Revisited: Blow it up..... Seriously?? (Part 2)

[mcHAPPY]

A lot has changed in Toronto since December 10th and the original "Blow it up.... Seriously" thread:

• The Raptors have gone 10-4.
• They are no longer the 2nd worst team in the league; they are now tied for 8th worst in wins with 14 (and 2 wins away from 5th worst).
• The playoffs no longer seem like a comment worthy of ridicule but they are still far from a possibility.
• The style of play has done a total 180.
• The youth are getting more minutes (exception is JV who is injured but was getting minutes all along).
• Casey no longer leaves you saying "WTF!?!?!" after nearly every possession/sequence.

Just a quick refresher on what blow it up originally implied:

1. fire management
2. trade current veterans (Bargnani, Calderon, Kleiza, Amir) for worse contracts, like the worse of the worst in the league, for draft picks
3. realize the current building process of the team is a giant FAIL and its ceiling is mediocrity if all goes according to plan.... for the love of sweet baby jesus the Raptors are the 2nd worst team in the league 21 games in!
4. play the youth (DD, ED, TR, JV)

Despite the turnaround, I still think talent and management continue to be an issue. The Raps still lack all-star talent and Colangelo continues to prove his drafting prowess but the other areas of team building (trades and especially free agency) are sketchy at best. Also, again despite the turnaround, the Raptors have gone from nearly the worst of the worst to the best of the worst with the possibility of creeping up in to the nearly worst of the average.

I still believe the Raptors are ahead of the game if they went this route of taking on sh!t for prospects and picks. They already have 3-4 good young players. Another 2-3 drafts with multiple draft picks should do it. And if it does not, well, they'll be no worse off than they currently are: average at best.

The original poll had 69% advocating "Blow it up!". What do you think now?

[RandomGuy]

Aren't you guys tired of rebuilding, let them build little consistency even if they will become mediocre eventually it's easier to add stuff around mediocre team than to build from 0 once again.

[mcHAPPY]

Aren't you guys tired of rebuilding, let them build little consistency even if they will become mediocre eventually it's easier to add stuff around mediocre team than to build from 0 once again.

Trading Bargnani, Kleiza, Calderon, and possibly Amir for horrible contracts and picks/right to swap picks is hardly building from 0. Those horrible contracts don't need to play and it still leaves the team with DD, ED, TR, JV, KL, and possibly Amir plus guys like Anderson, Acy, and Fields.

[RandomGuy]

Oh, that kind of trading, yea, half of them will go after the season anyway. I'm kinda neutral on this deal then. I don't think that Colangelo will risk loosing his job though so this is very unlikely to happen.

[mountio]

A lot has changed in Toronto since December 10th and the original "Blow it up.... Seriously" thread:

• The Raptors have gone 10-4.
• They are no longer the 2nd worst team in the league; they are now tied for 8th worst in wins with 14 (and 2 wins away from 5th worst).
• The playoffs no longer seem like a comment worthy of ridicule but they are still far from a possibility.
• The style of play has done a total 180.
• The youth are getting more minutes (exception is JV who is injured but was getting minutes all along).
• Casey no longer leaves you saying "WTF!?!?!" after nearly every possession/sequence.

Just a quick refresher on what blow it up originally implied:



Despite the turnaround, I still think talent and management continue to be an issue. The Raps still lack all-star talent and Colangelo continues to prove his drafting prowess but the other areas of team building (trades and especially free agency) are sketchy at best. Also, again despite the turnaround, the Raptors have gone from nearly the worst of the worst to the best of the worst with the possibility of creeping up in to the nearly worst of the average.

I still believe the Raptors are ahead of the game if they went this route of taking on sh!t for prospects and picks. They already have 3-4 good young players. Another 2-3 drafts with multiple draft picks should do it. And if it does not, well, they'll be no worse off than they currently are: average at best.

The original poll had 69% advocating "Blow it up!". What do you think now?

#1 and #2 are actually not that far apart. I think we have a decent talent base (DD, TR, JV, ED, maybe KL), but that doesnt mean we shouldnt trade AB and other guys who arent part of the core for whatever we can get in terms of picks / prospects (which, as you suggest, likely necessitates taking on some junk players / contracts. Im reasonably content with where we are, but we are still FOR SURE a player or two away from being a playoff team .. and the draft is the most likely place to get that player ..

[akashsingh]

we need a fresh start, new GM should do the trick of getting rid of all the deadweight.

[mcHAPPY]

#1 and #2 are actually not that far apart. I think we have a decent talent base (DD, TR, JV, ED, maybe KL), but that doesnt mean we shouldnt trade AB and other guys who arent part of the core for whatever we can get in terms of picks / prospects (which, as you suggest, likely necessitates taking on some junk players / contracts. Im reasonably content with where we are, but we are still FOR SURE a player or two away from being a playoff team .. and the draft is the most likely place to get that player ..

Agreed. Curious to see how people feel 1 month later and after much better display of coaching and playing.

[thead]

we need a fresh start, new GM should do the trick of getting rid of all the deadweight.

I hear Brian Burke is available

[Pill]

I am ok with getting rid of expiring or large contracts. Packaging Calderon and Bargs should be priority. I don't want to trade anyone who made a leap in their play this year unless it is for someone legit and the situation is right. I don't see the rumored gay trade as something that makes sense. We get a guy who isn't happy with his contending team and we get 2 years to turn it around and be in a better position than Memphis. Yeah good luck with that. Guy would walk after 2 years. It doesn't benefit us at all, 2 year expensive rental on a fringe all star. Raptor fan boner is just because this guy destroys us.

[imaginelino]

we need a fresh start, new GM should do the trick of getting rid of all the deadweight.

on what planet does changing the GM translates to new success. Get over this notion that the GM has been the problem. Team needs continuity, a plan and young talent that everyone has been crying for. Remember the rebuild.

[BrydenB]

I still think #1 and #2 are th way to go. Anyone that thinks BC is still a viable option at GM, I direct you to Matt52's avatar. #3 isn't quite as true as we all thought. It looks like Ross, Ed, JV, and to a smaller extent derozan and Amir are good building blocks. However, this team to me looks like NY before the Melo trade (or Denver after). A bunch of mid level talent that goes 10 deep. Only problem is if all 10 guys are a similar level of talent, you aren't a very good team. It also doesn't help the coach make a rotation (like Casey early on).

[Machine]

#1

[footarez]

I felt like option 2 "trade current veterans (Bargnani, Calderon, Kleiza, Amir) for worse contracts, like the worse of the worst in the league, for draft picks" but without Amir ,1 month ago and I still feel that way.
I like how Calderon plays but it would be idiotic not to trade him. If he is so loyal to the team and if we want him that bad we can sign him in the summer.(Yes,we do treat him badly but yet we pay him VERY good money)
I would almost never include Amir in a package deal unless it brings a TRUE all star player. The one that can turn franchise around (not semi all star,not on the edge to be an all star and definitely not for a "potential" player)
If Kleiza doesn't bring enough value and we can use the money for something better - amnesty
I think Bargnani + almost anyone on our roster could bring a good PIECE.(see trade suggestions in the trade proposal forum)
Even if the "wet dream" of 8th seed early playoff exit from the Heat happens with THOSE players playing,getting money and "stealing" playing time from our younger guys I would rather we don't make the playoffs.
To clarify I am not trying to say "trade Jose,Bargnani and fuck Kleiza for rack of balls". I would like what Matt and many posters on RR are begging for - get TALENT in return. Because if we have money but make another "Turkoglu" signing in the offseason it doesn't do us any good.

[The Great One]

#2

But i wouldn't trade Amir. I'd trade DeMar first beofre Amir. I think every team needs a player like Amir Johnson. And people also needs to remember that Amir Johnson is only 25 years old.

[Sig]

Rudy Gay please.