Who should the Raptors target as their SF next season?: Raps eye AI/Gay (36)

[Puffer]

53% of fans got their wish!

The poll suggestion was "Trade for Rudy Gay."

I guess RR citizens wanted to trade Kleiza and a bag of balls and didn't like trading an expiring contract and a bench player. (Who, I will acknowledge, has turned into a 10 and 7 guy this year, as opposed to his career stats of 8 and 7).

[mcHAPPY]

53% of fans got their wish!

[YYZ]

I agree. My preference would be to acquire a player like Iggy AND keep DeRozan, but I would giveup DD if I had to. I assume Calderon and Amir/Davis would also be leaving, either as part of an Iggy trade (for example) or a related trade (to clear cap space ahead of an Iggy trade). A backup PG to replace Calderon would need to be acquired, either in the Iggy trade, a related trade or via free agency.

The wing rotation would be left looking like this, which I think is pretty strong:
SF: Iguodala, Kleiza
SG: Fields, Ross

In this scenario, adding another cheap veteran wing (ie: bringing back Anderson) wouldn't be bad, for times when the Raps want to go small on their 2nd unit with Amir/Davis @ C, Kleiza @ PF, Anderson (or other similar 5th wing) @ SF, Ross @ SG and ??? @ PG.

With Lucas signed and the drafting of Ross, Acy. This may be closer to being done then we think

[CalgaryRapsFan]

I'm alright with Demar going too if it means Iguodala/Gay coming back. Fields is a better SG than he is a SF. We'd have top defence and rebounding at positions 1-2-3

I agree. My preference would be to acquire a player like Iggy AND keep DeRozan, but I would giveup DD if I had to. I assume Calderon and Amir/Davis would also be leaving, either as part of an Iggy trade (for example) or a related trade (to clear cap space ahead of an Iggy trade). A backup PG to replace Calderon would need to be acquired, either in the Iggy trade, a related trade or via free agency.

The wing rotation would be left looking like this, which I think is pretty strong:
SF: Iguodala, Kleiza
SG: Fields, Ross

In this scenario, adding another cheap veteran wing (ie: bringing back Anderson) wouldn't be bad, for times when the Raps want to go small on their 2nd unit with Amir/Davis @ C, Kleiza @ PF, Anderson (or other similar 5th wing) @ SF, Ross @ SG and ??? @ PG.

[TheR3dMenace]

I think DD would have to be in any trade, because the team we are trading with would want Value back, whether it be Memphis or Philadelphia.

I'm alright with Demar going too if it means Iguodala/Gay coming back. Fields is a better SG than he is a SF. We'd have top defence and rebounding at positions 1-2-3

[planetmars]

Is Minnesota out of the running for Iggy?

According to this article they are:
http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/W...e_target071712

The Andre Iguodala dream can just about die. The source said the Wolves have done a ton of homework on him, and the feedback didn't all register positively. Because of that, they are reluctant to give up assets and pay him $30 million over the next two years. His contract has a player option for 2013-14, which he is expected to opt into.

[YYZ]

In this regard, for a legit SF chase, I do hope that Demar is a part of the trade equation (not because I'm on the Ross bandwagon). He's really an inefficient offensive player and a terrible defender that never addressed his ball handling skills.

I think DD would have to be in any trade, because the team we are trading with would want Value back, whether it be Memphis or Philadelphia.

However I am very intrigued by DD, he still has a lot of ceiling left in him and he has improved his jump shot and range. He still has to bulk up, and when he does I think he will return to attacking the Rim with intensity.

[Balls of Steel]

In this regard, for a legit SF chase, I do hope that Demar is a part of the trade equation (not because I'm on the Ross bandwagon). He's really an inefficient offensive player and a terrible defender that never addressed his ball handling skills.

[Balls of Steel]

Anyone else think this would be Casey's non-sexual wet dream?

Yes, until his Achilles' heel starts bothering him. I'm afraid that AI's intensity as a player puts a lot of wear and tear in his body. No doubt he's an elite defender. I personally want Gay a bit more because I think that the team as a whole is playing better overall defence (so adding Gay doesn't hurt their defensive efforts). Gay on the other hand is a cold blooded assassin. The consummate closer any team would dream to have. Too bad initial reports indicate he's going nowhere, until perhaps December when the team as a whole is playing terrible and fires their coach (hoping).

[mcHAPPY]

WASHINGTON -- Andre Iguodala's strength as a defender has not been acquired easily.

"Probably one thing that I do that no one else does, I do defensive drills in the summertime,'' he said after U.S. men's Olympic team practice Saturday, 15 days before the opening game in London. "I go through a set of (defensive) slides a few times per day. And I'm sitting in a defensive stance for a minute straight. So I just try to prepare myself mentally for what I have to go through to help the team out.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz20gL26zJT

"Getting out on the wings,'' said Iguodala with an affirming nod, "and pressuring the ball and creating turnovers. We're so athletic, we got to get out, and we've got to run. Teams are going to try to slow us down, so defensively is where we have to make it happen.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz20gLAsQZe

Iguodala is peaking at age 28. He led the eighth-seeded 76ers to a Game 7 at Boston in the second round of the playoffs, and now he has earned a chance to pursue an Olympic gold medal two years after helping the U.S. win the world championship in Turkey. His role with the national team helped buffer him from the recent moves of the 76ers, who lost leading scorer Lou Williams to free agency (signed with Atlanta) and power forward Elton Brand to amnesty (picked up by Dallas). Iguodala deflected questions about his franchise amid persistent speculation of recent years that he, too, will be moved.

"I haven't really sat down and thought about it too much,'' he said of the 76ers' roster. "My focus and energies have really been on the USA team and helping this team try to win games.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz20gLNi6lc

Anyone else think this would be Casey's non-sexual wet dream?

[mcHAPPY]

Denver Wings:

Afflalo
Gallinari
Brewer
Hamilton
Quincy Miller
Wilson Chandler


I wonder if any are attainable?

I also forgot about their 1st round draft pick this year: Fournier.


So that is 7 SG/SF's with 6 having guaranteed contracts.

[mcHAPPY]

Don't think BC would be interested in Andersen (unless if he has some kind of a buyout that could make him a UFA):
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba...021843585.html

That situation is unfortunate with how the media originally reported it. I thought, "Ahhhh man, kiddie porn? You sick idiot."

But then it turns out, apparently, the issue was a young girl and her mother tried to extort him.

More than 24 hours after Chris "Birdman" Andersen's home was searched and property seized in an ongoing Internet crimes case against children, the Denver Nugget's legal team is suggesting he's the victim of extortion, The Denver Post and The Associated Press reported.

Douglas County (Colo.) Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators seized property from Andersen's home in Larkspur, about 40 miles south of Denver, on Thursday.

But Colin Bresee, an attorney for Andersen, said in a statement that professional athletes are "routinely targeted," and that the media has speculated Andersen is a suspect rather than a victim.

In the statement, Bresee suggested that a woman from California has attempted to get items of value from the 33-year-old basketball player, and that the woman's mother wrote in an email that she wanted him "to pay for everything on her Amazon wish list, 5K for her bedding stuff and her victoria secret wish list."

Deputies did say they have been investigating Andersen since February 2012 on a referral from a California law-enforcement agency. The unit investigating Andersen covers child pornography, Internet luring and child predators.

The statement:

"A female fan in 2010 mailed Mr. Andersen multiple letters and included several photos in which she was scantily clad. Chris and this woman communicated with each other and in 2011, this woman, who represented herself as 21 years of age, flew to Colorado, showing her required identification. After leaving Colorado, she became upset at his lack of interest. In 2012, she threatened to retaliate if he did not provide financial remuneration."

The statement ends, "Mr. Andersen has been fully cooperative with the authorities. The investigation is expected to take three weeks. We're confident it will show that Chris did not engage in any criminal conduct."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...ion/54881346/1

[planetmars]

However, if the Raptors take back Chris Andersen suddenly something might happen with Chandler even if it is not Calderon who is heading out.

ANdersen has been on the trade block for the last year and has $4.5M and $4.8M remaining this year and next.

Don't think BC would be interested in Andersen (unless if he has some kind of a buyout that could make him a UFA):
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba...021843585.html

[mcHAPPY]

probably right...arghhh

However, if the Raptors take back Chris Andersen suddenly something might happen with Chandler even if it is not Calderon who is heading out.

ANdersen has been on the trade block for the last year and has $4.5M and $4.8M remaining this year and next.

I believe Chandler's and Andersen's salary would fit in to a TPE created by a Calderon deal.

SF would get filled but then backup PG is the new glaring hole.

[thead]

probably right...arghhh