Doug Smith: Raptors close to signing FA with MLE

[andyo]

If It's Korver, put me on the Fire B.C bandwagon.

[HiMyNameIsTrey]

Clearly it's Lebron.

[KiDdFrESh]

T-Mac?

[SargentBargs101]

REDDICK

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

I think it's Randy Foye - good kid who, if I remember correctly, BC had an interest in back in '06.

He's been a little slow to start off his career, in Minnesota and Washington. Guys like Wittman and Saunders have either not shown confidence in him, or he's been stuck in toxic situations (esp. Washington). Kevin McHale gave him the green light in his short stint there, and he produced for him.

This would be a low risk-high reward signing by Colangelo, as I don't think he'll garner ALL of the MLE - plus at worst, you have a scoring guard off of the bench on your hands who's not just a shooter...he can get his own shot.

[demarderozanftw]

I cannot wait!

[Jose_Matador]

T-Mac?

Are you a Raptors fan or a Tracy McGrady fan for god's sake ?

[SargentBargs101]

It gotta be adam morrison

[Silvie Lysandra]

in our case, I don't think MLSE cares, we will still win fewer games next year, we have an affirmative action program to give young players quality minutes,

You will win fewer games, but what's the point then? You can win fewer games without spending money - you spend money in the hopes of being competitive. So, assuming these signings will make your team better short-term, why pay money to worsen your lottery prospects?

In addition, paying guys big money then not playing them will wreck your chemistry, guaranteed. One of our (Washington's) big problems last year is that Blatche had CLEARLY surpassed Jamison 10 games in, and Butler was garbage, yet we couldn't sit them without trading them because of their perception of their roles on the team (even though they were both team cancers at this point). You MUST have good chemistry to develop young players on a consistent basis.

We wouldn't have been any better wins-wise, and not much worse, had we not dumped everyone. But we wouldn't have given Blatche and McGee the opportunity to start, we would have had two huge contracts on the books instead of lots of cap space (which helped us make a BOYD deal that got us a solid backup PG to be a mentor to Wall as well as a raw superathletic PF/C who could be one of the draft's sleepers) and the chemistry would have remained toxic.

bad teams don't need cap space except to broker trades

Which is still pretty important - BOYD deals and expirings have always been crucial pieces in making big trades work, whether for stars or prospects.

Also, Foye is a terrible MLE signing. He's not efficient, he can't get to the basket, he's a poor defender, he's a poor passer - to me, he's a 8th or 9th man off the bench.

[KayAllTheWaay]

my sources tell me its James White.

[rapluva]

I don't think Shaq will be coming to Toronto... I can see him go to the Mavs and start behind Brendan Haywood and compete for a championship.

[Stretch82]

we could use a(nother) pf

[perezident]

Loren Woods book it

[TGM]

does coangelo *want* to destroy your franchise?

shouldn't you be trying to CUT salary? not add yet ANOTHER long-term commitment?

Thats what I think. Theres no way this team will be competitive next year or any time in the short-medium term without somehow pulling in a star. And unless you're the Lakers making a trade with Memphis, you can't grab those guys for nothing via trade or MLE.

The thing is that how are we going to cut salary, with Bargs, Jack, Calderon and Hedo signed up. Even if we move Turk for expirings, it will be pretty tough for this team to be well below the salary cap to sign a big name. The MLE nowadays is actually a great way to acquire talent. Look at Salmons, Jack, Ariza. We could wait longer and see which guys are left in the market once the dust settles, but we will be picking from the scraps. I think to BC, he rather pay the full MLE and get the guy that he wants with potential.

With so many teams with cap space not being able to be contenders for the MLE, we might as well try to snatch up the guy we want first.

I'm confident BC will get a nice find and bring in a starting calibre player.

[PaperHoops]

Based on how Brewer gets most of his pts... (Off of movement, back cuts, screens and going to the basket) coupled with his size and age, he's the most attractive of the players listed.

He could certainly play alot of minutes as well. He's long and gets into the passing lanes. I was shocked that Utah dumped him, and Memphis didn't both picking him up.

[PaperHoops]

Based on how Brewer gets most of his pts... (Off of movement, back cuts, screens and going to the basket) coupled with his size and age, he's the most attractive of the players listed.

He could certainly play alot of minutes as well. He's long and gets into the passing lanes. I was shocked that Utah dumped him, and Memphis didn't both picking him up.

[Strategist1]

BC is gonna bring back Joey Graham at a price close to the MLE.

[Russ369]

Could it be Brendan Haywood?

[Jatt]

Juan Dixon, BC is going into Operation Tank mode.

[[SJJ]]

When taking everything into account (player/team situation, age, value etc...) the only guy that really makes any sense is Brewer. Common BC, you can't **** this one up.