3 In the Key – Toronto Raptors Game-Day Preview vs. Pistons

(reposted by Raptors HQ)

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?

Didn't get to touch on your comment from yesterday Mr. Archibald so thought I'd re-post.

Financially the Rasho and Dixon and maybe a pick for Miller works but not sure it makes a ton of sense for either team.

For Toronto to trade for a center, any center, B.C. and co. need to have decided that Andrea will never be the team's starting 5. Miller right now I agree would make a lot of sense, but in the long term I'm not sure. And considering Miller has 3 years left on his deal it would have to be long-term planning.

Plus, not sure why Sacto would do this right now. He's one of their best players and is finally playing up to his contract, gives the team a mentor for Spencer Hawes, and if anyone on Sacto goes, I'm betting it's Artest with the emergence of Salmons and Kevin Martin, Bibby or Shareef/Kenny Thomas. I think those are the top contenders to be moved.

The other added wrinkle is that Reggie Theus is doing a great job with this club and if healthy, I'm not so sure they wouldn't be hanging around the eighth spot in the West. So Sacto management needs first to decide which direction they're headed in before they agree on taking on contracts like Rasho's to get cap space and keep rebuilding.

On another note, was reading about Jamario being front and center for the ESPN crews and it's got me thinking...how about Moon as a possible contestant in the upcoming dunk contest? Is it possible to have five Raptors at All-Star weekend? Bosh in the game, Andrea and Jamario in the rookie/soph contest, Parker and Kapono in the 3-point contest and Moon in the dunk? How crazy would that be?

This will be a great test for the Raptors tonight against the Pistons. But so was San Antonio and the last time I check the Spurs were the NBA champions. Everybody can be beaten and I expect with the Raps back home our great fans this one will be a W for dinos. I can't believe we will not be able to get the ESPN feed tonight, I like Chuck and the boys but I would love to hear and see how ESPN cover the game, with Sam mic up and all. This is the perfect opportunity for the Raps to show the NBA why we are the Atlantic Champs. Bosh will eat up Rasheed tonight. Looking forward to see Moon against Prince. Jose against Billups, Parker against Rick. Wow couldn't have ask for a better game. I think the X factor will be Andrea if he has a good game the Raps will steal one from the Pistons tonight. I am really worried about TJ, he is cleared to play by the Doctors but does not know when he will be returning. I think that is a strategy by the team so as not to let other teams prepare for TJ. But I have a feeling he will be back against Cleveland. Just a thought. Raps4Life Baby...Go get those Pistons.

Just to add to yesterdays post - agree with Franchise about our coaching situation but think you are way off base in calling for a trade, at least for this season. It sounds like you given up on this teams potential. Its too soon to make that call. If at this time next year we are hovering around 500 then its a consideration.
Raptors this year have had more than their share of injuries this year to key players.I think a trade would not put us up with the Celtics and the Pistons(who I think have exceeded everyone's expectations so far). We need to stay the path we are on, and not push the panic button yet.

The Raps needs some all-star talent at the 3... and here are 3 names: Marion, Kirlenko, Maggette. Are all thee available? Probably. Any deal would involve taking on big time salary but sometimes you've got to do it to win... you don't hear anyone bemoaning Boston about their salary cap situation.

I listened to TJ's interview and am reminded of a car wreck, where there are no broken bones but the soft-tissue damage from whip-lash lasts for weeks. I went through one and couldn't raise my left arm over my head for a month. It also left me scared to drive for a couple of weeks. And this guy is a professional athlete with a history of spinal injuries. I am penciling in his return till after the all-star break. With the exposure Dixon is getting, he either stays as #3 PG or his trade value goes up to the point we something in return.

Hey ya'll. As I'm sure most of you are, I'm dying to watch the ESPN feed tonight. If anyone knows of a Toronto sports bar that has "grey-market" satellite dish I'd love to know.

I have a feeling some places in St. Clair West might, as they'd need them for soccer games.

If anyone has any suggestions, please post them here.

Cheers

Great preview. Sorry I was a late with the 3 questions as I was away from the cpu most of the day yesterday, but I did link it to the PN preview.

I'm looking forward to seeing how well Delfino mixes in with the Raptors international melting pot. Looks as if he's getting the minutes. I always liked Carlos it just seems he wasn't the right fit here in Detroit and that frustrated him and the team.

A win here would be huge, but if the raps come out attacking and go down swinging, I'll be happy and they'll still earn some props from the US national audience.

Pistons Nation - No worries, we should have sent it out the questions a bit sooner but we'll have to grab your thoughts for next game. Actually, question for you - do you agree with Natalie from Need4Sheed in saying that this is possibly the best version of the recent Pistons clubs under Dumars?

Tinman - Don't think Howland was ready to push the panic button when he wrote that, think he was just mulling over some of the things floating around in cyberspace involving various rumours. I agree that staying the course until we see some health is key. This topic was dicussed on Hoops last night actually and Jack Armstrong made a solid point that sometimes I think as Raptors fans we forget. This team was one of the jokes of the league not even three years ago! So I agree, patience is the virtue required here.

Rubik - Scary stuff and a great analogy. I never thought of the car crash idea but I totally agree, it seems like TJ's a bit more wary to get "back on the bike" this time.

Finally Mazel, I was wondering the same thing as I work on St. Clair West. I'll try and do some scouting...

PS - Pistons Nation (http://pistonsnationblog.com/) just checked in with some answers to the same questions that we asked Natalie from Need4Sheed. Here are the answers:

1. Depth & youth. The Pistons have been known for having arguably the best starting 5 in the league but there always seemed to be inconsistent play from the bench forcing the starters to log heavy minutes to secure wins. Come playoff time guys were just worn out.

Flip Saunders has done a admirable job of integrating the bench.

The addition of Jarvis Hayes, the maturation of Jason Maxiell, the drafting of Arron Afflalo & Rodney Stuckey give the Pistons a formidable bench to help spell the starters.

There's also been a complacency issue with this group of players who've "been there,
done that". That's another thing a young bench addresses. They're hungry and chomping at the bit to get minutes. It keeps the first unit honest.

2. If you listen to Joe Dumars he's always open to upgrading the team (as any good GM should). Joe has himself in a fortunate position where the team is a solid contender and doesn't need to make a move. He's also got three guys in Flip Murray, Primo Brezec, and Walter Herrmann that aren't part of the Pistons rotation but could help another team.

I think Webber is an "if all else fails" option for the Pistons. They're committed
to the development of Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson. You bring Webber into the
fold when you don't need him and you start slicing up minutes it sets the young bigs back.

3. The Pistons are playing so well right now that it's hard for me to say any team
has a chance to best them. Their wins haven't just been wins they're blowouts for
the most part. The Raptors are definitely capable of giving the Pistons a game, I
like their depth and athleticism. I think the biggest thing for the Pistons is not looking past them to their match up with the C's on Saturday.

I'm not trying to sound like a boasting fan, it's just the way it is at this
particular point in time.

Ok, last post for a while ha ha...

From Chad Ford's chat on ESPN.com:

Leroy (Long Beach): Any truth to rumblings that the Clippers are looking to unload Maggette for expiring deals and draft picks? He seems like he'd be a great fit for the Raptors, since he gets to the line.

Chad Ford: Maggette can opt out of his contract this summer, so I don't think they're looking for expiring deals. However, it's no secret that he hasn't gotten along with head coach Mike Dunleavy and I think if the Clippers could get a decent asset for Maggette, they'd do it at this point. The season is lost and there's a chance that Elton Brand will also bolt this summer.

Maggette of course has been a much discussed player here at the HQ (good link yesterday to Clipperblog as an aside) and teams like the Clippers and Kings bear watching as the season wears down. Both might be looking to rid themselves of a few pieces.

And finally - from ESPN.com about an hour ago concerning TJ.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3180923

Sort of a summary of what we've already discussed...

Looks like the Clippers are back to square one..no Brand, no Maggette. I like Cory but if you can't play for Dunlevy, I am not sure if Sam would be a good fit. Starting cutting his minutes and the problem will transfer from LA to Toronto. I believe we have a very good 3 in Moon, we just have to be patient. My major concern is our starting point guard TJ. I feel for TJ and if you are scared to get back on the bike. I think you should really consider packing it in for you and your family's sake. I am sure his girlfriend feel the same way. Have a question for Franchise, If TJ retires does his salary comes off the cap?

raps4life - From the NBA's salary cap Q and A's in regards to how retired players count against the cap:

Any money paid to a player is included in team salary, even if the player has retired. For example, James Worthy retired in 1994, two years before his contract ended. He continued to receive his salary for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, so his salary was included in the Lakers' team salary in those seasons. It is at the team's discretion (or as the result of an agreement between the team and player) whether to continue to pay the player after he has retired.

There is one exception whereby a player can continue to receive his salary, but the salary is not included in the team's team salary. This is when a player is forced to retire for medical reasons and a league-appointed physician confirms that he is medically unfit to continue playing. There is a waiting period of one year following the injury or illness before a team can apply for this salary cap relief. If the waiting period expires mid-season (on any date prior to the last day of the regular season), then the player's entire salary for that season is removed from the team's team salary. For example, in March 2003 the Knicks were allowed to remove Luc Longley's entire 2002-03 salary from their books (and since the luxury tax is based on the team salary as of the last day of the regular season, the Knicks avoided paying any tax on Longley's salary). This provision can also be used when a player dies while under contract.

Teams are not allowed to trade for disabled players and then apply for this salary cap relief. Only the team for which the player was playing when he was disabled may request this relief.

If a player retires, even for medical reasons, his team does not receive a salary cap exception to acquire a replacement player.

Let's hope that TJ comes back rested and ready to go with a long career ahead of him...thus negating any of the above!

Thanks Franchise, I am hoping the same thing. TJ is a tough cookie and I wish him and his family the best. Just wanna say your blog is the best you and Howland has greatly increase my basketball knowledge. Keep up the good work. Raps4Life....Lets go Raptors. Send those Engine parts oh I mean Pistons to the Auto Wreckers.

First off, this has to be the best Raptors Blog sites out there. Secondly, I am a firm believer that a player like Maggette will make the Raptors better, not champions, but definitely better. I have a few burning questions about the potential of him coming here though: Would it be beneficial to the Raptors to trade for Magettee considering he could walk away in the summer?

If we did do some business with the Clippers, what would it take to bring him here?

Could we afford to resign him next year even if he wanted to stay, with Calderon and Delfino due to get paid?

one of the better posts ever for a raps fan today, right here at the raps HQ. I'm loving the inclusion of opposing team bloggers on game day. this site just keeps getting better and better. kudos to you guys.

as for the game, I'll be watching for bargs hopefully to blow it up with lots of confidence, and just come out swinging.

and moon as well. hopefully he'll continue what he started in NO and get to the rim with some vicious dunks.

and hopefully CB4 won't get owned by sheed tonight, like he has in the past.

lastly if anyone does find a place where they'll be showing a US feed of the game, please do post it here. I'll be there.

if not, I'll just have to try to stream it online.

I agree with raps4life. While Magette's game might give the Raptors the missing piece they need I don't think Magette's ego would be a fit for TO. Plus after playing in LA would he really want to come to Canada to play?

The Raptors need to see where TJ Ford's situation heads to determine if they need another PG ASAP. If he retires it's a big blow to the team and with quality PG so hard to find I think it would be a bigger blow than not finding a slashing SF because we may have found our slasher in Moon.

They need to concentrate on their style of play. The way they attacked the rim early in the New Orleans game holds the key to their future success. If they continue to settle for outside shots even when they are not falling then this team will only ever be a good team, not a championship team.

Thanks for the props folks! As fans first and foremost Howland and I try and rack our brains as to what we'd want to see on a site covering the Raps and then try and bring it to the HQ. As the season goes on we'll hopefully be able to do more and more things like this. They say imitation is the best form of flattery and I noticed this morning that Doug Smith is now starting to touch base with the opposing team's sports writers too.

This means our purpose is being served as the coverage of this team that was so sickly just a few years ago, is getting better and better.

Unfortunately papa and Mazel, that's not extending to local pubs. I just tried a few places at St. Clair West and all are on Bell or Rogers and therefore only showing the RaptorsTV feed. If anyone finds a secret locale though, post away!

As for Maggette, this might deserve a whole post tomorrow if the Raptors don't get to the free throw line more than 10 times...

Moon's in the dunk contest. No question. Future SF right here under our noses; wake up!

Agree with Tinman, steady as she goes.

If you're looking for Pistons love you aren't going to find it from me though I'm afraid:

"The Pistons are playing so well right now that it's hard for me to say any team
has a chance to best them. Their wins haven't just been wins they're blowouts for
the most part. The Raptors are definitely capable of giving the Pistons a game"

Typical Yank bravado....Can't wait to crush these beeyotches tonight.....

I'll take the Raps bench anyday.

TJ will be fine, put yourself in his position. Wild guess he plays in three weeks.

I read the Magette link yesterday, and also still think he'd be ok here...but the Clips would prob want too much, no? It is Colangelo afterall.

I guess I'll be the first to call victory tonight.

Since we've been talking rosters, I'll also go out on a limb here and say probably 95% of the GMs out there would swap rosters with the Raps all things considered....think about it. Ridicule me at will if you have to.

"Pistons Nation - No worries, we should have sent it out the questions a bit sooner but we'll have to grab your thoughts for next game. Actually, question for you - do you agree with Natalie from Need4Sheed in saying that this is possibly the best version of the recent Pistons clubs under Dumars?"

I've read that suggested a few times and I'm hesitant to say yes right now since Dumars did put together the '04 championship team. The difference is the bench now is young and exciting, but unproven. In '04 you had guys like Corliss Williamson, Lindsey Hunter (sans 4 year), Mike James, Elden Campbell, and Mehmet Okur. This version definately has the potential to be the best but I think they'd need the hardware before you can truely make a case.

Ok, from now on we tell Andrea that EVERY game is nationally televised.

Why does Sam put the bench in to start the fourth? I can remember at least several games in the last month he did that, the game gets out of reach and then the starters come in and try to make a game of it. By the time CB et al got back in, the lead was up to 11 for Detroit, and they never looked back. I don"t get that.

so, "litmus test". Like everybody else, lose by 16 points. Yech. mid-range team at best, flirting with 500 for the rest of the season. up and down, up and down.

I have been watching all games since TJ went down and I am telling you even the whole NBA keep saying the Toronto Raptors need to get TJ back, we REALLY need to have TJ back and soon otherwise we are going to be way down under 500 big time

Marcia nobody holding TJ out but TJ send him an email and tell him we need TJ back.

We for sure need help in the point guard spot Dixon not getting the 14 points TJ would get us. (even if He got the minutes don't think it would happen) Even so we would not of won tonights game even if TJ were in the line up.Raptors not in Pistons league! YET!

Raptors went down to a better team looking forward to the Pistons Celtics game tomorrow. By the way I am Raptors and Pistons fan so I could not help but enjoy tonights game no matter what happened.

First of all I am so glad I found this site because the content and public participation is absolutely amazing.

Second....so much for my thought that Dixon is ok at the point because he didn't play terribly the last few games. Going up against a championship team it became clear that Juan cannot play the backup PG spot.

Apparently TJ is pain free and will sit down sometime this week or next with the team to set up a timetable for his return. So hopefully we can get him back by early Feb.

Great game again for Andrea in terms of his scoring.....and what impressed me most was he did it against the Pistons. Although Rasheed seemed to be playing pretty lazy against Andrea the entire pistons unit is solid defensively. So if he can do this against the Pistons he should be able to do it consistantly against any team...now if we could just get him to rebound.

I don't know why everyone keeps giving out possible trade scenerios. Provided TJ is healthy and him and Andrea continue to progress I think we'll have enough star power on the team in say 2 or 3 years with bosh, tj and andrea.

Although Andrea is a big man I think he could score like an athletic wing could with his outside shooting, midrange game and driving to the basket.

Things are really tightening up in the west. NJ has won 4 in a row and are once again looking like the team that beat the raps in the first round.

Bos, Det and possibly Orl have cemented their positions in the playoffs. ATL, Pacers, Cavs, Raps, NJ, Washington will compete for the last 5 spots in the playoffs and possibly Chi as well.

You don't want to be the 7th or 8th seed because you'll end up facing the Celtics or Pistons.

It'll be interesting to see if the Raps can get healthy and start to put some distance between themselves and the competition during this nice home stretch.