Lunchbox Links

I see the problem with underclassman leaving early is two fold

1) In general, players are leaving after one year if they have a good statistical season. They are also basing their decisons on where they play based on which teams can give them the minutes to have a good statistical season.

2) WIth the CBA expiring, players run the risk of leaving now, or not having a chance to play NBA basketball for two years. I can see why a player would take the money and run, especially when their stock is up.

I prefer to look at the silver lining. The second factor has resulted in a stronger draft class then normal, ie no one sticking around ala Noah and Hoford. There is also a chance we will have multiple picks in this draft, so the dividends could be repeated once more. All draft picks don’t turn out, else teams would never trade such a cost-controllable asset readily. However, for every x number of picks, there is a chance you come up with one or two assets that you you had little chance to adding on the free agent market. This is especially true for Toronto, since we’re not the magnate that certain US cities can be a for a player.

I agree that for the most part, the players that stick around till they are upperclassman are close to their ceiling in terms of potential. DeRozan was pretty raw himself, but we can all agree that taking a chance on him, given our roster at the time, was worth the risk that he busts. If we end up with two picks (for arguments sake ours and either Chicago or Miami’s) I hope we nab a player to groom at SF (more of a sure thing) then take a calculated risk on either Orton / or a pg. Orton would be an example of the player that would have the potential to be a VERY useful front court piece. In 2005, Bynum was a higher ceiling version, in that he was a few years off from contributing. He was a chance best taken by a team that was already contending, or one that was just beginning a cycle of reloading / rebuilding. Guess which one Toronto is on the cusp of becoming. If Orton pans out, he may well be the last piece that falls into place. If we aren’t willing to take such a risk now, then when? A market like Toronto, with owners like a pension fund, would not stomach extended periods out of the playoffs. They’d start nagging the GM into short term moves, and pretty soon we’re back on the treadmill to no where.

Defensive Stance brings up a good point about Colangelo trying to finish what he started, any which way he can. I think he believes he’s too far down the rabbit hole to turn back now. Especially after all he’s said in the media, which is likely a reflection of the presentations he’s made to the MLSE board of directors. If he goes out, guns blazing, well hey, success is never guaranteed. Trying to start a new approach would likely look like failure, both in his eyes and his superiors. However, recalling a previous poster, I have faith that BC’s habit of erring towards the higher ceiling player will win out in this case. This is something we can afford to do at least once if we have multiple picks.

I think you are getting confused with the difference between franchise player and max dollar player. A franchise is a player that you can build a team around. He has to be good enough to carry your franchise at times and win a few games for you all by himself. Bosh has done that and you cannot tell me you cannot build a team around him just because the GMs of Toronto have failed miserably to do so. Remember that it was only a few years ago that Garnett took some heat because he couldn’t get the big wins and that was with talent that is far superior to all the players Bosh has played with combined.
A max dollar player is a guy who can win a lot of games by themselves, and are draw fans with their name. They can sell anything to anyone and people in the middle of the Sahara desert know them by name. Bosh is definitely not in this category but then there are currently only 3 or 4 players who fit that bill and are not retiring in 2-3 years, Lebron, Wade, Kobe, Durant (some would argue Paul but considering the debate about who is better between him and Deron WIlliams I would say he falls a little short).