The Raptors are on a 3 game winning streak right now and with only 17 games left in the regular season it looks like they will make the playoffs. Colangelo has given Toronto a chance to win with his acquisitions last summer, but look for him to make the biggest splash this off season.
With the Raptors in dire need of a rebounder, Colangelo will be busy this summer trying to fill the need with a free agent signing or a trade.
I’ve created a list of the top players the Raptors should sign in the off season:
Gerald Wallace: A good fit for the Raps. Can play 3 positions on the floor and can also play defense.
Rashard Lewis: at 6″10 Lewis can rebound (6.9 rpg), but it looks like he’ll demand a big contract, which the Raptors may not be willing to pay.
Jamal Magloire: the Toronto Native has a chance to rekindle his career in his home town and he shouldn’t cost the Raptors too much money.
Mikael Pietrus: plays a lot like Gerald Wallace, but wouldn’t cost as much money. He can rebound and also plays 3 positions on the floor.
Mikki Moore: Moore has found a home in Jersey, but may not be in their future plans. Some nights he’s a monster on the glass.
Eduardo Najera: plays a lot like Garbajosa, but with a little more hustle and not quite the shooting touch. He would be a decent 6th man, but not a true big man.
Primo Brezec: has struggled with injuries and playing time this season in Charlotte, but with a fresh start he may be able to put up similar numbers from the 2004-05 season where he averaged 12.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg and shot over 50% from the field.
Desagana Diop: a former first round pick of the Cavs, Diop hasn’t lived up to expectations. The Raps could take a chance and see if he pans out.
Dikembe Mutumbo: in the absence of Yao Ming the 40 year old Mutumbo proved that he could still play in the NBA. He currently averages 7 rpg and 1.2 bpg. The Raps could take a chance on a 1 year contract if other plans for a big man don’t work out.
This is mere speculation from a Raptor fan, but there is no disputing that the Raps need rebounding help if they are going to succeed past this season. Now with the possibility of long time Raptor Mo Pete leaving after this season, Toronto will have some money to throw around.
March 15th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Pretty comprehensive list. If I could make the call, I would go for Rashard Lewis, Gerald Wallace, than Magloire (in that order). Rashard is one of my favourite players in the league. He can score, rebound, is long and athletic, and would take pressure off Bosh and Ford. Wallace would probably be a better fit, because he can play that slashing 3, with scoring and rebounding. These two guys are in the $10-12mill range I suspect (Lewis may make more).
Magloire would be nice, but then we would have two starting centers. He was not able to play in Milwaukee and Portland in a backup position, and with the money invested in Nesterovic ($7 or so mill/year), Magloire may not be starting here either.
However, with Magloire, we could have an interesting starting lineup; Nesterovic, Magloire, Bosh, Parker and Ford (with Bargnani, Calderon, Dixon off the bench). I feel Bosh would thrive as a 3. He has difficulty with on the ball low post defense (not much of an issue for him with the current lot of 3s in the league), he wont get physically bullied by power fowards (that Pistons game gives me nightmares, Rasheed abused Bosh), all while letting his low-post game flourish against smaller - small forwards.
March 15th, 2007 at 11:48 am
If the raps needed to go big i think the line up of ford, parker, bosh, rasho, and magloire would work, but with their up tempo offence doing so well I think that the Raps would need Magloire to come off the bench. as of right now Rasho only plays about 20-25 mintues a night and if you could spit the centre duties with Magloire I think that the other 4 Raptors on the floor would be amazing. The job for the Centre would be to play defence and rebound. The raps will have to make a stab at Lewis for sure, but if he doesnt sign then go to Wallace, then to Pietrus, then Magloire, then Brezec etc.
March 15th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
That will probably be the pecking order. To get Lewis, I might even sacrafice someoneo of value (outside of bosh, ford, bargnani and parker) in a sign and trade scenario. I don’t know what will be needed to swing a deal like that, but he could make this team an eastern conference contender if we don’t have to give up too much for him (2007 + 2008 1st round draft picks, joey graham, mopete, calderon, ruko ukic maybe). A bit contreversial, but if Seatle goes for it, it might not be all that bad. With the core of this team being so young, the loss of the first rounders wouldn’t affect the future a whole lot. Something to think about.
March 15th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
i would take somebody like reggie evans and fortson . the tough guy type rebounders.
March 16th, 2007 at 8:00 am
I agree with you 100% Coach. I had mentioned that in an earlier post (http://www.raptorstalk.com/?p=24). His attitude sucks, but he would bring a lot of other good things to the table. Interesting to see what happens.
March 16th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Seems like I 100% agree with everyone, lol.
March 17th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I wouldnt want Fortson on my team, but Evans would fit in nicely and wouldnt cost a whole lot. I’m still stuck on Primo Brezec and I think he would fit in nice, but I dont know if anyone feels the same. anyone???
March 17th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
i don’t know if i feel as strongly about him as you do. he had a couple good seasons, but i am not sold for some reason. i want someone with attitude, an oakley type player. might be asking for a lot, but this team needs some edge, like the elite teams all have.