Do the raptors have a bright future?

[monstermash]

I personally think that the Raptors have a bright future. I think Derozan and Davis will be solid players. Bargnani may be an all-star a few times in his career, although I wouldn't bet my house on it.
The main reason I think we have a bright future is because we didn't resign Bosh to a max contract. That would have crippled us for as long as he would have been here.
I would always get so mad during games when Jack or Leo would comment about how teams have no fear of taking it to the basket against the Raps. At least now we are much more athletic. If we can somehow get a banger to clog up the paint, that would be a big help. I enjoyed watching JO play when he was here. That's the kind of lane intimidation we need. It made me sick whenever we played the Celtics to see Bosh seemingly melt whenever he was near KG or Perkins, and who could ever forget the time PP stood over him after dunking on him. Sorry, but that's not what I want to see from your" best" player. For all the negativity directed towards Calderon, I would gladly keep him just because of the way he stood up to KG that time.
I see a scrappy, hustling, in-your-face type of Raptors team this season. We may not win many games (hopefully), but at the very least we should be entertaining.

[Reignman]

We haven't even entered the first season of our rebuild, this is way to premature.

The way I see it is this:

1. 10/11 season - All about development for DD/Bargs/Davis/Weems/Johnson/Jack/Beli/Alabi (if someone breaks out that would be ideal)
2. 2011 draft - Draft high and pray we land a blue chip talent
3. 11/12 season - Hopefully a lockout
4. 2012 draft - Draft high and pray we land another blue chip talent

The summer of 2012 will be the time to assess the future of this team, we'll have all kinds of prospects and a boatload of capspace. I expect BC to be wheeling and dealing like a champ that summer to build a playoff team.

[Fairview4Life]

[theSkinny]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdIqbv7SPo[/youtube]

[LieCheatSteal]

As of now, I think the Raps will be OK going forward. They have a lot of young players with lots to prove and, aside from Calderon's contract which, compared to the monsters out there (Brand's for instance) isn't too bad, they don't have terrible contracts that weigh them down. Also, they have the TPE, their own pick back in next year's draft, loads of expiring contracts and ownership that's willing to spend.

[Brew666]

If brighter was an option I woud have chosen that but...I'd say it's bright based on the mere fact that it looks like we'll be going through a somewhat true rebuild, no shortcuts. Maybe I'm foolish but I think BC has learned some lessons on how to build a team (what works, what doesn't work) and is now building this team correctly. It starts with him and I thnk we can truly turn a leaf for the franchise if they can commit to their gameplan.

There's a lot of Toronto complexes/hate on this board but I think Toronto can be a top destination in the NBA but it's up to the MLSE and franchise.

[cdel00]

We have a solid group of young talent that play unselfishly and that is a bright future in my eyes.

[StartingBench]

I think the future looks bright. But all this hope is based solely on potential. This season will say a lot and the best thing we can hope for is the Raps play really well, but inconsistently. Giving us flashes of greatness, but sucking enough to get a high draft pick.

[Rude Boy 1]

A bright future starts with a franchise player. I don't see one.

[Bertoo]

Hmm, I think the state of the franchise is a little too unclear at this point. Ill feel more comfortable answering this question once I see what BC does with Calderon, the TPE and an inevitable lottery pick in the next draft.

[HeyJoe]

the thing with playing the lottery is that you don't know what you're gonna get

most years you're gonna get crap or "prospects"

and sometimes you strike it gold

but ever since jordan, you can't just play good "team basketball" without a superstar and expect to make it very far into the playoffs

once you get a vince calibre player via the lottery, the FAs and the rest just roll in

[Brew666]

the thing with playing the lottery is that you don't know what you're gonna get

most years you're gonna get crap or "prospects"

and sometimes you strike it gold

but ever since jordan, you can't just play good "team basketball" without a superstar and expect to make it very far into the playoffs

once you get a vince calibre player via the lottery, the FAs and the rest just roll in

Detroit Pistons

[JohnnyFlame]

Bright future? What would that look like? Was the future bright before this season?

Just from my point of view I will say the future at least now has the potential to be bright. I haven't liked the team lineup for years. Was sick to think they might sign Bosh to a max contract. Was sick of watching wussy unathletic players get owned unless they made more "shats". One more dumb contract to be rid of and they are in decent shape financially.

So at least they have options going forward. They will suck so they will be getting more help from the draft. They have some decent young guys especially DD who could blossom into at least good starters.

I have some hope that this year there will be more than just waiting for the draft. Be VERY nice to see a team that actually hustled on both ends of the court and battled under the hoop. Don't care if they win as long as we see improvement from the young guys and they battle hard right from day one to the last game.

That would brighten up my season as a fan and would offer some hope for a brighter future for the team.

[Rude Boy 1]

the thing with playing the lottery is that you don't know what you're gonna get

most years you're gonna get crap or "prospects"

and sometimes you strike it gold

but ever since jordan, you can't just play good "team basketball" without a superstar and expect to make it very far into the playoffs

once you get a vince calibre player via the lottery, the FAs and the rest just roll in

Detroit Pistons

The only exception to the rule not the model.

[HeyJoe]

the thing with playing the lottery is that you don't know what you're gonna get

most years you're gonna get crap or "prospects"

and sometimes you strike it gold

but ever since jordan, you can't just play good "team basketball" without a superstar and expect to make it very far into the playoffs

once you get a vince calibre player via the lottery, the FAs and the rest just roll in

Detroit Pistons

lol k good point but that's rare

but they still had reasonable proven talents in the wallaces and hamilton or pippen? i can't remember their lineup right now

it's jsut easier building through a top draft pick though, washington's gonna be big once they trade gilbert for some assets, big cousins looked beast, and both teams were around where we are now before teh draft

[Danchan]

yes... and will crash into a fiery death!

[LAUGHING]

I think next year would be pretty good for us, reggie and banks expire; we may get rid of jose and we will get a high pick, but we just have to be patience.

[Reignman]

the thing with playing the lottery is that you don't know what you're gonna get

most years you're gonna get crap or "prospects"

and sometimes you strike it gold

but ever since jordan, you can't just play good "team basketball" without a superstar and expect to make it very far into the playoffs

once you get a vince calibre player via the lottery, the FAs and the rest just roll in

Detroit Pistons

The only exception to the rule not the model.

Is it really an exception? Instead of 1 or 2 superstars, they had 5 all-star types in their starting lineup all on very reasonable deals. Not exactly an easy thing to accomplish.

[Brinbe]

It's easy to want to say yes, but we can't get ahead of ourselves. And based on this current roster? No, not right now... but we can definitely see small cracks of light shining down. It's up to BC to completely tear down that ceiling and give us that future we seek.

[Y0DA]

Colangelo displays a remarkable ability to recognize and correct his mistakes, except for his most glaring one. Hopefully that will change.