Who do you consider the "Gems" to be on the raptors?

[raptoradical]

(Link)
http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/artic ... rs/3276602

Thoughts?

[VC-INJURY]

I think you can tell how I feel about Weems & Derozan, but the only "gem" on this team is Ed Davis. Anyone and everyone else could be traded and I wouldn't be upset.

[wanker]

The only "gem" on this team is Ed Davis. Anyone and everyone else could be traded and I wouldn't be upset.

[Lawnmower Man]

DeRozan and maybe Ed Davis. I think they both have the potential to become very good starters in this league. Kleiza, still only 25, has the potential to become one of this supersub role players off the bench.

Every other young player on our team will likely become solid role players at best.

[J-Roc]

And the only reason to feel positive about Ed Davis is because he's an unknown. So he might be really, really good. But is there a chance DeMar or Sonny or any of these other guys will be so good that I'd be crying one day because that guy was a Rap....like say with T-Mac.....I doubt it. Andrea, too. When you really think about it, you get the sense we've already seen what these guys are capable of.

[Laowai]

The Raptors team is full of diamonds in the rough.
DD, Weems, Bargs, Amir, Davis & Klieza all have shown flashes of brilliance.
Think are more finished gems I see Klieza as a top 10 SF and Bargs as a top 10 C this year.
Hope we see one or 2 of Weems, DD or Amir developing into a starter.
Davis too raw yet.

[sanity]

I see Klieza as a top 10 SF

Did you consider him a potential top 10 SF before he was a Raptor?

[Bankai]

David Andersen is going to rock.

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! oi! oi! oi!

[Mr.Raptorsingh]

A potential, hidden gem, in my opinion, is Joey Dorsey.

And I think DeRozan would classify as a gem for the Raptors.

[ayo_23]

I see Klieza as a top 10 SF

I would like to see your list of Top 10 SFs.

[Test of Wills]

The Raptors team is full of diamonds in the rough.
DD, Weems, Bargs, Amir, Davis & Klieza all have shown flashes of brilliance.
Think are more finished gems I see Klieza as a top 10 SF and Bargs as a top 10 C this year.
Hope we see one or 2 of Weems, DD or Amir developing into a starter.
Davis too raw yet.

I could name 10 SF's off the top of my head that are no doubt better than Kleiza.

LBJ
Carmelo
Durant
Deng
Granger
Gay
Gallinari
Butler
Pierce
S-Jax/Gerald W.

And wait that's just 11, not including the likes of Ariza, Jefferson, Prince Battier and Young.

[dagger]

The Raptors team is full of diamonds in the rough.
DD, Weems, Bargs, Amir, Davis & Klieza all have shown flashes of brilliance.
Think are more finished gems I see Klieza as a top 10 SF and Bargs as a top 10 C this year.
Hope we see one or 2 of Weems, DD or Amir developing into a starter.
Davis too raw yet.

I could name 10 SF's off the top of my head that are no doubt better than Kleiza.

LBJ
Carmelo
Durant
Deng
Granger
Gay
Gallinari
Butler
Pierce
S-Jax/Gerald W.

And wait that's just 11, not including the likes of Ariza, Jefferson, Prince Battier and Young.

A few of those are reputation picks, meaning they might have been very good - once. But Butler, Prince and Jefferson are on the downward slope of their careers and Ariza had a poor year. Gallinari hasn't proved himself and Granger is a terrible defender.

So I can't agree with you on the entire list. I think Kleiza is going to be a nice surprise.

[Canada_7]

The Raptors team is full of diamonds in the rough.
DD, Weems, Bargs, Amir, Davis & Klieza all have shown flashes of brilliance.
Think are more finished gems I see Klieza as a top 10 SF and Bargs as a top 10 C this year.
Hope we see one or 2 of Weems, DD or Amir developing into a starter.
Davis too raw yet.

I could name 10 SF's off the top of my head that are no doubt better than Kleiza.

LBJ
Carmelo
Durant
Deng
Granger
Gay
Gallinari
Butler
Pierce
S-Jax/Gerald W.

And wait that's just 11, not including the likes of Ariza, Jefferson, Prince Battier and Young.

A few of those are reputation picks, meaning they might have been very good - once. But Butler, Prince and Jefferson are on the downward slope of their careers and Ariza had a poor year. Gallinari hasn't proved himself and Granger is a terrible defender.

So I can't agree with you on the entire list. I think Kleiza is going to be a nice surprise.

I'd still take Granger and Butler over Kleiza.

[Double Helix]

Regarding Kleiza at the price we got him for through his prime years... can you imagine how different things would have been had BC not signed him to the offer sheet BEFORE the worlds?

Think about how different Denver's situation is at this very moment than where it was when Kleiza was first signed by us.

There were people talking about how Carmello was the last loyal young star in the league (aside from Durant) and people were looking to him as the next "old school" star who stays in a less desirable city despite having the ability to play elsewhere.

Fast forward a couple weeks and there was that report at his wedding that he and Paul wanted to go to NY. Hibernate a couple months and those rumors proved true. He does want out.

Kleiza isn't a star but at age 25... and the contract he's signed to... what's not to like? And I feel like Denver probably might have viewed his situation differently if they knew then what all of us know now.

[Test of Wills]

The Raptors team is full of diamonds in the rough.
DD, Weems, Bargs, Amir, Davis & Klieza all have shown flashes of brilliance.
Think are more finished gems I see Klieza as a top 10 SF and Bargs as a top 10 C this year.
Hope we see one or 2 of Weems, DD or Amir developing into a starter.
Davis too raw yet.

I could name 10 SF's off the top of my head that are no doubt better than Kleiza.

LBJ
Carmelo
Durant
Deng
Granger
Gay
Gallinari
Butler
Pierce
S-Jax/Gerald W.

And wait that's just 11, not including the likes of Ariza, Jefferson, Prince Battier and Young.

A few of those are reputation picks, meaning they might have been very good - once. But Butler, Prince and Jefferson are on the downward slope of their careers and Ariza had a poor year. Gallinari hasn't proved himself and Granger is a terrible defender.

So I can't agree with you on the entire list. I think Kleiza is going to be a nice surprise.

At this point those 3 may be on the decline but they've still shown strong abilities even at this current age compared to anything Kleiza has done, Ariza plays very good defense and his offense is just gravy while you'd be lying if you wouldn't take Gallinari or Granger on your team over Kleiza at this point.

And plus what's all this hype about anyways? What has Kleiza shown to warrant Top 10 SF consideration? Is it because he's going to get the ball in his hands with Bosh gone? Or is it just typical raptor fan fashion to hype a new offseason acquisition?

[Basketball_Jones]

Haven't you heard? Kleiza is amazing.

[ikosuave]

The Raptors team is full of diamonds in the rough.
DD, Weems, Bargs, Amir, Davis & Klieza all have shown flashes of brilliance.
Think are more finished gems I see Klieza as a top 10 SF and Bargs as a top 10 C this year.
Hope we see one or 2 of Weems, DD or Amir developing into a starter.
Davis too raw yet.

I could name 10 SF's off the top of my head that are no doubt better than Kleiza.

LBJ
Carmelo
Durant
Deng
Granger
Gay
Gallinari
Butler
Pierce
S-Jax/Gerald W.

And wait that's just 11, not including the likes of Ariza, Jefferson, Prince Battier and Young.

As dumb as the comment about top 10 SF sounded when I read it, thinking about it, he very well could be.... IF he commits to D!

LBJ (if he remains a SF)
KD
Melo
Crash
AI
Gay
SJax
Pierce

Those are the ones I can think of that are DEFINITELY better than Linas... I feel like A LOT of the SF's in the league are not mismatch nightmares like Kleiza COULD be...

Of course, this is based on potential, since Kleiza has yet to have a SERIOUS shot in the NBA - so we'll have to see if he remains efficient.

[allenyang]

The only "gem" on this team is Ed Davis. Anyone and everyone else could be traded and I wouldn't be upset.

Ed Davis, the shot-blocking monster, definitely the gem

[J Dilla]

LOL Klieza's already considered a top 10 SF now.

[Test of Wills]

The Raptors team is full of diamonds in the rough.
DD, Weems, Bargs, Amir, Davis & Klieza all have shown flashes of brilliance.
Think are more finished gems I see Klieza as a top 10 SF and Bargs as a top 10 C this year.
Hope we see one or 2 of Weems, DD or Amir developing into a starter.
Davis too raw yet.

I could name 10 SF's off the top of my head that are no doubt better than Kleiza.

LBJ
Carmelo
Durant
Deng
Granger
Gay
Gallinari
Butler
Pierce
S-Jax/Gerald W.

And wait that's just 11, not including the likes of Ariza, Jefferson, Prince Battier and Young.

As dumb as the comment about top 10 SF sounded when I read it, thinking about it, he very well could be.... IF he commits to D!

LBJ (if he remains a SF)
KD
Melo
Crash
AI
Gay
SJax
Pierce

Those are the ones I can think of that are DEFINITELY better than Linas... I feel like A LOT of the SF's in the league are not mismatch nightmares like Kleiza COULD be...

Of course, this is based on potential, since Kleiza has yet to have a SERIOUS shot in the NBA - so we'll have to see if he remains efficient.

So you're telling me you wouldn't take Granger, Gallinari or even Wesley Johnson over Kleiza right now?