Lunchbox Links: Trade Deadline Edition

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Feb 23, 2011 12:01 PM EST in Daily Links

The rebuilding Toronto Raptors got even younger on Tuesday by acquiring second-year forward James Johnson from the Chicago Bulls for a first-round pick in this year's draft.

So, if you're keeping score at home, Bryan Colangelo has turned the trade exception the Raptors received in the Chris Bosh transaction into James Johnson, Jerryd Bayless, Alexis Ajinca, a future second-round draft pick and some long-term salary relief. Whoa! Slow down there, big fella! Are you trying to win a championship or something?

Colangelo still has about $9.1 million of the Bosh exception left if he has more deals in mind either between now and Thursday’s 3 p.m. deadline or before the exception expires in early July. Not that Colangelo is asking, but I think this guy would significantly improve the Raptors' wing defense.

Of course, the Raptors will probably end up trading for the likes of Danilo Gallinari. A front court of Andrea Bargnani and Gallinari would probably shatter the team record for fewest rebounds in a game.

In the latest edition of Statophile, Tom Liston of Raptors Republic doesn't see a lot of great trade assets on the Raptors' roster. Liston also gives the final word on Amir Johnson's contract.

TSN's Tim Chisholm asks why does it seem like in the Colangelo era, the Raptors are forced to make big, franchise-altering decisions at the worst possible times?

ESPN's TrueHoop blog has compiled the latest trade reports.

Joakim Noah will return to action in Toronto on Wednesday after missing 30 games because of thumb surgery.

Check out Ed Davis' ranking in Arturo Galletti's rookie progress report.

Which former Raptors rank among the best players ever to be traded midseason?

Speaking of former Raptors, Charles Oakley disses Toronto fans. Antoine Wright and Jerome Moiso are teammates in China. Mark Jackson's brother died. And Jarrett Jack makes an incredibly dumb decision.

Buzz Bissinger is probably racist and definitely wrong about the NBA's popularity, according to the Score's Scott Carefoot. Here's the original post that inspired Carefoot's response.

Don't underestimate Isiah Thomas' grip on the Knicks.

NBA coaching volatility versus Jerry Sloan.

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the Raptors are forced to make big, franchise-altering decisions at the worst possible times?

sorry there is a good time to make franchise altering decisions?

BC made his bed in each case (other than the first overral pick… but then again he could have selected differently) and now he has to sleep in it.

No mention of the Ford or Oneil trades?

He could have skipped all the fluff and just posted this:

“his two best players remain those that have been acquired by someone else (Bosh and Calderon”

after 5 years that says it all.

by Not so Friendly Stranger on Feb 23, 2011 12:21 PM EST reply actions

I’m not a fan, but Colangelo did sign Amir Johnson to a nice contract and nail the Ed Davis pick. Colangelo’s problem is that they keep sabotaging the few productive players on the roster (Amir, Davis, Calderon) by letting the inefficient crew (Bargnani, DeRozan, Weems and Kleiza) dominate offensive possessions.

Impatience has also dominated Colangelo’s time in Toronto. It’s why we see moves like the Miami pick for James Johnson instead of waiting for the draft and seeing what unfolds. Who knows? Maybe a DeJuan Blair type starts dropping and you actually have a late first-round pick to roll the dice. Not the worst situation to be in.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Feb 23, 2011 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

While Amir and Davis are examples of successful moves/transactions made by BC, other examples are few and far between. However, I can list quite a few questionable calls, a handful abject failures and several complete head scratchers. In terms of evaluation you have to look at the overall "balance sheet" of decisions made by the GM and ask yourself, are we any better off than where we started when BC took over the team?

by MAS11 on Feb 23, 2011 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t argue that the balance sheet is ugly. But honestly, as much as I question some of the moves that have been made, what’s done is done. Trade Bargnani, draft Kyrie Irving, and give Ed Davis 30+ minutes per game next season, and I’ll feel a lot more positive about this team going forward… even with most of the Titanic Division undergoing a massive overhaul for the better.

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Feb 23, 2011 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

Counterintuitive theory

I wonder if playing in a crappy division these past few years has actually been a detriment to building a good team. Your players often look better than they are against sub-standard competition and the teams in the Atlantic certainly did their best to make the Raptors look good during the late-Bosh era.

by DW19 on Feb 23, 2011 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

He did not nail the Ed Davis pic

Ed Davis fell onto his lap in the draft… BC didn’t even see him in workouts!
Though I suspect (hope) Patrick Patterson and Paul George may have been BC’s hope before Davis fell to him. I like Davis, but to say BC nailed the pic is not at all right. He got lucky rolling the dice, just as he does in everything as this article says.

by Arthur_Pewty on Feb 23, 2011 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by MAS11 on Feb 23, 2011 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

deron williams to the nets for devin harris and derrick favors

It just happened a few minutes ago

by sherwin316 on Feb 23, 2011 12:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Raptors get older

In contrast to your first headline, I would say that the James Johnson (24 years old) trade actually makes the Raptors a little older since he was traded for a pick that would have been at most a 21 years old college senior.

by DW19 on Feb 23, 2011 12:32 PM EST reply actions

Amir Johnson's Bum Ankle

He tweeted before the Bobcats game that he was still undergoing treatment for the ankle

One of the Raptors writers noted just before the all-star break that Johnson was wearing an ankle brace.

You can click on the link for a picture of what these look like

http://is.gd/Qa6Xox

From the way he was running and jumping last night it appears to me that he is still severely hampered by his bum ankle.

The last time he had an ankle injury that affected him like this it took him about 2.5 months until he was running and jumping normally.

If this injury is as serious as that one was and his recovery time is about the same as it was for that injury his season is pretty well shot at this point as he would not be recovered from the injury until late March or early April.

If this is the case then maybe Davis should be starting and Johnson shut down once Reggie is activated.

by Buddahfan on Feb 23, 2011 2:37 PM EST reply actions

The Final Word On Johnson's Contract

It won’t be known until the contract is complete.

Any comments on the contract at this point or even a year or two from now is just speculation on the currently remaining 4+ seasons left on his contract and how he will produce.

Hell, he may not even be with the Raptors come the end of his current contract.

No final word on his contract for a long time to come.

by Buddahfan on Feb 23, 2011 2:44 PM EST reply actions