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Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:33 am
by Tor_Raps
https://youtube.com/shorts/AWOjyuW7ytI?si=vPyF4OpfwQSwkd26This is news to me... never heard this story before. Gonna be a slow time during allstar break so thought I'd post here lol.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:45 am
by Boogie!
Charlie v never really panned out so I don’t regret the trade. But I remember after his rookie year everyone was going nuts over him especially with his 48 point game…
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:59 am
by mtcan
I guess the organization had to address positional fit with Bosh and Bargnani at the time so Charlie V was the odd man out.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:22 am
by Westside Gunn
Colangelo got his man Bargnani and saw his opportunity to get his Steve Nash by trading for Ford. Villanueva was Babcock's pick, and he was only going to get in Bargnanis way of development, he made a good trade candidate.
At the time Ford was 2 years in the league, was Bosh's best friend, and had unlimited potential. The trade was awesome but it did suck losing CV at that time. He proved EVERYONE wrong.
Sadly enough, Ford, Bosh and Bargnani never turned out to be long term pieces, with each leaving within 5 years.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:24 am
by Raptor_Guy
Boogie! wrote:Charlie v never really panned out so I don’t regret the trade. But I remember after his rookie year everyone was going nuts over him especially with his 48 point game…
Lol ya I remember there being threads talking about how Bosh is going to have to accept being a 2nd option to Charlie V, good times.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:25 am
by Boogie!
Westside Gunn wrote:Colangelo got his man Bargnani and saw his opportunity to get his Steve Nash by trading for Ford. Villanueva was Babcock's pick, and he was only going to get in Bargnanis way of development, he made a good trade candidate.
At the time Ford was 2 years in the league, was Bosh's best friend, and had unlimited potential. The trade was awesome but it did suck losing CV at that time. He proved EVERYONE wrong.
Sadly enough, Ford, Bosh and Bargnani never turned out to be long term pieces, with each leaving within 5 years.
Not only that they just never reached their potential, ford with the injuries and bargnani just not developing…
Side note this is why I find it weird how year after year people make it seem like just playing guys in nba games is developing…
It’s the same argument that getting playoff reps is developing playoff experience… it doesn’t mean **** when you’re just not that good.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:05 am
by T-d0t
Boogie! wrote:Charlie v never really panned out so I don’t regret the trade. But I remember after his rookie year everyone was going nuts over him especially with his 48 point game…
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:22 am
by kalel123
Charlie V was never really that good. So trade in itself was all good. If Raptors brass at the time lied to him, well, tough luck. NBA people do it all the time and this is on MItchell and Colangelo, none of whom are here with us. According to him, they made the lies way too obvious with the way they greatly exaggerated what they thought of him. If he believed them, that's on him. Dude was far from untouchable.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 3:26 am
by Raptors Realtor
Boogie! wrote:Westside Gunn wrote:Colangelo got his man Bargnani and saw his opportunity to get his Steve Nash by trading for Ford. Villanueva was Babcock's pick, and he was only going to get in Bargnanis way of development, he made a good trade candidate.
At the time Ford was 2 years in the league, was Bosh's best friend, and had unlimited potential. The trade was awesome but it did suck losing CV at that time. He proved EVERYONE wrong.
Sadly enough, Ford, Bosh and Bargnani never turned out to be long term pieces, with each leaving within 5 years.
Not only that they just never reached their potential, ford with the injuries and bargnani just not developing…
Side note this is why I find it weird how year after year people make it seem like just playing guys in nba games is developing…
It’s the same argument that getting playoff reps is developing playoff experience… it doesn’t mean **** when you’re just not that good.
Ford was looking good until Horford swatted him in the head/neck from behind while attempting to block TJ's layup... It was hard to watch, especially knowing TJ's neck injury history.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:10 am
by ontnut
His eyebrow line always freaked me out as a kid.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:26 am
by Boogie!
Raptors Realtor wrote:Boogie! wrote:Westside Gunn wrote:Colangelo got his man Bargnani and saw his opportunity to get his Steve Nash by trading for Ford. Villanueva was Babcock's pick, and he was only going to get in Bargnanis way of development, he made a good trade candidate.
At the time Ford was 2 years in the league, was Bosh's best friend, and had unlimited potential. The trade was awesome but it did suck losing CV at that time. He proved EVERYONE wrong.
Sadly enough, Ford, Bosh and Bargnani never turned out to be long term pieces, with each leaving within 5 years.
Not only that they just never reached their potential, ford with the injuries and bargnani just not developing…
Side note this is why I find it weird how year after year people make it seem like just playing guys in nba games is developing…
It’s the same argument that getting playoff reps is developing playoff experience… it doesn’t mean **** when you’re just not that good.
Ford was looking good until Horford swatted him in the head/neck from behind while attempting to block TJ's layup... It was hard to watch, especially knowing TJ's neck injury history.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t think tj ford was ever gonna be an all star regardless of the injuries. But he was a decent player for us and considering the fact Charlie v never became anything either it was a fair trade.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:34 am
by Scase
Boogie! wrote:Raptors Realtor wrote:Boogie! wrote:
Not only that they just never reached their potential, ford with the injuries and bargnani just not developing…
Side note this is why I find it weird how year after year people make it seem like just playing guys in nba games is developing…
It’s the same argument that getting playoff reps is developing playoff experience… it doesn’t mean **** when you’re just not that good.
Ford was looking good until Horford swatted him in the head/neck from behind while attempting to block TJ's layup... It was hard to watch, especially knowing TJ's neck injury history.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t think tj ford was ever gonna be an all star regardless of the injuries. But he was a decent player for us and considering the fact Charlie v never became anything either it was a fair trade.
Ford > Jose. Fight me.

Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:45 am
by tecumseh18
Boogie! wrote:Raptors Realtor wrote:Boogie! wrote:
Not only that they just never reached their potential, ford with the injuries and bargnani just not developing…
Side note this is why I find it weird how year after year people make it seem like just playing guys in nba games is developing…
It’s the same argument that getting playoff reps is developing playoff experience… it doesn’t mean **** when you’re just not that good.
Ford was looking good until Horford swatted him in the head/neck from behind while attempting to block TJ's layup... It was hard to watch, especially knowing TJ's neck injury history.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t think tj ford was ever gonna be an all star regardless of the injuries. But he was a decent player for us and considering the fact Charlie v never became anything either it was a fair trade.
Maybe now. But John Hollinger (working for ESPN at the time) was watching that game and noted that TJ looked like an all-star. Maybe his PER for the game was in the 20s.
Nobody on the team stood up for TJ against Al at the time. I lost a lot of respect for that iteration of the Raptors. Unfortunately, we were stuck with Colangelo (and Bargnani) for another five seasons
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 4:57 am
by arbsn
Westside Gunn wrote:Colangelo got his man Bargnani and saw his opportunity to get his Steve Nash by trading for Ford. Villanueva was Babcock's pick, and he was only going to get in Bargnanis way of development, he made a good trade candidate.
At the time Ford was 2 years in the league, was Bosh's best friend, and had unlimited potential. The trade was awesome but it did suck losing CV at that time. He proved EVERYONE wrong.
Sadly enough, Ford, Bosh and Bargnani never turned out to be long term pieces, with each leaving within 5 years.
I still hate Al Horford for basically ending Ford's career with a head shot
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 6:27 am
by GP2
While the trade worked out, I guess, we really sold low on the second-place ROTY vote-getter in Charlie V. This is after Ford's major neck/spinal injury in Milwaukee. A swap like that would be laughed at if made today.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 7:25 am
by Ackshun
Raptors Realtor wrote:Boogie! wrote:Westside Gunn wrote:Colangelo got his man Bargnani and saw his opportunity to get his Steve Nash by trading for Ford. Villanueva was Babcock's pick, and he was only going to get in Bargnanis way of development, he made a good trade candidate.
At the time Ford was 2 years in the league, was Bosh's best friend, and had unlimited potential. The trade was awesome but it did suck losing CV at that time. He proved EVERYONE wrong.
Sadly enough, Ford, Bosh and Bargnani never turned out to be long term pieces, with each leaving within 5 years.
Not only that they just never reached their potential, ford with the injuries and bargnani just not developing…
Side note this is why I find it weird how year after year people make it seem like just playing guys in nba games is developing…
It’s the same argument that getting playoff reps is developing playoff experience… it doesn’t mean **** when you’re just not that good.
Ford was looking good until Horford swatted him in the head/neck from behind while attempting to block TJ's layup... It was hard to watch, especially knowing TJ's neck injury history.
Man I remember this moment vividly.. crazy to think Horford is still playing.
I remember watching him, Noah and Billy Donovan make that run with Florida. Wild .
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:37 pm
by WaltFrazier
How is TJ Ford doing now, do we know? I was team Jose back then, but didn't dislike TJ or anything. I hope his neck and spine are healthy and he's enjoying life.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:39 pm
by WaltFrazier
I thought of a way to extend the life of this thread. Here goes.
If Charlie V came along now he'd be much better in today's NBA. Mobile big with soft touch around the rim, good passer as I recall. He'd be better at threes because, isn't everyone?
Discuss.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:53 pm
by Westside Gunn
WaltFrazier wrote:I thought of a way to extend the life of this thread. Here goes.
If Charlie V came along now he'd be much better in today's NBA. Mobile big with soft touch around the rim, good passer as I recall. He'd be better at threes because, isn't everyone?
Discuss.
I recall when Raptor fans got to see Charlie V's shooting range, it was either you are Lamar Odom/Kevin Garnett or Dirk Nowitzki.
Fans were leaning more towards Dirk with CVs versatility.
I think the knock on CV was that he didn't work hard enough to really get to that level in that era but he was definitely an intriguing player after surprising people. Still didn't live up to Danny Granger who people really wanted, and Babcock at that time took a lot of heat for skipping Danny Granger and Gerald Green.
Re: Charlie Villenueva - Raptors Demar'd him?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:44 pm
by Morris_Shatford
Charlie was fine but aside from that 47 point game he was hardly world beating.
We talk about empty calories scorers a lot, he was one of the prototypes.