Official Toronto Raptors Thread.

[BOSS]

MOVING ON FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR ...

[Jugs]

Number 1: Don't re-sign Mike James, only sign and trade.
Number 2: SIGN ROKO UKIC ZOMG (I think he can't because of Euro contract but..) BRING HIM ZOMg!1!~!!1!

That's all I mainly care about the Raptors of, oh and contract extension for Bosh or something.

[[L3]1101]

Number 1: Don't re-sign Mike James, only sign and trade.

absolutely agree

Number2: Find a PG either in the draft or FA signings. Trading the pick is an option.
Number3: Get rid of Eric Williams, even for nothing is better than him playing for TO.
Number4: Find a center. I'm not too worried about our inside game, though it does need
a lot of work, i believe Bosh, CV, SOW, Bonner, and even Arujo will be able
to do a good job after some off season work.

[j.23]

everyone's #1 is on point so far, so i'm going to join the group

#1 - don't resign mike james.
#2 - get a decent big man. really, i've never payed attention to how salary cap, contracts work etc. but i'd dump araujo, loren woods, eric williams, darrick martin in a heartbeat. get some vets in there, and better big men.

[BOSS]

Number 1: Don't re-sign Mike James, only sign and trade.

absolutely agree

Number2: Find a PG either in the draft or FA signings. Trading the pick is an option.
Number3: Get rid of Eric Williams, even for nothing is better than him playing for TO.
Number4: Find a center. I'm not too worried about our inside game, though it does need
a lot of work, i believe Bosh, CV, SOW, Bonner, and even Arujo will be able
to do a good job after some off season work.

Right on the money man.

Bosh is already gonna sign this off-season some it's not on my proirity list.

1. ) Do not resign Mike James. Deal him in a sign and trade deal.
2. ) If Mike James is gone, draft a PG ( Marcus Williams, Randy Foye, Brandon Roy ).
3. ) Get rid of Eric Williams. The man still has some talent left in him and I rather see him suceed if he can on a different team. Deal him for a 2nd rounder maybe or even package him in a trade with others from our team.
4. ) Find a quality Centre. Centres to keep in mind this off-season are Przybilla, Mohammed, etc.

What I am wondering this off-season is that should we draft for need this year or the best player available ?

If Marcus Williams was available, I would take him in a second. Second choice would be Robert Carney.

[Fenix]

a.) Sign&trade James
b.) Get a C. Perhaps a package of this years #1 pick and some players would convince Milwaukee to give up Magloire.
c.) Don't trade CV. He is still improving and even though he's a PF, he still hasn't reach his full trade value yet.
d.) Get a smart, defensive minded PG who can shoot and complement Calderon.

[BOSS]

Here is a list of the Raptors Predraft Workouts :

[magius]

raptor fans have sooo many players they have to remember to boo

[NNpF]

Here is a list of the Raptors Predraft Workouts :

Allan Ray - Center? I don't think so.

#2 - get a decent big man. really, i've never payed attention to how salary cap, contracts work etc. but i'd dump araujo, loren woods, eric williams, darrick martin in a heartbeat. get some vets in there, and better big men.

Aren't you kind of contradicting yourself there? Darrick Martin should stay, he is perfect for teaching the young guys and when he was given the chance to play he executed and slowed down the game very well.

[BOSS]

Ye I don't mind Martin being a third string PG.
He does well when minutes are given to him.
And he is a veteran so he can still touch the young gunz a few tips and tricks.

[[C][B]#4]

The number one priority is pretty much said, so I won't even bother with priority number one.

My biggest concerns are getting a good point guard and a center that can rebound and play good defense. With James at the point last year it was him bringing it up the floor, dribbling the shit out of the clock, then hoist up a three pointer. We need a point guard with a pass first mentality and run the offense through Bosh, Peterson and Villanueva.

A decent center is a must this year or the Raptors are just going to have another dissappointing season. I'm tired of seeing the opposing team get career-highs and constantly outrebound the Raptors. We need a center who will rebound and play defense so the opposing center won't look like the next Shaq. I wouldn't even mind it at all if Colangelo deals away our top 5 pick for a decent center since this isn't a really good draft. Also, the Raptors are young enough.

As far as getting Eric Williams outta town, it's not a must, but it should be done. He's clearly not a good fit in Toronto. He still has some trade value and he's got an expiring contract next season so he'll be a pretty attractive trade bait.

I'm also not against Darrick Martin coming back. He's a great mentor for our young guys, and as Sam said, he produces in the limited minutes he's given.

I'm excited about this upcoming offseason with Colangelo in charge. He'll make the right decisions for this franchaise, and we should see a playoff team within the next 2 or 3 years.

[jerry]

yes i agree colangelo ois a big move yes yes i hope we can make playoffs in 2-3 years... i recommend trading james and eric williams for a good pg or center since we have some free cap available...and araujo wow trade him and a 2nd round draft for a good 1st round draft that we wanted but didnt get

[[L3]1101]

I don't mind seeing Jason Terry in TO, if he wants to come that is which is hard to believe. I don't mind the Raps offering hime 10mil/year for 4-5 years. But i'm almost certain this won't happen. Speedy is another PG we can sign his offseason, if we offer him enough, he might sign with us.

[Cable]

James needs to go, that's number one. Number two is a point guard, then a center. Don't get rid of Martin either, he was only signed for more of a coach-type role than to play. Williams deserves to go elsewhere, and I'd like to see Alvin Williams make a comeback.

[hipn]

Offseason - Get a better intro song.... lol, but true.

[BOSS]

Offseason - Get a better intro song.... lol, but true.

How can you not like the Beyonce - Crazy in love theme song. Haha

[unorthadux]

1] Send Mike James as far away as possible..i wouldnt even want him on my recreation b-ball league
2] Bring in another vetran point gaurd... i think martin and another vetran would help devlop caulderon who has the ability to be a great pass first PG(IMO)
3] Dump Arujo on the first sucker to bid, just get him out..he's wasted roster space
4] bring in atleast one defensive grinder, a defensive minded player who will wear down opposing players, and will compliment Mo-pete

[BOSS]

Keady canning is just a start


Raps front office due for shakeup
Colangelo putting stamp on franchise

May 19, 2006. 01:00 AM

DOUG SMITH
SPORTS REPORTER

Gene Keady is out as a Raptors assistant coach and there's every reason to expect it's just the first move in a front-office shakeup as president and general manager Bryan Colangelo puts his own stamp on the franchise.

Keady was hired last mid-December as another set of veteran eyes to watch the wreckage that became the team's 27-55 season. His contract wasn't renewed when it ran out at season's end.

"We're still considering what options to pursue as far as addressing the staff and we may not fill the position at all," Colangelo said yesterday.

But that's not to say the general manager won't be busy.

It's expected the team will announce, perhaps as early next week, that Mauricio Gherardini, the well-respected boss of Benetton Treviso of the top league in Italy, will join Toronto as Colangelo's assistant general manager.

Likely to follow should be a purge of the Raptors' bloated, nepotism-filled scouting staff.

Jack McCloskey, a consultant to the team who has been with Toronto since the Isiah Thomas era, will not be retained since he had such close ties to former general manager Rob Babcock and was also a steadfast supporter of the drafting of Rafael Araujo.

Norm Goodman, who was the high school coach of former Raptor general manager Glen Grunwald and who has been a part-time scout for years, will be given his walking papers, while the likes of former European scout Steve Young and Mario Fournier, who did some scouting for Toronto in Europe, are also to be shown the door.

The best known of the ex-employees is Keady, the American college coaching icon who was hired by Babcock and senior advisor Wayne Embry last winter to provide another veteran coach for the team.

While he didn't have any specific duties, aside from charting such things as out-of-bounds plays, deflections and contested shots from his seat behind the bench, he was a vocal presence on the court and in practice.

Gherardini, who was in line for a front-office job with the Charlotte Bobcats when that franchise came into existence, is seen as one of the most knowledgeable executives in European basketball. He will be resigning as general manager of the highly successful Benetton Treviso franchise.

[[C][B]#4]

Colangelo's already making his move. I don't really know too much about the front office of the Raptors, but hopefully this is a good sign of things to come. Now, Colangelo, right after the draft, the first move, get rid of Mike James!!

[maes]

I guess i'll disagree w/ most of the replies.

I think the Raps have the best chance by going young & going small ball. They've already got a great guy in Bosh, why marginalize his touches? Phoenix & Chicago & Seattle showed you don't need a dominant center, and Bosh is better than anything Chicago or Seattle has to work with.

Drop "you miss every shot you don't take" James and try to land an all-star guard imho. And Jose Calderon isn't THAT good and look how much better the team works with him...imagine the team with a real PG.

[Its_asdf]

I thought Keady was a pretty good coach. As soon as he was brought in the Raptors won a few games and their defence was improving. I don't agree with that firing, but if Colangelo sees that it'll bring results...

[BOSS]

Toronto guard opens Raps' eyes

By RYAN WOLSTAT, TORONTO SUN

Two point guards expected to be taken at far different points of the NBA draft impressed the Raptors yesterday at the Air Canada Centre.

It wasn't surprising that University of Connecticut floor general Marcus Williams, expected to go anywhere from fourth to 15th in the June 28 draft, looked good in the Raptors' third workout for draft-eligible players this week. But it was the play of ex-Eastern Commerce star Jermaine Anderson, a long shot to be picked at all after a solid career playing both guard spots at Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y., that caught the attention of the assembled Raptors brass.

"(Anderson) was very impressive," Raptors scout Bob Zuffelato said. "We were all pleasantly surprised. He held his own against one of the premier point guards in the (U.S.)."

Anderson believes he can compete with anyone.

"Canadians can play with anybody in the world," he said. "I'm just hoping to be an example of that."

Zuffelato said Anderson's quickness stood out the most, but cautioned that he will have to adapt to returning to the point guard role after being more of a scorer at Fordham.

"He can really get up the floor and he pushes the ball well," Zuffelato said. "At the end of the drills, he was going as fast as the beginning. He was running like the wind."

Zuffelato feels Williams, on the other hand, lacks blazing speed, but excels in other areas such as making the right play at the right time and getting the ball to the person where and when they need it.

"The game really comes easy to Marcus," Zuffelato said. "You look at him and say he's not so quick. But some guys are quicker with the ball in their hands. On a team like ours, with guys that can run the floor, a point guard like that would look pretty nice."

Williams has been dogged with criticism since being arrested and charged for his role in the theft of four laptops last year. But Zuffelato said Williams has apologized and the Raps are not concerned.

"You have to give a guy another chance," Zuffelato said. "(UConn coach) Jim Calhoun did. They suspended him for half a year. He paid his debt and now he is on track to play in the NBA."

[J@3]

I read somewhere that Bargani's camp are going to issue basically a "hands off" warning to every team but the Raptors. I think it was a Sam Smith article, he said they'd put out the word that he'll return to Europe like Fran Vasquez if he's picked by anyone but the Raptors. The Assistant GM was the CEO of his team in Italy or something.

[BOSS]

I read somewhere that Bargani's camp are going to issue basically a "hands off" warning to every team but the Raptors. I think it was a Sam Smith article, he said they'd put out the word that he'll return to Europe like Fran Vasquez if he's picked by anyone but the Raptors. The Assistant GM was the CEO of his team in Italy or something.

From hoopshype.com

Mauricio Gherardini, an executive with Benetton Treviso of the top league in Italy, was added an assistant general manager. That's expected to help the Raptors get Barganani, who played for Benetton. The talk is Bargnani's camp will put out word he could return to Europe ... like Orlando pick Fran Vasquez did last year ... if he's not a Raptors pick. That should scare off the top teams. The new Toronto philosophy is said to be extend Bosh (he says he wants to return) and then concentrate on international players more comfortable playing in Canada.

[R.J.]

Well, Bargnani, what a special kid you think you are. Enjoy being a 2003 Maciej Lampe type, projected early and taken in the second round.

Draft Lottery tommorow, it should be interesting, hopefully the Bulls can get #1 overall pick.