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by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Aug 25, 2009 1:15 PM EDT in Daily Links

NOT TO BE NEGATIVE, BUT...
NBA offseason: Best newcomer | ESPN
Hedo Turkoglu got three votes as best newcomer. Are we still excited about spending $53 million on a guy who shot only 41 percent from the floor (110th in the NBA) and 35 percent from behind the arc (95th) last season?

A PAINFUL REMINDER
The top 10 lottery busts of the last decade | Yahoo! Sports
Surprise, surprise! Hoffa makes Kelly Dwyer's list of top 10 lottery busts of the last decade.

MULTIMEDIA BOSH
Bosh to release CD, DVD and iPhone application | National Post
But did he work on his game at any point in the offseason? Perhaps add a new post move or two?

The Best Players Currently Wearing Each Number From 0 to 99 | Rumors and Rants
Chris Bosh beats out Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals and Vincent Lecavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the honour of best player rocking the number four jersey.

LOGO FAIL (ALMOST)
Grading Current NBA Logos | Empty the Bench
The Raptors' tribute to Barney doesn't score so well in this report card.

HOW THEY STACK UP
My Team Is Better Than Yours: Toronto Raptors Edition | Pounding The Rock
The eighth entry in Pounding the Rock's series comparing teams to the Spurs for the '09-'10 season. This entry compares the Spurs to the Raptors with emphasis on last years stats, head to head recaps, roster changes and a match-up preview.

TAKING A LOOK AT THE PG POSITION
Calderon’s role has changed | Raptors Republic
Arsenalist thinks Jose Calderon needs to be like Jameer Nelson. I'm not sure that's a realistic expectation.

"FAB 5" RAPTORS
The Rap | FAN590 | Webber, FIBA, Fore, and More
Eric Smith comments on Chris Webber's top five Raptors of all-time.

FORMER RAPTORS (COACH) IN THE NEWS
NBA.com: Gentry adds Shumate to Phoenix Suns staff
Former Raptors assistant John Shumate will join Alvin Gentry's coaching staff with the Phoenix Suns.

Poll

Who was the biggest bust in Raptors history?

Andrea Bargnani

3 votes

Rafael Araujo

144 votes

Hakeem Olajuwon (FA signing)

39 votes

Roko Ukic

1 votes

Aleksandar Radojević

8 votes

Michael Bradley

5 votes

Joey Graham

2 votes

Yogi Stewart (FA signing)

11 votes

213 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Tinman

I think the vote on best newcomer could be viewed at who’s going to the best situation. Hard not to atgue with RJ to the Spurs, but who knows.Secondly, the Cavs were going to be successfull with or without Shaq. He’s a tough one to rank.
I am of the group that thinks Caters signing will be big.

Am curious to see the revised list at the end of season – HQ mark on your calendar.

Only other comment is on your poll for Raptors biggest bust. Arruja was a # 8 pick – Hakeem was to help us win a championship. Vote has to go to Olajuwon.

by Tinmann on Aug 25, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

I’d split my vote between Hoffa and Hakeem.

A couple of other bust candidates have to be Rob Babcock as GM and arguably Lenny Wilkens as coach.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Aug 25, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

The thing that makes Hoffa such a bust in addition to his suckage is the blue chip alternatives that were available. He’s for my money the most painful name of the list.

Who voted for Joey Graham?? Say what you want about Joey but he was drafted lower and contributed WAY more than Hoffa.

Can Alonzo Mourning be considered a bust???

by CalexanderJ on Aug 25, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Joey Graham represented the SECOND pass on Danny Granger. That has to merit some “bust” cred.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Aug 25, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I voted for Olajuwon because it was the signing that ignited the beginning of the end…and it handcuffed us for a couple of years when he had to retire due to injury. The team’s chemistry was never the same with him on the roster.

by Assistant GM on Aug 26, 2009 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

I think yall are forgetting that Radojevic was drafted like 10th over all or something and never even played a game in the NBA. I also suprised that esperenza (or whatever that PG Isiah brought over from Italy’s name was) who did come to Toronto but barely got off the bench. Hoffa may have been a bust but it wasn’t like he was draft 1st overall, and yes there were some better players out there but you could say that about a lot of drafts.

by McGateway on Aug 26, 2009 6:15 AM EDT reply actions

This is why it’s too difficult to rank who the greatest bust was. At first I saw Araujo’s name and thought that he was the pick…until I saw Hakeem’s name. I think you need to have two separate surveys. One for draft picks and one for FA signings. You are right about Radojevic…I forgot about him. How about Nate Huffman…he was just terrible!

by Assistant GM on Aug 26, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions