The 2012-2013 Toronto Raptors thread: My Name is Jonas

[Kin]

Only for this year though. I think Gay only has two years left so next year he's a big expiring contract that can be flipped again.

Gay has a player option in '14-'15, worth over 19m which you have to figure he's going to pick up. So, he's not technically expiring until the 2014 season.

Huh, I'd seen it reported as a team option.

Anyways, it doesn't lock them in for long.

 

[Kin]

I like the deal. It also unleashes Lowry as the undisputed starter. He and Gay are also best friends so I'm sure that played a factor.

Now if BC can just move Bargnani and Demar.....

Yeah, I mean, I don't know how realistic dealing either guy is but a starting 5 going forward of Lowry-Ross-Gay-Amir-JV isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

[PG]

I like the deal. It also unleashes Lowry as the undisputed starter. He and Gay are also best friends so I'm sure that played a factor.

Now if BC can just move Bargnani and Demar.....

Yeah, I mean, I don't know how realistic dealing either guy is but a starting 5 going forward of Lowry-Ross-Gay-Amir-JV isn't the worst thing in the world.

I would actually be genuinely excited at that starting 5 and it's been a while since I have felt that way.

 

[Justin]

I get what you're saying Nik, you lose a big-man but you gain a swing-man. I'm just really sick of seeing this team getting dominated on the glass. Giving up a promising young big man who at least eases or rebounding pain is a very risky proposition. What's worse, we're inevitably going to have to start John Lucas III when Lowry gets hurt. Gay's a valuale player, and as I said, we're likely not going to get a player of this calibre through free agency. But this is VERY high-risk deal.

Because Gay, Ross, Fields, DeRozan and various others now create something of a logjam of wing players I wouldn't be surprised if another deal was on the horizon to bring in some rebounding/frontcourt help. Also, with Valanciunas on the way back I'm guessing the hope is that he picks up some of the slack of Davis' minutes and continues to develop as a rebounder.

With Calderon, I'm probably overblowing the whole "dressing room" thing due to the fact that I'm a big fan of Calderon. Still, this was his 8th season with the team. He embraced the city and loved playing in Toronto in a similar fashion to Tie Domi with the Leafs and JP Arencibia with the Jays, and a player like that doesn't come around too often. Calderon's a great "glue" guy, and although there's no proof as to the impact losing that will have, it can never be a good thing.

I don't know about all that. I know Calderon is popular with the fans but I don't know that he's all that huge in the locker room. I don't think he's bad there but it's still not something I'd worry too much about.

At the end of the day, you still have to deal expiring contracts. All things consdered this is a good return.

There was some talk on the radio that this trade might mean DeRozan gets dealt. I don't see Ross going anywhere and no one is taking on Fields' contract. I sure hope another trade is on the horizon though: I look at this team's front-court of big men and I don't like what I see. An enigmatic and oft-injured Italian that plays the perimier, a rookie, a guy who fouls out every other game, and Aaron Gray the plug. This team can definitely use Chris Bosh right about now.

One positive with the Gay trade is it gives us another option to roll with a "go-to guy" in the 4th quarter. Gay's FG% this year is the worst of his career, but perhaps a trade will energize him a little bit and get him going. He's going from being the 3rd guy in Memphis to the #1 guy in Toronto so one could only hope that does good things for him. I still don't think this trade gets us into the playoffs, and if that doesn't happen I don't see how Colengelo stays on. He's had a brutal record and it's time for him to move on.

 

[#1PilarFan]

So, Cliff Notes.... Good? Bad? Meh?

He's having an off-year, but Gay's a pretty good player. Apparently Haddadi will be waived to make room for another PG. It'll make the Raptors better at an acceptable cost, but they're still a team that, if they were to make the playoffs, would not get very far in the post-season.

 

[maplesyrup]

So, Cliff Notes.... Good? Bad? Meh?

He's having an off-year, but Gay's a pretty good player. Apparently Haddadi will be waived to make room for another PG. It'll make the Raptors better at an acceptable cost, but they're still a team that, if they were to make the playoffs, would not get very far in the post-season.

Thanks... Does this help us any 1,2 years from now too?

 

[Justin]

How sad is this picture?

Jose Calderon (in the front), after spending his whole 8 year career with the Raptors, leaves the team in the bowls of the Phillips Arena. He loved Toronto and embraced the city. He was longest-standing Raptor and the heart and soul of the team. He was popular, really popular, and he'll be missed.

 

[Kin]

I would actually be genuinely excited at that starting 5 and it's been a while since I have felt that way.

I agree. Keep around some guys like Fields/Anderson as useful bench pieces and it's definitely a team that can make some noise. Obviously how far they'd go is mainly about how much JV, and to a lesser extent Ross, can develop but it's a well-rounded bunch.

 

[Kin]

He loved Toronto and embraced the city.

If only he'd occasionally embraced playing defense.

 

[#1PilarFan]

Thanks... Does this help us any 1,2 years from now too?

It's tough to say. The Raptors have a lot of guys who play natural SF, or are small ball PFs - Rudy Gay included. So now, they're a little light in depth at the 4 spot and at PG. Gay will probably make them a better team and he's signed for a couple more years so there's that, but BC isn't going to have a ton of flexibility going forward. Right now the roster doesn't look complete enough to challenge for a playoff spot, but BC may have something else up his sleeve in the coming weeks that may help to round out the team.

I will say this, this is the most athletic roster BC has ever had, whatever that's worth.

 

[maplesyrup]

Thanks... Does this help us any 1,2 years from now too?

It's tough to say. The Raptors have a lot of guys who play natural SF, or are small ball PFs - Rudy Gay included. So now, they're a little light in depth at the 4 spot and at PG. Gay will probably make them a better team and he's signed for a couple more years so there's that, but BC isn't going to have a ton of flexibility going forward. Right now the roster doesn't look complete enough to challenge for a playoff spot, but BC may have something else up his sleeve in the coming weeks that may help to round out the team.

I will say this, this is the most athletic roster BC has ever had, whatever that's worth.

Cheers.

 

[hockeyfan1]

How sad is this picture?

Jose Calderon (in the front), after spending his whole 8 year career with the Raptors, leaves the team in the bowls of the Phillips Arena. He loved Toronto and embraced the city. He was longest-standing Raptor and the heart and soul of the team. He was popular, really popular, and he'll be missed.

I'm a Calderon fan too, and even though he wasn't exactly a defensive stalwart, he's had his good moments being with the Raptors all these years. 

The picture above?  Sad, indeed.  If this is Jose's last hurrah as a Raptor, then it's adios Jose, thanks for embracing Toronto and the team, and all the best to you!

 

[Justin]

RaptorsRepublic puts it really well when it comes to Jose:

But what Jos? brought to the Raptors franchise goes far beyond numbers. Jos? is an old-school basketball player in every sense of the word ? enduring losing season after losing season, ugly rebuilding effort after ugly rebuilding effort, and attempted position usurping after attempted position usurping. Through it all, though, he never wavered or publicly complained, and instead brought his lunch pail to work and quietly led the team year after year: a spanish rock in a sea of turmoil. He outlasted T.J. Ford, Roko Ukic, and Jarrett Jack, and though he won?t outlast Kyle Lowry, don?t let all of this Rudy Gay hoopla distract you from what it is the Raptors are really losing: the team?s unsung hero, the consumate pro, and a hugely important part of this franchise?s history.

Adios, Jos?. You?ll always have a fan in me.

http://raptorsrepublic.com/2013/01/30/deal-agreed-raptors-acquire-rudy-gay-for-jose-calderon-and-ed-davis/

 

[TimKerr]

RaptorsRepublic puts it really well when it comes to Jose:

But what Jos? brought to the Raptors franchise goes far beyond numbers. Jos? is an old-school basketball player in every sense of the word ? enduring losing season after losing season, ugly rebuilding effort after ugly rebuilding effort, and attempted position usurping after attempted position usurping. Through it all, though, he never wavered or publicly complained, and instead brought his lunch pail to work and quietly led the team year after year: a spanish rock in a sea of turmoil. He outlasted T.J. Ford, Roko Ukic, and Jarrett Jack, and though he won?t outlast Kyle Lowry, don?t let all of this Rudy Gay hoopla distract you from what it is the Raptors are really losing: the team?s unsung hero, the consumate pro, and a hugely important part of this franchise?s history.

Adios, Jos?. You?ll always have a fan in me.

http://raptorsrepublic.com/2013/01/30/deal-agreed-raptors-acquire-rudy-gay-for-jose-calderon-and-ed-davis/

I get it Jose is a great guy and a great teammate.
But it isn't an insult to him to trade him. Players get traded in the NBA and the fact that he got traded has no bearing on how the team felt about him as a person.
You are acting like we gave up a son for adoption or something.
Also, as great a guy as Calderon is, we haven't won squat with him running the point and his contract, thank goodness, is attractive enough to trade and improve the team.

 

[Justin]

RaptorsRepublic puts it really well when it comes to Jose:

But what Jos? brought to the Raptors franchise goes far beyond numbers. Jos? is an old-school basketball player in every sense of the word ? enduring losing season after losing season, ugly rebuilding effort after ugly rebuilding effort, and attempted position usurping after attempted position usurping. Through it all, though, he never wavered or publicly complained, and instead brought his lunch pail to work and quietly led the team year after year: a spanish rock in a sea of turmoil. He outlasted T.J. Ford, Roko Ukic, and Jarrett Jack, and though he won?t outlast Kyle Lowry, don?t let all of this Rudy Gay hoopla distract you from what it is the Raptors are really losing: the team?s unsung hero, the consumate pro, and a hugely important part of this franchise?s history.

Adios, Jos?. You?ll always have a fan in me.

http://raptorsrepublic.com/2013/01/30/deal-agreed-raptors-acquire-rudy-gay-for-jose-calderon-and-ed-davis/

I get it Jose is a great guy and a great teammate.
But it isn't an insult to him to trade him. Players get traded in the NBA and the fact that he got traded has no bearing on how the team felt about him as a person.
You are acting like we gave up a son for adoption or something.
Also, as great a guy as Calderon is, we haven't won squat with him running the point and his contract, thank goodness, is attractive enough to trade and improve the team.

Not saying it was as insult to trade him. We all knew it was probably going to happen. Still, it sucks to lose a player like that. He was the leader in that locker room. Raptors fans aren't going to realize what we had until he's gone. Just wait until we're forced to start John Lucas III...

 

[Justin]

Realization: The Raptors have $45 M per year committed to just Bargnani, Gay, DeRozan, and Fields for the next 2 seasons. The 1st place Spurs have roughly the same amount committed to Tim Duncan, Manu Ginoboli, Tony Parker, and Stephen Jackson. Colangelo should get his ass kicked.

 

[#1PilarFan]

Realization: The Raptors have $45 M per year committed to just Bargnani, Gay, DeRozan, and Fields for the next 2 seasons. The 1st place Spurs have roughly the same amount committed to Tim Duncan, Manu Ginoboli, Tony Parker, and Stephen Jackson. Colangelo should get his ass kicked.

Raptors are in at about $70m for 11 players. They likely won't have a first round pick, so that shouldn't be a factor, but MLSE is paying a lot for a pretty underwhelming roster.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Seriously, what the heck is it with the Raptors and the reffing?

 

[Justin]

Seriously, what the heck is it with the Raptors and the reffing?

The no-call at the end of the game was horrible but we shouldn't let it overshadow the fact that the Raptors played poorly again. What the hell was Alan Anderson thinking with that contested shot selection, he had passing options and about 8 seconds left. The Raptors had a decent lead and squandered it, as per their trademark. 

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Yeah, they're not a very good team.

The reffing is ridiculous.