Bleacher Report - Articles by micheal malcolm

Atlantic Division Showdown: Raptors Vs. 76’ers

micheal malcolm — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:45:50 -0400

This slide show will be a part of a series taking a look at the Raptors division and their opponents, along with the advantages or disadvantages each teams possess. Besides looking at the players, benches, and scheduling differences, the always underrated intangibles will also be analyzed. To see my Analysis on the Boston Celtics click here. Toronto Raptors certainly have re-made the roster and hopefully the third time will be the charm for Canada’s only respectable sports franchise. However, the Road to an Atlantic Division title will have the Raptors contending with the likes of the 76’ers a team with a history of derailing the continued upswing of Raptors basketball. The Philadelphia 76’ers have had a terrible off-season. They have lost point guard Andre Miller to the Trailblazers, (allegedly they only wanted to offer a 1-yr deal to Miller) hired Eddie Jordan as their new coach, (I don’t think the 76’ers have the personnel to run his vaunted Princeton offense) and have one of their marquee players Elton Brand coming off of a serious knee injury. What is really going on in Philadelphia? The Raptors first meet the 76’ers on January 8th in Philadelphia, followed by dates on February 10th (in Toronto), March 7th (in Toronto), and April 3rd (in Philadelphia). My Prediction: If the Raptors want to be considered an elite team they should win at least 3 games against the 76’ers based on the history the Raptors have with inferior opponents they are more likely to go 2-2. Let’s take a look at how these teams match-up. Agree? Disagree? Are you an angry Philly Fan who believes you team is better than the Raptors sound off below.

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This Week in The NBA and 5 Things I Think

micheal malcolm — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:01:51 -0400

Welcome to ‘This week in the NBA, where I have collected some of the major (and minor) stories surrounding the NBA this week, Enjoy!

Toronto Raptors Writer, Scott Hastie wrote an article about Pops Mensah–Bonsu leaving the Raptors this week, and sure enough Pops has apparently signed with the Rockets.

Provided that the Raptors do not match (and they shouldn’t) I am happy to see Pops get a chance to prove himself to be a better player than Patrick O’Bryant.

LeBron in his effort to possibly place him self in a good light, in lieu of his Nike fiasco is teaming up with the president to help stress the importance of education. My only question is I’ve never heard of LeBron taking college courses during the off-season, must be because he’s attempting to become some sort of movie star.

Congratulations to Jason Williams for finding a team that would employ him, Williams left the NBA last year to spend more time with his family. I respect players that can leave the game on their terms I wish him well this year.

I personally despise when NBA teams low-ball an offer to a respected player, and subsequently put out an alternate story via ‘high ranking officials’. Desmond Mason is a veteran that has sacrificed and done the ‘right thing’ his entire career that is what makes this situation much more laughable than it should be.

Being the defending Champs sure has its privileges, it also costs quite a bit.

Scottie Pippen headlines a yearly Golf tournament, looking to raise awareness about child abuse in America. If you are an avid golfer and would like to rub elbows with some former Chicago sports icons practice your golf swing for next year.

Carmelo Anthony is suing his former ‘business manager’. This has been a tiring repetitive refrain for the year, and frankly I don’t feel sorry for him. A better question would be is why do sports stars in general allow their old friends and new associates to manage their money, often with no formal education?

This would be another example of riding talented sibling connection, as drafting Taylor Griffin makes NO SENSE for the Phoenix Suns. In fact I’m finding it hard to believe he was drafted over Josh Shipp, Jeremy Pargo, or even Eric Devendorf.

I don’t care how ‘in shape’ Ricky Rubio is nor do I care if he ever plays in the NBA, I’m tired of this soap ‘opera of will he or won’t he play. If he cannot report to training camp on time then he should play in Europe for the year.

It sets a dangerous precedent for a young Wolves team that is attempting to build a strong foundation to have a player, a rookie no less show up late and drag out the ‘buyout process’ and yes I personally believe that Rubio could have take care of this in advance if he truly wanted to be in Minnesota.

Stan Van Gundy is starting to make Shaq look like a psychic with his recent comments.

Clearly, Carlos Defino wanted to come back to the NBA, seeing how the contract he has signed with the Bucks is nowhere near the five million he was seeking from the Raptors. Must be nice to be paid, instead of not knowing when (or if) you will get paid.

Another example of Jameer Nelson showing the leadership required to run a basketball team, also the Phillies may wish to pick him up as a bench player for his hitting prowess.

Kevin Martin of the Kings continues to show why athletes will forever be looked upon as role models, his act of kindness will last these children a lifetime.

The NCAA is a joke, every year there is a scandal about some illegible student attending school this year Derrick Rose is the target, I wouldn’t be surprised if John Wall was the center of attention in a couple of years for the wrong reasons. NCAA does not care about athletes; they more concerned about giving the illusion that they are serious about athletes getting an ‘education’

Ben from Blazers Edge states that ‘LaMarcus Aldridge is the best PF 24 and under in the game today.’ Would you disagree?

Looking at contracts teams will be looking to get rid of in order to avoid paying the luxury tax.

For those of us that believe that a strong inside game will make it easier to make outside shots take this in.

Terry Porter has been given a quick hook for both head coaching jobs he’s had, it’s a bit of a raw deal, and certainly I think he would be a good fit in Cleveland. However at least for this year he’s taking a vacation.

Why has no one attempted to sign Ramon Sessions? Here’s Charles Gardner’s insight on the subject

Joe Smith, is the poster child for untapped potential. While he has fashioned a serviceable NBA career you have to wonder what could have been. Why did the Hawks sign him? At this point, I too, am unsure.

Shaquille O’Neal lack of integrity is startling, and he’s very lucky that Steve Nash is a Canadian.

In an age where journalist integrity is consistently questioned, I have to agree with agent Aaron Goodwin’s assessment. Additionally Nate Robinson may be back with the Knicks if nothing better materializes.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants to get into coaching. A suggestion to the second leading scorer in NBA history: Lobbying for a NBA coaching job on Twitter is likely not the best way to go to be seriously considered. Personally, I think you’ve taken at least 20 steps back from achieving that goal, also it seems like he’s complaining which is reminiscent of his Laker days.

If you are a Nets fan, I dare you not to sound excited about the team after reading this.

If you thought the Tim Doughany scandal was bad, consider if NBA scorekeepers had their own personal agenda wouldn’t that be something?

Finally, an NBA player who doesn’t Tweet.

The NBA.com’s annual rookie survey is out, and Jonny Flynn gets some love.

Lastly congratulations to Hawks and Thrashers fans. After four years of legal posturing and backbiting the ownership for the Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers are one big (and I’m sure very unhappy) family.

With both the Hawks and Thrashers on the rise (okay, only kind of for the Thrashers) a renewed focus can be put on developing the talent they currently have.

Here are my five non-basketball related thoughts of the week.

1.) Good for the ownership and management team of the Philadelphia Eagles, for explaining their position on the signing of Michael Vick, and good for the corporations for not withdrawing their sponsorship. The day that the PETA starts to make and influence corporate decisions will be a sad day indeed.

2.) Billy Wagner has been placed on waivers by the Mets, for 40+ Million the Mets didn’t quite get their monies worth, and additionally clearly had problems getting the ball to Wagner.

Note to Omar Minaya: you either need strong starters or strong middle relief to get to the closer, without either you are left with too many holes to win consistently.

3.) Plaxico Burress getting two years in prison is nothing more than the legal system wanting to make an example of him. If Dante’ Stallworth can kill a man with his car and get 24 days in jail, then Burress shooting himself as already done more damage than two years in jail can do.

4.) Patrick Kane disgusts me with his recent behavior, his apology sounded hallow and unemotional. Kids can make mistakes, but when you are a Millionaire and a public figure, fighting a cabbie over 50 cents is uncalled for.

If Gary Bettman wants to know how to handle this correctly I suggest he consult to Roger Goodell for advice.

5.) The controversy surrounding Caster Semenya, an 18 year old South African runner is startling and disturbing. Would this be a controversy if she looked like Beyonce and had the ability to run?

While, I personally believe that she is a woman possibly taking some sort of testosterone supplement. Someone who improves their time in one year generally isn’t unheard of.

While the testing will take some time, the IAAF has clearly continued to show its inept leadership by subjecting this young lady to what amounts to a witch hunt.

Atlantic Division Showdown: Raptors vs Boston

micheal malcolm — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:18:37 -0400

This slideshow will be apart of a series taking a look at the Raptors division and their opponents, along with the advantages or disadvantages each teams possess. Besides looking at the players, benches, and scheduling differences, the always underrated intangibles will also be analyzed. Toronto Raptors certainly have re-made the roster and hopefully the third time will be the charm for Canada’s only respectable sports franchise. However the Road to an Atlantic Division title will have to go through Boston. The question remains if the Raptors can outlast the former Champs The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship in 2008 however it’s the 09-10 season and things have changed with some strong additions in Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace, the Celtics have attempted to remake their roster slightly still focusing on extending the small window of opportunity surrounding the ‘Big 3’ The Raptors and Celtics will meet on November 27th in Boston for their first match up, followed by games on January 2nd (in Boston), January 10th (in Toronto) and April 7th (in Toronto). I predict the Raptors will go 2-2 against the Celtics this year. Let’s look at how these teams match up.

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Raptors Training Camp Questions and Perspectives

micheal malcolm — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:04:28 -0400

I hate this time of year.

Essentially because of the recession and GMs supposedly becoming more fiscal, there is only an trickling of news concerning the NBA (Leon Powe’s signing should not be the topic of the day), let alone the Raptors.

So, with that in mind, I am looking forward to training camp; with some minor issues that need to be addressed, I am interested in how these scenarios will be handled: namely, the rebounding and defense aspect.

Outlook: The Raptors have a team whose key pieces have largely been in place for some time. However, the Raptors have long since had an inability to play defense and rebound for several years running.

With the addition of Reggie Evans and continued improvement from Andrea Bargnani in that area, the hope is that there will be enough rebounding for the team to compete nightly. Additionally, with the hiring of noted defensive guru Marc Iavaroni (former assistant for the Suns and head coach of the Grizzlies) the team should play better overall defense.

Reality: Reggie Evans is only one person, and is not a starter. Bargnani still has some work to do to shed the ‘soft’ label that has plagued him, and most other international players, since his inception into the NBA.

Evans also has always played very well in when given more than 20 minutes a game.

History is certainly on Evans side, as he has typically (almost single-handedly) raised the statistical rebounding rate ranking of each team he has played for.

In his prime at 29, relatively inexpensive, and with the Raptors needing to rebound in order to win, I am hoping that the coaching staff will find a place for Evans to make an impact.

This senario is implausable, however, with the Raptors ‘franchise player’ being the starting power forward. With Evans being too slow to play small forward, and too small to play center, I’m concerned that he will not truly get the opportunity to do what he does best, which is rebound the basketball.

With Iavaroni on staff, the Raptors should be better defensively, and when I say ‘better,’ I mean there is a greater chance that they will display a much improved team defense philosophy, in lieu of a couple of lockdown defenders.

I have high hopes for the Raptors on the defensive end this year with the addition of Iavaroni and Evans. Any improvement from Bargnani from a rebounding or defensive standpoint will be an added bonus; he’s still young and can improve greatly in those areas.

The other issue I have read in various places, such as CBS Sports and other Toronto-based sports blogs, is the conversation pertaining to DeMar DeRozan’s position.

Personally, I feel that at this current time DeRozan would be better suited to play at the shooting guard position instead of small forward.

My reasons for this center around DeRozan’s summer league play, which had him playing remarkably better at the shooting guard position than he did at small forward, where he overwhelmed opponents with his size, athleticism, and skill.

The SF position, where longer, similarly athletic players dwell, has given DeRozan some problems (see summer league games against L.A. and Detroit, for reference).

At this point, getting DeRozan comfortable and confident in his NBA game is the first priority for this team, as this will pay dividends throughout the season in spurts. Based on what information I could find on DeRozan, it would appear that his learning curve maybe smaller than we may all think.

Top Five Western Confrence Benches

micheal malcolm — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:49:54 -0400

With the rousing success of my previous article "Top benches in the Eastern Confrence" natually a Western Confrence had to have been done. As with the previous article this is only based on the West and NOT THE NBA on a whole. With several contenders so close to each other and are often a simple injury from being an afterthought in the race to become NBA Champion. Today I would like to look at some of the stronger benches in the Western Conference. While im sure some will disagree or debate the placing of certain teams, the overall fact is that all of these teams have excellent coaches, staff, and management that have made it all possible. A good bench is often the difference in going from the first-round to the Conference Finals. Without further ado I present the top 5 Western Conference Benches. Disagree With Me? Missed your Favorite Team? Sound off.

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Top 5 Over-Paid Raptors: A History

micheal malcolm — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:52:26 -0400

Every franchise has that person, or players that makes them cringe or shudder when thinking of how much money they are making. It really hurts when your team isn't even winning (cough Lakers cough) So of course in our short exsistence the Raptors have made some huge errors ( Rafeal Araujo) and have a history of over paying people based on other reasons rather than talent. So without further delay i present the Top 5 Overpaid Raptors in History. Disagree With me? Missed Someone? Sound Off

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Top Five Eastern Confrence Benches

micheal malcolm — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:46:05 -0400

Fellow Raptor writer Taylor Smith made a comment regarding the state of the Raptors bench, and their lack of strength so of course I had to look at the issue of team benches in the East. Most contenders have to rely on their depth in order to avoid the pitfalls that come with contending for a championship. Depite the changing NBA landscape where the gap inbetween the contenders and pretenders are growing, depth still plays a key role in winning it all. So I am choosing to base the top five benches off of these factors: Ability to play with the starting unit, overall talent level, players that could start for most teams, and understanding of their roles\specialties within their system. Without further ado Our Top 5 Benches in the East (of course in my opinion) While I’m sure some people will not agree with my selections for the East, bottom line is that other than these five teams who can match up with them from a bench perspective? Disagree with me? Missed your Favorite Team? Sound off.

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Breaking News: Devean George Has Been Traded!

micheal malcolm — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:08:24 -0400

ESPN’s Ric Bucher has reported various league sources have confirmed that Devean George has been traded to the Golden State Warriors for Marco Belinelli.

Clearly this shows that Bryan Colangelo has been listening to me (okay maybe not but it sure feels nice to make a legitimate point and something happens). This trade clearly has ‘future moves’ written all over it. There is now a bit of a jam in the backcourt and still the need to get possibly two more forwards.

Belinelli has not had the opportunity to play in the NBA since being drafted two years ago. However after injuries decimated the Warrior he was pressed into service and averaged almost 20 ppg. Granted he wouldn’t likely approach those numbers with the Raptors as they have more capable players than the Warriors but certainly Belinelli will get a better chance to develop in Toronto.

George was recently acquired in the complex Shawn Marion trade. I have always advocated for George to be traded as his skill set (lazy, uninspired play) doesn’t mesh with this years team.

This clearly is another one of Colangleo’s under-the-radar acquisitions that can end up paying off hugely in the near future.

*There will be a more in-depth article forthcoming analyzing this trade*

NBA Musings That May Interest Only Me: This Week in The NBA

micheal malcolm — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:58:04 -0400

For those that read my articles, you know that I generally tackle all things Raptors. However I am also a fan of the NBA and wanted to devote a space to what is making headlines this week in the NBA. Please enjoy and remember comments are more than welcomed.

Michael Jordon has continued to show his ‘improved’ decision making by continuing to listen to Larry Brown. This may not result in the playoff berth for the Bobcats but for the first time ever they have a plan in place and appear to be sticking to it.

Lamar Odom needs to re-sign with the Lakers, he not Kobe is the key to the Lakers repeating.

Lebron will not likely resign an extension this summer; would you give up your leverage when clearly ownership and management are jumping to meet your every need?

Staying with the King, Lebron has made his first gross misstep in the NBA and it has come in the form of a video tape. Lebron you should have laughed it off and destroyed him the next time down the court that’s what great players do: they don’t get mad, they annihilate the competition.

I’ve always liked how if you ever played in the NBA and anything happens to you, ESPN will ALWAYS report it. Very Classy.

The OKC Thunder have assembled a very nice lineup, they likely won’t make the playoffs next season but they will surprise a lot of teams. Kevin Durant will open up even more eyes this year and Sam Presti was an amazing hire.

Spurs fans should be slightly concerned with the Tony Parker ankle and thigh injuries. Parker’s game is based on speed and well ankle injuries never really go away.

Jonathan Bender would like an opportunity again to play in the NBA, Bender’s work with people in his community has not been reported enough, I wish him well in his comeback and hope some NBA team will give him a chance.

Even though the Knicks would like to acquire Jamal Tinsley, I would be wary of acquiring a player that hasn’t played for basically two years and has a long history of off-court issues (and there was some fight in Detroit that is sometimes mentioned).

If I am Nate Robinson, I might just take the 10 million and run to Europe, Robinson is young enough to come back to the NBA next year and it is a reported one year contract.

Dwayne Wade needs help a combination of Jermaine O’Neal and Jamal Magloire does not meet that need, neither does a potential acquisition of Carlos Boozer.

Marvin Williams is worth more than Charlie V hands down there is no reason for a long protracted contract negotiation. Williams was more critical to the teams defensive improvement than most people realize.

Theo Ratliff has joined the Spurs AARP brigade. The Spurs tend to sign these older players and they almost always work out for them. Is it enough?

Stephon Marbury is a mess, without question with his emotional breakdown on YouTube was actually must-see-internet viewing. That breakdown in addition the several during his career reveal someone who is mentality unstable and without his remarkable athletic talent would likely be in a psychiatry ward now.

Luol Deng has announced that he will not be playing for Great Britain at the European Championships later on this summer. Newsflash Mr. Deng: When a team invests over 71 million in you there are certain sacrifices you need to make to justify that investment. You have NOT accomplished this so far, your ‘decision’ may likely prolong your stay in Chicago yet.

Derek Fisher’s Basketball Academy not only teaches skills on the court but off the court and in the classroom as well. More NBA players need to show the fans that there is more to life than just sports. I tip my hat to you Derek.

Lastly I will actually watch Shaq’s new reality TV series ‘Shaq Vs. I can’t say that it won’t be staged but other than seeing Michael Jordan struggle to hit anything as a baseball player I suspect the show will be a success.

Don't Like My Perspectives? Disagree with me? Sound off.

Marvin Williams Would Be Perfect Fit with Toronto Raptors

micheal malcolm — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:34:03 -0400

Marvin Williams continues to intrigue me.

So while it would be boring to discuss why the Atlanta Hawks’ dysfunctional ownership has not offered a six-year, $42 million to $48 million contract to Williams, I felt it wouldn’t be right to NOT discuss some sort of possibility where Williams could become a Toronto Raptor.

Sorry, I know that this is one of the MOST unlikely scenarios to occur in the offseason, and I have a tendency to either predict (read: get lucky) or make statements that have some sort of chance of happening. This one is completely off-the-wall, million-to-one, when-pigs-fly things where it would be completely impossible if Colangelo wasn’t such a forward-thinking general manager.

So let’s discuss the possibility

First, why? When you look at any contender (Boston, San Antonio, the Lakers), you have to notice the star power, or at least some middling player who is taking up a substantial part of the payroll (Utah and Andrei Kirilenko it a great example). Other than the 2003 Pistons, who was the last NBA champion to win a championship without going over the cap? To be honest, I am not even sure about the Pistons 100 percent, as the mid-season acquisition of Rasheed Wallace may have put them over the cap. So we know that winners go over the cap.

A three-man forward rotation would be beneficial. Think of having Chris Bosh, Hedo Turkoglu, and Williams coming off the bench for the Raptors. Just think about it: Your second unit would be incredibly dangerous, and you would be able to overmatch even quality teams with the strength of your second unit.

A combination of DeMar DeRozan, Jarrett Jack, Williams, and Reggie Evans would be able to sustain leads and possibly create several mismatches on the floor. The starters would remain “fresh” throughout the year and the bench players would gain valuable experience that becomes handy during playoff time. Doesn’t that sound a bit better than what we have now?

Why Marvin Williams? Generally a team like the Spurs has built their winning traditions by acknowledging and identifying great young players and signing them to below-market contracts (Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are great examples) and surrounding them with great complimentary players. So while I am not here to debate if Bosh is a franchise player or not, he is the person management has identified as the marquee player. So surrounding Bosh with Hedo, Andrea Bargnani, DeRozan, Jose Calderon, and Jack is an amazing core. Now add Williams as a 23-year-old hybrid forward to that core with his defense, scoring, and untapped potential. You have made an already very good team into a great one.

The one thing all championship winners seem to have is an abundance of high-priced talent mixed in with key role players. The Raptors have begun to set a foundation of all three this offseason.

Williams brings a mix of scoring and defense that is critical in surviving the arduous playoffs and succeeding in the finals. He is widely considered the most talented of the Hawks’ core and was developing by leaps and bounds last season.

It’s great to build a team to make it to the playoffs, which by all accounts likely has been done this year. But to win it all, Marvin Williams could be the difference.

The luxury tax would be breached, but last time I checked, the purpose of making it to the playoffs was to win the NBA championship.

So Bryan Colangelo I implore you, if not Marvin Williams, then someone like him.

Jarrett Jack by the Numbers

micheal malcolm — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:09:18 -0400

In a couple of weeks there is no denying that Bryan Colangelo has radically transformed the Raptors into likely playoff contenders (which is a nice change from last year’s doormats) One of those significant acquisitions was of tough-minded point guard Jarrett Jack. Let’s see how this acquisition strengthens the Raptors.

Jarrett Jack is certainly one of the better sixth men in the league (and not a bad starter either). With career averages of 10.4 points and 4 assists a game (in mostly part-time starter roles) Jack has a unique opportunity to blossom with consistent playing time in Toronto. Jack has the ability to stay in front of his man, and create his own shot. His basketball IQ certainly higher than most people will give him credit for as playing within Nate McMillian’s system is not that easy.

Speaking of Jack’s potential in Toronto I would look for him to best his season high numbers from his entire career. Considering that Jack is predominantly a scorer the career field goal percentage of .446 and .339 from the three-point line is very encouraging. I am looking for Jack to blossom into a 15 point 5 assist player with 45-47% from the field and 35-37% from the three point line. What is my reasoning? Jack is still expected to improve with consistent minutes and a clear direction of his role on this team nothing more.

Jack will be able to back up Calderon at point guard and possibly start at shooting guard as well. Jack stands 6’3 however his strength negates a lot of the height disadvantage he often faces. In a worse case scenario Jack will lead the second unit and solidify the bench. Either doesn’t sound too bad does it?

So overall I would say that signing Jack is nothing but a positive acquisition for a team in desperate need of re-tooling. Frankly as a 25 year old player just entering his prime the possibilities are endless. My rating on the signing, money and length? A+. Yet another shrewd acquisition by Toronto’s favorite GM Bryan Colangelo.

The Ultimate Toronto Raptors Team: A Look Through The Years At The Best

micheal malcolm — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:19:59 -0400

In the hustle and bustle after the first couple of waves of free agency, there is always a lull before the season starts. While I am working on a Mega GBN with my good friend—and No.2 Raptors Writer—Brandon Marsdin, I decided I wanted to take a look at how many good players the Raptors have truly had over their 10-year history.

I compiled a list of the ‘best’ players at their respective positions in order to come up with the Ultimate Raptors Team.

Center: Andrea Bargnani

This position was relatively easy considering the Raptors haven’t really had a dominant center in their existence. Though Bargnani is not dominant, he brings a wealth of skills to a position that other centers do not have.

Camby started to become the defensive player he is after he was traded to New York. Rasho and Kevin Willis came to Toronto on the downside of their careers.

Honorable Mention: Rasho Nesterovic, Marcus Camby, Kevin Willis

Power Forward: Chris Bosh

This is another easy choice as Bosh has developed quite nicely over the past six years. Bosh is one of the many players Toronto has had the pleasure of building the franchise around.

With career averages of 19.6 points and 9.2 rebounds a game, Bosh has complied a great resume in Toronto.

Keon Clark was good during his two seasons in Toronto. Ironically enough, he was a less offensive minded version of Bosh.

Davis and Oakley were good for two seasons but were both well into their 30s when they came to Toronto.

Jerome Williams was a fan favorite. He was a rugged defender and rebounder—something today’s Raptors require. Sharone Wright was very underrated. If not for his horrific injury, he would have been more than a serviceable player.

Honorable Mention: Keon Clark, Antonio Davis, Charles Oakley, Jerome Williams, and Sharone Wright

Small Forward – Tracy McGrady

Does any one really remember how skinny and lost McGrady looked when coming into the league? What about the vast improvement that followed? It was startling and astounding without a doubt.

The only question that persists regarding McGrady: if his immaturity and lack of a winning attitude had not gotten in the way of his own personal and selfish desires. The Raptors would have had a championship caliber team.

With that aside, McGrady blows away a field of specialists, could-have-been’s, and never-were’s

Honorable Mention: Matt Bonner, Jorge Garbajosa, Jason Kapono, Donyell Marshall, Tracey Murray, Charlie Villanueva

Shooting Guard – Vince Carter

Even though I despise what Vince did to Toronto fans, ‘Air Canada’ gets the nod as the franchise’s best shooting guard. With his flair, athleticism, and clutch scoring, Carter led the Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals once and to the NBA Playoffs three times. Despite his lack of effort during his final seasons in Toronto, Carter is widely credited for putting the Raptors on NBA map and bringing basketball into Canada’s mainstream conscience.

Honorable Mention: Doug Christie, Dell Curry, Anthony Parker, Morris Peterson, Jalen Rose

Ppoint Guard – Damon Stoudamire\Mark Jackson

As the Raptors first ever draft pick, Stoudamire came in with expectations and hostility surrounding him; the fans wanted Ed O’Bannon—I love how that turned out.

Nicknamed "Mighty Mouse", Stoudamine was a score-first and pass-second point guard. The reason I have placed him in a tie with Mark Jackson is because of Jackson's underrated floor leadership and passing ability allowed this team to achieve new heights.

Basically, Jackson got VC the ball in the right places, got everyone to hustle, and to play with passion.

I have to acknowledge street legend "Skip to My Lou" aka Rafer Alston. He wasn't anywhere near the best, but he was the first "streetballer" to successfully convert to the NBA game.

Calderon does not make the list until he shows some injury-free seasons, some consistency, and learns to stay in front of his man.

Horrific coaching killed what could have been for Billups.

Ford thought he was a scorer instead of a floor general, and injuries ruined Alvin Williams career.

Honorable Mention: Rafer Alston, Chauncey Billups, Alvin Williams, Jose Calderon, T.J Ford

10 Points to Consider About Trading Roy Halladay

micheal malcolm — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:11:52 -0400

I am incensed by the constant rumors surrounding our ace Roy Halladay. I wrote an article about trade partners and there was certainly a positive response. Today I want to clear up some misconceptions about some trade partners that have been making headlines recently.

1. If J.P actually believes a substandard package of Michael Taylor, Dominic Brown and Jason Knapp is enough to trade Roy Halladay he should be burnt at the stake clear and simple. I don’t care about potential what is your reality and at this point even if you added Kyle Drabek to that list I still wouldn’t do it. The Phillies system is barren, I repeat barren.

2. Mets have allegedly turned down an opportunity to acquire Halladay as they wanted to hold on to Martinez (immature, untapped talent) Bobby Parnell (injury prone) Jon Niese (was shell-shocked last year) and Ruben Tejada (likely five years older than he says he is)

Minaya is an idiot for not doing this considering Santana-Halladay combination means NYM would be back in the race.

3. Someone on B|R stated that Halladay is not worth Kershaw. I respectfully disagree although I liked the article. As I’ve previously discussed a combination of Kemp, Loney, Either, Kershaw, and Ivan DeJesus Jr.\Andrew Lambo would be more than enough and would give the Jays an opportunity to address multiple weaknesses in their system and major league club.

4. If you have the opportunity to get rid of Vernon Wells (unlikely) or Alex Rios (more likely) please do so.

5. John Danks-Alexi Ramirez combination isn’t enough to get Halladay to the White Sox. When you add Gordon Beckham to that combination, it is a good starting point for talks.

6. If the Marlins could some how look at taking on the salary of Halladay, they are very ideal trade partners for the Jays.

7. Boston or New York will not get Halladay. It’s not because JP has to be wowed but simply because Boston and New York are run by competent baseball men that will not allow a heist to take place.

8. I am glad that Paul Beeston will get the final say, as if JP had the power he had a couple years back he really could have messed this up, even more than his foolish trades with Oakland

9. At this rate the Jays will end up with a worse package than the Twins got for Santana.

10. Any chance we can convince Bryan Colangelo to take over the GM position for the Jays or we could just trade GM’s (let’s exchange with Florida’s staff PLEASE).

Retraction*I respecfully admit wholly i bashed the Phillie farm system i was COMPLETELY WRONG for that statment as there is some pretty exciting talent there and enough to make a fair and equitable Halladay trade*

Is DeMar DeRozan The Franchise-Changing Player For The Clippers?

micheal malcolm — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:26:16 -0400

Naturally I had to put something out about these two stars of the summer league. Generally you don’t compare a forward-center with a guard-forward. But then again in these times, versatility is at a premium.

Here is something I bet you likely did not realize with all the focus starting to shift on the NFL and baseballs trade deadline: DeRozan will be more of a franchise player than first overall pick Blake Griffin. How did I arrive at this conclusion?

Toronto fans, have you not realized how much you are being bombarded with news about DeRozan? So far, he has been marketed as the new and improved Vince Carter.

Have you not taken noticed that most of the from the Raptors are almost always focusing on DeRozan? Do you think that these are just coincidences?

The Raptor family would like you to adopt DeRozan as the new face of the franchise (move over Bosh, you are yesterday's news). These facts are just simple points that I would ask you to consider.

Look at Blake Griffin. If I hear about how "polished he is for his age" one more time, I will be making it my personal business to injure Griffin in this year’s version of NBA Live.

Here’s a point for you; unless you are part of the upper tier of players OR you have chosen to stay for four years of college, you generally are going to have an advantage against players that came out of high school, or generally weren’t that good to begin with.

Also, let’s not forget there aren’t any real big men playing summer league at this point. So excuse me if I’m not excited about Blake "dominating" Hasheem "the worse draft pick ever" Thabeet or an underdeveloped Earl Barron. Better yet, how about Wizards second-year forward Dominic McGuire?

Please don’t give me any of that nonsense that the same scouts are stating.

“It's not only his work ethic and competitiveness, it's the balance, athleticism, body, and control. The stuff he can't do yet? It'll happen in no time.”

These comments are complete and total nonsense. Have we forgotten what an NBA player who cares looks like?

A.C Green, the NBA iron-man, gave effort every day over the 903+ games he played in a row as a starter and backup. I don’t recall holding a parade for him because he did his job.

Have we grown so complacent as an NBA society that we get excited when a rookie gives maximum effort? Does anyone remember Isaiah (JR) Rider when he came from UNLV? He was such a polite, punctual individual (we all know what happened after he got sucked up by the NBA culture some years after).

Unconvinced? Raptor fans, I will give you the player that crushed our dream into a nightmare once he realized that he controlled everything…Vince Carter.

I almost went into shock looking at a random YouTube clip. After watching the clip, you have to realize that VC could have been one of the better players in league history.

Watch the clip and you will see what I mean. If you actually don’t get angry thinking about what could have been, then you really haven’t been Raptors fans long enough.

If DeRozan is supposed to re-energize a fan base that has been craving a big-time athletic marvel-scorer, then that’s fine. However, at this current time, it is too early to be counting potential All-Star nominations and his MVP speech when the Raptors win the finals.

Please understand that certain things need to be in place in order for a rookie to blossom into a franchise-changer. First, he has to want to be there (check for both Blake, and DeRozan based on their comments).

Second, they have to have a solid supporting cast and veteran presence to take the pressure off (check for both, even those I’m stretching with this year’s clipper’s squad). Third, good management has to be in place, consistent and stick with the plan (only DeRozan gets a check here). Finally, the player has to show a marked improvement from year one to year three (can’t comment on this year).

Ultimately, I have to say I agree that DeRozan can be a franchise-changing player based on the above criteria. However, Griffin certainly has the odds stacked against him.

I have no malice against Griffin; this article was written strictly from a basketball perspective. While I think Griffin will be a serviceable player, I do not see him apart of the upper-tier of NBA players.

I believe just because he’s a Clipper, his ceiling is third tier or at best the second tier (David West, Manu, Kevin Martin). Blake is more than welcome to prove me wrong.

However, I have 30 years of Clipper mismanagement, horrible drafting, and ridiculous trades to back me up. DeRozan, you are being groomed to succeed. Griffin, you have a considerable way to go in order not to fail.

It's Offical: Jarret Jack Is The Newest Additon to The Toronto Raptors

micheal malcolm — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:56:52 -0400

So now that Jarrett Jack is a Raptor the speculation can stop. Indiana will not be matching the offer sheet the Raptors have presented.

Here is a small side note to consider. Earl Watson will be signing with Indiana as early as tomorrow.

Are you meaning to tell me that Indiana has no intentions of resigning Jack? That they feel that Earl Watson (the ultimate backup pg) would better suit the needs of the team now? Or possibly that T.J Ford is going to be the starter this year?

I am extremely happy that Jack will be in the Newest Raptor I have lobbied for him on B|R for some time now. So now the question is asked whom else do the Raptors need now?

Who would you sign? What do you do with Carlos Delfino? If you were BC what would your next move be?

That aside Jack is an excellent young combo guard. He brings more of a defensive presence to the SG position and is can be an excellent PG. I would have to assess that for the money that the Raptors are paying him he should be starting. Wouldn’t you agree?

I am confident that Jack’s addition to the Raptors will further raise the talent level of this squad and continue to solidify Colangelo’s penchant for signing players that can play the style that this team is trying to employ. So I believe it is safe to say that one upside of this recession is that the Raptors can get more talent at bargain prices. This is only beginning let’s see what else the off-season has to offer.

Message For David Beckham: Shut Up and Play The Damn Game

micheal malcolm — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:32:30 -0400

If you are a soccer fan of any sort I’m sure you’ve heard of David Beckham.

Today, I have learned via ESPN that Beckham basically confronted a fan in the game against AC Milan. So the question that I have to ask is WDDD (What did David Do?)

Apparently, he asked some fan in the “L.A. Riot Squad section” to come and shake his hand after allegedly making some rude comments that got Beckham’s attention. This of course led to the fan attempting to get really close and actually jumping out of the section. (L.A. Stadium’s finest subdued the attacker and took him away).

Here’s a thought for Mr. Beckham: We the working class will never see 250 Million in seven lifetimes, unless we hit the lottery. The country is in a recession, and people are losing their homes, jobs, and stability. Yet we support you as a multi-million dollar athlete. (I know this actually may not seem clear right now but stick with me.)

Mr. Beckham, do you know what it feels like not to be able to provide for your family? Or possibly be rejected for refinancing which leads you to losing your home? Have you had to look your child in the eye and explain that you have no money for toys, books or new clothes? Have you ever had to work a minimum wage job knowing that you are delaying the defeat that will eventually happen?

I highly doubt this.

So when people bring crude signs to a match, and they are not in that positive ever basking glow that you have lived your life in, take a minute and really think: 'I left a team paying me a quarter of a million dollars, to go play in another league where I openly stated the competition is better and openly campaigned to stay with that team.' When you think about it that way here’s another point to ponder: 'Why did I open up my big mouth?'

I am a working class guy, working for a company that can arbitrarily decide they may not require my services. David you need to understand that you are not going to get any sympathy from people, when you disrespect the league that is OVERPAYING you to begin with. The Galaxy can’t just cut you or decide they don’t want you anymore.

While I am not a soccer nut by any means, I can confidently say that if David Beckham was in arm’s length then I might just have thrown a left hook in anger. I cannot just decide to quit my job because I’m not happy or my company cannot purchase the necessary technology to become more efficient.

I cannot just disrespect my coworkers or my employers and continue to be an employee. We in the working world have to consider the consequences of our actions as we voice our personal concerns.

Soccer fans and David Beckham fans please understand I am not condoning what I would do, or what this gentleman did. What I am saying is that David Beckham has the Alex Rodriguez complex of wanting to be accepted. But in the same breath don’t expect people to sympathize with you when they can never do what you want to do, which is leave.

Don’t you think that some people just want to start over fresh and they can’t?

It doesn’t matter how goals David Beckham sets up or scores. I think he is nothing more than an egotistical, self-centered, spoiled; petulant individual and if he wants to leave MLS fine let him leave. Oh and Mr. Beckham one more thing: SHUT UP and just play!

Do Not Put Too Much Stock Into Summer League Raptor Fans

micheal malcolm — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:26:22 -0400

Truly the NBA summer league is one of the best times of the new basketball season. It reminds me of who is going to be in Live ‘10 this year and allows the fans of their respective teams to bask in their teams investments. (Jodie Meeks, Patrick Mills, and DeJuan Blair are VASTLY underrated and will make teams pay for passing on them).

This year the Raptors have fielded a half decent summer league team. However after being accused of being ‘negative’ or a ‘hater’ I will say this much: Please give Mr. DeRozan the last quarter of the season before calling for his head.

I understand that Demar DeRozan has looked wonderful during summer league, and I will be the first to say he has looked better than I expected. Here’s the alternative dunking over Joe Alexander and ‘wowing’ the crowd.

You will have to examine the loss to the Lakers where DeRozan picked up some early fouls and wasn’t the factor he was in previous games against Milwaukee and Portland.

Yes I understand that all NBA players will struggle when early fouls take them out of their rhythm but the mark of a great player is in his ability to play under these conditions and three turnovers (when he doesn’t primarily handle the ball) and five rebounds does not an All-Star make.

Please temper your exceptions. I see message boards with such far reaching messages claiming DeRozan as ROY, as better than Vince Carter (he’s not quite there yet) and the difference maker for the Raptors this year. (I think not).

This article is not to say that DeRozan won’t be a star. He has made some plays that have left my jaw on the floor, and others that left questions begging to be asked. There will be growing pains, nights where DeRozan is the best player on the floor others where he’ll be so invisible you’ll wonder where he is.

Ultimately from the interviews he’s done and what he has displayed in the summer league I have some hope.

For those that continue to state that I am ‘negative’ or a ‘hater’ I will simply give you two names: Joey Graham, and Marco Belinelli. These are the individuals and prime examples of players that excel in summer league and when the year starts completely disappear.

Raptor fans do you remember the excitement of seeing Graham use his athletic ability to dominate in summer league not more than four years ago? Belinelli put on a shooting clinic daily two years ago (Everyone followed up with the requisite drafting in fantasy leagues) and he couldn’t even keep up with the NBA game when the season started.

Every year there will be a handful of players that will overwhelm you and convince you that they are the real deal. However when the season starts you can’t find your favorite summer leaguer anywhere. Then the hype dies and you move on without a whimper.

While I am not completely sold on DeRozan’s pending All-Star status (as some have stated he’ll be within 3 years) I believe at worse he’ll be an excellent starter with torrid stretches of dominance a couple times a year. At this point I will accept anyone with any type of consistency and if DeRozan can deliver this, I can be sold.

The Opt-Out Brothers: Bargnani and Turkoglu & The Raptors 3 Year Window

micheal malcolm — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:58:16 -0400

I would definitely say that the feeling in Toronto is beyond euphoric at the moment. Our fearless leader has certainly taken last year’s edition and turned it in to a dynamic athletic squad with toughness and improving depth. I would think that all would be well in Raptorland…except in looking at the new contracts of our newest toy Hedo Turkoglu, and the extension given to our still improving big-man Andrea Bargnani I discovered something that has caused me to re-evaluate the situation completely.

We are all aware of the contracts that players receive in the NBA they make more money than most of us will in our lifetimes, they come with perks like private jets, tickets for friends and family, specific accommodations on the road, and the list continues. While I’m sure that Bargnani and Turkoglu got those wonderful add-ons to their contracts there is one small problem: It’s called the early termination clause.

This clause cause Kobe to hold the Lakers hostage for more than two years, it allowed has saved Carlos Boozer from losing huge dollars in an economic depressed market. Frankly these clauses can unravel all the good will that can be built up during the course of the season.

Here is the breakdown Turkoglu’s contract can allow an opt out in 2013 that’s only 3 years from now granted it is unlikely he will re-enter the market considering that a 32 year old ‘point forward’ will likely be able to command sizable contract although his skill set will begin to erode after two years (you heard it here FIRST). So it appears that the Raptors may not be as safe in that regard. Turkoglu is not a guarantee to remain a Raptor for the duration of his contract.

Bargnani’s contact poses more of a problem, as (I am assuming Bosh does not resign). A youthful Bargnani can opt out when he is 27. So basically the core of the Raptors would need to be rebuilt as Jack (provided he signs) contract will be complete, DeRozan will be seeking his first big contract at 22, Turk will be 33, Calderon will be 31. Four years does not seem like a large window in order to build a champion, only a reasonable contender.

So think about it we may have only three years of our 'savior' Turkoglu and four total of Bargnani. What is there to be excited about. Remember the key to long term success in the NBA is not a open checkbook but continuity. The game has changed but three years does not a NBA champion make, again it's just something to keep in mind.

While nothing is guaranteed in the NBA (where amazing, criminal, inept refereeing, and cover-ups happen) I have severely tempered my expectations based on this new information. It would have been great to not have to give these opt-out clauses to our key players but such is the nature of the business. It will be great to watch this team next year, and even the following one depending on who Colangelo will get in lieu of Bosh re-signing if he elects not to. However in year three I would be hard pressed to find a Raptors team at a championship level with the core aging rapidly and not enough youth other than DeRozan to be served. If this off-season is any indication I will withhold judgment against Colangelo until the time comes, as he has a way of foreseeing the landscape before any of us can.

Joey Graham to Cleveland? This Definitely Makes Them Contenders

micheal malcolm — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:04:42 -0400

Oh this is priceless, to the point where I had to write on it. BREAKING NEWS: The Cavaliers are looking at signing Joey Graham as only a ‘complementary piece’ at forward. Danny Ferry let me save you some time. Graham is not a star; he’s not even a second or third tier player. Joey Graham has been a complementary player his entire career and until the second half of last season had actually not displayed any type of reasonable talent to sustain an NBA career as a complementary player.

Joey Graham is not a bad person and he’s not even a bad player, however I’ve had the pleasure of watching him look and act completely lost for the past three years in Toronto. Have you ever seen a deer in the headlights? That's Joey when you attempt to explain he has to go to the basket to be effective. Please Danny if you do sign him make sure you have realistic expectations: don’t expect him to be consistent or understand the nuances of the game you are paying him to play. However if you want a couple of soft rebounds, one dunk, and a bunch of other sequences that make you wonder, Joey is your man.

I can’t possibly understand why this type of ‘depth’ signing would be a boon, or positive addition to a Cavaliers squad that has underachieved for the most part (Lebron being the exception of course) nor can I quite figure out why the Cavs wouldn’t have made a more prudent signing like Ime Udoka, Rodney Carney, heck even Gerald Green would make more sense from a talent standpoint. (They are also likely a lot more cheaper to sign).

My conclusion: In Cleveland’s haste to build around Lebron and show him how serious they are they are they haven’t invested in the right player to play with him. As long as there is Lebron then the Cavaliers will forever be Lebron’s team. Everyone's purpose is to compliment him, not dominate. While I am not an advocate of a player being able to dictate whom his team should sign or trade for in the off-season (Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade I am looking at both of you)Lebron has this type of power in Cleveland. Clearly Lebron needs three things in a teammate: Shooters, Rebounders, and unselfish mentality. (This is why Varejo has been re-signed for a ridiculous amount to money he can do two out of three). Joey Graham isn’t two of these things and can barely do one; Danny Ferry you should be looking for players that can play with Lebron and make a contribution I'm sorry Joey Graham does not make the grade.

Dear Brian Colangelo: Glen Davis Should Be a Raptor

micheal malcolm — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:32:33 -0400

Dear Mr. Colangelo:

So, in recent days, the Raptors have been transformed into a team with numerous questions to a team with a deeper bench and a core that is being formed as we speak. Yet, we are missing one person: Glen Davis

I know that Reggie Evans is a our tough player, our "enforcer," but he’s getting older (29), and with two years left on his contract, I think getting Davis would be a good acquisition.

Davis has the swagger, toughness, and the character to succeed in the NBA. I watched him hit tough shot after tough shot against Orlando this year, and he showed the ability to agitate his opponents. And he plays defense.

I realize that the Raptors do not have an overwhelming need for Davis; however, you’ve always been ahead of the curve, thinking years and players ahead (as your recent acquisitions would indicate). So, I thought I’d give you a suggestion on a player that would quickly become a fan favorite in Toronto.

The numbers should not be too hard to work out. I think a three-year, $10 million contract would suffice, and the lineup and bench would be much improved with Davis as the sixth or seventh man.

This is just an idea, and while I am not your biggest fan, I do respect and value the moves you have made when all has seemed grim.

Please continue to build a winner in Toronto, and if we so happen to make it to the NBA Finals, I will consider repurchasing my season tickets despite the recession.

Respectfully yours,

Micheal Malcolm

Breaking Down the Madness- 4 Way Trade Where Everyone Actually Won

micheal malcolm — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:58:22 -0400

So the NBA has finally approved the much publicized 4 way-trade leading Shawn Marion to the Mavericks we can finally look at why everyone won with this trade.

Toronto Raptors

Received Devean George, Antoine Wright, Hedo Turkoglu

Disguarded: Shawn Marion, Nathan Jawai, and Kris Humpries, Second round draft pick, Cash considerations

Dallas Mavericks

Received: Shawn Marion, Nathan Jawai, and Kris Humpries, Greg Buckner, Cash Considerations

Disguarded: Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, Antoine Wright

Memphis Grizzlies

Received: Cash Considerations, Jerry Stackhouse, second-round draft pick

Lost: Greg Buckner

Orlando Magic

Received: Trade Exception (approx 7 Million)

Lost: Hedo Turkoglu

So here is my breakdown of this trade: It took Marion to get rid of Humpries overpaid contract, and Jawai was included to make the salaries mesh. The cash helps pay out Stackhouse for the Grizzlies who are hemorrhaging money and clearly did not want to pay the bill. (Now rumor has it that Colangelo was attempting to get Marcus banks contract as apart of the Dallas end of things however it was a not possible).

The Grizzlies were able to get rid of a player that did not fit into their plans and was coveted by Dallas. That allowed them to acquire another second round draft pick. (No reports for the year this pick will apply). The Magic make out as well as they could for a player that had no intention of re-signing with them.

This trade exception will allow the Magic to take on an additional 7 million dollars in salary if they make a trade this year. Dallas is able to finally get rid of George and Stackhouse but had to give up a young player in Wright (who needs a jump shot). The flip side is that Dallas has positioned it’s self to keep their title aspirations window for at least 2 more years at best with the acquisition of Marion Buckner, and Humpries.

Not a bad haul for all parties involved everybody got something they wanted but still have holes that are still every evident for each team. The season is still far off but will be here before we know it. Hopefully Colangelo will use the financial flexibility to build a better bench than here currently has now…however the day is certainly to you Bryan you’ve shown a pessimistic Raptor fan that there is some hope…again.

Bryan Colangelo Is Starting To Look Like Grunwald: No Flexibity

micheal malcolm — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:49:36 -0400

I will be the first one to say it: I came off the Bryan Colangelo bandwagon some months ago, and, frankly, I am still happy with being off despite learning of today’s news of the four-way trade between the Magic, Grizzlies, Mavericks, and Raptors.

I was told once that the “great ones see beyond today, and look at the bigger picture.” If that is the case, why haven’t the Leafs won anything despite having or signing half of the NHL over the past 40 years?

But I digress. Colangelo has pulled off a trade that frankly I don’t believe many of us saw and has undoubtedly quelled the growing legion of detractors that were starting to lose faith in his ability.

One of my fellow colleagues is quite excited by the acquisition of Devean George and Antoine Wright, and basically is singing Colangelo’s praises. So, why am I not jumping back on?

The Raptors still lack depth!

Oh, so you think now that the Raptors have money to spend they’ll be able to address their depth issue?

Delfino supposedly is a lock to come back, there are rumblings that Rasho Nesterovic maybe on his way back to Canada, they’ve extended a qualifying offer to Pops, and that’s it.

The bench is Delfino, DeRozan, Rasho, and Pops, and newly acquired Reggie Evans. Does this really sound like a playoff caliber bench to you? Do you think this bench will have coaches losing sleep thinking about Delfino’s ability to score off the bench?

Let’s be realistic. The Raptors have a plan in place, which is to play international basketball. Fine, great! But they cannot contend for a title, which is why you play the game in the first place.

Turkoglu is still is a horrible signing (not to mention three years and $30 million more than I would like to have him for). This team will likely make the playoffs possibly as the sixth seed, and be out in the first round anyways. I know in Toronto fans get happy with just making the playoffs, but that is not why we brought Colangelo to Toronto. I make no apologies for not getting excited and I am not helping to build the gold statue of Colangelo outside of the Air Canada Center like the rest of these crazed Raptor fans.

Colangelo has started to resign individuals whom he feels are key players to long term contracts to show that there is a foundation to one Chris Bosh. Do you remember the last time this happened, I believe, the Raptors were a playoff team and the player in question was Vince Carter (we all know how that turned out).

This 2010 Raptor squad hasn't even played a game together yet? The last thing this franchise needs is a repeat of the Grunwald debacle: too many long term contracts and an inability to improve the team due to financial constraints.

Take a minute and think: Do you want the Raptors to be considered an Eastern Conference Power, or simply some team that can make the playoffs and be chicken fed for the championship contenders?

If you want the former and not the latter, the Raptors need to start addressing their depth issues.

Bosh Can Either Be a Rocket Or a Raptor

micheal malcolm — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:00:24 -0400

So in my daily browsing I came across an article that may lead to Chris Bosh re-signing in Toronto. A single memo from the NBA to all teams: Prepare for a lower cap in 2010.

Essentially this means that Knicks fans your hopes of signing Lebron and Bosh or Lebron and whoever practically died; and subsequently the landscape has significantly changed for our Toronto Raptors.

I’ve written a couple of articles on Bosh’s attitude and lack of commitment and the foolish indiscretions that he has created with his unwillingness to sign an extention.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I believe that he is taking a page out of Lebron’s playbook and is holding Toronto hostage to place a contender around him to take some of the load off of him.

I’ve said it several times. BOSH IS NOT A FRANCHISE player, despite reports and delusional thinking that would even dare suggest otherwise. Here are the facts: Colangelo has played his final card which is Turkoglu, and the ball (pardon the pun) is in Chris’s court. He claims time and time again he wants to play for a winner so let’s look at who can legitimately be considered a contender for the NBA Championship and the potential to sign Bosh next year. (Many thanks to John Paulson’s for his help with this endeavor)

* Please note these numbers are assuming that cap is at 58.7 Million, which it won’t be as things stand now*

LA Lakers—No, I believe that the reason is self explanatory.

Denver Nuggets—They are basically a luxury team after re-signing Chris Anderson.

Boston Celtics—I believe KG would be the starting PF.

San Antonio Spurs—The acquisition of Richard Jefferson killed those plans.

Cleveland Cavailers—Possibly, depending on what Lebron wants money wise.

Now some of the playoff participants that are considered contenders or have bright futures.

Dallas Mavericks—Only if Dirk wants to be a center, and Cuban wants to go over the cap.

Houston Rockets—Considering the state of Yao’s foot this is a possibility.

Phoenix Suns—If Amare goes. But seriously, Nash can only play for so long.

Portland Trailblazers—If they elect not to resign LaMarcus Aldridge and they MUST re-sign Brandon Roy.

Miami Heat—They’ll have the space, but they must convince Wade to stay first.

Chicago Bulls—Derrick Rose and not much else.

Detroit Pistons—They may be able to fit Bosh under. It will be intriguing to see what money is left after the Pistons' signings of Ben Gordon, and Charlie V and Richard Hamilton's new contract.

So we are now left with five conclusions:

1) If Bosh wants money (and the Raptors can offer him a longer length and the most money under the ‘Bird’ Rule) he’ll have to go to the Grizzlies, or Knicks to get the most he can.

2) The Heat can have a shot if they can re-sign Wade but they would also be in the same situation as the Raptors now—a lack of depth.

3) A potential winner of the NBA championship cannot sign Bosh, flat out.

4) Because the salary cap will be lower, the chances of Bosh catching on to a team that can at least ‘contend’ diminish greatly.

5) Only Houston can meet Bosh’s requisite for being a contender (and is close to home as well) and give him money in line with a max-contract player.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Bosh’s options have become more limited with today’s news, we’ll soon discover if Bosh is motivated to play for an established winner, or did he simply want to leave Toronto.

DeMar DeRozan: Two Raptors Fans Debate His Future In The NBA

micheal malcolm — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:44:32 -0400

Well loyal readers, I felt that it was only appropriate that I share a conversation that I had with the lead writer of all things Raptors on Bleacher Report, Robert Segal.

I think Robert is an intelligent, dynamic writer and his passion for DeMar DeRozan is unmatched. So without further ado here is our debate based on this article.

Robert Segal:

You're absolutely wrong on every point, and I'm willing to put my reputation and whatever credit I have on the line for it.

DeRozan isn't raw at all. His last few games at USC showed what kind of player he is, and if you watched them (and you have not clearly), you'd see just how dominant he could be.

The Raptors will give him a chance, and he's talented and driven enough to do something about it. I assure you he'll be at the rookie-sophomore game and that he'll finish in the top three for rookie of the year voting, with only real threats being Jennings and Griffin.

His shot is much better than Tyreke Evans, his handle is better than people are giving him credit for, he's a good rebounder, and a terrific finisher. If the Raptors move Calderon for a better passer, DeRozan could see 13-16 ppg in year one. If not, it might be closer to 10-13.

Micheal Malcolm:

Robert, I am flattered that you have taken the time to comment on my article, and I apologize if I struck a nerve (and clearly I have). As much as you think that I have not watched DeRozan, I have and I am NOT saying he's not a good player, and won't be in the future.

I'm saying that I believe his contributions this year will be somewhere in the range of 10 ppg, 5 rpg, and 3 apg. I think that if he did that, I'd call the season a success. However, I do not believe that he will avg between 13-16 ppg (I find it interesting that you do not find Calderon to be a good passer. It's not that I do, it's just an observation).

I believe most reasonable young players (Juilian Wright for an example) with good athleticism are good finishers. In order to play in the NBA, though, you have to have some other skills besides "finishing."

I do not believe that DeRozan will open the year as a starter, but I think he may finish as one. If he keeps up his defense (as you have said), I don't need you to put your "cred" as you put it on the line. This is just another viewpoint.

I respect your work and I do enjoy reading your articles but I respectfully disagree on your "overly-rosy" outlook. There are no guarantees as a rookie, and a lot of things have to fall in place for DeRozan to make the kind of impact you're suggesting.

Thank you again for taking the time to comment. As a true fan of the game and a person who calls Toronto home, I hope I'm wrong. I just don't see it this year.

Maybe next year? Please feel free to continue this conversation at your leisure.

Robert Segal:

Well, I do agree that things have to fall into place for him. But at the same time, being the ninth pick and playing a position of need are both things that will, at least to some degree, give him a SHOT to get significant minutes.

Look at Marion or Amare in their first year in the league, or the opportunity we gave CV. People want to see their top-10 picks play, especially when there is no chance in hell at a championship. I think he has a chance to be a special talent.

I've been high on a lot of players in the past two or three drafts. These drafts have included Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Ricky Rubio and yes, DeMar DeRozan.

If you go back a few months, I've been pushing for this guy for a while now. He started the year as a top-three pick and moved down to 15-18 after his first few games at USC, which was understandable. He looked terrible; much like Blake Griffin looked like a terrible defender. However, you have to understand that there's a reason for these things.

For Griffin, as he stated, he was told to stay on the court at all costs. Thus, he couldn't foul, resulting in him to be cautious defensively. For DeRozan, he said that he played the majority of his first year trying to work out kinks in his game.

Unlike Harden, who faded when the games mattered, DeRozan actually played better in bigger games because he was playing to win, as opposed to the rest of the year when he was playing to improve.

I have played ball overseas, and I had games that didn't matter where I would go out and focus on going left to improve, or to work on shooting off the bounce. When you play like that, you play poorly, but you improve.

Like Jennings, DeRozan would have opted to go straight into the NBA but was forced to play out a year for the NCAA. While he didn't go to Italy, he did use the situation to his benefit. Instead of giving USC a season of DeMar DeRozan, he took from USC a year of tutelage from a former NBA coach while trying to ensure he could make a big impact the second he made it to the league.

This is going to be a Carter-esque rookie season on a lesser scale because he has three or four players he'll be playing behind, where as Carter had none. I have no doubt he'll be one heck of a player. I think they're waiting until the summer league to get a read on where he's at and I expect big, big things.

Robert Segal:

Being from Compton, CA, he is mature and has a lot of high-profile buddies. He reminds me of J.R. Smith by having money and "super-stardom" on his mind.

Unlike J.R., he's mature and committed to both ends of the floor. If you told GM's that eight of them passed on a slashing, 19-year old J.R Smith with a commitment to defense, he probably wouldn't have slipped past three or four.

The Raptors are lucky as hell that he slipped, because had he come out of high school last year, someone would have snagged him with the sixth or seventh pick. The point is, he's a much better player after one year.

I watched him a lot this year and he was my favorite player in the country. I saw him do small things that he wasn't doing, and he did more of them as the season went on.

He really became a smarter player as the year went on, and his defense is underrated. I know I sound like a fool for saying that the ninth pick in such a horrible draft can be special, but the point is he slipped five or six picks lower than he should have gone.

There is no doubt he'll be a better player than Thabeet three years from now. However, people don't need wings, they need point guards and big players. That's why Thabeet and Jordan Hill went before him.

If you told me in 2008 that those two would even have a chance to go ahead of DeRozan, I would have laughed my ass off. The same story can be said about Jennings.

These two players are going to make a lot of people seem silly for paying too much attention to stats. Had DeRozan gone back for a second year, I have no doubt if he was trying to play to his ability, he'd be a 20 point scorer, without a question. The difference between him and a guy like T-Will is SO enormous, you almost have to slap yourself to imagine that they went two picks apart.

Robert Segal:

Also, watch some of his high-school videos. I haven't seen a player like him in a log time. It isn't how high he jumps or how easily he scores, but it's about that look he gets when the situation calls for it.

It's that "IT" factor, and "IT" is what separates Austin Daye from Kevin Durant, or Vince Carter from Deshawn Stevenson, or Carmelo Anthony from James Johnson.

The talent level between a superstar and a role player isn't THAT far apart, but their minds are entirely built differently. It's what made Jordan great, and Drexler not AS great.

It's what made Andrea Bargnani, in my view, a better pro-prospect than Chris Bosh. He has a killer instinct and is has cold-blooded composure in bad situations.

When the team is down two, some players rise and others fall. Why a player like Carter always won, and why a played like Bosh always failed is really just a matter of how reactive they are.

Bosh is emotionally reactive, while Carter is a cool customer. Bosh, or a guy like Adam Morrison for example, reacts to the things around him.

Micheal Malcolm:

WOW!

Well Robert, again your comments are very much welcomed and I encourage you to keep up our friendly banter. All I have to say is that while I do not share your optimism at this point, I wish DeRozan all the best in his first NBA season.

I would love for him to put up 15-5-5 if he could. Then again, I am the type to temper my expectations. With your reference to Charlie V, it took some very interesting situations (managerial pressure, media attention) for anyone to realize that he wasn't playing much.

Any young player with a shred of talent and work ethic generally will improve with playing time. Again, Charlie V with the Bucks has improved greatly than the Raptors version (ditto for Charlie Bell, Mo Williams just to throw some other random names out there).

I believe that if young players received an opportunity, they may flourish if they have the drive to cultivate their potential. Can you imagine what would happen if Brendan Wright of GS or even Jerryd Blayliss of POR would do with consistent playing time?

Look at Monta Ellis for example. People knocked his talent, and the Raptors would have killed with him at the two spot. Nevertheless, the point I'm making is that the Raptors have been generous with the PT for rookies if they earn it and im not sure how DeRozan will handle that challenge (I mean if J. Moon can stay on the floor jacking up threes, then defense makes all the difference).

I feel your passion for DeRozan in your words, and I suppose I am the Yin to your Yang You expect flashes of greatness and I expect small spurts of passable consistency.

As far as the Raptors go, DeRozan is no savior (at least not yet). He, like much of his draft brethren, has some ways to go before super-stardom beckons.

If anything, your article was well though-out and factual based, as was mine. However, I do want to say that your point about playing the game consistently and non-emotionally is a great one. It is something that great players do possess.

Robert Segal:

Just wrote a new one. I think my faith in DeRozan goes way beyond what he showed on the court, but more or less what he showed off the court. There is a process for evaluating talent.

Skills, work ethic, polish, age, and mental toughness are all points in the right direction. Also, I'm not alone in my "Koolaid" frenzy as Colangelo is on record saying DeRozan has more potential than Marion or Amare. Talk about a compliment, those guys are All-NBA'ers (you can read Robert’s article here).

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did going back and forth with Robert. I hope he reads this, I really do.

Once again Robert, when you do, please know I would love to do this again. You can pick the topic this time.

-Mike M.

DeMar DeRozan Will Disappoint You Raptor Fans

micheal malcolm — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:02:50 -0400

Let me burst your bubble Toronto: DeMar DeRozan is not the answer, he’ll give you minimal contributions this year, and I am at best skeptical to him reaching his potential, especially in Toronto.

After watching the NBA draft, last week I came away with this conclusion on DeRozan, patience will be key, and that he has tons of potential. Frankly as a Raptor fan I am running out of the former and sick and tired about hearing the latter.

Unlike fellow B\R member’s Robert Segal’s article would indicate I do not believe that Jay Triano’s comments should be taken seriously, nor do I take it as anymore as the regular ‘selling the fans on their new draft pick.

Please do not take my writing as a DeRozan bash piece; I just believe that there have been several players that have outstanding talents that have never reached their potential for various reasons like injuries, immaturity, and work ethic. Simply put we do not need to put DeRozan on a pedestal simply because he has all of this talent, and needs time to put it together.

Do you remember when players spent four years in College and came out more polished and ‘NBA-Ready’ than they do now? Why should we as fans get excited when we place our hopes on a 19-year old child that likely will take another three to four years to develop and may not resign with their original team?

Sorry I refuse to get excited what makes DeRozan more Vince Carter than Harold Miner? Is it because he has ‘the look’? Or because he was so utterly dominate in College? (He wasn’t) Until the Raptors display an aptitude in cultivating a winning culture that will enlist better players to come to Toronto, or convince current players to stay I do not believe that help is on the horizon. Chances are that by the time ‘the light’ goes on for DeRozan it’ll be back to square one for Raptor fans.

NBA Draft 2009 Diary Recap

micheal malcolm — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:34:24 -0400

So like most NBA fans, I was excited to watch the NBA draft last night especially after finding out about all pre-draft moves throughout the past two days.

After sitting through two rounds of the draft this is what I have concluded:

1) The Toronto Raptors will not make the playoffs next year

2) David Khan (Minnesota GM) is an idiot

3) Everyone except James Harden will need time to develop

4) Stu Scott and Jay Bilas should be banned for giving analysis

5) Dick Vitale reminds me of a drunk uncle that knows he’s drunk but won’t stop drinking

Here is my recap of the draft:

1. LA Clippers—Blake Griffin is determined to make the best of a bad situation, and he knows it. Blake please read Bill Simmons' letter because it will let you know exactly why the past in Clipper-land does matter.

2. Memphis Grizzlies—Many said Haseem Thabeet will be a bust and the comparisons to Mutombo are kind at best, but I believe he'll be in the NBA for a long time. Why? You cannot teach height.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder—James Harden was the safe pick here. I didn’t believe they needed Rubio and another player that can come in and contribute right away and I love what Presti is doing in OKC.

4. Sacramento Kings—Tyreke Evans is not a point guard, but the Kings loved how he bullied around Jonny Flynn in their second workout. The problem is that Evans has 30 pounds and about four inches on Flynn, so what did the Kings brass expect was going to happen?

5. Minnesota Timberwolves—I refuse to hop on the Ricky Rubio bandwagon but his interview was priceless and he may just be an okay NBA player.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves—Jonny Flynn was not the right pick here no matter how highly rated you had him on the board. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded him.

7. Golden State Warriors—I am a huge Stephen Curry fan but the idea of him and Ellis in the backcourt equals no defense. Apparently Curry will eventually be moved to Phoenix in the Amar’e trade.

8. New York Knicks—Their selection of Jordon Hill doesn’t scream competence, however, with the type of style they play, this is actually a solid pick for them. His grasp of the English language as his interview progressed left much to be desired.

9. Toronto Raptors—DeMar DeRozan will need three years at least to become a serviceable NBA player. I do not believe he’ll be a star as he doesn’t look like he wants it bad enough. He couldn’t have stayed at USC, but it bothers me that he’s not "half the player he should be."

10. Milwaukee Bucks—I'm a bit surprised with the pick of Brandon Jennings, especially when I felt that Earl Clark, or even Gerald Henderson would have been a better pick/fit with this team.

11. New Jersey Nets—I've only seen Terrance Williams play once and he wasn’t very good. New Jersey appears to be interested in his defensive potential, as well as his all-around upside.

12. Charlotte Bobcats—Great pick in Gerald Henderson. He should be a solid rotation player and is exactly what they needed.

13. Indiana Pacers—It seems as though the Pacers acquired a 10-year veteran today in Tyler Hansbrough. He may not be a star, but he will give an all-out effort every day in everything he does, but I still feel that he was selected a bit high (I had him in the 16-24 range).

14. Phoenix Suns—I love the selection of Earl Clark here and I’m seeing him in a Shawn Marion light; another player who will need time to put it all together.

15. Detroit Pistons—The selection of Austin Daye is a curious one. I do not believe he will last long in the league because he just doesn’t have the look of a player who wants it bad enough in my opinion. He just looks too soft.

16. Chicago Bulls—I felt Ty Lawson would have been an excellent backup from the start however James Johnson is another project and he doesn’t really have a back-to-the-basket game they really need. So I’m not sure what the thinking is here.

17. Philadelphia 76’ers—Jrue Holiday was a good selection here however I am concerned about why Holiday has dropped when most mock drafts had him top 10.

18. Minnesota Timberwolves—If I didn’t know that they traded their selection of Lawson to Denver I would have lost it completely. Three point guards?

19. Atlanta Hawks—Jeff Teague seems to already have a niche as the backup point guard if he can translate his success in college to the NBA. At the very least, he should be a very solid rotation player and that's why I love this pick.

20. Utah Jazz—Eric Maynor made the most sense for them and I applaud the pick. The most important thing is that he is not a converted shooting guard, or had to be moved to point guard because of his size. He’s been a point guard since day one.

21. New Orleans Hornets—Darren Collison was a good pick here but I thought that DeJaun Blair made more sense as Tyson Chandler may not be around much longer and the team might need more rebounders.

22. Portland Trailblazers—Victor Clava does not take up a roster spot, which is all that matters in Portland.

23. SacramentoKings – Omri Casspi was a great pick and he has the perfect mentor in Andres Nocioni to pattern his game after.

24. Dallas Mavericks—I loved the pick of BJ Mullins. When I thought that he would be staying in Dallas, Mullins heads to OKC and Presti is clearly laying down a blueprint for franchise success. Mullins may never actually “get it” for those that were wondering.

25. OKC Thunder—Rodrigue Beaubois was a value pick at the back end of the first round, then he got traded to Dallas. I would have loved to see him in three or four years when he gets a better feel of the game.

26. Chicago Bulls—Taj Gibson is not a good pick, flat out. The Bulls already have too many tall, lanky front court players and Gibson adds to that total. Wayne Ellington would have been a better selection in lieu of Ben Gordon’s free agency.

27. Memphis Grizzlies—DeMarre Carroll apparently is a great "energy guy" and has been compared to Renaldo Balkman so he’s not exactly screaming consistency at this point. Why didn’t they take Dejaun Blair? They could use some rebounding.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves—Ellington was a great pick by the Wolves who have actually not decided to play three short players and two medium tall guys. Ellington will stretch out defenses and be a solid contributor in his first season.

29. New York Knicks—Toney Douglas, is referred to as a poor man’s Ben Gordon with better defense, so his future appears to be bright and I believe he will succeed in D’Anotini’s system.

30. Cleveland Cavaliers—The Christian Eyenga pick was made not to add salary. This pick was made to save money in the long run as there is no way Eyenga makes more sense than a Sam Young, or Dejaun Blair at this point.

So the NBA Draft concludes it’s first round with lots of surprises and plenty of disappointments.

I will be doing a team analysis grading each teams picks for the two round affair later on, as we know what happens on draft day is just before the madness of free-agency, that begins on July 1.

Why the Shaq Trade Creates More Problems than It Solves

micheal malcolm — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:54:14 -0400

With less than 24 Hours to go before the NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers have decided to finally trade for Shaquille O'Neal (albeit a couple months late). From most sportswriters' perspectives this trade was necessary for Cleveland to take the next step in their march to a Championship. I, however, view this trade from another perspective: Shaq doesn’t automatically equal a championship in Cleveland.

When Shaq had arrived in Miami, he promised a championship and he was motivated that Kobe was going to be the one staying in L.A. instead of him. O’Neal delivered and Miami celebrated.

The next year O’Neal wasn’t so motivated and he single-handedly ruined almost all of the cohesiveness that Miami team had, and subsequently fooled the Bulls into thinking Luol Deng was an almost max-money player, as the Heat lost in the first round.

As Shaq was traded to Phoenix, he started talking about a championship and how he would take Phoenix to the next level. One playoff win later, the Suns fans are still waiting. O'Neal is no longer the dominant force he was who could guarantee these championships; alas, he is just another role player filling a need now.

Last year O’Neal vowed to be in better shape to ensure that he would be able to keep up with Phoenix’s transition offense (not to mention put himself in line for an extension) and O’neal did not disappoint as his 17.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg would suggest. O’Neal was running and hustling and what a sight that was!

This trade, as flashy as it is, doesn’t start to solve Cleveland’s main problem: This does not guarantee LeBron resigning this offseason or in 2010.

LeBron is going to have the luxury of deciding where to spend his prime years, and, frankly, LeBron is going to do what is best for LeBron so while Danny Ferry can make bold and name-catching moves, it doesn’t begin to answer what will happen next year.

All of this becomes null and void if LeBron decides to resign, which is a very unlikely scenario.

O’Neal is clearly being brought in to slow down Dwight Howard as, at the moment, there is not a player who can match him one-on-one. O’Neal will be a wide body and nothing more.

Now, if Cleveland fans have in their minds that they are getting the Shaq that cares about defense, they are sadly mistaken, as O’Neal hasn’t played defense for about six years consistently.

However, one of the better things about this trade is that Cleveland is getting a motivated Shaq who is looking for one last large extension and should be giving 100 percent this year, and the subsequent cap space next year.

Something else that the parade planners in Cleveland will have to keep in mind: LeBron has never played with someone like O’Neal before and as we’ve seen in Phoenix, and L.A. does take some adjusting to (Nash took about one year before he started to look comfortable) and while I do not doubt LeBron’s skill sets and earth-shattering talent, he will have to realize that O’Neal plays better when the offense runs through him.

Can LeBron come to this realization quickly? Cleveland fans better hope so or else it will be another championship-less season on the horizon.

I've found that teams that are expected to win the championship have not won it lately (I'm talking from the beginning of the season projections), and do you remember when the Lakers had O'Neal, Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton on their squad? They were the paper champions of the year, yet still they did not win it all.

So O'Neal can state that he'll bring a championship to Cleveland, but he will be another layer on the support the team wants to provide LeBron. He will not be the focal point; LeBron can take them period.

So, what will happen in 2010? As that hallmark date approaches, nothing has been settled yet. O’Neal’s contract expires and it will ultimately come down to the help that Danny Ferry will be able to acquire that offseason so LeBron will be able to make an informed decision on whether or not to resign.

Actually, if LeBron really wanted to win, wouldn't he just go to OKC and play with Durant for less money? Wouldn’t that be something?

Mr. O'Neal, my advice to you is not to guarantee anything in Cleveland—haven't you heard about how they have never won a major championship in any sport? The best thing you can do is compromise your game to mesh with LeBron's; if you can do that, you just may get that sixth title.

Harden and Evans the Saviors of Basketball in Minnesota

micheal malcolm — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:20:47 -0400

Due to an amazing trade, or a very stupid one depending on your opinion, the Minnesota Timberwolves have an opportunity to shape their franchise for years to come. Now this often moribund franchise can make the logical two picks in the draft: Tyreke Evans and James Harden.

Why these two players you ask? Very simple. Besides the fact that I am highly sold on Harden’s profile and his overall game, the Wolves need to re-tool and these two players would be an excellent place to start. Both players fit a need now that the trade between Washington and Minnesota has been finalized.

Harden is a player, he has no real strengths, but no real weaknesses. He’s 6’5 and a mean productive scoring machine. I believe that Harden is this year’s NBA-ready player both from a maturity and physical ready standpoint.

Evans is a sleek 6’5 SG who the Wolves will have to put at PG. He is also another player that isn't as prepared as Harden to contribute right away, but his learning curve will be a short one. Based on video I have seen, Evans has shown willingness in workouts and competitive games to show that he has the making of a top-flight scoring PG. While there have been debates if a team can win with a high scoring PG, Evans is a great pick here for the Wolves.

Let me take the time to say I am not a Hasheem Thabeet fan, nor do I think the Wolves should waste a draft pick on him. This is based on the current lineup the Wolves have which includes undersized C, Al Jefferson. With Evans and Harden on this Wolves team there will not be as much pressure for Jefferson to do everything and he will have help in second year player Kevin Love on the offensive and defensive glass (Love was among the league leaders in offensive rebounds per minute last year).

At this point the Wolves have an extremely strong core of Jefferson-Love-Harden- Evans. All that needs to happen is Corey Brewer needs to step up, or Ryan Gomes continues to emerge.

Minnesota GM David Khan clearly has placed his stamp on this team, which has been in need of several overhauls over the years. While I personally believe that he gave up too much for this pick (I think that Miller\Telfair or Miller\Brewer could have got the job done), it’s refreshing to see a GM make a daring move in a draft filled with uncertainties.

Let this be the resurrection of Minnesota basketball. All that is needed are some veterans and strong leaders to teach these younger players the ‘right way’ to play the game and how to approach the NBA. The building process may be long and tough, but today is yours Mr. Khan. Do not squander the fruits of your labor.

Richard Jefferson Costs San Antonio Spurs More Than They Think

micheal malcolm — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:56:39 -0400

Richard Jefferson has been traded to San Antonio for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas, and Fabricio Oberto.

The amount of ink we should expect to read on this trade in the coming days will be huge.

There’s just one problem: This trade does not make the Spurs champions.

Oh there is plenty to like about this trade. Basically the Spurs traded two older, broken-down parts (Bowen, Thomas) and one player of questionable health (Oberto) for All-Star Richard Jefferson. Jefferson is a decent player and yet another strong scorer who can score consistently, taking some pressure off of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and the always injured Manu Ginobili.

In fact, from the sheer player angle, this is a clear Spurs' win.

Why am I so bothered by this? The Spurs aren’t any more guaranteed to win the championship anymore than the Los Angeles Lakers (this year’s winner who possess more talent) or a potentially healthier Boston Celtics team (now hungrier after this year's loss to the Orlando Magic).

I am also concerned by Jefferson’s reputation of speaking out when things aren’t going well for him. While I don’t doubt Gregg Popovich and Duncan’s ability to keep Jefferson in line, things will be very different in San Antonio next year.

I remember a Spurs franchise that stuck to what it knew some years ago. You build around your stars and veterans would come in search for a ring at discount prices. What happened to this way of thinking? Do you know who is affected by this trade?

Which star wanted to come to San Antonio in 2010? We know D-Wade will likely re-sign in Miami, and I can't see LeBron leaving Cleveland just yet, but Texas-native Chris Bosh would have looked really good in the black and silver.

A bridge that would have had Duncan hand off to Bosh and Parker was horrifically killed today. That is my problem. The Spurs basically are gambling more than they ever have in recent memory.

Watching Parker and half of Duncan valiantly attempt to will the Spurs past Dallas this year wasn’t great basketball, and the team clearly has recognized this shortfall. It also wouldn't be a stretch to imagine that management has grown tired of their title hopes hinging on how effective Ginobili will be that year.

Overall on paper, the Spurs now have the talent to compete with the major powers, however as is often the case in San Antonio, their title hopes will depend on who actually stays on the court and out of the trainer's room.

Kirk Hinrich in Miami, Phoenix, Or Minnesota?

micheal malcolm — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:56:57 -0400

It is with great pleasure we celebrate the news (that has been known for weeks) John Paxson is no longer General Manager of the Chicago Bulls, and the incoming man has decided he will attempt to re-sign Ben Gordon (please no more than $7 million or $8 million a year) and has openly discussed actually making trades that need to happen.

One of those players to possibly trade is Kirk Hinrich. While I am a fan of Kirk, I would like to have Gordon back and would sacrifice Kirk to do so. Without further ado, let's look at trade scenarios:

Bulls trade Kirk Hinrich to the Heat for Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright

This works for the Bulls, as they will need to move Hinrich if they decide they want to re-sign Gordon. Even in a depressed economy, Gordon could get $9 million easily, and some crazy GM may give him more.

Haslem gives the Bulls a competent starter at power forward and someone to challenge Tyrus Thomas, whose work ethic leaves much to be desired. Wright can be a serviceable backup at a minimal cost, given the relative uncertainty at shooting guard for the Bulls. I believe Wright has had some horrible luck while in the NBA but can be a contributor.

For Miami, Hinrich is a capable ball-handler and defender at the point guard spot, which would allow Mario Chalmers to become a backup (which he should be) and be brought in slowly and ensure he develops into a strong point guard. The Heat would also ensure that Dwyane Wade doesn’t have to continue handling the ball all the time.

Potential Lineup, CHI: C—Miller, PF—Haslem, SF—Deng, SG—Wright, PG—Rose

Potential Lineup, MIA: C—O’Neal, PF—Beasley, SF—Moon, SG—Wade, PG—Hinrich

Bulls trade Kirk Hinrich to the Timberwolves for Mike Miller and Sebastian Telfair

From a salary standpoint, Miller only has one year left on his contract instead of three on Hinrich’s, and it would provide the Bulls with more reliable outside shooting and a excellent replacement for Gordon, not to mention the salary relief.

Telfair is still a work in progress and has a contract the Wolves would like to move. Likely new GM David Khan will not want to part with a lottery pick, however I feel that one may need to be given by the Wolves to make this trade work.

Hinrich would bring stability to a team in desperate need of a point guard. This trade would also allow Randy Foye to move to shooting guard, where I feel he belongs, (he’s definitely not a point guard) and strengthen the Wolves' overall lineup, and giving Khan a youthful core of Jefferson—Love—Foye—Hinrich to work with. (Hasheem Thabeet wouldn’t look to bad as the center on this squad would he?)

Potential Lineup, CHI: C—Miller, PF—Thomas, SG—Deng, SG—M. Miller, PG—Rose

Potential Lineup, MIN: C—Jefferson, PF—Love, SF—Brewer, SG—Foye, PG—Hinrich

Bulls trade Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas to the Suns for Amar’e Stoudemire

This trade would be great for both teams, not great for Suns Owner Robert Sarver. The Bulls would become a dynamic squad, finally getting that consistent low-post presence they’ve needed for years.

Amar’e would get a chance to be star on an up-and-coming team. My concern would be making sure that Amar’e would re-sign with the Bulls and that he consistently brings his A-game with a commitment to playing defense. But his acquisition would instantly throw the Bulls into the mix for the Eastern Conference Championship, at least.

The Suns would get an heir for Nash when he finally starts to break down and show his age, along with an athletic front-court player who would help transition the Suns into a new era.

Potential Lineup, CHI: C—Miller, PF—Stoudemire, SF—Deng, SG—Salmons, PG—Rose

Potential Lineup, PHO: C—O’Neal, PF—Thomas, SF—Richardson, SG—Hinrich, PG—Nash

As Bulls fan, I love the Phoenix scenario the best, as clearly these trades will fill needs for both teams and place them in better positions than they started with.

Although I’ve heard rumblings about potential trading partners in Portland and Washington, I don’t see it happening simply because the salaries won’t match.

Hinrich is the Bulls' best trading chip if they seem to think that Thomas will be the player they need (I really wish we had LaMarcus Aldridge, I hated that trade from the beginning).

Otherwise a combination of Thomas, Hinrich, and possibly Tim Thomas will allow the Bulls to be a major player in the trade market this offseason. Let’s see what the draft brings.