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

[HighOctane]

There's few to no players I see on this team that could contribute to a consistent winning team. Right now, Davis and Derozan based on potential, but Davis could turn out to be worthless and Derozan's impact could remain the same if he doesn't develop at least a Maggette like handle. This doesn't leave our team with very much.

Bargnani has a lot to prove and I would consider him a 'gem' in a prospective that he's not close to where he's as good as projected/put in place to be.

With very few good players on this team and mostly everyone under 10 mill, it's time to find a franchise leader in this bunch or just move on.

[Hit Em Up]

Wow the delusion of this board amazes me sometimes.. yes Kleiza had a great FIBA tournament...

but come on.. top 10 SF??

I hope he breaks out this year.. but Im not getting my hopes up

[Tofubeque]

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.

Good post. Regardless of how he performs this year our timing on that offer sheet looks to be impeccable.

[VC-INJURY]

I don't understand the hype around Kleiza. He's a reserve player that we are going to rely on to be a starting SF. Forget about all this lame "mismatch" garbage that he could potentially bring to the table (i.e. he's tall and can shoot 3's). The only thing in the NBA that allows for a true mismatch is skill level i.e. LBJ is a mismatch on Kleiza because Kleiza straight up sucks in comparison to LeBron.

[dacrusha]

Kleiza, on most other teams outside of Toronto, Minny and a couple other sad line-ups, is a bench player.

He's set to become this year's Tracy Murray circa 95-96.

[Narjee]

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?

Kleiza dropped 40 in back to back games during a stint while Melo was out two years ago...Anyone who can do that at the NBA level, has "GEM" potential!!

[witnessraps]

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?

Kleiza dropped 40 in back to back games during a stint while Melo was out two years ago...Anyone who can do that at the NBA level, has "GEM" potential!!

this

[Courtside]

Kleiza, on most other teams outside of Toronto, Minny and a couple other sad line-ups, is a bench player.

He's set to become this year's Tracy Murray circa 95-96.

And among the 30 small forwards that year - where would he have ranked?

[dacrusha]

Kleiza, on most other teams outside of Toronto, Minny and a couple other sad line-ups, is a bench player.

He's set to become this year's Tracy Murray circa 95-96.

And among the 30 small forwards that year - where would he have ranked?

20-25th in the league, I suppose.

That one magical season was the perfect storm of events for him; big minutes on an expansion team. Much like Mike James' stupendous season.

[Reignman]

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?

Kleiza dropped 40 in back to back games during a stint while Melo was out two years ago...Anyone who can do that at the NBA level, has "GEM" potential!!

this

1 game and you guys are jumping to this conclusion? We could do something similar for 80% of the players in the league, everyone has a good game on their resume.

[Ted Lasso]

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?

Kleiza dropped 40 in back to back games during a stint while Melo was out two years ago...Anyone who can do that at the NBA level, has "GEM" potential!!

Tony Delk will be delighted.

[Tommy Gun]

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?

Kleiza dropped 40 in back to back games during a stint while Melo was out two years ago...Anyone who can do that at the NBA level, has "GEM" potential!!

wat

[Saciid11]

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.

1) Lebron James..... Better than Klieza
2) Durant... better than Klieza
3) Carmelo .... better than Klieza
4) Granger .... same
5) Pierce .... same
6) Gay ...... same
7) G Wallace.... same
8) S- Jax..... same
9) Prince ... Same
10 Butler ... same

11) Richard Jefferson ..... Same
12) Ariza ... Not much better than Klieza
13) Battier .... Same level as Klieza
14) Thaddeus Young .... as know I think Klieza might be better
15 Gallinari ...... As know Klieza is better player

[Saciid11]

Kleiza, on most other teams outside of Toronto, Minny and a couple other sad line-ups, is a bench player.

He's set to become this year's Tracy Murray circa 95-96.

Klieza is much better player than Tracy Murray ever was, at least wait till the season start before you claim Klieza as bust. I think as it stands know Klieza has good chance of winning MIP this season and leading this team in scoring, just like Mike James did couple years ago.

Klieza 18-21ppg 5-8reb 3ass... leading raps in points and winning the MIP ....that is my prediction for next season...

[Enfur]

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.

Good post. Regardless of how he performs this year our timing on that offer sheet looks to be impeccable.

Believe it or not, I don't think professional GMs are as fickle as the Toronto fanbase and probably wouldn't have been throwing 9 million dollars per year at the guy because of a good tournament

[sanity]

Believe it or not, I don't think professional GMs are as fickle as the Toronto fanbase and probably wouldn't have been throwing 9 million dollars per year at the guy because of a good tournament

Couldn't agree more. Also, with Carmelo rumored to be leaving (this should not be 'recent' news to the Nuggets organization), why wouldn't they bother bringing him back?

[Tacoma]

Klieza 18-21ppg 5-8reb 3ass... leading raps in points and winning the MIP ....that is my prediction for next season...

Wow, I thought the homerism on this board for Bargnani was bad, but this takes the cake.

[Basketball_Jones]

Klieza 18-21ppg 5-8reb 3ass... leading raps in points and winning the MIP ....that is my prediction for next season...

Wow, I thought the homerism on this board for Bargnani was bad, but this takes the cake.

Haven't u heard? Kleiza is as good as Danny Granger. Fact.

[Harry Palmer]

We are a negative board. Everyone knows this...

[HighOctane]

We are a negative board. Everyone knows this...

We also have outrageous expectations of our team to compensate.