Your opinion on Bargnani's future with the Raptors?

[99 Problems]

We have a very unique situation in that we have both our starting 'power players' preferring a perimeter game, and also being a little on the soft side when it comes to guarding the paint and playing the traditional big man role... Most teams don't even have 1 guy like that, let alone two...

I believe in order to have a well rounded team, one of Bargnani or Bosh have to be replaced in the starting lineup with a more traditional post player. I know a lot of people here are committed to a 'new era' of two scoring perimeter bigs in Bargs and Bosh causing matchup hell for teams everywhere, but I don't think we'll go anywhere significant with those two playing together for significant minutes... Phoenix has been called soft and have had failure in the playoffs against teams with big inside guys, and the Suns are a hell of a lot tougher than we are, even before Shaq.... What we're trying to do is be an elite team in an unprecedented way, and that's just a little too risky in my book.

I'm assuming CB4 is the franchise player and nearly untradeable.. That would mean there are only a few options with regards to Bargs:

1) Try to mold Bargs into a more traditional C

2) Play Bargs at SF and zone frequently

3) Find a tall, extremely good rebounding SF who could guard C's and PFs and block the ocasional shot (Lamar Odom, Josh Smith, Marion)

4) Play Bargs off the bench in a scoring role (ala Ginobili) and rotate Bosh, Big Man, Bargs all game, changing roles and confusing opponents

5) Trade Bargs


Now, all those ideas are a little far fetched, even the one we are currently embarking upon, #1... I personally would prefer #3 and #4... If BC can't find that huge SF that could balance things out somewhat, then I believe we either need to trade Bargs or play him off the bench... Seeing as how he can be a very good player, I would prefer keeping him and playing him off the bench..

Ginobili and the Spurs have proved your best players don't always have to start. I think Bargs would be a very good chance of pace player off the bench. Imagine the opposing C or PF having to guard the paint, and then Bargs comes in and they have to cover the perimeter? And if we want, we could even take out CB4 and let Bargs play his natural 4 position and roam the perimiter, with the C pushing guys around inside and try to impose his presence... Off course, Bargs has struggled traditionally off the bench, but that's more minutes than just coming off the bench.. I think if you gave him his 30 min a night consistently and defined his role, he could be extremely valuable... And we would have the flexibility of deciding who would finish out the game based on matchups...

I might be in the minority on this one...

[Mr. Perfect]

Find him a tall SF, or trade him. I don't really see any other way we can be successful with him as our starting C.

[Shak23]

Mold his game after Jackie Moon and compete in a dunk contest vs Jamario Moon.

[RapsVC15]

Well, it's not exactly like he's been hurting us out there the past month or so.

Keep it as is, I'm pleased with the progression Andrea's been showing lately.

[dagger]

We're molding him into our starting C for the next decade. It either works or it doesn't. If it does, we have a high end twin tower combination. If it doesn't he's trade bait.

He's not coming off the bench.

He's not playing small forward.

And the way his defence has improved in the past two weeks, I wouldn't lay odds against him succeeding, although the find a small SF, which is a complementary strategy, works for me, too, because if we have a lot of offence at the 1, 4 and 5, and can get a decent scorer for the 2, we certainly can afford a SF who won't command 10-15 shots a game but brings big game in other areas.

[DonkeyPunch]

if he gets to be a 20/7 guy playing alongside bosh raps go deep in the play offs. end of discussion. He is an EXCELLENT man to man defender, and the help d will come with time.

[rapstarr]

if bargs can learn to be a competent rebounder, then i'm good.

[omeloon]

I think BC has two options. We either need a guy like Kirilenko, Gerrald, Josh, or Marion who can defend and who will play offense close to the basket... or we need to trade Bosh for a top teir center prospect (that would only be if Bargnani showed a lot more than he has so far of course). I'd much rather concentrate on getting a guy like Gerrald Wallace personally. As the team is constructed, I think we can still develop into a very good team. But I think we need to upgrade on the wings if we want Bargs and Bosh to work while eyeing a championship title.

[Uros Slowcar]

I think BC has two options. We either need a guy like Kirilenko, Gerrald, Josh, or Marion who can defend and who will play offense close to the basket... or we need to trade Bosh for a top teir center prospect (that would only be if Bargnani showed a lot more than he has so far of course). I'd much rather concentrate on getting a guy like Gerrald Wallace personally. As the team is constructed, I think we can still develop into a very good team. But I think we need to upgrade on the wings if we want Bargs and Bosh to work while eyeing a championship title.

I dont think trading Bosh to accommodate Bargnani will ever be an option. I think Bargnani will either have to become a star player or he will be dealt for sure. The bar is set very high for him IMHO. If he doesn't show massive improvement and consistency, trade rumors will start next year this time.

[E-DUBB]

i agree that if Bargs doesnt get a lot better by the end of next season the trade rumors will be rampid... but it takes two to dance. if bargs cant improve here in T.O. with tons of time and help, what confidence will other teams have in his development by bringing him to their camp?

[omeloon]

I dont think trading Bosh to accommodate Bargnani will ever be an option. I think Bargnani will either have to become a star player or he will be dealt for sure. The bar is set very high for him IMHO. If he doesn't show massive improvement and consistency, trade rumors will start next year this time.

Well I only included the options I thought availble if we wanted to be a favorite for the title with Bargnani as a major piece. But yeah, I think that there's a much better chance that Bargnani would be dealt to help find a better fit for Bosh than the other way arround. I just think that Bosh is our only trade piece if we wanted someone like Dwight or even Oden.

[AB_21]

A rebounding small forward is neccesary. Gerald Wallace/Josh Smith is perfect but even someone on a smaller scale is fine. Just a SF who wants to rebound and defend--things Bargs is struggling doing now.

[Uros Slowcar]

-= original quote snipped =-



Well I only included the options I thought availble if we wanted to be a favorite for the title with Bargnani as a major piece. But yeah, I think that there's a much better chance that Bargnani would be dealt to help find a better fit for Bosh than the other way arround. I just think that Bosh is our only trade piece if we wanted someone like Dwight or even Oden.

I would trade Bosh for DHoward in a heartbeat, but unfortunately thats never, ever going to happen.. (unless orlando Gm goes nuts)

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Aren't 1 and 3 pretty much the same option or at least non-exclusive of each other? And if this years playoffs goes like last years, will we still say Bosh can't be traded?

[Cassius]

If #1 occurs, we won't need a tall SF to do Andrea's dirty work. Just a good, all-around starter.

If we get #3, Andrea can stay pretty much the same player, just more efficient.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

What if Sam put a hump rule on Moon, where you shoot twice in a row, take a seat. Because he can rebound, and block shots. I just wish he'd remember what his former coach told him about focusing on defense. He seems to have tripped and started thinking he's arrived. He needs to accept that he's an NBA player and a demand more of himself, than just belonging.

[Hank_Scorpio]

Well, it's not exactly like he's been hurting us out there the past month or so.

Keep it as is, I'm pleased with the progression Andrea's been showing lately.

+1

[sarah42]

ppl are willing to trade bosh over bargs?

dear god, help some of you. bosh in an elite pf.

bargs is lost half the time. i know bargs can improve, but why trade your franchise player who works so hard and loves his team?

i don't see the point in trading bosh, when he's already a top talent. when you have that kind of talent, you build around it, not trade it away. and so far, i don't see another an all star beside him.

get it done BC!

[CreaM]

It STILL baffles me and I thought that this would be over after Bargs horrible season. This is what people were saying this summer and Bargs proved them wrong, now that he has a couple of good games in a row, back to the ridiculous proposals of Bosh leaving just to accommodate Bargnani. Favouritism at its finest.

[El Presidente]

I don't understand those of you who think he can play the C. To play a C you need to be able to rebound and that's something Bargnani can't do. And more importantly, it can't be taught either. Nobody can just become a better rebounder, you either have it or you don't and Bargnani doesn't.

I have no doubt that Bargnani knows that he should be a better rebounder but his natural game will always prevent him from becoming that. He's a perimeter player, no matter how much he tries to go inside, he's still a perimeter player who's just driving to keep the defense honest so that he'll be allowed to shoot jumpers. IMHO, a center should always look to play inside first and that will NEVER happen with Bargnani. Playing inside allows you to wear out the defense, draw fouls, create off double-teams and score points in the paint which are SO important, that's not something Bargnani can handle.

I'm a fan of the traditional center role, not the "new age" center who can shoot from the perimeter. I think that's a nice skill to have but it should never by the primary one for a big man. I don't have an answer to where he should play but I know that if he's to play center, we'll always be complaining about his rebounding and inside scoring.

I want to see him at least play the three so I can form an opinion whether he's suited for the role. I don't think that's such a crazy idea. But, unless we address our rebounding need through a SF, I think playing Bargnani at the C might be a mistake. Now, it might not be that obvious in the regular season but come playoff time where rebounding and defense is at a premium, you'll bound to notice the problems of him playing a C .