Battle Grounds

I think that we will be looking at Parker and Peterson at the SG and SF respectively. As you said, the smartest players that play the toughest D. It also puts Graham in a good position to continue to develop his game coming off the bench, backing up Mo, tuning up to be the starter the season after that.

I do think Jones will be an option as a starter, this season or next, but agree that he would have to play much better that one of the "Killer P's" to get the starting nod.

As for Slokar and Tucker, I think thye should both go to the D-league. Slokar has always been a back up, last year behind Bargnagni and really needs quality minutes so we can see what he can do. As for PJ, he was a PF in college and has to learn a new position SF, maybe even SG. We all saw the problems Graham had making that same change last year, so may as well let him "develop" in the "development" league.

Looking at BC's season, we are nicely set at all positions for present and future. Rasho can help ease Bargs in, Bosh should be there for while, Mo Pete gives Graham another year to develop, Parker and Jones should handle the Sg duties for a few years and TJ and Jose are both young, but are still the best 1-2 PG combo we have ever had. I am totally looking forward to watching this team next year and beyond!

And by the way, BC says...

Also - RJ (and Mo Pete for that matter) has 2-3 inches on Joey. I find that one of Graham’s weaknesses is simply being able to extend his arms to shoot/rebound. If Graham was actually 6′7″ (and not 6′4″ with short arms), he would be a lot more versatile.

uh, I dunno where you are getting your stats, but Graham IS a legit 6'7" and is known for his a big wingspan. You seem to be implying that he is not versatile enough to be aything but a SG?! He was a PF at Central Florida and if he has weaknesses, they are his ballhandling and first step. Both of which he has been tryig to develop for a few years now, we should find out this year if this is ever going to happen enough to be an effective perimeter player. I am going to keep optimistically saying yes.

R. Archibald -- I think that J Graham is as much of 6'7" as Charles Barkley (who was always shorter than the 6'6" Jordan when you saw them beside each other). If you see Joey standing next to Mo Pete, he is at least 2 inches shorter. NBA guides always over-state player heights, including the meaningless "height wearing shoes" stats.

Anyway, regardless of the true height of Mr. Graham, I've never seen him out-jump anyone for a rebound or dunk on someone... for the "best athlete of the 2005 draft" with a 35-40 inch vertical, that seems rather odd. His favourite move seems to be to palm the ball in one hand and push the defender off with the other forearm -- and he either gets an offensive foul or misses the shot.

I think that A. Parker will get most of JG's playing time this year. He has all of the same skills as Joey (athletic, decent 3pt shot), and can also dribble and hit the mid-range jumper... AND - he is actually a clutch player!

Also, I think that the Raps will have a tough decision next summer -- they will probably only be able to keep 1 of TJ and Mo Pete... Mo has become by far the most consistent Raptor, and someone who can defend almost any 2-3 in the league (except for Kobe). TJ has yet to show that he is a clear-cut starter in the NBA, but may end up far more valuable to the Raps given the up-tempo offense planned for this season.

Oh, Graham is just not 6'7" because you don't think he is. I have looked on several sites and they are all the same, even the non-nba sites and pre-draft sites. Admittedly, these is usually differences in physical stats, look at Bargnagni's weight and it is all over the map.

I agree with you that Parker will ge more minutes than Graham, he is more a lot more polished and clutch. I am just hoping that Graham gets the chance to continue to develop and isn't just written off after a half-decent rookie campaign.

As for the Mo Pete or TJ question, i don't think there even is any question there - TJ all the way. Firstly, TJ still has two years left on his contract (only needing a qualifying offer for 07-08). Second, the obvious political reasons, with what we gave up to get him. And finally the fact that TJ plays the critical position of all BC teams. He has started 125 of 127 career games, so I don't know how he isn't a clear cut starter. Maybe Calderon will give him a run for his money, but I think he will just be a great back up.

End of the day, Graham is going into his second season, TJ is entering his third. I think you are writing bith these guys off way too early, they have WAY more time to improve. I know you are a big Raps fan and you have to admit that rookies and sophomores get better. TJ improved from his first to second season, despite a severe injury. You and I can argue about whether or not WE think they will improve, but we will only find out once the season begins (and the next 10 seasons after that). The real BC has decided to keep them around and I am putting my faith in has ability to evaluate talent.

Don't mean to be going after you BC, but the blog's name is battle grounds!

I think it's ridiculous that you say that the Raps need to make a decision between Mo Pete and TJ, since they have the "Larry Bird Mid level exemption" and can exercise it on Mo Pete. Barring massive injury, the Raptors should definately retain both, as Mo Pete is probably the Raps's best one on one defender, and a good offensive shooter and rebounder.

I like Mo's game, but I think we have enough other wong men under contract to fork over what Mo's gonna want. BC won't pay Mo Money and might even trade him before the end of this season, while we can still get something for him (Unlike Marshall and James). Maybe if all three others perform lower than expected Peterson will have more clout but otherwise...

It's too early to say what's going to happen with Peterson. He's a Bird guy so the whole menu of options are available to the Raps execs. They'll have until March to evaluate just like us but I wouldn't suggest that Colangelo already knows what his plans are.

One more battle to consider is that between Garbajosa and Humphries for second unit PT.

Lord Tunderin, this might be the longest offseason of my life!! The worst part of this time of year is that hockey is starting too, which means we bball nuts have to sit through hours and hours of hockey coverage just to get our measly little kernels of ball news...

Mo Money, Mo Problems...
Mo Pete will not be a raptor after next year. He will be an assest to this club because of his veteran experience, but is on his way out of town. He is not a winner. I cannot count the times I have cursed at him for shooting a bad shot in a clutch situation. BC will do the right thing and the raptors will be a better team for it.

All you Toronto Raps, Mo Pete is the best player on that team, you sound like a bunch fools, do you think all those Euro players can play like Mo, he is not on the Raptors for fun he has seen so many people come and go and he still around. He obviously important to be still a Raptors.

I think TJ Ford is the starter, no questions asked. Chris Bosh will be the starter, therefore Ford will be starting with him because of their relationship. I'm pretty sure it's going to be Peterson starting and then it's either going to be Parker or Jones. Graham, in my opinion, will not have a chance of starting unless everyone else gets injured. I wanna see Tucker make the team over Slokar, Tucker seems to have good rebounding skills which is something the Raptors may need.

Just to clarify 1 thing... I know that the Raps have the Bird rights etc., but I just don't see them giving 2 more guys $6-9 million per season. I agree with Robert Archibald that the decision is already made, given that CV was given up for TJ.

I think that Mo Pete may end up being a great fit for some team in need of a decent defender and fairly well-balanced player (kind of like how Houston targeted Battier this summer). Maybe the Raps can get a promising rookie like Rudy Gay in a sign-and-trade.

As for Joey Graham -- I have pretty much written him off for this year, mainly because of the 4 or 5 swingmen that the Raps now have under contract. Last year a starting spot was his to take, and he didn't perform. Fred Jones at the 2 and A. Parker at the 2-3 can both play 20-30 productive minutes (and it sounds like AB may even end up at the 3 at times).

Marcia, the other wing players are Joey Graham, PJ Tucker, Parker, and Ford - All American. Rather than saying that the raps will not resign with the raps, lets just say Mo Pete will sign elsewhere with a team that will pay him more than the raps. He tried to leave us once, but we matched an offer from the Hornets on his current contract so we wouldn't lose him for nothing. This time around he will be unrestricted and would be most valueable at the trade deadline as a decent all around player with an expiring contract.

Archibald - when did you become a GM? As far as I am concerned, MO is the only NBA true Veteran on that team, he has been with the Raps for 6 years. He has got a lot of investment in the Toronto Raps as well as the City of Toronto, so don't presume that he will want to sign else where...

I accept the reality that players spending their careers with the same team are a matter of luck and chance nowadays. I was delighted that BC did away with Alvin, who was delusional about his situation (oh, and had millions of reasons to be so). I have cursed Morris Peterson many a time as he chucked up ill-advised 3 balls. I agree that no player on a terrible team should be applauded to loudly.

But...

Mo Pete last year showed something that I caught a glimpse of his rookie campaign, you know, the year when he actually started game 6 against the Sixers. At or equal to career highs in every major stat category in the second year of a contract on a team whose demise he witnessed first-hand: that tells me he's not only a pure professional-- he's got heart. And he remembers well those cricket sounds during his last dip into free agency. Look for Mo to take it up yet another notch this contract year, and re-sign with a resurgent Raptors squad for the full mid-level, spurning other higher bids for his services.

Mark my words, Mo Pete's will be the first jersey retired by the Raptors.