Yahoo/Sportsnet: J. O

[-The Truth-]

ohhhhh man.....he is the defense we have been waiting for....and the rebounding we have been waiting for.....and everything we have been waiting for.........cant wait till it is announced

[Rhettmatic]

I don't like this trade at all and had this been proposed last year at this time most of you would have agreed. The need to get rid of Ford should not cloud the Raps judgement because we will be lucky to get 50-60 games out of Jermaine and with Bosh's questionable durability there is a strong chance that next season blows up in our faces and we are a lottery team. This seems like a deal Isiah Thomas would make. Jermaine has one bad wonky knee that's just gonna get worse and don't delude yourself because when you are that big and heavy and have had multiple problems with the same knee it slows you down considerably even when you are supposedly healthy.

This reminds me of the excitement when the 76ers got Webber. Much ado about a player who has clearly seen better days and is on a downward slope. We need some perimeter defence in the worst way and given the fragile health of O'Neal at this point he is not much of an upgrade over Rasho and will play less games. So basically we gave away Ford and the 17th pick for free. Seems like a desperation move by BC because there's nothing else he can do.

exactly how I feel

small part of me is optimistic, that he'll play 70plus and look close to what he used to, but...he's old. And his body is even older. And he's become just a jumpshooter on offence, nobody is really mentioning that

only thing he'll really help is our rebounding imo. Is his d even an upgrade over rasho? because I don't think his offence is. At all. I'm expecting a pretty in-efficient 15 or so a game

I'm not necessarily thrilled by this move either, taken on its own merits. What we do afterwards will shape how I see this, similar to the Ray Allen trade last year for the Celtics. At the time I thought it was terrible. But then when they got Garnett it made a lot of sense.

If we can turn Andrea Bargnani into a high-quality SF/SG, I will be very pleased.

[dagger]

Going to have lots of open roster spots. We're up to four now.

[Veggamattic]

I don't like this trade at all and had this been proposed last year at this time most of you would have agreed. The need to get rid of Ford should not cloud the Raps judgement because we will be lucky to get 50-60 games out of Jermaine and with Bosh's questionable durability there is a strong chance that next season blows up in our faces and we are a lottery team. This seems like a deal Isiah Thomas would make. Jermaine has one bad wonky knee that's just gonna get worse and don't delude yourself because when you are that big and heavy and have had multiple problems with the same knee it slows you down considerably even when you are supposedly healthy.

This reminds me of the excitement when the 76ers got Webber. Much ado about a player who has clearly seen better days and is on a downward slope. We need some perimeter defence in the worst way and given the fragile health of O'Neal at this point he is not much of an upgrade over Rasho and will play less games. So basically we gave away Ford and the 17th pick for free. Seems like a desperation move by BC because there's nothing else he can do.

exactly how I feel

small part of me is optimistic, that he'll play 70plus and look close to what he used to, but...he's old. And his body is even older. And he's become just a jumpshooter on offence, nobody is really mentioning that

only thing he'll really help is our rebounding imo. Is his d even an upgrade over rasho? because I don't think his offence is. At all. I'm expecting a pretty in-efficient 15 or so a game

29 is not old!

[Raptor_DJC]

Doug Smith just updated his Blog..looks like a done deal!! Yahooo!!!

Check it out: http://thestar.blogs.com/raptors/

[AndreaBustani]

I don't like this trade at all and had this been proposed last year at this time most of you would have agreed. The need to get rid of Ford should not cloud the Raps judgement because we will be lucky to get 50-60 games out of Jermaine and with Bosh's questionable durability there is a strong chance that next season blows up in our faces and we are a lottery team. This seems like a deal Isiah Thomas would make. Jermaine has one bad wonky knee that's just gonna get worse and don't delude yourself because when you are that big and heavy and have had multiple problems with the same knee it slows you down considerably even when you are supposedly healthy.

This reminds me of the excitement when the 76ers got Webber. Much ado about a player who has clearly seen better days and is on a downward slope. We need some perimeter defence in the worst way and given the fragile health of O'Neal at this point he is not much of an upgrade over Rasho and will play less games. So basically we gave away Ford and the 17th pick for free. Seems like a desperation move by BC because there's nothing else he can do.

exactly how I feel

small part of me is optimistic, that he'll play 70plus and look close to what he used to, but...he's old. And his body is even older. And he's become just a jumpshooter on offence, nobody is really mentioning that

only thing he'll really help is our rebounding imo. Is his d even an upgrade over rasho? because I don't think his offence is. At all. I'm expecting a pretty in-efficient 15 or so a game

I'm not necessarily thrilled by this move either, taken on its own merits. What we do afterwards will shape how I see this, similar to the Ray Allen trade last year for the Celtics. At the time I thought it was terrible. But then when they got Garnett it made a lot of sense.

If we can turn Andrea Bargnani into a high-quality SF/SG, I will be very pleased.

turn as in trade?

because no way the bust can play sf or sg, he can't guard sf's let alone sg's, I'm not a fan of bargs at all and he's a big bust, but maybe he could turn into a bostjan nachbar off the bench a couple 3's etc.

[Shaazzam]

Now if we acquire Crawford, my evil master plan is complete.

[JD225]

I don't like this trade at all and had this been proposed last year at this time most of you would have agreed. The need to get rid of Ford should not cloud the Raps judgement because we will be lucky to get 50-60 games out of Jermaine and with Bosh's questionable durability there is a strong chance that next season blows up in our faces and we are a lottery team. This seems like a deal Isiah Thomas would make. Jermaine has one bad wonky knee that's just gonna get worse and don't delude yourself because when you are that big and heavy and have had multiple problems with the same knee it slows you down considerably even when you are supposedly healthy.

Last year this deal wouldn't have even come close to landing O'Neal.

You are really overestimating O'Neal at this point in his career. The games I saw him in he looked like a shadow of his former self. In fact I betcha he gets injured before they finish November. To all of a sudden expect him to play like he did 5 years ago is an incredilbly tall order. His salary handcuffs this team for the next 2 years so they better pray Bargs starts shooting the lights out but with this trade it looks like he's riding the bench.

I'm just making the point that the guy is 1 year removed from an all star season. Larry Bird turned down many offers superior to this one last offseason. You seem pretty critical of the players right? What possible player could the Raptors land with TJ better than this one?

[zuppafly]

Hello there from a Magic fan.
Well, I see this as a risky move. High risk but also can generate a high reward. The only IF on this trade is related to JO's health.
If he stays healthy then Toronto has now become a much better team. Added interior scoring and defense, Calderon is now free from TJ's shadow and he'll run the team full time. You're now one good wing defender from being in contention IMO.
But that IF is a quite big one.

Anyway, bottom line for me is: If I was BC I would also do this trade.

[AndreaBustani]

Now if we acquire Crawford, my evil master plan is complete.

ah a fellow jamal crawford fan raises glass and toasts

[TerryTate]

as a diehard raptor fan first and foremost (please if you have anything to say about my love for TJ, kill urself cuz it doesnt apply)...i do not like this trade BC. sorry bud. add this to a now growing list of mistakes or difference in opinions I've had with him (wanted aldridge over bargs, was the biggy).

it looks all fine and dandy now, but it leaves us USELESS for the next 2 years. this is really a short-time fix and i'm appauled he cannot see this. or he DOES see this and thinks its a great PR/fanbase move that will get us to the 2nd round at least. i'm just kinda upset. i would much rather get a swingman and draft a C...but now we're doing the opposite which is FINE, but losing the draft pick which could net us that swingman.

another 2 years of mediocrity from the 2/3...i hope i'm wrong on this obviously.

Your opposed to 99% of trades including TJ.

How do this leave us useless?
We have USEFUL defensive Center for the first time since AD.. (not including his brief second coming)

A swingman rookie can bring us to 2nd round ... NO..
With no defence, even with an atheltic swingman .. we ain't getting 2nd round.

period.

[Rapsobsessed7]

i dont think we need another elite player like jefferson really. It will make us instant contenders like having a guy like Artest, Maggette seems far fetched now because what assets do we have unless we trade Jose and get back a point but theres no way that happens. Maybe Ben Gordon? If not i think Sign Pietrus to the MLE and were set

Calderon
Parker
Pietrus
Bosh
JO

All are excellent defenders which the exception of Calderon but he improves every year so its not hard to say he cant improve his defense. I think we can compete with Boston and if we buy a late pick we can have

Roko
Kapono/Lee or CDR
Moon
Hump
Bargnani

We still have Assets to invest in a guy like Gordon, Mike Miller those kind of second tier players. I think if Ben Gordon was given a starting role he would instantly produce he isnt a ray allen but sure is younger. Even this year had 18 PPG and with Parker leaving maybe Package him + Kapono for Gordon(S&T) and have a lineup of

Calderon/Roko
Gordon/Lee
Pietrus/Moon
Bosh/Hump
JO/Bargnani

it really isnt that bad if we dont acquire another player but i definitely think Pietrus should be here and start instead of moon as hes more of an offensive option as well as a great defender

[UNC Tar Heel Fan]

So, any guesses how many pages this thread will get? I'm gonna say probably about 75.

[Joker]

I feel alright about this trade. We weren't going anywhere with what we had, nor were we ever going to get a total stud by trading TJ.

Teams like Portland can bide their team and be patient. Let their players grow. Meanwhile, picking up lottery players in the process.

We, on the other hand, have players in their prime, and we're not going to grow to be much better, so Colangelo needs to have a greater sense of urgency to make things happen. Otherwise you become a team like the Nets, where you've hit your ceiling and you're solid every year, but you're not going anywhere. A treadmill team., in another words.

[pspot]

even worst case scenario he is injured and never plays the Raps are set up with major salary cap space in the summer of Bosh/Lebron/Wade

Raps were not going to win anything anyways in the next 2 years so if he is healthy they are a much better team than they were last year. If he's not healthy the plan is still for putting the pieces together in 2010

Defense, Rebounding, Shot Blocking, Atitude and nastyness finally

[TerryTate]

Now if we acquire Crawford, my evil master plan is complete.

I like Crawford... +1
He's just been on **** team....
He got skillz

[mp90]

From Doug Smith's blog:
"Neither side is talking, of course, because nothing can be finalized until T.J.'s base-year compensation tag comes off the books on July 1. For that reason, Toronto will make the 17th selection in tonight's draft based on what the Pacers tell them to do."

What's preventing the Pacers from telling us to draft some one then backing out of the deal before July 1st?

[Raptors90102]

If we can somehow get AP + Moon + Joey for Artest, and then sign JR Smith to the MLE, Resign delfino for around 3.5-4 mill per, buy a late first to draft a wing like CDR or courtnee Lee, holy ****, we'd be good! and then convince a veteran centre like maybe Kurt Thomas to sign with us.

Jose (34) / Roko (14) / Vet 3rd PG
JR Smith (28) / Kapono (16) / Lee or CDR (4)
Artest (34) / Kapono (4) / Lee or CDR (10)
Bosh (34) / Bargs (14) / Hump
Oneal (30) / Bargs (8) / Thomas (10) / Hump

Championship! Here we come!

Our salary will be:

Jose 8 mill
Roko - 1.5 mill
JR - 6 mill
Kapono - 6 mill
Lee or CDR - 1 mill
Artest - 7.5 mill
Bosh - 14.5 mill
Bargs - 6 mill
Oneal - 21 mill
Kurt Thomas - Vet min
Hump 3 mill

74 Million (4 million lux tax) - NOT BAD FOR A CONTENDER!

You know who should be our 3pg vet back up?

He wanted to be here, he ALMOST signed here. He still has no ring after a failed attempt this year.

DAMON STOUDAMIRE. If he's gonna win a ring, do it here, in Toronto.

I like Damon. But if he wants PT, then this is not the place or team for him. Also, if he just wants to come in, be a good lockerroom guy and fill in whenever needed, sure, I don't mind. BUT one thing I am concerned about is Damon's jailblazer's days where he was caught with pot/drug possession and all, I hope he is clean and doesn't come to affect team chemistry.

[junot111]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
I'm hoping that we either get Shawne Williams back or we keep the pick and maybe send Parker as a filler.

I still want to get a wing player.

[Maximillion]

Now if we acquire Crawford, my evil master plan is complete.

ewww!

your opinion just went from flawless to really valuable.