Houston re-tools, Toronto contends.
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:12 pm
Its one of those Tmac trades...
Toronto trades: Bargnani, Calderon, Nesterovic, Garbajosa
receives: Tmac, Alston
Houston trades: Tmac, Alston
receives: Bargnani, Calderon, Kapono, Garbajosa
Rationale:
Its basically Houston deciding to let Tmac go to an Eastern team with plenty in return. For starters, its the upgrade of Calderon over Alston who will feed Yao the ball everytime down. Bargnani is required to meet the all-star caliber that McGrady commands while Toronto cashes in on some of its so-so players to have a star to pair with Chris Bosh.
Houston does this why?
Because its clear Tmac is not the best person to play with Yao. It would be suicide to trade Yao so you trade Tmac instead. Calderon and Bargnani are the prizes of this trade but while Calderon is really good, there's that big contract looming for them which might turn Toronto's head a bit. In Houston, Calderon will likely get 8-10m per and he can do so because Tmac's salary of 21m next year will come off the books.
Why exactly will Toronto trade its future?
Boston is beatable. Since Toronto is headed for the division win, a duo of Tmac-Bosh will be a headache in the East. Calderon has expressed his desire for a big contract and Toronto is least likely to offer him 10m anyway because of the status of TJ Ford, Bargnani will be required from Houston because that would justify losing Tmac for them. Rasho and Jorge are merely salary fodder to make the trades work and Alston becomes Toronto's insurance in case Ford misses the rest of the season.
Tmac and Rafer are both former Raptors too so roots might spread deeper than expected.
I'm a fan of neither team but I would love to see this deal go down for 3 reasons:
1. The balance of power will somehow shift, tilting East. It gives Toronto a legitimate shot at beating Detroit, Orlando and Boston.
2. Houston sucks with the current set-up. Something tells me a change of Point Guards will do the trick. Calderon runs the half-court Very Well.
3. It would be funny how the West's second leading vote-getter guard will actually play for the East this year. LOL.
Toronto trades: Bargnani, Calderon, Nesterovic, Garbajosa
receives: Tmac, Alston
Houston trades: Tmac, Alston
receives: Bargnani, Calderon, Kapono, Garbajosa
Rationale:
Its basically Houston deciding to let Tmac go to an Eastern team with plenty in return. For starters, its the upgrade of Calderon over Alston who will feed Yao the ball everytime down. Bargnani is required to meet the all-star caliber that McGrady commands while Toronto cashes in on some of its so-so players to have a star to pair with Chris Bosh.
Houston does this why?
Because its clear Tmac is not the best person to play with Yao. It would be suicide to trade Yao so you trade Tmac instead. Calderon and Bargnani are the prizes of this trade but while Calderon is really good, there's that big contract looming for them which might turn Toronto's head a bit. In Houston, Calderon will likely get 8-10m per and he can do so because Tmac's salary of 21m next year will come off the books.
Why exactly will Toronto trade its future?
Boston is beatable. Since Toronto is headed for the division win, a duo of Tmac-Bosh will be a headache in the East. Calderon has expressed his desire for a big contract and Toronto is least likely to offer him 10m anyway because of the status of TJ Ford, Bargnani will be required from Houston because that would justify losing Tmac for them. Rasho and Jorge are merely salary fodder to make the trades work and Alston becomes Toronto's insurance in case Ford misses the rest of the season.
Tmac and Rafer are both former Raptors too so roots might spread deeper than expected.
I'm a fan of neither team but I would love to see this deal go down for 3 reasons:
1. The balance of power will somehow shift, tilting East. It gives Toronto a legitimate shot at beating Detroit, Orlando and Boston.
2. Houston sucks with the current set-up. Something tells me a change of Point Guards will do the trick. Calderon runs the half-court Very Well.
3. It would be funny how the West's second leading vote-getter guard will actually play for the East this year. LOL.