A Mixed Bag

Welcome to the trials and tribulations of the Sports Pack, Franchise.

1) Sports Pack will only show games not covered on "regular cable". So, don't expect to see any games that are on TSN, Score, Raps TV, any RSN, etc.

2) No Pac-10 ball because Sports Pack only covers ESPN games. Pac-10 has their TV deal with FSN.

Since I can't watch my beloved Bruins on the Pack, I got rid of it, bought a 6-pack of imported beer and the Setanta pack and am now able to watch all my Liverpool matches.

Now, if Rogers ever decides to add FSN college games to the Pack, I'll be first in line to sign up.

Until then, no thanks....

Howland,

I'm not sure there's much Colangelo can do this year. Rasho has a player option for over $8 million next year, so you know he's going to exercise it. When you could see something happen is this summer. The Raps will have about $16 million or so in expiring contracts (assuming Rasho exercises his option), so they could take on an All Star caliber player and they're accompanying All Star salary.

It might be for the best that we don't have any cap room, because the best player available right now is probably Gasol, and that would cost us Bargnani and Nesterovic at least. That would give away one of our young "stars" and alot of our future cap flexability for a player that, while good, isn't going to get you over the top. In my opinion, Gasol is a borderline All Star, and what we need is a legitimate All Star.

What are the other options?
Hughes (injury prone and bad contract)
Pietrus (I like him but he won't help right now)
Artest (completely insane)
Curry (Oliver Miller 2.0)

We may just have to ride out this season and hope that Colangelo can add something significant in the offseason.

I agree with Jeff on this one.

I always felt we were on a three year plan. While we had one all-star, we clearly need another to be a great team. I think Colangelo was hoping that would be TJ or Andrea, or both. But, that kind of maturation takes time. So, why not say 3 years? We'll have cap room in summer 2009 to re-roll the dice on a FA if we need to.

I think any major move before then would only occur if there were significant troubles that forced Colangelo's hand...

Said it before, I'll say it again. Maggette is exactly the player we need and is a free agent at the end of the year. Great shooter, can take his man off the dribble, great rebounder for his position, attacks the rim and gets to the free throw line an insane number of times.

Ive been thinking the same thing erezona. Im just unsure if there will be enough salary cap space for us to resign jose and nail maggette. He would be a great option though

Nick, there is no cap room. We would need to work out a sign and trade. A resigned Maggette for a resigned Jose plus anyone LA wants other then our core 3 and 1st round draft picks.

I would love to see maggette on our team, we would be unstoppable if everyone were healthy.

did anyone see that stat on SI.com i think it was that showed the top records in the NBA for 2007 calendar year? The raps were actually like 5th or 6th best in the league in '07! wow. surprising but great to see.

Great Posts RaptorsHQ Congrats on a wicked site.

HATE Rogers, HATE Bell....stick with Starchoice they're ok so far. (except for the 60 minute customer service wait; no joke)

Most of all I hate the Leafs (because you can't escape them) and the Knicks (because of Thomas).

I was reading the NY papers online yesterday, and also read Thomas' ridiculous quotes. I must have laughed and giggled with glee for 5 minutes because I hate Isiah Thomas the most of any pro sports figure.

No doubt Maggette is the type of player to compliment the current roster.

Franchise, ballsy post. I can see myself commenting many different ways. But personally I'm not wowed by a superstar duo: I don't give a shit if you've got Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird, I'll take the 1942 Championship Latvian squad any day, if they get the job done.

It's a team sport. But CB, TJ, Bargnani are so young, those three alone are going to be tremendous perennial all-star calibre talents for 10+ years. Remember? Yeah we're not 25-5 or whatever people think we should be but there is a time for patience.

That being said, I totally expect a trade. Hopefully get some return for Graham / Dixon.

Any chance of getting David Lee from NY? Haven't researched his contract or seen him play lately, just an idea.

I'll hold off on the Mitchell props for now. Seems to be a decent motivator.

No way we should be giving up Jose, unless its for Chris Paul or Deron Williams. Are you nuts? You know how hard it is to find a good PG in this league? Compared to that its relatively easy to get a 2/3. With TJ's injury history flaring up, he could one more stinger away from retirement. Jose is going to be a Raptor for a long time. BC has said as much. Book it.

BTW, did anyone see the Houston-Celtic game? Rafer did a TJ like impression and it was his speed in the paint that caught Boston offguard, and there were able to make a game of it. This is the Celtic's achilles heel. A healthy TJ could be difference if we get them in the playoffs.

Speaking of TJ, did anyone hear his interview on the Chuck Swirsky show today? I just caught a summary of his comments but it's concerning that TJ has seemingly been cleared by team doctors to play and yet is unsure of when his return will be. I'm a huge TJ Ford fan and I understand how important it is not to rush his return with his type of injury, but is it not reasonable for an athlete to indicate some sort of timeline for return once they have been cleared by team doctors? I'm concerned about where TJ is mentally and his presence is essential for us to go anywhere in the playoffs.

What you see with Raptors is basically what you get for this year and next. There is only enough money in the summer to resign Calderon (a priority with TJ's situation) and Delfino. Bosh & Bargnani are going nowhere, and will have to improve each year for Rap's to get better, 23 & 22 years old only,both with upside.
BC should move Martin and bring in a PG who can perform (possibly some 10 days)as Dixon is better than Martin, but still a project.
Our 2/3 situation improvement will have to come from within,or trade of 2 or 3 of our wings.
No major moves till 2009 when Cap space is available. Raptors are 2/3 years away from playing in Finals.

Question??

Whaat do U think it would take to buy out Rasho so He can sign with another team? Is this even an option? Seems like Raptors will be paying alot to have Him do spot minutes every few games.

On Maggette......
http://clipperblog.com/index.php?itemid=471

As we are thikning about future moves and people seem to think we are pretty stuck with what we have,I think we are a little confused about our timelines. I'd like to ask a few questions.

First, when do you think Colangelo really thinks that we can arrive as contenders?

Second, does anyone think that Moon might be the 3 of the future? I know that he's already 27, but he still has some years, but he's not playing like a rookie in some aspects of his game that rookies really struggle with, such as defence.

Does anyone have any ideas about the kid we drafted this year? Is he developing into an NBA player?

the guy we got is Giorgios Printezis from Greece, all of 6.8 Yeah, that would be yet another role player at the 2/3. Not exactly NBA-Center material, and he is expected to be in Europe for another 2 years.

Not sure why this guy was on the Raptors radar, but maybe they drafted the best that was available, versus drafting for need, in the hopes of acquiring trade material?

kinda wondering why BC is holding his breath on making a trade; seems like he is not panicking, and maybe is expecting TJ to make a return, hence diminishing the need to make a trade. Also, with a bit of an easier schedule coming up, maybe he wants to see if Bosh's newly found desire to drive can change the offensive options on the team.

Agreed, the Celts achilles heel is a fast opposing point guard who can drive and dish. Like TJ, like Billups, like Rafer (at least the other day).

I wish Bargs would stop floating and jumpshooting and learn to rebound. He has the length, and supposedly has the "tenacity". If he is the starting center, what would be holding him back? He MUST know his role by now...

Thanks for the Maggette link Ttocs - must read for all who think Corey is the missing piece for a championship run. While reading the comments, I couldn't help feeling he is a slightly more hyped and confident version of one J Graham last seen buried deep in the Raps rotation.

Since this is a blogging free for all today, I have a trade proposal. I think a Brad Miller would help our team, he brings toughness and rebounding with a little more offensive skill than what we have now. He has three years on his contact and would come in as a legit starter pushing Bargs back to where he is currently more comfortable, coming off the bench. Near the end of his contract, he can come off the bench for either Bosh or Bargs.

Aquiring him would depend on Sactown going into rebuilding mode. We could offer Rasho and Dixon and possibly a 2nd round draft pick. Rasho is a solid vet that could step in for miller. His contract is cheaper this year and expires after next (which makes him a more tradeable asset then). Dixon is off the books after this season is a reliable vet who will score.

Sactown gets some financial freedom to rebuild and the Raps get a legit banger at the 5. We also don't really give up much, and have a lot of other assets to acquire that swingman or back up pg.

Any thoughts on that one?

I think the Raps should be patient with JM at the 3, afterall he is still a Rookie. With a couple of seasons under his belt and increase understanding of the NBA he will be a very good swingman for the Raptors. NO need to rush things the Raps are not going to win a championship in the next 3 years. But in 4 or 5 years with the core players they have I believe that they could be a contender. I see Boston only lasting for 1 year, next year the awe with the team will be gone, Garnett, Allen and Pierce will be a year older and a year slower. The Raps are in the perfect position to be a contender in the East down the road. So BC should hold off on pulling the trigger wait until we have cap space in 2009, and keep Jamario Moon.

I think Maggette at the right price would be an asset to the Raptors. Chemistry wise I think he’d fit well with our system and when I look at our roster I don’t see any better wing players. The price we pay for Maggette would be the deciding factor for me if I was the GM, I’d be careful not to over pay because he really isn’t the guy that’s going to take us to the finals. He would be a great piece to the overall puzzle though.

What’s a reasonable price tag for him? Would the Raptors be able to afford Maggette, Calderon and Delfino if we got rid of a combination of Rasho, Dixon, Joey, Parker or Baston?