Are The Raptors a Liability in The Off Season

When will the Toronto Raptors learn about poor preseason signings? This is some of the questions the fans of Toronto have allotted the past couple years. 

Guess what? The question surfaces again, well, only some believe.

Hedo Turkoglu signed his first prestige contract at five-years for $56 million—unfortunately, Turkoglu is 30 years old. This offer debunked their chase for star center David Lee, a more sought-out player. There are worries about their future, their spending and the effect the new 2010-2011 lowered salary cap will have on this “newly” assembled club.

The Raptors’ over bid for Turkoglu led to much turmoil, with GM Bryan Colangelo  unnoticeably missing more than he expected.

The Raptors are missing their center successor and also the opportunity of creating a bench worthy to hold a team during minor minutes and push a team into playoff contention. 

Carlos Delfino was reportedly to return to Toronto from his European venture at a possible $4 million investment. Cross that from the list with Colangelo's anxious signing hand.

Even with the signing of Lee, Delfino wouldn't have enough room, especially when the Raptors were attempting to offer a five-year $60 million contract, to see the 27 year-old flourish in the red and white. But, Lee was also a more suitable component to the Raptors arsenal and worth every dime.

However, besides the "should haves", was Lee interested in the Canadian reptiles?

According to Raptors management, Lee was seeking to stay in the Eastern conference and shrugged a brow to the North end, but Colangelo figured that a more “offensive-minded” player such as Turkoglu would fit the dynamics of the team. Are we missing something here?

In 2008-09, Turkoglu finished with 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, under the spotlight of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis. Lee finished with 16 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, under the spotlight of himself and on a poorly equipped New York Knicks squad. Plus, there is a three years age difference and $4 million in contract obligations. 

Turkoglu brings intensity and scoring to the Raptors, with hope that he will take the Air Canada Centre in flight to the post-season for the upcoming campaign. He is also expected to “blow-up” by escaping the shadows of Howard and Lewis.

Lee is a center who is a proven double-double machine and strong in the paint. The Raptors are missing out on a valuable center, one they needed the past five seasons. The Raptors frontcourt issue is now the center of attention, keeping it weak and unbalanced, even with Hedo in the line-up. 

Raptors commented that they are interested in acquiring players that score points and bring an offensive presence—than why is Alvin Williams hired in the coaching staff—does he think they can learn how to defend the rim?

Now, it has become more than just "who to sign" this off-season.

The Turkoglu acquisition is the incentive for Chris Bosh to stay with the Raptors instead of testing the free agency market in 2010. It has also grown into the Colangelo experiment and if this one big off-season splash succeeds, he will keep his job in the front office.

Colangelo needs to keep his star-studded forward, build a stronger team and make some moves to make his reputation stronger than the past two seasons. I don't think Bosh has enough incentive to stay, so why not change the dynamics and trade Bosh for a rebuilding Raptors team?

The team has missed on-court attitude the past decade, except when they brought in injury-riddled Jermaine O'Neal. His bad knees can be argued about with production on the court and his drive to charge the net, but he produced the rough and rigid attitude the Raptors longed for. He also played a big defensive role and contributed offensively when Bosh had his bad nights.

When O'Neal left the Raptors with a nine-block performance, it was guaranteed that the Raptors will not see such a player in a long time. With the recent signings, the critics are right.

Let's hope the right choices are made and that the Raptors will succeed in the Eastern Conference, especially with Andrea Bargnani's new five-year $50 million extension. Where's Charles Oakley when you need him?