Trade Deadline Recap - HQ Edition

It's too bad about how things went down for Fred Jones in Toronto. I thought, as did many others, that this guy would have put up much better numbers in Toronto than he did in Indy. Well, we were all wrong weren't we?!?

The deal for Dixon seems good when looking at the points you made, Franchise. However, there is one facet you overlooked. Dixon was unhappy about his playing time in Portland and he let this be known, unlike Jones in Toronto. So the question becomes, do you think that Dixon could become a distraction down the stretch for the Raps, if he doesn't get PT?????

Hopefully, Juan can EARN his minutes as it seems to be Sam's philosophy. I sorta believe it.

Seeing Jones in last night was the writing on the wall, I'm no prophet, but I thought that was very telling.

It is good to know at least Jones has a chance, but everything about the brother was negative, from his huge pimples to his long arms dragging on the ground everytime the Cam showed him.

I'm not hatin on the brotha, but it was evident that something wasn't clikinn...

Looking at Juan, I never new him before today, heard of him yes, but never checked him out...

I like the winning background Juan has...it's quite impressive...he's got some minutes in the post season which is also a good thing...

It may bring a pep in the work ethic during practice as Juan strives to prove his worth...

Let's hope for the best to come out of this trade...

Cheers!

I've always liked Juan Dixon's game as a backup. Mind you, I liked Freddie's game too and look how that turned out. But what I think this does is give the Raps one more consistent guard to come off the bench. Before the trade, at the wing position we had AP, Mo Pete, and Joey. Now, Juan can take away Joey's minutes and put a couple of years back on our collective lives.

With the Raps roster, you pretty much know what you are going to get from all of the rotation guys, with the exception of Joey, who can be anywhere from really good to absolutely terrible. Now, with Dixon, you get a guy that at the very least will bring a consistent effort. He should be someone that Sam can get a feel for relatively quickly.

Bottom line, I like the deal. We moved a part that didn't fit for one that might and is a little cheaper to boot.

Like the deal. While Jones is more athletic then Dixon, Dixon can hit shots, something Jones wasn't doing. Raps have had their eye on Dixon for a while now, as they were going to draft him if the Wiz haddn't taken him one spot before us. Go Raps

Good point RZ - if he doesn't get minutes could he be a distraction? He might...but perhaps being in a winning situation for a change will stave that off for a while.

A good point too Jeff...the Fred Jones experiment is over...and the Joey Graham one might be next to reach its conclusion with Dixon on board...

Interesting note on the deal via ESPN.com:

Apparently Fred Jones "agreed not to exercise the player option year of his contract, meaning his current deal will expire at the end of the 2007-08 season."

I'm guessing that sealed the deal for Portland.

so basically a trade that works well for both teams purely from a salary cap perspective - Toronto loses FJ's sizeable salary a year early, Portland gets a contract that expires after next year and some cash.

I thought FJ was being shopped last night too - I also notice KH getting burn for no reason, I suspected he was also being showcased.

Good deal for all of those involved. Good perspective Franchise on how this might be a better person to package up with Joey Graham and Juan going to the Magic for Darko in the off season. I just think we have a better "attitude" person in Juan, he brings and good attitude, work ethic, history, and best of all DESIRE! This will not hurt us come playoff time. I like his reliablity if needed than Fred Jones. So what if fred could jump over Juan, Freddie wasn't using those hops whenever he played, so Welcome to the T-Dot Juan!

Did you bring your toque??

I'm out!

Feresh 1

How does BC do it? The only mistake he's made while being a purple dino, signing Freddy Jones, he's able to get out of by reducing the salary paid, and length of contract. He was also able to convince FJ to drop the extra year. How?? What kind of crazy used car salesman is he.

This would be my version of the conversation:

"Hey Freddy.. you know you've had a bad year.. mind if we get rid of you and eliminate one year of your contract? Thanks sport!"

BC can sell anything. Hopefully JD makes Juan heck of a difference here! :)

Didn't get a chance to do a game preview for tonight's match against the Pacers but there's a few things I'll be watching.

1) Perimeter Defense. Pacers gunned away from outside last time and the Raps HAVE to do a better job tonight on rotating out to shooters.

2) Bench Play. I'm of course curious to see how and if Sam Mitchell uses Juan Dixon but more importantly, the likes of Marquis Daniels and Jeff Foster

3) Speaking of Foster, after the Sideshow Bob fiasco Wednesday night, it will be interesting to see if the Raps can put a body on him and O'Neal. Both are active on the glass and we'll see if Toronto learns anything from their last loss...

I don't see why BC would want Darko on this team, honestly. Maybe he's just trying to drive up his value so someone will overpay this summer (at least that's what I hope he's doing).

How refreshing it is to have a GM who is capable of out smarting the others.BC is a shrewd poker player

You talked about adding Juan Dixon as insurance against MoPete leaving... He might also be insurance in terms of being able to play the point a bit.

Next time (if there is one) TJ gets banged up a bit it'll be nice to have an option other than running Calderon ragged for 40+ minutes a game or having to put the uniformed assistant coach in the game. :)

As far as Humphries joining Fred Jones in a rare appearance on Wednesday night, I don't think KH was being showcased for a deal, I think it was just a matchup.

KH was not sitting on the sidelines or at the scorer's bench waiting to come in, he just popped up off the bench and checked in quickly the moment Cleveland put Scot Pollard in the game (I think it was a substitution made while Toronto had someone at the line). He then checked out at the same time as Pollard as well, and neither came back into the game again.

much more worried about tonights game than the cavs. the cavs, outside of king james, are nothing but a bunch of board crashing wannabe's. (still a little sore.) idiana doesn't have the fastest crew, but they lit us up like a christmas tree last time out.

I think the real deadline story was that the Raptors ALMOST got darko millic!

I heard Colangelo on Prime Time Sports allude to (no name dropping) the attempted trade for Darko. He made it pretty clear that he will attempt to sign him in the offseason. He didn't want to give up all of what Orlando was asking for GIVEN he'll be a free agent in the offseason, albeit restricted.

I am pretty sure this is why Kris Humphries got the minutes. (Colangelo's ability to make something from nothing is uncanny... Arajuo for Humphries... Jones for Dixon)

Colangelo wants Darko on the team - that's not speculation.

What he wants, he gets?

Chances are that Darko will be a Raptor next year. What does everyone think about that? Will he reach his potential with the Raptors?

Hey, ordinarily I'd say no to Darko but with the way the rest of BCs moves have turned out...

Darko? Ugh. He's bombed out with two teams, why make it a third? And where does he fit? At best, he's an inferior version of Bargnani. He's never really shown the inside toughness that he was supposed to have. Does BC think that Darko can play some minutes at centre? I don't know where else he can play for this team. He could back up Nesterovic, although I think Rasho actually fits in very well with the Raps - he doesn't try and do too much and does some of little things effectively, even if he's not a stats stuffer.

On the other hand, if the price is right, Darko's young enough to take a flyer on. Just don't expect future stardom.

While I'm here, I'll say a prayer for DJ who passed away far too young. One of the great defenders and an unsung herof of that great 80's Celtics team.

Interesting rumblings out of Portland that Magloire might be waived. It seems that any player who gets waived or bought out signs with another team for the veteran's minimum. Question is - would the Raps be able to offer more since they're under the cap if that was to happen?

Magloire doesn't really fit in with this team. He's kind of a black hole on offence and I'm not sure that works with the unselfish nature of the Raptors. Plus, he's a little slow at this stage of his career; I think he's best suited to a team with a slower, walk it up the court style. Houston might be a good fit if Yao were out for the season.