The Raptors need a tough center...

NUNBETTA · Post #21 » by **NUNBETTA** » Thu Apr 3, 2008 5:01 am

As a Raptors fan, I'd rather us draft an offensively creative swing man.

Ballings7 · Post #22 » by **Ballings7** » Thu Apr 3, 2008 6:45 am

I never got the talk of Bosh/Bargnani PF/C pairing... it really wasn't a credible idea because of the lacking defense and rebounding.

Post #23 » by **tsherkin** » Thu Apr 3, 2008 5:39 pm

The Raptors have two clear needs; a real center (even if that center isn't a scoring center) and a scoring wing player with lots of athleticism.

We don't need fours, we don't need shooters, we certainly don't need point guards...

We need defensive rebounding, interior defense and offensive rebounding from the 5-spot and we need athletic isolation offense with a good mid-range jumper from this theoretical wing player.

Thabeet would be better than Hibbert, I think (Hibbert just didn't get any better at ALL this year, which was REALLY disappointing, especially since Thabeet did).

If he's around, we might think about Javale McGee (he should be around at our pick, anyway). He's not a good man defender or FT shooter but he's young, athletic and has some skills that would be immediately useful, as well as good long-term potential.

Silk Wilkes · Post #24 » by **Silk Wilkes** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 5:40 pm

What about Jason Thompson out of Rider?

Post #25 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 6:01 pm

Thompson is hella athletic, that's for sure. He could use 15 or 20 pounds of muscle on him but he's quick. Rebounding, defense, a jumper out to the foul line, a decent jump hook...

He's what, like 22 years old? A senior but man, he's got some potential.

His conference sucks though, so while he's a good rebounder, it's mostly against weak-skilled and undersized individuals and all that.

He has promise as a late first-rounder or an early second-rounder, I'd think. I mean, he's got that classic "focus issue" that was discussed in the thread about draft prospects, right? Doesn't consistently use his size, needs more lower body strength to establish and hold low-block position better, etc.

He's got the physical aspects down as long as he keeps working and he's got a nice base to his game but he needs to get his head into it a little better.

funkatron101 · Post #26 » by **funkatron101** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 8:27 pm

Come on now. What about the Rasho Revolution?

Post #27 » by **tsherkin** » Fri Apr 4, 2008 8:52 pm

funkatron101 wrote:Come on now. What about the Rasho Revolution?

Actually, while you're being sarcastic, I do like Rasho a fair bit as our center but he's not good enough on the defensive glass or athletic enough to be our starter over a long period of time, I mean, you can't really give him more than 30 mpg, right?

Post #28 » by **5DOM** » Sat Apr 5, 2008 1:46 am

tsherkin wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Actually, while you're being sarcastic, I do like Rasho a fair bit as our center but he's not good enough on the defensive glass or athletic enough to be our starter over a long period of time, I mean, you can't really give him more than 30 mpg, right?

and he has too much value as an expiring contract.

i expect him gone before the deadline

Post #29 » by **tsherkin** » Sat Apr 5, 2008 2:52 am

5DOM wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

and he has too much value as an expiring contract.

i expect him gone before the deadline

Yeah, an $8M expiring is something that HAS to be moved unless you intend to re-sign it and Rasho's over 30 and peaked, so for sure. If Colangelo's as good as he seems then yeah, he definitely needs to move Rasho.

If we can move Ford this summer, draft someone large, strong and athletic and then flip Rasho for something valuable (within the scope of our evolving team concept, I'd hope), then our future will look a lot brighter than it does now, for sure.

Post #30 » by **5DOM** » Sat Apr 5, 2008 5:17 pm

tsherkin wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Yeah, an $8M expiring is something that HAS to be moved unless you intend to re-sign it and Rasho's over 30 and peaked, so for sure. If Colangelo's as good as he seems then yeah, he definitely needs to move Rasho.

If we can move Ford this summer, draft someone large, strong and athletic and then flip Rasho for something valuable (within the scope of our evolving team concept, I'd hope), then our future will look a lot brighter than it does now, for sure.

I hope TJ+Rasho+Baston+Garbo can get us a decent wing.

Then we could draft one of McGee, Thabeet, R. Lopez to backup Bargs. Bargs' improvement in summer will mean A LOT to this team.

Vlade4life · Post #31 » by **Vlade4life** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 5:45 am

Chris Douglas-Roberts for wing player, JaVale McGee for center.

Goldbum · Post #32 » by **Goldbum** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 6:17 am

What do you Raptor fans think of Travis Outlaw? I was thinking Pryzbilla (perfect center for you)/ Outlaw and J. Jack for Ford and #17. I think it gives you your center, your wing, and replace TJ at backup PG.

Vlade4life · Post #33 » by **Vlade4life** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 7:37 am

Goldbum wrote:What do you Raptor fans think of Travis Outlaw? I was thinking Pryzbilla (perfect center for you)/ Outlaw and J. Jack for Ford and #17. I think it gives you your center, your wing, and replace TJ at backup PG.

blazers get boned in that deal.

Cammo101 · Post #34 » by **Cammo101** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 7:40 am

Vlade4life wrote:Chris Douglas-Roberts for wing player, JaVale McGee for center.

McGee will be gone before you pick.

NYC2BGI · Post #35 » by **NYC2BGI** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 12:04 pm

Do you guys in Toronto want Eddy Curry?

I am sure that we can work someting out.

DanTown8587 · Post #36 » by **DanTown8587** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 1:29 pm

If I were the Raptors, see if the Sonics bite on a Ford/Tor first for Wilcox/Phx #1 and then draft the best available wing guy (Brandon Rush or Bill Walker).

Ocho Cinco · Post #37 » by **Ocho Cinco** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 2:00 pm

Needs more CDR. I'd love to see Douglas-Roberts in a Raps uni.

swirsk · Post #38 » by **swirsk** » Sun Apr 6, 2008 4:34 pm

NYC2BGI wrote:Do you guys in Toronto want Eddy Curry? I am sure that we can work someting out.

Hmmm...we'd offer a bag of chips, but I dunno if Eddy'd be willing to accept the trade if we did

Post #39 » by **tsherkin** » Mon Apr 7, 2008 12:43 am

Goldbum wrote:What do you Raptor fans think of Travis Outlaw? I was thinking Pryzbilla (perfect center for you)/ Outlaw and J. Jack for Ford and #17. I think it gives you your center, your wing, and replace TJ at backup PG.

Not much, honestly. He's got a really ugly offensive game and is a stunningly awkward isolation player, which is the last thing we need. That trade would suck for Toronto. Outlaw doesn't really do anything that Moon doesn't do (except he's a much better 3pt shooter but we don't really want that at all).

We need someone who's strong and has really good iso skills; Outlaw's alright but he's nothing especially compelling, certainly not for Ford and our pick.

Frankly, even with Przybilla, we'd be better off keeping our pick and taking a stab at Thabeet or Joe Alexander.

5DOM wrote:
I hope TJ+Rasho+Baston+Garbo can get us a decent wing.

Then we could draft one of McGee, Thabeet, R. Lopez to backup Bargs. Bargs' improvement in summer will mean A LOT to this team.

I wouldn't be so fast to trade Garbo because he's a decent defender, a good passer and works the pick-and-roll VERY effectively as the screener.

But if it got us someone like Maggette (I know, he's all ETO and it'd have to be a S+T, which IIRC doesn't allow multiplayer deals...), then it'd be worth it.

richboy · Post #40 » by **richboy** » Mon Apr 7, 2008 4:39 am

The Raptors need to fill holes with trades. TJ Ford could get you a pretty decent scorer or big man. Barney might be able to get you something decent. Don't expect a rookie draft pick to fix the Raptors issue. Take the best player available but don't try to fill a hole with a middle first pick.