Playing Hunches

I think the biggest hunch I have is that BC will make a lot of noise on draft night when he trades up for Kevin Love. To me, Love just seems like a BC-type of player...he's a skilled big man, rugged, tough, physical rebounder...I don't know, but I feel BC will move up in the draft and acquire Kevin Love.

Also, another hunch is that BC acquires Boris Diaw from Pheonix, given that Pheonix could be dangling him and I think BC, having traded for him before when he was in Pheonix, will do the same this time he'll bring him to the Raptors. And I don't think a PG will be involved in that deal...

Here's the feeling that I get regarding the PG situation...my gut feeling is that if T.J. Ford is not traded on draft night, Jose Calderon is the one that is dealt...no evidence and obviously it goes against what BC is sayin', but it's something that I have a feeling will happen.

Howland,
Great job at stirring up interesting angles to look at the Raps.

Clark: I think Diaw would be great here, but I don't see how the Suns can afford to let him go, at least for anything the Raps can offer. Kapono can shoot and does not play defence, so he might be a perfect Suns player?
It seems that the big men in the draft are all fairly even. Of them, I kind of like Hibbert for his work ethic. I thought he out played Oden in the NCAA tournament last year. The knock on him are his hands, but we need a rebounder and fat ass on the block. He may be an option. I don't know if Love will be another Humphries (a little too small and a little too lacking in athleticism in the NBA after a great college showing). All in all, they should go for the big with the best upside. I don't think that a big ass is enough - we can get McGloire to be that for cheap. So, if we use our pick, maybe Green or McGee is the way to go.
I would not be surprised to see Rasho traded and McGloire signed.

Ah the summer frenzy of trade rumours and Possibilities, Here is what i think will happen in order...

June 26
BC goes to work draft night...
Pulls off the following trade,
TJ Ford & Joe Graham to the clippers for Corey Maggetty and the clips 2nd rd pick 35th.

Raps draft one of 4 possible big men with the 17th pick..In order of Availability ..

(1) DeAndrea Jordan
(2) Robin Lopez
(2.5) JaVale McGee
(3) Roy Hibbert
(4) Kosta Koufos

35th pick.....In order of
Availability ...

(1) Devin Hardin
(2) Joey Dorsey
(3) Bill Walker May be 1st on this list depending on how his individual workout went..

July 1 2008...

BC..Locks up Calderon to a similar deal to that of TJ's deal maybe a little more money and longer term..

And that's A RAP.

Later......BIG C

One question..off topic..When are they revealing the new Raptors uniforms? The black ones..

Howland, perfect break-down. It doesn't mean it's going to happen exactly like you described however all the signs are pointing in the same direction.

I do think TJ will be traded, but it wont be until just before the trading camp. First, BC and other teams will want to see what they have in the draft. Second, and more important, BC will drive up the market for PG. Everyone knows good PG are needed. People will eventually forget about their injury concerns and pay up for a pg of TJ's quality. People know he can play.

I don't think that they will draft a big. Right now, a big is ont he omst glaring need for the team. Although it is much easier to find wings, I think BC is willing to wait out Bargs for the year to see improvement, and having Hump as a back-up.

I think TJ will be traded for a semi-servicable big man, and that the raptors will draft someone to leanr from Anthony Parker, and push Moon for playing time, with the long term goal being the pic for sg, and sf for moon and kapono.

Finally, I think BC will make a play for an early 2nd ronud pick.

I've said it to anyone who will listen: Roy Hibbert will be a bust.

My guess is that Hibbert experiences Jameer Nelson syndrome on draft day.

Kevin Love imo will experience Shelden Williams syndrome where he gets drafted much higher than he should, doesn't workout, gets traded.

Of the big men I'd take on the Raps:

Marresse Speights
Robin Lopez

DeAndrea Jordan would be another one although he will likely be gone.

I'd much rather take a wing player (Battum, Green, CDR) than pick Hibbert or McGee (who was absolutely terrible in workouts thus far)

Speights is a guy who has really been flying under the radar in my opinion.

Word out of NJ is that Brian Colo has been getting low balled on offers from Indiana, Cleveland and Miami in regards to TJ Ford.

Best thing to do is tell the media you will keep both.

Resign Jose

Once everyone realizes you might not actually trade TJ his value will go up as Scott said. Teams will be desperate to try and get a startig PG.

BC announces that the teams name and logo will be changed moving forward, and the Toronto Huskies are officially back with a blue/white uniform.

- Jose will be signed

- TJ will be traded for an earlier pick in the draft (Knicks?)

- Raptors select SF - Danilo Galinari giving us a pair of Italians to go with our Spanish contingent

- With our own pick at 17 the Raptors will take either Love, Green or Batum (that being the order of my preferences with the latter two picks being much less likely if we land Galinari).

Great article as always Howland.

Hopefully TJ can net us a swingman or a low-post defender/rebounder.

As for the draft, my hopes are for CDR or perhaps gambling on the potential of Joe Alexander if he slides that far.

BC trades tj ford, for some rotation players, and a first pick NEXT Year (Everyone complains)......and then trades our expiring for a good wing (Maybe Prince?).....and the first pick next year, ends up being much higher than expected..............and by 09/10 season, we have bosh, prince, and calderon, with an impact player from the draft........that's my hunch......I'm certain tj ford won't be traded for any of the names we're hearing (RJ, Cory, Melo)..........we'll see

Is anyone else interested in Joe Alexander? He seems to have impressive potential on top of his athleticism and intense work ethic...He may be a slight project at the 3 but he is quite young. Also, he isnt a great stretch from the 17th pick.

I like where you're going howland. My hunch is it plays out like this:

BC draft for the best player rather than need and keeps his chips on bargnani for another season.

TJ stays until the trade deadline and he and rasho (and anyone else neccessary)get dealt together or separatley for a sf that's totally out of the blue, but a smart choice.

The euro experiment continues and roko comes over as a backup plus another low cost back-up pg is aquired.

Didn't we draft a center out of need before? Twice? Hopefully it will work out the second time, but before we do it a third time I think we should always remember to DRAFT THE BEST AVAILABLE TALENT - that is the level headed thing to do. If he happens to be a C, perfect but lets not create another Iguadala situation (I know that was a much higher pick).

I really don't think it is worth hoping too much for any specific player through the draft. I have been reading a lot about CDR here and sure he sounds fine, so did that guy whose name we were all chanting years ago, before selecting ROY Mighty Mouse... what was his name? - I forget - kinda my point. Anyways, I read this on another site (Arsenalist) about CDR, thought I would share...

"The Rush vs. CDR battle started in college and looks to continue in the NBA. They were matched up in yesterday’s workout and it was Rush who got the better of his counterpart because of his defense. You would’ve thought if there’s one thing CDR has over Rush it’s got to be his reach and athleticism on the defensive end; then again it was one workout….and one national championship. How much can missed FTs tell you about a player? I’m not saying CDR is a Nick Anderson but there’s something to be said for a guy who’s 6-7 from the line and then goes 0-2 in the clutch. So far Rush has the edge over him and if the Raptors are going for a swing guy at #17, they need to pick up Rush. And I’m not even saying this because I’m a Kansas supporter, seriously."

PS - Don't we have to wait until a certain date before we can trade TJ? And isn't that date well after the draft? SO I doubt there will be any draft day deals involving TJ Ford? As time goes on, I am starting to worry more and more that we will only get fifty cents on the dollar for TJ - We'll never know if we are doing the right thing either, because none of us know what is on offer for Jose...

Robert:
I think you're referring to Ed O'Bannon.
Interestingly, looking at the '95 draft, Damon seemed to be a pretty good pick, though Kurt Thomas and Michael Finley came later.

"If anything since his time in Toronto, Bryan Colangelo has been a man of his word"
Not so sure if this was a promise, but during his season ending pressconfrence BC strongly alluded to getting a 20pt scorer in order to help chris bosh...its gonna be intresting to see what happens
Howland I'm not so sure that the raps will be taking a big...most bigs worth drafting at 17 will prob be gone by then...it makes more sense to draft a wing like bantum who has alot a upside and has the physical tools to conribute defensivly right away...plus i dont think where that bad up front...this teams main weakness lies in thier perimiture defense and its inability to create off the dribble and get to the ft line

i think it wud b a huge mistake to trade away jose.....he is amazing and anyone with half a brain wud agree with me.......hopefully he is re-signed

joe alexander does interest me, rugged sf we need if we have ab at centre

I think a player that might be worth going for is Desmond Mason in Milwaukee...solid defender, drives the ball...but can't shoot very well (but we need a slasher/defender, right??). Milwaukee is looking to make changes, and BC has history with the Bucks.

I totally agree with draft for talent. I do think that you need a lot of big (defensive) men in the playoffs...to wear out guys like D.Howard, not to mention the West. But the best thing is to take the best player available at 17.

Desmond Mason, Boris Diaw, Shelden Williams, Jamaal Magloire all both PF or C have fallon out of favour from there teams i say we get one of them to wither be behind bosh or bargs if he's out start center . WE NEED TO GET JR SMITH MAN HE"S GONNA BE A FUTURE SCORER!!! I BETT 99% on that. or josh smith!! upgrade the SF n sg n hope bargs will develop trade tj KEEP JOSE n put more time into kris HUMP oh n sign jamaal magloire n jr smith