Big Move Brewing

[mo-sales]

BC has clearly abandoned the rebuild is attempting to contend on the fly. I have no problem with this as rebuilding only really works if you are going to be truly awful for at least two years. Unless we want to steal Kahn away from the T-wolves we are more likely to be perpetually lingering on the playoff precipice than reloading with high picks through actual bottom dwelling.

BC appears to be stockpiling talent in the hopes that he can find another Amir/Weems amongst the rubble of the NBA's recycling bin.

I think he has something up his sleeve to kickstart the raps into contention. Not championship contention as the Heat have firmly sailed away with that ship, but middling playoff seed contention that keeps the fans happy, the ACC packed and the bloggers at bay.

The problem with BC is that patience isn't one of his virtues. He wants what he wants the moment he wants it.

Gilbert is obviously the most reactionary move he could make. A simple Jose plus expirings would probably get it done, but he could also use the TPE plus an expiring and get Gilbert and possibly two 1st rounders.

The TPE is a huge chip and the last two guys I can remember it being used on were Camby and more recently Jefferson. The best bet would be to wait for the season to start and see what teams payroll far exceeds the reality of its expectations.

Every year we see a team stumble out of the starting gate and by late November their whole team is on the block. Personally I would rather watch this team swing for the fences by getting Gilbert and then maybe an Iggy/Granger type with the TPE and vainly compete in the East than endure a couple semi-bad years that have a similar ceiling.

[Katman]

Especially since you need to be REALLY bad and VERY lucky to get a Franchise type player in the draft

[CalgaryRapsFan]

I agree with your view and strategy, but please please please please please NOT Gilbert Arenas! The guy is a cancer and would corrupt our young players!

Players like Johnson, Kleiza, Barbosa and Barnes (if it goes through) are the type of players that would have a profoundly positive impact on our core of young players, as they have good attitudes towards the game and an outstanding work ethic on and off the court. Regardless of how much you like each player I listed, they are all strong characters that should push the likes of Bargnani, DeRozan, Weems, Davis and Alabi to get better & stronger, while bringing the effort more consistently than they did last season.

I also feel like there is a bigger move brewing, whether it happens pre-season or before the trade deadline. However, I hope BC grabs a player(s) that will help in both the short and longer term, while only adding to a positive team chemistry.

NO GILBERT ARENAS!!!

[sha]

There is NO WAY BC and the management team will sign Gilbert Arenas. He is too much of a loose canon and BC wouldn't chance his antics around the other guys. NO WAY!

[Hassan]

Gilbert is a very talented player and i think he has it in him to average 20+ a game next season

[sleepz]

Arenas would be the best player on the Raptor team by far.

That being said you are in the game to try and win championships, not be a middling playoff team that keeps fans content. Miami has a stacked roster but it does not mean you conceed the trophy to them and have your franchsise focus on middling playoff appearances, as that is the mindset of perennial losers.

Get some top tier talent via the draft and try and create a culture of winning. Utah hasn't won rings but they compete every year and they expect to win, even if they don't.

Anything else or any goals set to "keep everyone happy" and the registers ringing, is an insult to the organization, players and fans of this team.

[Tim W.]

BC has clearly abandoned the rebuild is attempting to contend on the fly. I have no problem with this as rebuilding only really works if you are going to be truly awful for at least two years. Unless we want to steal Kahn away from the T-wolves we are more likely to be perpetually lingering on the playoff precipice than reloading with high picks through actual bottom dwelling.

BC appears to be stockpiling talent in the hopes that he can find another Amir/Weems amongst the rubble of the NBA's recycling bin.

I think he has something up his sleeve to kickstart the raps into contention. Not championship contention as the Heat have firmly sailed away with that ship, but middling playoff seed contention that keeps the fans happy, the ACC packed and the bloggers at bay.

The problem with BC is that patience isn't one of his virtues. He wants what he wants the moment he wants it.

Gilbert is obviously the most reactionary move he could make. A simple Jose plus expirings would probably get it done, but he could also use the TPE plus an expiring and get Gilbert and possibly two 1st rounders.

The TPE is a huge chip and the last two guys I can remember it being used on were Camby and more recently Jefferson. The best bet would be to wait for the season to start and see what teams payroll far exceeds the reality of its expectations.

Every year we see a team stumble out of the starting gate and by late November their whole team is on the block. Personally I would rather watch this team swing for the fences by getting Gilbert and then maybe an Iggy/Granger type with the TPE and vainly compete in the East than endure a couple semi-bad years that have a similar ceiling.

One (attempted) free agent pickup (and a role player one, at at) and you feel that signifies Colangelo is not rebuilding, even thought every single other moves seems to point that way?

And I rebuilding the right way certainly doesn't mean you have to be truly awful for two years. First of all, being truly awful doesn't get you anywhere. Read this...
http://www.wearingfilm.com/picketfen...07/the-r-word/

[Bendit]

The natural inclination is to shy away from GA...and his acquisition definitely falls in the "swing for the fences" category. There is of course no question of the man's talent. He and Barbosa in the backcourt could be a perfect tandem for the running game. And he could be ripe for changing his stripes (he's been very quiet). Getting a stay home purely defensive centre then becomes our only immediate need. But, god, his contract is scary. Definitely putting your jobontheline type acquisition.

[mo-sales]

The whole Gilbert is bad locker room presence is a claim that has a lot of legs, but not that much validity. If anything it was Critteron that was the bad influence and Gilbert simply picked the wrong teammate to make a bad joke with. The guy is 28, but a young 28 due to the missed time and lack of playoff success, but yes he has a bad knee, bad on/off court reputation and the worst contract in the NBA.

I subscribe to the Bill Simmons knucklehead theory that a lot of the young stars like Gilbert, Capn Jack, Z- Bo, Crazy Ron, Kobe, Pierce etc.... come into the league extremely immature and it takes them until thier late 20's to evolve into good, reliable teammates that put the team ahead of thier own egos.

Gilbert could very well go the Iverson route and never get it, but I think the last couple years have knocked him down a few pegs and forced him to face reality. I honestly think it is the best option the raptors have and the only way they can put some NOS on the rebuild.

As far as the rebuild goes, most teams that successfully pull one off get extremely lucky with a draft pick (Thunder) or by jumping up in the lottery (Bulls). The raps need to make thier own luck and currently the only tried and true way of doing that in today's NBA is by stacking your team with bargain bin all stars.

The Jazz have no shot at winning a title this year or in five, but they are routinely competitive and entertaining. At this point that is all I want from the raptors. A title is a pipe dream and a rebuild is a dream within a dream that we might never wake up from.

I'm pretty sure the raps could get Gilbert and Oden without giving up very much. Worst case scenario they both get hurt and the raps are a high priced lottery team. Best case scenario Oden re-breaks Bosh's face with his schlong and maybe the raps actually win a couple of playoff rounds.

Toronto needs a winner and at this point i'll settle for the facade of one instead of the empty promise of one down the road.

[Tim W.]

The Jazz have no shot at winning a title this year or in five, but they are routinely competitive and entertaining. At this point that is all I want from the raptors. A title is a pipe dream and a rebuild is a dream within a dream that we might never wake up from.

You certainly don't speak for me. As a fan of the Jazz from the Stockton and Malone era (from the beginning), I HATE seeing what they have become. A perpetually above average team with no hope of ever getting to the Finals. I hate when clubs basically give up trying for the brass ring. That's running the team like a business rather than a team. It's depressing as hell for fans like me who want the team to strive for excellence, not mediocrity.

I realize you're afraid of rebuilding, but what you're afraid of is not actually rebuilding, but rebuilding badly. If you've got a bad GM, then it doesn't matter WHAT he does, they're not going to be very good.

I'm not happy with a team that doesn't try and be the best. You obviously are.

[Buddahfan]

Big Move Brewing

[LBF]

BC has clearly abandoned the rebuild is attempting to contend on the fly. I have no problem with this as rebuilding only really works if you are going to be truly awful for at least two years. Unless we want to steal Kahn away from the T-wolves we are more likely to be perpetually lingering on the playoff precipice than reloading with high picks through actual bottom dwelling.

BC appears to be stockpiling talent in the hopes that he can find another Amir/Weems amongst the rubble of the NBA's recycling bin.

I think he has something up his sleeve to kickstart the raps into contention. Not championship contention as the Heat have firmly sailed away with that ship, but middling playoff seed contention that keeps the fans happy, the ACC packed and the bloggers at bay.

The problem with BC is that patience isn't one of his virtues. He wants what he wants the moment he wants it.

Gilbert is obviously the most reactionary move he could make. A simple Jose plus expirings would probably get it done, but he could also use the TPE plus an expiring and get Gilbert and possibly two 1st rounders.

The TPE is a huge chip and the last two guys I can remember it being used on were Camby and more recently Jefferson. The best bet would be to wait for the season to start and see what teams payroll far exceeds the reality of its expectations.

Every year we see a team stumble out of the starting gate and by late November their whole team is on the block. Personally I would rather watch this team swing for the fences by getting Gilbert and then maybe an Iggy/Granger type with the TPE and vainly compete in the East than endure a couple semi-bad years that have a similar ceiling.

i compeltely agree.

[jeff_hostetler]

I must have posted a half dozen...posts...in favour of Arenas, using many of the same arguments, namely, his suspension working in his favour in giving more time to let his knee heal and how I think he's been knocked down a peg or two in terms of ego. I really think he's up for bearing down and trying to do right again. I would love to see Arenas on the Raps, personally. A new team, a new city would do wonders.

Oden? If he's available I'd go pretty hard after him for sure.

A team with Arenas, Derozan, SF, Davis and Oden, in a few years, with, say, Calderjack, SG (weems?), Kleiza, Johnson and Bargnani coming off the bench I think could definitely compete, given Derozan and Davis develop to their high potential. In the short term we'd still be making the playoffs while giving our young players ample playing time and experience.

If Oden busts out, he busts out, but he's still on his rookie contract. And if it doesn't work out and we can't take it to the next level with Arenas, when it's all said and done we'll have one gigantic mother of an expiring contract with Derozan, Weems, Davis, Johnson, Alabi and Bargnani all in or soon to enter their primes.

Say what you want about Arenas, but the guy is a baller and I'd give him a shot on the Raps for sure.

[blaze89]

dont want another re-build on the fly lets just ride this one out to a nice top draft pick this year.....i couldnt care less if our roster didnt change at all from not to the start of the season just as long as we beat the heat at least once this year :P:P

[phez]

toronto, a city of haters, arenas, a man filled with hate ... sounds like a match made in heaven