Bleacher Report - Articles by Brett Fulmore

Rebuilding the Raptors: Chris Bosh Trade Scenarios

Brett Fulmore — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:53:15 -0400

Maybe I'm just a pessimist.

I consider myself to be a pretty opportunistic guy under most circumstances, but following the Toronto Raptors over the years has turned my normally positive disposition into a jaded NBA fan.

So whenever I stumble across a Raptors story which includes a Bryan Colangelo quote about how he's still committed to keeping Chris Bosh in Toronto long-term, I can't help but cringe. It feels like we've been down this road before.

Damon Stoudamire was the original face of the franchise before requesting a ticket out of town. The return for the Raptors? Spare parts and a point guard (Kenny Anderson) who would never step foot in the city.

Then you have the cousins from Florida—Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. Both played an integral role in the Raptors rise from the cellar to credibility, and both would leave Toronto for virtually nothing. T-Mac would exit via free agency, while Carter was "traded" to the Nets after demanding his own trade out of the T-Dot. That deal, which is regularly mentioned when the discussion of "Most lopsided deals in NBA history" gets brought up, is still a particularly sore spot for the Raps faithful.

So you'll have to excuse me when I get a little cynical at the chances of Colangelo locking up Bosh in the summer of 2010. That's not a poor endorsement of BC's general manager skills, nor is it an indictment of Bosh's character. I just can't shake the image of another Raptors star skipping town without receiving something significant in return.

So without further ado, I present some trade scenario's that involve the Raptors and three teams that could use a player of Bosh's calibre around the association.

Scenario No. 1: Toronto Raptors trade F Chris Bosh to the Chicago Bulls for G Ben Gordon (sign-and-trade), F Tyrus Thomas, and two first-round picks in 2009 (No.'s 16 and 26 overall)

This is the scenario that is getting pumped out by most rumor mills as of late, and on the surface it appears to make sense for both teams.

After underachieving in 2007, Derrick Rose infused new life into the Bulls franchise and has the Chicago brass thinking about joining the Eastern Conference's elite sooner rather than later. A trade for Bosh would give the Bulls the low-post option that they have been missing since roughly the turn of the century, and a core of Rose-Bosh-Deng-Hinrich-Noah has the capability to take the next step in the Windy City.

For the Raptors, the arrival of Gordon would mark a major improvement at the shooting guard position over Anthony Parker, although BG's deficiencies in the defense and shot selection departments may not bold well for a team that already struggles in both of those areas.

That being said, Gordon's pure offensive exploits are amongst the best in the association and would give a freshly inked Jay Triano many more options on that end of the floor.

Bryan Colangelo originally wanted to mold these Raptors after the high-scoring Phoenix Suns teams from 2004-07, but he was always missing one key ingredient—players who could score. Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker, Jason Kapono and Joey Graham weren't exactly the most intimidating foursome at the wing position, but BG would provide the team with someone who can fill it up from anywhere.

Thomas has been a model of inconsistency during his first few years in the league, but no one can question his athleticism and the excitement he's capable of bringing to the game at any given time. He's received some bad press during his time in Chicago as well, so maybe a change in scenery could do him a great deal of good. On the flip side, the Raptors are making a conscious effort to get "tougher" this offseason (as evidenced by Tuesday's trade for Reggie Evans) and Thomas would certainly help fill that role.

The two first rounders from Chicago would give the Dino's three selections in the first 26 picks and an opportunity to re-tool through the draft process, something the Raptors have failed to do in recent years.

Depending on how things shake down in the weeks leading up to the draft, the Raptors could add another wing prospect at No. 16 (Chase Budinger, Earl Clark, Jrue Holiday), while targeting a backup point guard with the 26th pick (Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, Toney Douglas). Don't forget that they also own the ninth overall pick, which could land them another blue-chipper (Demar DeRozan is the popular choice at the moment) within the lottery.

Chicago Projected Lineup

G Derrick Rose, G Kirk Hinrich , SF Luol Deng, PF Chris Bosh, C Joakim Noah.

Bench: John Salmons, Brad Miller, Tim Thomas.

Toronto Projected Lineup

G Jose Calderon, G Ben Gordon, SF Shawn Marion (assuming he re-signs), F Tyrus Thomas, C Andrea Bargnani.

Bench: Reggie Evans, Roko Ukic, No. 9 pick, No. 16 pick, No. 26 pick.

Scenario No. 2: Toronto Raptors trade F Chris Bosh to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for G Jamal Crawford, C Rony Turiaf, F Brandan Wright, and a First Round Pick in 2009 (No. 7 overall)

In the short term, Bosh's arrival in the Bay would make the Warriors relevant again.

They'd be able to roll out one of the more young, talented and versatile frontcourts in the league with the trio of Andris Biedrens, Anthony Randolph and CB4. Couple that with Stephen Jackson and Monte Ellis in the backcourt, and a bench that would feature Corey Maggette, Kelenna Azubuike and Marco Bellinelli, and it appears that the Warriors could be back in the postseason picture much sooner than expected.

But with reports constantly swirling that Bosh is eyeing a big market when his 2010 free agency arrives, would the Warriors take the chance of having him walk away for nothing after a year?

There are some things that are working in the Warriors favor. For starters, Bosh should thrive playing under Don Nelson who would take advantage of his mobility and skill set like no other coach that Bosh has played for.

There's also the presence of Stephen Jackson, who will be handling most of the leadership duties, which Bosh has struggled with in the T-Dot. Playing a full season without a constant media presence on your shoulders has got to be an intriguing concept for Bosh at this point.

As far as the Raptors are concerned, they will get a little bit of everything in return from the Warriors. Jamal Crawford will provide a major scoring boost in the backcourt (see Ben Gordon, above). Ronny Turiaf will provide some muscle, defense, and depth in the frontcourt, while Wright is a potential game-changer who hasn't been able to crack Nelson's rotation while in Golden State.

The major prize for Toronto would be the seventh overall pick however, which would allow them to draft two of the top nine players in this year's lottery.

No one will mistake this year's draft crop for the class of 2003 by any means, but anytime a team has two picks within the top ten, they have a real shot at reshaping their franchise. The Raps could target Arizona big man Jordan Hill at number seven, a player who ironically has a lot of the same qualities as Bosh.

Golden State's Projected Lineup

G Monte Ellis, G Stephen Jackson, SF Anthony Randolph, PF Chris Bosh, C Andris Biedrins.

Bench: Corey Maggette, Marco Bellinelli, Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Morrow.

Toronto's Projected Lineup

G Jose Calderon, G Jamal Crawford, SF Shawn Marion, F Andrea Bargnani, C Ronny Turiaf.

Bench: Reggie Evans, Roko Ukic, Brandan Wright, No. 7 pick, No. 9 pick.

Scenario No. 3: Toronto Raptors trade F Chris Bosh to the Portland Trail Blazers for F LaMarcus Aldridge, C Joel Pryzbilla and G Jarred Bayless

This deal completely hinges on the patience of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Are they willing to wait another year or two for their stable of young talent to develop into a championship contender? Will they even be able to keep this core together over that period of time?

Pairing Bosh with Brandon Roy will give the Blazers one of the best inside-out combo's in the association, and will immediately take them to contender status in the Western Conference. But much like the Warriors trade discussed above, it'd be a major risk for Portland to give up so much for a player who is not guaranteed past next season.

The loss of Aldridge and Pryzbilla would also put a great deal of pressure on Greg Oden, who despite all of the positive press from the NBA over the past two seasons, has yet to prove that he can handle an 82-game season, or that pesky six-fouls-per-game rule that the league continues to enforce.

With all that being said, the Blazers may be wise to act now in their pursuit of an NBA championship. The Lakers, Spurs, Suns, and Mavericks are all watching their title window shrink. Meanwhile, the Jazz and Rockets may have considerably different rosters when October rolls around.

For the Raptors, Aldridge would replace a lot of Bosh's production in the post, and could even see a spike in his stats with a greater offensive load in T.O.

Pryzbilla is a legit center who brings a lot of intangibles to a team in severe need of a working class type down low. He should provide some serious muscle off the bench with Reggie Evans. The Raptors haven't seen that type of physical presence since Charles Oakley left town.

Bayless is a throw-in to this deal, but has the potential to be a legitimate player in the league some day. He's a certified gunner, and would help provide a scoring punch off of the pine for the Raps, just one more thing that the Raps desperately need.

Portland Projected Lineup

G Steve Blake, G Brandon Roy, SF Nicholas Batum, PF Chris Bosh, C Greg Oden

Bench: Martell Webster, Sergio Rodriguez, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw.

Toronto Projected Lineup

G Jose Calderon, SG No. 9 Pick (Demar DeRozan?), SF Shawn Marion, F LaMarcus Aldridge, C Andrea Bargnani.

Bench: Joel Pryzbilla, Reggie Evans, Jarryd Bayless, Roko Ukic.

Toronto Raptors Midseason Review: Part One

Brett Fulmore — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:50:24 -0500

Chris Bosh

For all intents and purposes, Chris Bosh has done his part this season. He started out the campaign in dominant fashion, even finding himself perched near the top of the MVP totem pole after the first few weeks of the year.

But shortly after announcing that he was, in fact, gunning for the award, CB4 came back down to earth and the Dinos began their slide towards the cellar.

Besides that one slip-up, however, Bosh has been the Raptors' best player so far this season, not too mention the team's most consistent performer, and it's not even close in either category. He still has his shortcomings—mainly a reliance on his jumper at times and struggles on the defensive end—but there's no questioning Bosh's place among the elite power forwards of the league. Now he just needs some more help.

Grade: A

Jamario Moon

If Jamario Moon is your starting small forward, you are not a good team.

I haven't figured out if starting Moon is what officially takes you to bad team status, or it's the other way around and only the most terrible of squads would even consider it.

It's kind of like the chicken and the egg argument, but believe me when I say, If Jamario Moon is your starting small forward, you are not a good team.

Moon has actually played better since a putrid start by getting back to some of the things that let him stick around last year in the first place (rebounding, hustle plays, blocking shots), but watching him hoist three-pointers with 16 seconds left on the shot clock is starting to give me an ulcer.

Hey Jamario, there's a reason that there's no one within 10 feet of you when you are jacking up those shots—they know you won't make it. Seriously, next time you are watching a Raps game, check out what Moon's man will do who when he rises up for a three.

He runs directly to the front of the rim with an "I can't believe he shot another one" look on his face.

I believe there's a place in the league for guys like Moon, but not in the starting lineup of a team who has serious playoff aspirations.

Grade: C

Jake Voshkul

A late addition the Raps, Voshkul is already closing in on Primoz Brezec's record for "Most over-excited towel waves by a heavy-footed white center who never leaves the bench" award. He's only been on the team for two weeks!

In all seriousness, Voshkul is one of the only Raptors who seems to give a crap on a night to night basis, which is equally depressing and exciting, since it's a tell-tale sign that we'll end up with more ping pong balls than your Aunt Mertle's bingo game.

Grade: B

Jose Calderon

One point that we heard a lot of in this past summer's "Ford versus Calderon" debate was that Jose would end up being a much more durable player because of T.J's constant battle with injuries.

As we approach the midway point of the season, Calderon has missed nearly a quarter of the Raptor's games with a sore hamstring, and has actually played in less contests than Ford has in Indiana.

I understand we're looking at a small sample size, but it's worth mentioning.

Is Calderon built to log 40 minutes per game?

His defensive deficiencies were definitely exposed as his playing time grew, as I can't count how many times I've seen Calderon's man end up at the rim for an uncontested layup while Jose wanders around the upper concourse of the arena.

His gifts on the offensive end have been well-documented, with his 8.5 assists per game ranking him fourth in the association, but there are way too many nights when Calderon's contribution on one end is completely washed out by his performance on the opposite side of the court.

Grade: C+

Jermaine O'Neal

For me, Jermaine O'Neal has been the biggest disappointment at the midway point of the year.

His averages of 14 and seven are about what I expected out of JO, and despite being lower than his career averages by a significant margin, are still better than most centers in the Eastern Conference.

There's just something about O'Neal that has left me unimpressed. His shot selection, his 12 games lost to injury, and the reports from Toronto that he's been a cactus off the court have soured me on JO, and I'm not sure if I'm ever going to get back on the bandwagon.

There's been rumblings in the T-Dot that O'Neal may be on the move, which would be fine with me. Part of the allure of the Ford for O'Neal trade was that JO's expiring contract in 2010 would allow the team some options if he didn't mesh well with the team on the court. In my opinion, that time has come.

Grade: C-

Jason Kapono

Considering what the Raptors will pay Kapono for the 2008-09 season (roughly $6 million), it's hard to make a case for him being anything but a disappointment considering the type of stats he puts up (8 ppg, 2 rpg, 1.7 apg).

That being said, I can't help shake the feeling that Kapono is being misused in Toronto. When you have one of the best shooters on the planet, maybe you should run a few plays for him to, I dunno, shoot the ball?

I know Raptors fans enjoy watching the likes of Will Solomon and Jamario Moon fire up 23-footers with reckless abandon, but I wouldn't mind seeing a few of those shot attempts go to Kapono considering he's a two-time defending three-point champion and has the highest active three-point percentage in the NBA.

Just a thought.

I'm not completely excusing Kapono—his defense makes Jose Calderon look like Gary Payton after all—but watching Moon fail to make the extra pass to Kapono in the corner and instead jacking up the shot himself makes me want to throw my TV out the window. I'm actually becoming infuriated right now.

Grade: C

Anthony Parker

AP seems like a terrific guy. Someone I'd want dating my sister, chaperoning my daughter's Sadie Hawkins dance or helping my grandmother across the street.

Do I want him starting at shooting guard for my favorite NBA team? No.

Parker does a lot of things right on the court—great team defender, takes good shots for the most part and always support his teammates—but he's too inconsistent of an offensive player to be starting for the Raps, especially considering how this team struggles to put up points.

Parker would be most valuable on a more-talented team, where he could focus on the things I mentioned above and not be relied on to produce offense on a nightly basis.

For the Raps, a team that has started Will Solomon and Jamario Moon alongside Parker over the last 10 games, they need more from the shooting guard position.

Grade: C+

Will Solomon

Why did the Raptors sign Will Solomon again? Did Bryan Colangelo lose a bet? Does Solomon have compromising pictures of BC or something? I'm honestly stumped.

For what Solomon is contributing to this Raptors team (5.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, 1 rpg. Read:Shit all) the Dino's would have been better off signing a younger point guard (Solomon is 30) or just giving all of the backup time to Ukic

Solomon is a decent scorer from the one position, and that's it. There's also a handful of games where he's looked like he forgot to put his contact lenses in before trotting out on the court.

Lots of turnovers, lots of bad shots, and an overall cluelessness in regards to the game. If you're going to sign a 30-year old PG with a minimal ceiling, he better at least be able to play smart.

So far, I haven't seen that from Solomon.

Grade: D.

Roko Ukic

In a season that has provided little solace for Raptors fans, followers of the franchise may be able to find some happiness in the development of Ukic.

At the start of the season, Roko looked like he'd have a hard time cracking a developmental league roster, but has made significant strides and appears to be getting more comfortable with each game.

After failing to reach double figures in points in his first 12 games, he's done it six times in his last 18 contests, including a career-high 17 against the Celtics last week.

No one will confuse him for John Stockton any time soon, and the return of Calderon from injury will probably cut into his playing time substantially, but sometimes when you're a depressed fan of a pathetic NBA franchise you have to take the small victories.

Grade: B-

Andrea Bargnani

If I wrote this article two weeks ago, the things I would have wrote about Andrea Bargnani might have landed me in jail, and at the very least, removed from this site.

No one has chapped my ass more than Bargnani over the last two years, and I mean nobody.

Then the last two weeks happened.

After yelling at the TV, throwing my hands in the air repeatedly and having hissy fits which any man should be ashamed of over the play of Andrea, he seemed to clue in.

Thrown into the starting lineup since the Jermaine O'Neal injury, Bargnani hasn't just been good.

He's been great.

He's topped the 20-point plateau in seven of his 10 starts and got loose against Chicago for a career-high 31. He's even rebounding at a much steadier rate, which has been one of the biggest knocks on him since he entered the league.

In short, he's playing like what everyone envisioned when he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2006.

Of course, this just confuses me even more. There's a big part of me that thinks this recent surge is simply a hot streak and the Raps should trade him now while his stock is high.

There's also something telling me to keep the faith, that Bargnani is finally getting it and the best is yet to come.

My dilemma completely aside, Bargnani has been the Raptors second best player so far this year, and even the reason...uhh...I'm having trouble here...he's even been the reason they've won a couple games.

What did I just write?

Grade: B+

Joey Graham

Much like Joey Graham's first two years in the NBA, his third campaign has been an up and down affair.

He began the season near the end of the bench, finding spot duty in the first handful of games before sparking a Raptors win against Charlotte with a 17-point, five-rebound effort.

Over the next eight games, he'd only fail to hit the double digit mark in one contest, which lead to the proverbial stream of "Has Joey Graham turned the corner?" stories from everyone associated with the Raps.

Umm, not so much.

Graham has transformed back into the much more mundane version of himself, which should disappoint many but surprise nobody.

With his contract up after this season, his place in the NBA is still very much up for debate. He clearly has the physical tools, but can't seem to string together more than a few good games at a time.

Joey Graham's career is like the movie Groundhog Day, because the same thing keeps happening over and over again.

Yet, it's not like the movie Groundhog Day, because there ain't a damn thing funny about it.

Weird.

Grade: C+

Kris Humphries

The story on Humps is pretty straightforward.

When he gets to play, he plays hard. He's far from the most talented player on the roster, but a lot of the Raptors could learn something from him.

That being said, he still only averages 3.9 ppg and 2.5 rpg. If this was a real report card, Humphries would be the kid in class who stutters through a single paragraph for 10 minutes when it comes to read out loud.

Yeah, he's trying hard...but at the end of the day, he can't read.

Grade: C

2009 NBA Dunk Contest: Filling in The Holes

Brett Fulmore — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:03:41 -0500

With Dwight Howard's and Rudy Gay's reluctantcy to participate in this year’s dunk contest, and Jamario Moon playing like the 12th man on a WNBA roster this season, we’ve taken it upon ourselves at Ball Above the Border to find some worthy replacements for three of the competitors from last season.

We’re assuming that Gerald Green will accept an invitation if he gets one, because let's be honest, what else is he good for? Plus you know he’s been crossing out days on his calendar since last year’s contest.

Seriously, he has. I've seen the red marker.

Anyways, onto the prospective dunkers:

Russell Westbrook - OKC Thunder

Bill Walker - Boston Celtics

Nick Young - Washington Wizards

You'll have to check out Ball Above the Border if you want to peep the rest of our suggestions, but make sure to come back and give us your thoughts on our picks. Feel like someone got snubbed? Let me have it.

Sam Mitchell Leads Toronto Raptors into Darkness

Brett Fulmore — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:13:17 -0500

Also available on Ball Above the Border.

Sam Mitchell walked down the dark corridor on his way to the visitors’ locker room.

The light from a nearby camera cast his 6'11" shadow on the red jersey-wearing Raptor contingent walking behind him. His eyes were low. His paces were methodical.

He had just witnessed his team play themselves out of yet another contest. With a chance to hold for the final shot of the first half, the Raptors opted to try a series of unnecessary passes along the perimeter.

Guess what the end result was?

If you guessed a turnover, you’re right. It was a traveling violation that gave Denver the ball back with three seconds remaining. That was more than enough time for Chauncey Billups to stroll down the hardwood and nail a buzzer-beating three pointer—stretching the Nuggets lead 64-45 at the break.

Things would only get worse in the second half.

The Nuggets continued scoring, and the Raptors continued to put up little in the way of resistance. Mitchell watched from the sidelines, looking every bit as shell-shocked as you'd expect from a man who realizes that his days as the head coach of this team seem to be numbered. The final score read 132-93—the type of game that could make a case for the "mercy rule" to be implemented in the NBA rulebook.

I'm not going to pin all of the Raptors' struggles on their coach. Injuries to Jermaine O'Neal and Jose Calderon have prevented this team from firing at full capacity for most of this season. The supporting cast has given new meaning to the word "inconsistency," and the trade rumors that swirled around this team during the beginning of the season certainly didn't help either.

But it's time to fire Sam Mitchell.

Dating all the way back to last season, his effect on this group has been slowly eroding away. Last night's debacle in Denver however, was the final wave that washed away the remaining land that Mitchell was standing on. It went much further than a lack of defensive intensity or a streak of cold shooting—those attributes have been evident all season. It was the overall effort, or lack thereof, that was truly depressing.

I'd use the word "humiliating" to describe the contest, but that would suggest that the Raptors were actually embarrassed by their performance. From what I saw last night, it's like they were expecting the beat down. When the Nuggets began their onslaught in the first quarter, they showed little anger, frustration, or surprise. It was a game that they were expected to lose, and most members of the team appeared satisfied with doing so.

Whatever Sam Mitchell is preaching in the locker room these days is obviously not working. He was never the strongest X's and O's guy in the league, but for a long time he was able to light the proverbial fire under his players asses. He coached the same way he played the game; fiery and intense.

This is not the case anymore.

Two seasons removed from a Coach of the Year award, and an Atlantic Division title, Mitchell has seen his status in Toronto go from savior to scapegoat. But such is the life of an NBA coach, where even some of the sport's greatest minds have a limited shelf life. Look at the names that are rumored to replace Mitchell: Avery Johnson, Flip Saunders, etc. Most of them have been fired themselves in the past year, and yet they're now being heralded as the answer for the Raptors problems.

I don't think Mitchell is a terrible coach. His substitution patterns leave me scratching my head a lot of the time, and I have serious doubts about his defensive strategies, but I think this is more a case of complacency in the T-Dot. I'm convinced that Mitchell has reached his expiration date. The Raptors have tuned him out, and that has never been more obvious than in last night's blowout.

Maybe the Raptors just need a new voice to guide them, or maybe their problems are rooted much deeper than a coach that has worn out his welcome. But with a particularly difficult stretch of games scheduled for December and the Raptors toiling beneath the .500 mark, this is not the time to play the waiting game.

It's time to fire Sam Mitchell.

Don't forget to check out my blog, Ball Above the Border.

Six NBA Games to Watch in December

Brett Fulmore — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:06:55 -0500

This article is also available at BallAbovetheBorder. Be sure to bookmark the site and check back often or you can expect a giant hunk of coal from Santa in your stockings this year.

6. Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 25)

This is the fourth of five games that the NBA is rolling out on Christmas Day, and although there's some other heavyweight tilts on the line-up for Dec. 25, the latest installment in the LeBron vs. DeShawn feud is one that we're anxiously awaiting.

LBJ has a tendency to amaze when the spotlight gets a little brighter, and he'll be fully aware just how many eyes are on him for this game. Plus, there's always the chance that DeShawn Stevenson will do something absolutely insane.

5. L.A Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Dec. 16)

Welcome to the "Blake Griffin Bowl!" Okay, I realize that most of you won't watch this game no matter what I come up with, but I'm sure there will be at least one interested viewer on the Oklahoma campus. The loser of this game will be one step closer to hitting the draft lottery jackpot, and doesn't that make them winners in the end?

4. Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 28)

Two of the best players on the planet will meet in Cleveland on the 28th, and I'm not talking about Chris Quinn and Lorenzen Wright. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James will rekindle their friendly rivalry, with both players receiving a chance to make a statement on their respective MVP chances for this season.

If you're unable to catch the game, or don't feel completely satisfied with only 48 minutes of combat between the two, you won't have to wait long. The Heat and the Cavaliers will get it on again two nights later in South Beach.

3. New Jersey Nets vs Toronto Raptors (Dec. 15)

Vince Carter will make his return to T-Dot for the first time since his gut-wrenching, spirit-breaking, and completely demoralizing performance against the Raps on Nov. 21, a game that saw the Nets come back from an 18-point deficit in the second half on the back of VC.

There might still be some chalk outlines around the Air Canada Center from where Raps fans actually dropped dead from their hearts exploding following Carter's late-game shenanigans last month. Needless to say, Dino supporters will be looking for an early Christmas present with a Raptors victory, and if we're really lucky—a career ending injury to Vince.

2. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Boston Celtics (Dec. 5)

Sitting at 12-6 and atop the Northwest division standings, the Portland Trail Blazers hype machine is quickly picking up steam. They're young, they're exciting, and that Greg Oden fellow is just so damn polite. I'll admit, it's a hard team not to like. The one knock on this Blazers team is experience, and with a date against the defending champs looming on Dec. 5, we won't have to wait long to watch Portland test their mettle against one of the NBA's elite.

Expect the Celts to rough up the Blazers at every opportunity, especially that seven-foot rookie that everyone seems to love so much. The number of hard fouls that Oden should eat on Friday sits somewhere around 15.5. Do the Blazers have what it takes to play with the champs and on the road no less? I think we'll have a better idea of what this team is all about next weekend.

1. Boston Celtics vs. L.A Lakers (Dec. 25)

Although most of us will be drifting in and out of a gravy-induced coma by this time on Dec. 25, this is the clear "main event" for the month of December. Basketball's greatest rivalry and a re-match of last year's NBA Finals, this game should provide all the drama and excitement that you want to see from a Christmas Day clash.

Will Andrew Bynum's presence in the Lakers lineup be enough to tilt the game in their favor? Do the Celt's still have the Lake Show's number? How many servings will Brian Scalabrine devour on X-mas day? Two? Three? Dare I say Four? So many questions...and only 24 days left until we hopefully get the answers.

Player Haters Ball: The Five Most Despised Raptors Of All Time

Brett Fulmore — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:26:51 -0500

5. Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas is the only individual on our rankings who never actually suited up for the Raps, but the negative impact he had on the franchise and the hatred in which fans hold for him is high enough to get him on our list.

Shortly after the announcement that the NBA was coming to Canada in the form of franchises for Vancouver and Toronto, Isiah Thomas emerged as a part-owner and President of Basketball Operations for the Raptors. It seemed like a slam-dunk.

These were the days before Thomas was considered a sexual-harassing, CBA crashing, bad coaching, poor managing, throw-your-own-daughter-under-the-bus type of guy. He was a Hall of Famer, one of the 50 greatest players in history and appeared to have a business savvy that few could match.

Thomas started out fine, helping draft Damon Stoudamire, Marcus Camby and Tracy McGrady in his first two years with the Raptors. But when his bid to buy a majority of the team began to sputter, Thomas packed up and bolted out of town faster than you can say "accidental sleep medication overdose."

Thomas' departure left the team in disarray and led to Damon Stoudamire requesting a trade shortly thereafter. Any type of momentum that the Raptors had built up in their first two and a half years was brought to a definitive halt.

When Thomas returned in 2003 as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, he once again drew the ire of Raptors fans when he got involved in a dust-up between Al Harrington and Morris Peterson. The two exchanged words and a shoving match ensued before Thomas sprinted onto the court to go after Mo-Pete. Lenny Wilkens ended up holding him back like a Jerry Springer security guard while Thomas uttered threats at Peterson. What a jerk.

Needless to say, I experienced a strange sense of satisfaction while watching Zeke's career spiral down into the toilet. Does that make me a bad person? Probably. What can I say? I guess I'm just a hateful dude.

4. Rafael Araujo

"Hoffa" elicits a different kind of hate than the other people on this list.

He never turned his back on the city. He didn't demand a trade out of town or embarass the team with his off the court antics. He never isolated or feuded with teammates although he very well could have been trying to, it's just that no one could understand his broken English so they let it slide. He was just plain terrible. Horrendous even.

I still remember the night when the Raps selected Araujo in the 2004 draft. Andre Iguodola, widely considered to be a top five prospect that year, had slid down a few spots and was available when Toronto went on the clock with the 8th overall pick. I thought he was a lock.

A few moments later, David Stern waddled over to the podium and announced, "With the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NBA entry draft, the Toronto Raptors select...Rafael Araujo."

Welcome to the Rob Babcock era in Toronto.

Babs would later go on to cement his legacy as one of the worst general managers of all time with some other equally-as-boneheaded moves, but this was his first big splash and arguably (although their is plenty of competition) his worst. Not only did he miss the opportunity to draft one of the more promising players in the draft, but he looked him over for a 25-year old center who was a borderline first-rounder at best.

Despite the Raptors insistence on starting Hoffa over the next two seasons, probably to somehow justify Babcock's selection and prevent a fire-wielding mob from storming his neighbourhood, Araujo was as big of a flop as we all initially feared.

He'd average less than three points and three rebounds per game in his two seasons in Toronto, with the Raptors record during that span being as disappointing as their starting center. This was arguably the lowest point for the franchise, a period of time that the Araujo pick became somewhat of a centerpiece for.

Next time you see a Toronto fan, ask him about the man they called Hoffa. They might laugh, they might cry. They might start shaking uncontrollably before plowing their fist through a nearby window. The only thing I can guarantee is that you won't hear anything nice.

3. Damon Stoudamire

Stoudamire provided a lot of firsts for Raptors fans.

He was the team's first ever draft pick, and shortly after, he would become the first Raptor to win a post-season award by snagging Rookie of the Year honors. He was a top 10 assist guy during all three years in the T-Dot, providing the team with a star to build around.

But when the aforementioned Isiah Thomas left town during the 1997-98 season, Mighty Mouse was quick to follow. He demanded a trade immediately after Thomas split the scene, forcing Toronto to move him to the Blazers for what can only be described as, a mixed bag of crap.

Stoudamire would become the first of many Raptors players over the years who would force management's hand and demand a trade out of Canada. When it comes to such infamy, fans usually remember the first and the last...and in this case, Stoudamire started a trend that has crippled the franchise ever since.

2. Rafer Alston

When Alston washed up on the shore in Raptorland during the 2002-03 season, there was little to smile about as a supporter of the franchise.

Vince Carter and Antonio Davis, our two best players, missed significant periods of time that season. Lenny Wilkens could barely stay conscious for an entire game and at one time or another during the season, the following players donned a Raptors uniform:

Zendon Hamilton, Art Long, Nate Huffman, Damone Brown, Mamadou N'diaye, Michael Bradley, Chris Jefferies, Jelani McCoy, Greg Foster, and Jermaine Jackson (Tito was always a better defender, by the way).

So when Alston emerged as a sparkplug during the second half of the season, turning a 10-day contract into 47 games in the process, the fans rallied behind him. His stats were modest (about eight points and four helpers per game), but the style and excitement he brought to the ACC was much more important. It was a small victory in a season where they were very scarce.

After spending the following year in Miami, Alston would return to Toronto in 2004-05 with a freshly inked five-year contract in hand. This wasn't the same Skip to My Lou that captivated the T-Dot audience only a year earlier however.

His second stint with the Raptors was a disaster from the start. Stories about Alston's poor attitude swirled all season long, but a string of events involving Sam Mitchell in the winter months brought things to a whole new low.

The story goes like this: Alston and Mitchell had developed quite a hate for each other throughout the season, beginning with Mitchell benching his point guard in a December game after picking up a technical foul. Alston said after the game that he didn't want to be in Toronto and was even considering quitting the NBA because of the incident.

Things seemed to settle down until late January when Alston stormed from a Raptors practice, picking up a two game suspension for his outburst. Now, this is where things get a little crazy...

In his first game back from that suspension, the two clashed again in the first quarter of a game against Cleveland, resulting in Alston taking a prolonged seat on the pine. Alston would not emerge from the locker room for the second half and was seen being whisked into the team bus (crying like a bitch I might add) during the fourth quarter.

Reports emerged afterwards that the two exchanged much more than four-letter words and petty insults during the halftime fracas. A Raptors security guard was quoted that the two engaged in a "fist fight" with Mitchell getting the better of the exchange (that explains the tears).

If there's a sure-fire way to get yourself traded, "throwing down with your head coach" ranks pretty high on the list, wouldn't you say? To no one's surprise, Alston was shipped to Houston that summer for Mike James... But the damage had already been done. Toronto finished 33-49 and Alston took his place among the most hated Raptors of all time.

1. Vince Carter

I had this article almost complete on Thursday night, but I hadn't gotten around to the finishing touches until today.

Well it just so happens that in between Thursday night and Monday Morning, the hate in which I hold for Vince Carter grew exponentially. I decided to scrap what I had for Vince and start over. How couldn't I?

VC's performance on Friday night in Toronto not only took my loathing of Carter to previously unreached levels, it also made me begin to question my faith in sports.

There's nothing else I can think of that VC could have done on Friday to have screwed over the Raptors and their fans any more, nor can I think of anyone else who deserved to do it less. Apparently the rules of karma do not apply to Vince.

I guess I forgot how much I actually disliked the dude. How he watched the team destruct while openly tanking it and pursuing his own personal agenda. The whining. His loud-mouthed mother. The fact that the Raptors got close to nothing in the trade with NJ.

I was starting to forget all of the drama, my heart softening ever so slightly to the point where I could even watch a Nets highlight package without the urge to burn a UNC No. 15 jersey on my front lawn.

Well, needless to say...Friday night re-opened old wounds and revitalized my utter hatred for the man.

Vince Carter can go screw himself.

VC's latest chapter in Toronto has firmly placed him amongst the greatest villains in Canadian Sports history. Arguably the biggest disappointment in our country's sport scene since Ben Johnson, I'm starting to wonder if he's been placed in the league to single-handedly destroy the Raptors franchise. Because a few more years of this and I actually might not be able to take it any more.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be out on the lawn.

Honorable Mention: Doug Christie, Marcus Camby, John Wallace, Tracy McGrady, Antonio Davis, Hakeem Olajuwon, Eric Williams, Carlos Delfino.

Raptors Loss To Magic Reveals a Troubling Trend In Toronto.

Brett Fulmore — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:04:50 -0500

If you're looking for this article and tons more on all things basketball, check my blog at ballabovetheborder.blogspot.com. BATB gets updated all day long so bookmark it and check back often.

Tuesday night saw the first battle between the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic since the two teams met in the first round of last year's playoffs.

It was a slightly modified script than the one we were treated to last May, but unfortunately for Raps fans, the ending was one we are very familiar with.

The glaring weakness following the Raptors unceremonious exit from the 2008 postseason was their interior presence, or more specifically, the lack thereof. It became painfully obvious for anyone who watched Chris Bosh attempt to handle all of the heavy lifting against the Magic that the team desperately needed another frontcourt piece. That led to the July trade that brought Jermaine O'Neal to Canada's biggest city.

Tuesday night provided Sam Mitchell and the Raptors brass with a perfect opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of the trade, and just how well they matched up with the Magic now that they had added some muscle at the center position.

The Results? Another Raptors defeat, 103-95.

Jermaine O'Neal, for all intents and purposes, played Dwight Howard to a stalemate. JO had 16 points and 10 rebounds compared to Howard's 18 and 9. Both were plagued by foul trouble at different points of the contest, preventing either from imposing their will with any type of consistency. Nevertheless, Howard was far from the dominant force that we saw last spring which is exactly what the Raptors were looking for when they traded for O'Neal.

The impact on Chris Bosh's game was felt too. Set free from the difficult task of guarding Howard for most of the game, CB4 poured in one of the best outings of his career. He scored 40 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, giving Stan Van Gundy an ulcer in the process. He was virtually unstoppable all night.

So with Howard nullified and Bosh putting up all-world type of numbers, you'd figure that the Raptors would be in prime position to finally take one from their rivals from Florida.

Not so fast.

The Raptors seem to be suffering from a much different problem through the first 10 games of the season that the one that led to their elimination last year.

Toronto's production from their supporting cast (Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Andrea Bargnani, Joey Graham, Will Solomon) has grinded to a halt. Every one of those players that I mentioned have been given their respective chance to shine, and all of them have fallen short. Tuesday night was a perfect example.

Andrea Bargnani: 23 minutes. 5 points, 3 rebounds.
Anthony Parker: 36 minutes. 4 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists.
Will Solomon: 32 minutes. 10 points, 4 assists, 7 turnovers.
Jamario Moon: 13 minutes. 0 points, 2 rebounds.
Jason Kapono: 31 minutes. 7 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists.

Take a look at those numbers again. Actually, don't bother. Let me summarize them for you.

They're terrible.

I'm willing to admit that Jose Calderon's absence from the line-up due to a hamstring injury had a big effect on the Dino's, but the type of numbers you see above are not an anomaly. They are becoming the norm.

What you'll get from most of the Raps roster has become a crapshoot, and until they fix that problem, you can sum up the Raptors chances this season in the same way.

A crapshoot.

No amount of double-doubles from Bosh and O'Neal will allow them to achieve a higher level of success unless the role players start providing more consistent results. If it turns out that these players can't meet those requirements, then it's on Bryan Colangelo to make a trade. With rumors swirling about BC's interest in both Gerald Wallace and Al Harrington, that may happen sooner rather than later.

One thing is for certain however. Something in Toronto has to change, or else the 2009 version of the Toronto Raptors will be doomed for the same plight of the 2008 edition.

Kenny Florian: The UFC's Unknown Star

Brett Fulmore — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:31:34 -0500

We were treated to a vintage Kenny Florian performance on Saturday night in the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Determined, precise, and impressive.

Understated, overlooked, and severely under appreciated.

Ah yes, It was a familiar script for Ken-Flo at UFC 91. Despite delivering arguably the most impressive performance of his career in a first round dismantling over perennial lightweight contender Joe Stevenson, Florian woke up on Sunday morning as little more than an afterthought to casual MMA fans.

The frenzy created by Brock Lesnar's stoppage of UFC Heavyweight champion Randy Couture completely eclipsed any attention that the 155 pound Florian may have garnered. That's not a surprising concept, however. Not only is it easy to get lost in the shadow of a man who is literally twice your size, but the position of "beneath the radar" is one that Florian must be getting awfully used to by now.

After arriving on the MMA landscape with his participation on the original Ultimate Fighter reality series, Florian defied the odds by reaching the middleweight division finale against Diego Sanchez despite his relative anonymity and the fact that he moved up two weight classes to compete on the show.

If you don't remember Florian from the first season, you're probably not alone. His quiet nature and calm disposition made him an easy individual to overlook. He didn't abuse alcohol. He didn't cro-cop any doors around the house. He never isolated his housemates with selfish behavior or egotistical remarks.

He trained hard, fought even harder and did both with the type of class and dignity that is sorely missing from most TUF episodes. Unfortunately, most people don't tune into Spike TV to watch level headiness and maturity, and therefore Florian became "the other guy" behind his much more heavily hyped housemates—Chris Leben, Josh Koscheck, and the aforementioned Sanchez.

Florian would drop to his natural weight class of 155 pounds following his TUF experience where he rattled off three consecutive stoppage victories. This prompted Dana White and the UFC brass to grant Florian a LW title shot against Sean Sherk—with the victor grabbing a vacant lightweight strap that had been collecting dust since UFC 41.

Florian entered the fray as a considerable underdog and ended up dropping a unanimous decision loss to Sherk in a bloody, five-round war. Looking at a steep climb back up the 155-pound division (which Florian had a large hand in re-establishing) would be enough to discourage even the most steel-willed competitors, but seemed to have little effect on the psyche' of Florian.

He re-dedicated himself to his training, with another title shot serving as his light at the end of the tunnel, his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or any other metaphor you'd like to use that describes achieving your goal after a considerable struggle.

That mission has to be considered a resounding success.

Florian's victory over Stevenson marks his sixth consecutive victory since losing to Sherk, a streak that has saw him finish all but one fight while squaring off against some of the top competition that the lightweight division has to offer.

Din Thomas, Joe Lauzon, and Roger Huerta all rode their own respective waves of momentum into their match-ups with Florian, but none could solve the increasingly well-rounded Florian. Thomas fell prey to a submission loss, Lauzon got pounded out via TKO while Huerta was systematically taken apart over three rounds in another Ken-Flo victory.

Finally, Florian has secured another chance at the lightweight championship gold. But with B.J Penn's upcoming superfight against George St. Pierre scheduled for late January, there's a whirlwind of uncertainty surrounding the fight. Will B.J Penn return to the lightweight division if he's victorious? Will Sean Sherk's lobbying for his own shot at the title convince the UFC to set up a re-match between him and Florian?

Regardless of how the scenario plays out, there's one thing we can be sure about. Kenny Florian will show up, wherever he is asked to, and fight with the determination that has become his calling card. He will be prepared. He will be disciplined. He will be impressive.

Just don't expect Florian to make much noise while doing it.

Why Dana White Wants Brock Lesnar To Beat Randy Couture

Brett Fulmore — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:24:18 -0500

"So Couture is fighting Lesnar this weekend, right?"

"Yeah, Saturday night," I replied before my head quickly snapped to the right to do a double-take.

I turned to see a friend of mine, sitting in a lazy-boy recliner, with his eyes wide and a look on his face of excitement. This is a guy who would opt for re-runs of "King of Queens" over an Ultimate Fight Night 10 times out of 10. A friend who if asked about Tito Ortiz, would probably guess that it was a slightly modified version of the Dirty Sanchez. Someone who refers to Chuck Liddell as "that guy with the mo-hawk on Entourage."

An MMA fan, he is not.

Needless to say, I was a little surprised when he initiated a conversation about the upcoming bout. Here was an individual who had taken zero interest in the sport up until now, sitting on the edge of his seat and looking like he couldn't wait another minute to watch Couture and Lesnar throw down.

If Dana White was in the room, he would have been grinning ear to ear with money signs spinning in his eyes like an old school cartoon character.

These were precisely the moments White was hoping for when the BLP (Brock Lesnar Project) began last October. An opportunity to reel in an otherwise uninterested twenty-something by pitting Lesnar against one of the sport's biggest and brightest stars.

For all intents and purposes, we are on the verge of the biggest fight in the history of mixed martial arts... and make no mistake, when Dana White lies in bed at night (on a big pile of money I'm assuming), there's a script that continuously plays in his head.

Brock Lesnar's hand being raised in the middle of the octagon.

There's been plenty of rumblings throughout the MMA world about Lesnar's meteoric rise to the top of the UFC totem pole, and more specifically, just how deserving he is. Some liken Lesnar to a slightly more talented Kimbo Slice—a fighter who has been propelled to the front of the line past much more deserving combatants based solely on his commercial appeal. It's an argument that certainly holds some weight.

But Dana White has maintained since day one that the former WWE wrestler was not a circus act. He told us his immense wrestling background provided him with the qualifications to hang with the top heavyweights in the world, and while Lesnar's resume is considerably shorter than most men who find themselves on the verge of a UFC title shot, he's been no freak show.

A dominant victory over Heath Herring and an impressive display against Frank Mir (albeit in defeat) have helped his stock rise.

Saturday night's main event will provide Lesnar, White and ultimately the UFC with a chance for justification in which they've previously yet to encounter. Lesnar has the opportunity to de-throne a legend of the sport and one of the top heavyweights in the world, lining himself up for the most prestigious title in the world while silencing his numerous critics in the process.

White has the chance to look like a genius and prove that his gamble with Lesnar was much more than just a shrewd marketing ploy. The UFC, 15 years after its initial event, has the opportunity to further expand it's fan base and take another giant step forward in terms of mainstream relativity.

Don't get me wrong, If Randy Couture defeats Lesnar on Saturday night, the UFC will not die. Thousands of fans will scream themselves hoarse inside the MGM Arena in Las Vegas, while hundreds of thousands will perform similar celebrations while watching via pay-per-view.

Dana White will pop up in the octagon, smiling wide and singing the praises of his most prized competitor like he's done so many times before. Lesnar will tell Joe Rogan that it's back to the drawing board, or some other similar cliche' that we've heard a hundred times over.

But the UFC will not gain anything from this situation, they will only lose. Couture is already a legend and although a victory over the mammoth Lesnar will provide another notch in his belt, it will have little effect on his legacy.

His respect out of the octagon is only paralleled by his success within it. Couture could come out in a bunny suit and get knocked out in three seconds...and I'd still consider the man a hero.

A loss for Lesnar can have much bigger implications however. Not only does it slow his momentum considerably but it lines him up for a string of not-so-exciting fights with the likes of Gabe Gonzaga, Cheick Kongo and the rest of the UFC's second-tier heavyweights. It also opens up questions of his legitimacy and the UFC's reasoning for pushing him near the front so quickly.

Dana White has answered to plenty of critics about Lesnar's qualifications, a group that he can expect to increase ten-fold if Couture runs through him on Saturday. With the aforementioned Kimbo Slice's career crumbling before our very eyes only a month ago, a similar situation with Lesnar would be a disaster for the UFC. And Dana White. And their bank accounts.

If Lesnar wins on the other hand, it will mark a symbolic passing of the torch in the UFC's HW division and sets Lesnar up to lead the company for the considerable future. Fights with Antonio Noguiera, Cain Valesquez and a re-match with Mir are not only main event calibre match-ups, but they also provide Lesnar with the opportunity to begin carving out his own legacy.

It's not a coincidence that the UFC's most popular PPV events have featured Lesnar, and it's a trend that will likely continue if he's able to keep his career moving in the right direction. The sport has never seen bigger potential, both literally and figuratively.

Dana White predicts over 1.2 million pay-per-view buys for this weekends card, which would easily make it the most watched event in the history of the organization. If you're like me, you'll be tuning in on Saturday night to not only watch an anticipated clash, but to hopefully watch a piece of history.

My friend will be plunked down in front of the TV too, willingly watching the first UFC PPV of his life. There will be countless others just like him...tuning in to see that wrestling guy take on the old man they call Captain America.

But no one will be watching as close as Dana White.

Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, and Larry Brown: Legacies on the Line

Brett Fulmore — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:57:51 -0400

It's the dawn of the NBA Seasonm and optimism is running rapid in most cities.

Preseason predictions have been made, fantasy rosters have been selected, and the quest to crown the 2009 champion will begin tonight.

For a few select individuals, however, there's more at stake then just wins, losses, and the chance at some groupie love. For the three men profiled below, a big part of their NBA legacies lie in the balance this season. They've all reached a crossroad in their respective careers, and although each situation is very unique, all three have an incredible amount to gain during the upcoming season.

On the other hand, they also have a lot to lose.

Larry Brown

Flash back to 2004.

Larry Brown had just piloted an underdog Pistons squad over over a loaded-up Lakers team in the NBA finals. He had just been handed the keys to the 2004 Olympic Team. He was one of the first couple of names you heard whenever the conversation of "Best basketball coaches on the planet" came up.

Well, things have changed a little bit for Larry Brown since then.

The 2004 Olympics were a disaster. A bronze medal did little to calm the criticisms of Brown, who often publicly berated both his players and the selection committee who assembled the team.

He also burned his bridges in Detroit, opting for his "dream job" in New York City serving as bench boss for the Knicks. 23 wins and 59 losses later, that dream job had turned into a nightmare that even Freddy Kreuger would be proud of.

Brown was bought out by the Knicks that summer, disappearing from the bright lights of the NBA until this past April.

That was when Brown's good friend Michael Jordan lured him out of retirement and convinced him to become the head coach in Charlotte, hoping that Brown could lead the Bobcats to their first playoff appearance in team history.

One of Brown's greatest strengths has always been the rebuilding phase, as his resume includes stints in San Antonio, Los Angeles, Indiana, and Philly. In all those places, he took a down on their luck franchise and led them back to the playoffs.

That challenge may prove to be a little more difficult in Charlotte. Brown inherits a flawed roster with more question marks surrounding it than reasons for optimism. Sean May has been awful since returning from a knee injury that kept him out of action all of last year, Adam Morrison has yet to prove that he can contribute ANYTHING at this level, and the drafting of D.J Augustin—a move that Brown pushed for—has created a point-guard controversy with Raymond Felton that could become a distraction sooner rather than later.

After finishing 0-8 in the preseason, the rumblings have already begun in Charlotte.

This could be Brown's last chance at re-establishing himself amongst the NBA's upper echelon of coaches. His impressive track record has taken a backseat over the past few years to his off the court distractions and public feuds with players. If Brown's tenure in Charlotte ends in embarrassing fashion like his last couple of coaching stops, he runs the risk of being remembered as a punchline rather than one of the more successful coaches in recent memory.

Jermaine O'Neal

Among the best centers on the planet only a few seasons ago, Jermaine O'Neal has seen his stock take a Vincent Chase-esque plummet in recent seasons. Battling injuries and the challenges of playing with a toiling Pacers squad has taken JO's production from an all-world level to a much more pedestrian range.

Granted a trade to Toronto this past summer, O'Neal will attempt to get his career back on track in Canada's biggest city. The Dinos are relying on O'Neal to help Chris Bosh with the heavy lifting in the frontcourt, and make it past the first round of the playoffs in the process.

Considering the price Toronto paid to acquire O'Neal, and the over 40 million dollars owed to him during the next two seasons, don't expect much patience from Raptors faithful.

The biggest challenge facing O'Neal this season will be staying on the court. He hasn't topped the 70-games-played mark since the 2003-04 season when he finished third in MVP voting. Since then, O'Neal's health and stats have declined steadily, while his status as a superstar has been downgraded to that of a forgotten man.

All signs coming out of Toronto and O'Neal's camp have him in stellar physical condition, but talking a good game and playing 82 of them in a season are two very different things.

Ron Artest

Ron Artest's presence on this list should come as no surprise. We're talking about a man who has faced intense scrutiny for virtually his entire career. I'm not going to re-hash Artest's many off-the-court exploits, mainly because I don't have the energy for another 2,500 words.

Nevertheless, Artest will be given a very unique opportunity this season with the Houston Rockets. He has the chance to completely re-write his story in the NBA. The bad news for Artest is that it may take nothing short of an NBA championship to change his public persona. The good news is that Artest will have that opportunity playing in Houston.

One thing we know about basketball is that winning takes precedent over any possible character flaws or off-the-court problems you may have been involved with. Ask Allen Iverson. Ask Stephen Jackson, Dennis Rodman, or Rasheed Wallace. Jason Kidd, even. Nothing washes away those unflattering memories faster than winning.

Does lifting the NBA title above his head this Spring guarantee Artest an image overhaul? Not necessarily.

But for someone who has made far more headlines recently with his off-court behavior than his on the court play, it would be a pretty good start. If history tells us anything, it's that we don't mind when our athletes are a little bit insane.

As long as they win.

Draft Do-Over: The 1998 NBA Draft.

Brett Fulmore — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:48:23 -0400

1. Los Angeles Clippers

Actual Pick: Michael Olowakandi, C. Pacific.

Let’s start our 1998 list with a concept that everyone is familiar with– The Clippers failing miserably. Olowokandi was hyped as the next great big man coming out of Pacific, but his game turned out to be more Erick Montross than Shaq Daddy.

His offensive game was particularly ugly, but it was his lethargic demeanor that would ultimately disappoint fans. The guy was a stiff, end of story.

After playing out his rookie contract with the Clippers, Olowokandi would wind up in Minnesota- which is ironic since he was basically the bizarro-world Kevin Garnett– before a mid-season trade in 2006 brought him to Boston. Plagued by injuries by this point, and flat-out terrible to boot, Olowokandi would play only 24 games the following year before calling it quits.

An urban legend even states that if an NBA coach says the name “Kandi Man” three times into a mirror, Olowokandi will suddenly appear in the team’s starting line-up the following game. Terrifying.

Who it Should have been: Dirk Nowitzki (ninth overall to Dallas)

It was a close race between Dirk and Paul Pierce since the two have comparable career numbers, but it was Nowitzki’s 2007 MVP award that ultimately got him the new number one spot.

A relative unknown when he was plucked from a small German club in 1998, Dirk has changed the NBA landscape in a way that no one could have predicted (except maybe Don Nelson, who boldly claimed that Nowitzki would win the Rookie of the Year award on draft night. He was wrong, by the way).

Dirk has helped transform the role of big men in the league with his ability to play on the perimeter while helping to kick-start the European infusion that we’ve all witnessed in recent years.

That’s right Denver fans, Nikoloz Tskitishvili was actually Dirk’s fault.

2. Vancouver Grizzlies.

Actual Pick: Mike Bibby, G. Arizona.

Clearly not impressed with the play of Antonio Daniels, who the Grizzlies drafted fourth overall the previous season, Vancouver opted for another point guard in 1998 and selected Bibby with the second pick of the draft. Bibby’s enjoyed a much better career than Daniels, and was one of the lone bright spots in Vancity, so we won’t criticize this selection too much at all. The Grizzlies might have actually gotten something right.

Of course, this opened the door for Daniels to be traded to San Antonio, a deal that saw the Grizz receive the following players in return:

Drum roll please….

Carl Herrera and Felipe Lopez!

Looks like the good decision streak ends at one.

Wait, why don’t they have a team in Vancouver anymore?

Who it Should have been: Paul Pierce (tenth overall to Boston)

Pierce has endured plenty of up and down’s during his career, both of the personal and basketball-related nature, but he’s had more of an impact than anyone else from this draft with the exception of Nowitzki.

After enduring the Rick Pitino era in Beantown and a night club assault that saw him stabbed 11 times in 2000, Pierce has placed himself amongst the NBA elite with a series of impressive seasons and the validation of a championship ring this past season. In fact Pierce captured the Finals MVP award after a string of heroic performances in the playoff’s later rounds.

Pierce was originally slated to go much higher than tenth in 1998, but saw his stock drop on draft night as NBA execs continuously picked potential and upside over the college-tested Pierce.

All he’s done since then to prove them since then is make six all-star games, three all-NBA teams, and a points per game average that places him No. 21 all-time.

3. Denver Nuggets.

Actual Pick:Raef Lafrentz, F. Kansas.

Something that you’ll realize through these Draft Do-Over’s is that the Denver Nuggets were pretty bad at the whole “scouting” thing that you always hear people talk about.

Lafrentzwas a six foot 11 inch forward who had legitimate NBA range but hasn’t stayed healthy or consistent enough to live up to his selection.

He’s missed 55 and and 43 games respectively during the last two seasons – both spent with the Trail Blazers - and it was recently reported that shoulder surgery will keep him out of the line-up indefinitely to start this year as well.

Even when healthy, the results for Lafrentz have been lukewarm (10 points and six rebounds for career averages), and who likes cheering for big awkward white guys anyway?

Who it Should have been: Mike Bibby (secondoverall to Vancouver)

Bibby drops one spot from his original selection and lands in the three hole.

Bibby’s golden years in the league have been sandwiched by two stints with miserable teams. He played his first three seasons in Vancouver for an atrocious Grizzlies squad before being traded to Sacramento prior to the 2001 season. The Kings could never seem to get over the hump in the Western Conference, but that was no fault of Bibby’s.

When Chris Webber began his patented “Shrink in Big Games” routine, Bibby was the one guy on the Kings who was constantly stepping up and making big plays.

As the team disbanded and began to rebuild, Bibby toiled in California before eventually being traded to Atlanta this past season.

He averaged 14.1 ppg and 6.5 apgin 33 starts with the Hawks last year, numbers that should go up as he has a full year to adjust and a plethora of athletic finishers surrounding him.

4. Golden State Warriors

Actual Pick: Antawn Jamison, F. North Carolina

The first of back-to-back UNC picks in 1998, Jamison was actually drafted by the Raptors with the fourth pick and then sent to Golden State for Vince Carter and cash.

Jamison has been one of the leagues more steady contributors since landing in Washington (19.6 ppg and 7.9 rpg) and although he’s often ranked as the third option out of the Wizard’s notorious trio, he’s provenhimself to be the most durable out of the three. In fact, since missing roughly half of his second season due to injury, Jamison has missed only 27 contests over the past eight years – averaging 20 points and eight rebounds per contest during that time span.

Who it Should have been: Antawn Jamison (fourth overall to Golden State)

Looking back, I’d say the Warriors got this one right.

At one point it appeared that the Warriors got royally fleeced in the draft day trade with the Raptors, but that opinion has quieted considerably in recent years.

5. Toronto Raptors

Actual Pick: Vince Carter, G. North Carolina.

There was a time when Vince Carter arguably would have topped this list, but there’s just something about tanking it for the better part of two seasons that seems to have a negative effect on your career.

Admittedly, Vince is still one of the more dangerous scorers in the association, but questions about his toughness are no longer up in the air – they are practically facts at this point. At any given time you can flip to a Nets game and catch VCrolling around the floor like he’s just been zapped with a police tazer.

Who it Should have been: Rashard Lewis (No. 32 overall to Seattle)

Everyone remembers Lewis being the last player picked in the green room in 1998, sitting through 31 other picks looking like a guy who had just gotten dumped by his fiancée the night before his wedding. He probably regretted not going to college at that point, and after averaging meager numbers during his first two seasons in Seattle, the Sonics were probably thinking that school might have been a better option for Lewis as well.

But since his third season with the now-defunct Seattle franchise, he’s shown the polished inside-out game that has made him one of the league’s more versatile (and well-paid) players. Lewis made the All-Star game in 2005, a season that saw him average over 20 points and five rebounds per contest.

Maybe Lewis isn’t worth the 118 million that Orlando decided to pay him last summer, but he’s definitely good enough for the numero cinco spot on our list.

6. Milwaukee Bucks

Actual Pick:Robert Traylor, F. Michigan.

Bucks fans, avert your eyes.

Milwaukee opted for burly forward Robert ‘Tractor’ Traylor at the number six spot before trading him to Dallas later in the night for Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity. It ranks high when talking about the worst trades in recent NBA history, and that case has only gotten stronger now that Traylor’s NBA career appears to be over. Nowitzki has become an international superstar, a perennial all-star and an MVP winner. Traylor? Well he’s probably working at a Sizzler right now. Or at the very least, eating at one.

The Tractor was last seen suiting up for the Cavs2008 summer league squad with minimal success, so a comeback does not seem to be on the horizon. He hasn’t played since 2005, and with pedestrian career averages of 4.8 ppg and 3.7 rpg, it’s not like the NBA is really missing him either.

Never draft anyone who’s named after farming equipment– that’s the lesson here.

Who it Should have been: Vince Carter (fifth overall to Toronto)

Bedgrudgingly, I put Vince here.

As a Raptors fan, I’ll never be able to forgive VC for holding our team hostage for a year and forcing a trade out of town. Which is sort of a shame since Vince was probably the most entertaining player in the world during his first three seasons in the T-Dot, producing enough highlight footage to warrant his own cable channel.

He’s a 23-5-4 player for his career– stats that trump some of the players on this list ranked higher – but he’s become one of the more fragile commodities in the league and a questionable competitor. I couldn’t be happier!

7. Sacramento Kings

Actual Pick: Jason Williams, G. Florida.

Kicked out of Florida for a fourth drug violation during his first and only season in Gainesville, J-Will was a high risk-high reward (pun intended) pick in 1998 for the Kings. Looking back, I’d say it turned out pretty well.

Williams took a Kings team that featured Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic and made them relevant in the Western conference for the first time in years. He also became one of the league’s more popular figures, drawing comparisons to the late Pete Maravich with his ball-handling wizardry.

His game matured considerably once hooking up with Hubie Brown in Memphis, and Williams would later help the Miami Heat win a championship– silencing a lot of his longtime critics who swore that he’d never be able to help a team win.

Who it Should have been: Al Harrington (No. 25 overall to Indiana)

One of two high school players chosen in1998, Harrington has enjoyed a solid if not spectacular career after collecting dust on the bench for his first three years in Indiana.

He was featured in a sixth-man role in Indiana before getting the opportunity in Atlanta to play a much bigger role. Harrington's stats rose across the board, but the bad news is that he was playing for the Hawks.

Harrington continues to do his thing in Golden State, and considering that he's two to three years younger than a lot of the players from this draft, his career is far from over just yet.

8. Philadelphia 76ers

Actual Pick: Larry Hughes, G. St. Louis.

Oh Larry, what to make of you.

Hughes started his career in Philly, showing promise when presented the opportunity. Playing behind Allen Iverson in his prime means a couple of things however– not much playing time, even less shots for you, and about a 30 percent chance that you could get stabbed at anytime during practice.

Traded to Golden State halfway through his second year, LH blew up. His scoring average leapt from 10.0 in Philadelphia to 22.7 in the Bay. And it wasn’t even a contract year!

Splitting time with the Warriors and the Wizards over the next 5 years, Hughes’ production would fluctuate considerably. In 2004-05 however, Hughes seemed to put all of his talents together for a full 82 game season, putting up averages of 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and nearly three steals. This was a contract year!

Cleveland gave Hughes the money that summer, signing him to a max-deal. Expected to be a Pippen-like player to Lebron’s nightly Michael Jordan performances, Hughes struggled. He was shipped to Chicago this past season in the Ben Wallace deal, where he’s currently leading the NBA in tattoos.

Who it Should have been: Jason Williams (seventh overall to Sacramento)

Little known fact here - Jason Williams is the only player in league history to lead the NBA in jersey sales AND be suspended for smoking weed within the same calendar year. The man was a trendsetter.

The Jason Williams chapter appears to be over however. J-Will signed with the Clippers this off-season before declaring his retirement a few weeks later. Pass the rolling papers.

9. Dallas Mavericks

Actual Pick:Dirk Nowitzki, F. DJK Wurzburg.

Dirk’s already nabbed the number one spot on our 1998 list, so needless to say this was a pretty good pick by the Mavericks.

Who it Should have been: Larry Hughes (eighth overall to Sacramento)

Hughes still finds himself in the top 10 despite the inconsistency that has hindered his career. He’s not worth the huge amounts of money he’s being paid, but he’s still put up decent numbers over his 10 seasons.

10. Boston Celtics

Actual Pick: Paul Pierce, F. Kansas.

When Pierce landed in the Celtics lap at the 10 spot, the team was ecstatic– and for good reason. Routinely discussed as a top three pick leading into the draft, Pierce fell and fell with no real reason as to why. Pierce vowed to prove a point to all the teams who had skipped over him, and I think he’s done a pretty good job since then.

There’s been some dark seasons in Beantown since Pierce’s arrival, but he’s played hard despite having some miserable teams surrounding him. I guess that whole “good things come to those wait” thing isn’t such a pile of BS after all. Unless your team just signed Darko or something. Then you’re basically screwed.

Who it Should have been:Cuttino Mobley (No. 41 overall to Houston)

Mobley shoots up all the way from No. 41overall to finish out our top 10, beating out Bonzi Wells (No. 11 pick), Ricky Davis (No. 21 pick) and Rafer Alston (No. 39pick) for the honor. Mobley is a career 15.6 scorer, and was once part of one of the better offensive backcourtsin the league when he partnered with Steve Francis in Houston.

Currently playing for the Clippers, Mobley’s stats have begun to slide a bit but he’s still one of the league’s better outside shooters and a threat to score on any given night.

Four to Watch For: Picks for Most Improved Player in the NBA

Brett Fulmore — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:33:18 -0400

Chris Duhon (G - New York Knicks)

It's a new day in the Big Apple. The painful and often bizarre reign of Isiah Thomas has officially come to a conclusion this offseason, and it appears that Stephon Marbury's run as the team's number-one point guard will also soon be in the history books.

Marbury steadily grew out of favor with the Knicks franchise, their fans, and the rabid New York media over the last few seasons, and with the team looking to head in a completely new direction, the prized acquisition of the Thomas' tenure is likely not in the team's plans.

Chris Duhon is one of the players looking to capitalize on the sudden influx of minutes in the New York backcourt. Signed during the offseason, the Duke product should quickly endear himself to Coach Mike D'Antoni and the Knickerbocker faithful with his unselfishness, hustle, and winning attitude. Basically, he's the anti-Marbury.

I'm not predicting a Steve Nash-esque rise to the top of the MVP standings now that Duhon has hooked up with the run-and-gunnin' D'Antoni, but Duhon possesses the type of distribution skills and high basketball IQ to thrive in an uptempo offense.

He'll be challenged for the starting spot in training camp by Nate Robinson and Anthony Roberson, but appears to be the best bet to lead the Knicks on opening night. Roberson will be hindered by inexperience, and Robinson embodies a lot of the "me-first" characteristics that have plagued the Knicks in recent years.

Relegated to backup duty during his stint in Chicago, Duhon will finally receive the chance to compete for the starting spot and with a cast of capable finishers around him—such as David Lee, Jamal Crawford, and Wilson Chandler. I fully expect his career averages 6.9 points and 4.5 assists to see a healthy bump.

John Salmons (SF - Sacramento Kings)

With the offseason departure of Ron Artest, the small forward position essentially has become John Salmon's to lose in Sacramento. After quietly putting together a solid campaign of 12 points, four rebounds and 2.6 assists in 2007-08, the Kings will be relying heavily on the seven-year pro as they attempt to rebuild.

That holds especially true on the offensive end, where Salmons will get a chance to show off the well-rounded game that made him a prized free agent in the summer of 2006.

The Kings will no doubt run a lot of sets for emerging star Kevin Martin, but Salmons could find himself as the number-two option for a team that isn’t exactly loaded with offensive firepower. After all, no one wants to see Mikki Moore putting up 15 shots a game.

It could be a very long season for Sacramento Kings fans. Hell, who am I kidding? It’s going to be an excruciatingly long year for Kings fans, but followers of the purple and black can gaze into the future with a bit more optimism if Salmons enjoys a breakout season.

Brandon Bass (PF – Dallas Mavericks)

Hitting the 30-games played plateau for the first time in his three NBA seasons, Brandon Bass enjoyed a solid season last year in Big D. Playing a shade under 20 minutes per game, the burly forward chipped in with 8.3 ppg and 4.4 rpg while shooting 50 percent from the field and 82 percent from the charity stripe.

And while Dallas suffered another demoralizing playoff exit at the hands of the Hornets, Bass played some of his best ball of the year. with 11.6 points and over 6.5 rips per contest in extended minutes during the Mavs' brief postseason run.

It’s the aggressiveness and competitive fire exhibited by Bass that has Maverick brass looking at 2008-09 as a breakout year for the former LSU Tiger. The criticisms that this Dallas team often faces—passive play, lack of heart—certainly do not apply to Bass. The 6’8 power forward plays every possession with reckless abandon and has intensity matched by few in the league.

He reminds me a lot of Jason Maxiell—a player who was overlooked coming out of school because he was undersized, but put them on a basketball court and they will flat out get it done.

Admittingly, coming off the bench behind a perennial All-NBA threat in Dirk Nowitzki isn’t the most traditional formula for a bust-out campaign, but look for Rick Carlisle to play the two together in small-ball lineups throughout the year.

The combined ineffectiveness of Erick Dampier and Dasagana Diop shouldn’t hurt Bass’s cause either, as he brings a certain punch that neither of the aforementioned big men can provide—specifically, on the offensive end.

Marcus Williams (G - Golden State Warriors)

Williams was already high on a lot of "Most Improved" Lists coming into this season, and now that Monte’ Ellis has been derailed until at least Christmas time, the spotlight will shine even brighter on the young point guard from UConn.

The story on Williams has always been hot and cold. He’s always shown a great deal of potential, but a string of off-the-court problems and on-the-court inconsistency has prevented him from reaching his ceiling, dating back to his days in college.

There’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic—whether it be Warriors Coach Don Nelson’s propensity to get the best out of his point guards, or the cast of skilled ball handlers that surround Williams to help lighten the load.

But the one thing that is for certain is that the Warriors' season lies on the back of a third-year point guard with career averages of 6.4 ppg and 3.0 apg.

Gulp.

I’ve always been a Williams fan, extending back to his days as a Huskie, and I personally think that he’ll excel in Golden State under Nelson. The uptempo style should fit well with his skills, and the Warriors are littered with playmakers throughout their roster—Jackson, Harrington, Bellinelli, and Randolph—that should ease some of the pressure off of Williams when he gets overwhelmed.

Furthermore, he’s got something to prove after being shipped from New Jersey.

Like most of his career, betting on Marcus Williams is far from a sure thing. But there are some times when you just have to roll the dice.

Honorable Mention

Louis Williams (G - Philadelphia 76ers)

The former high-school phenom proved to be a great scorer off the bench for the Sixers, and should be a big part of their future in their sixth-man role. The Sixers will creep towards the top of the Eastern Conference with the addition of Elton Brand, which should also help Williams become much more of a household name.

Ramon Sessions (G - Milwaukee Bucks)

Sessions ended last season with Milwaukee and put up solid numbers—including some other-worldly performances in his last handful of games. Seriously, check the stats. However, the offseason acquisitions of Tyronn Lue and Luke Ridnour by the Bucks may diminish Sessions' oppurtunities, and keep him as a honorable mention.

Fransisco Garcia (SF - Sacramento Kings)

Another player that should benefit from the departure of Artest. Garcia was a great college player who hasn’t quite put it together yet in the pros, but he is one of the more offensively-gifted players on the Kings. It’s a make-or-break season for him, and there should be plenty of opportunities for Garcia if he gets off to a hot start.

MMA Bad Boy Profile Vol. I: Tank Abbott

Brett Fulmore — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:01:46 -0400

David "Tank" Abbott

Debut: July 14th, 1995 - UFC VI.

Arguably the first bad boy of the UFC, the man affectionately known as Tank gained notoriety for his devastating punching power, raw aggression and his outspoken candor with a microphone in front of his face.

He was simply a fat, drunken loud-mouth who loved to fight, and as long as he made enough money to grab some Burger King and a few Old Milwaukee tall boys (roughly 15) on the way home, he was satisfied.

If you're searching for proof of Tank's bad-ass-ness, look no further than his initial tilt inside the octagon. Matched up against John Matua, a 400 pound Hawaiian fighter, Abbott absolutely destroyed the over-matched islander—knocking him completely stiff with a bomb of a right hand. As Matua's frozen corpse hit the ground, Tank jumped on top off of him and delivered more punishment before John McCarthy could intervene.

While most human beings with a soul would be somewhat concerned that they may have just killed a man, Tank seemed genuinely pissed that he couldn't continue beating on his skull. Throw in the fact that Abbott then mocked Matua as he lay convulsing on the ground and you have a pretty good picture of what the Tank Abbott era was all about.

Abbott fought some of the sport's biggest names during his initial run in the UFC (Oleg Tektarov, Dan Severn, Don Frye, Vitor Belfort, Pedro Rizzo) but lacked the proper training and discipline to ever pose a real threat.

I suppose carrying around a beer belly the size of Royce Gracie didn't help either. Abbott's lack of success against top-tier competition did not deter him from running his mouth, as Tank still holds some of the more memorable soundbytes in the UFC's history. After losing to Frye in the finals of the Ultimate Ultimate event in 1996, Tank was asked if he respected his opponent.

"No," he deadpanned. "I don't respect anybody."

Following a knockout loss to Rizzo in 1998, Tank would enter the world of professional wrestling after signing with WCW. When he finally returned to the sport in 2003 to face Frank Mir, it was clear that the rapidly evolving game of MMA had left Tank in the dust.

He's compiled a 1-8 record since that time, thrown out accusations that Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock are on steroids, and most notably lost at the hands of Kimbo Slice this past February, where he was turned into a goatee'd punching bag before Slice finished off the job at just 0:43 seconds of the first round.

Nevertheless, Tank was one of the original stars of MMA, and arguably the prototypical bad guy—his impact will not be forgotten. Ask John Matua.

If there's a certain MMA Villain that you'd like to see profiled, feel free to drop me a line whether it's in the comment section or via my profile.

Toronto Raptors Point Guards: A Timeline of Let Downs and Disappointments

Brett Fulmore — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:30:46 -0400

When the curtain is drawn on October 29, it will not only mark the beginning of another Raptors campaign, but also the start of the Jose Calderon era in Toronto.

The departure of TJ Ford via a mid-June trade has officially made Calderon the number-one man at the number one position—and while optimism is high in the T-Dot, there may because for concern. The point guard spot for the Raptors hasn't exactly been the most steady position since the franchise's inception—and if you want proof, look no further:

Damon Stoudamire

The man known as Mighty Mouse was the Raptors fans' first glimpse at an NBA star—and subsequently, the first chance to have our collective hearts ripped out and trampled on while they ran out of town. (No, I'm not bitter!)

After lighting things up in Toronto during his first two seasons (averages of 19 and nine with a Rookie of the Year award in '95-'96), Stoudamire would ask for a trade in his third year, after then-GM Isiah Thomas left the team due to an ownership dispute.

While traditional thinking would say that losing your team's best player and the face of the franchise would actually be a small price to pay for ridding yourself of Isiah Thomas, the trade was a major setback for the Raps.

Stoudamire ended up in Portland, along with Walt Williams and Carlos Rogers—while the Raps received a package that featured Kenny Anderson, Alvin Williams, Gary Trent and a slew of draft picks.

If there's a silver lining in this deal, it's that Stoudamire insisted on pulling off a travelling Cheech and Chong routine with Rasheed Wallace for the next fove years, and his stats declined.

Nevertheless, Stoudamire was arguably the best PG we've ever had, and the whole situation seemed to start a long string of problems at the point=guard position.

Kenny Anderson

The aforementioned Anderson—who was the main player coming back in the Stoudamire trade—would refuse to report to Toronto, and was shipped to Boston shortly thereafter.

Anderson was averaging 12 and five at the time of the deal and would have definitely helped fill the void left by Stoudamire. But the part that really grinds my gears about this fiasco is how a GM could trade for a player who has absolutely no desire to even step foot in his city.

Aren't these the type of things you should be looking into if you're running an NBA Franchise? Was Glen Grunwald all out of daytime minutes or something? Are we sure Isiah Thomas wasn't still running things at this point?

Chauncey Billups

Anyway, the Raptors would close out the '97-98 campaign with Chauncey Billups running the point, who we got from Boston for Kenny Anderson.

You know Chauncey, right? Mr. Big Shot. Three-time All-Star with a Finals MVP in his trophy case. Well, he averaged 11 and three for the Raps and would sign with Denver during the off-season. Oh, and the Raptors finished 16-66. Shoot me.

Alvin Williams

Let me preface this by saying that Boogie Williams was, and always will be, one of my favorite Raptors ever. Thrown in the Damon Stoudamire deal as an afterthought, Williams would slowly work his way up the rotation over the next four years, enduring himself to Raptors fans with his work ethic and toughness along the way.

He was the unsung hero of the Raptors' best team to date—the 2000-01 squad that was one shot away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. That summer, Williams would re-sign with the Dino' long-term, along with Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams, and Wince Carter.

It was a great time to be a Raptors fan—the team had a solid core locked up and things were looking great. Well, you know what else looked great? The first few seconds of "2 girls, 1 cup."

Over the next three seasons, the team's wins would shrink and the list of disgruntled Raptors would grow. And our man Boogie? His body would fall apart at the seams. He missed a third of the '03-04 season, the entire '04-05 campaign, and appeared in only one game in '05-06 before shutting it down again, essentially ending his career.

Williams never had the stats or shine that some of his prima donna predecessors did, but he was a guy that you felt comfortable going to battle with—and his sudden deterioration was a serious punch in the stomach for the Raptors.

Rafer Alston

Alston caught on with the Raps during the '02-03 season, parlaying a 10-day contract into the final 47 games of the season, even starting four of them. The team was brutal that year (24-58), but Alston was one of the bright spots down the stretch, emerging as one of the only Raptors who gave a crap.

He spent the following year in Miami—posting career numbers across the board—before re-signing with the Dinos in the summer of 2004. Raptors fans, myself included, were delighted.

Over the next few months however, Alston would transform from fun-loving fan favorite to a strange crossbreed between Ron Artest and Mike Tyson. After being benched in December, Alston threatened to quit the team, and even the NBA—earning himself a suspension along with a steady supply of media scrutiny.

The ultimate lowlight, however? Coach Sam Mitchell and Rafer Alston reportedly THROWING DOWN at halftime of a game in Cleveland, which apparently sent Alston to the team bus in tears. Great. Not only is our starting point guard a headcase, but he's also a giant pussy. Does anyone have Kenny Anderson's number?

Mike James

After Rafer Alston was caged and deported (okay, okay, he was traded to Houston), the Raps would welcome another starting point guard to the team—Mike James. After bouncing around with five teams during his first five seasons, James seized the opportunity in Toronto and proceeded to turn the 2005-06 season into his own personal shooting drill.

I won't hate too much on James, as he was one of the lone bright spots on a Toronto team that could be described as terrible, but if you asked him to name three guys he played alongside during his time in Toronto, he'd probably struggle.

All in all, it was another prime example of the revolving door that had become the Toronto Raptors' point guard position. And of course, the Raptors still sucked too—27-55 for another disappointing season.

T.J. Ford

After securing prized GM Bryan Colangelo, Toronto's first big move was the acquisition of T.J. Ford from Milwaukee, in exchange for Charlie Villanueva. Initially criticized by NBA pundits for violating the golden basketball rule of "Never trade big for small," the deal would pay immediate dividends, as the Raptors raced to their first ever Atlantic Division title the next year.

Ford excelled in his new surroundings, posting 14 ppg and eight apg. Could the Raptors have finally found a long-term solution at the point guard spot, a decade after the initial Stoudamire saga? Ummm, no.

Ford would have his '07-08 season derailed by a string of unfortunate injuries, and the emergence of Calderon in his absence set up a point guard controversy that—while downplayed by players, Mitchell, and Colangelo alike—was obviously a huge issue.

After waiting 10 years for a point guard that we felt comfortable moving forward with, we now had two—and that in itself became a huge distraction. Even when we won, we were losers in the end. Shoot me.

Jose Calderon

The Spanish Sensation enters the season with the keys to the team firmly in his hand.

The result? We'll have to wait and see, but at this point the only thing that would surprise me is if Calderon keeps playing at a high level for more than a year. I hope I'm surprised.