He was constantly being jerked around from center to PF,starter to bench guy. Its hard to develop if you don't know where and when your minutes are coming to you.
Bargnani flourished last season with consistent minutes at center under the tutelage of Jay Triano. His post game is ever improving and he can no longer be called a defensive liability.
I don't think its fair to judge Bargnani as a bust because he was the first overall pick in the draft. Nobody in that draft knew that Brandon Roy would be the best of that class. To label Bargnani a bust would be just wrong. He is what he is a solid solid player that is continually improving his game and as far as I'm concerned he's a relative bargain at the contract he just signed.
To prove my point look no further than Andrew Bogut. Last off season he signed a 5 year $60 million extension to stay with the bucks. 10 million more than Bargnani. And so I ask you this. Who would you rather have? Starting 7 footers aren't easy to come by in this league.
I Can Has - Reebok Pump Twilight Zone 2010
The Reebok Pump Twilight Zone is set to release in the OG White/Acid and traditional Black/Orange Pump colorways in 2010.
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