Bryan Colangelo Is Starting To Look Like Grunwald: No Flexibity

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

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

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

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

The Raptors still lack depth!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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