Dear Bryan,
I was a big fan of you taking over the reigns from Babcock. That guy made 1 good decision during his whole tenure (signing Calderon). You showed up with much fan fare. free sprint ringtones free nokia ringtones tracfone free gospel ringtones phone ringtones verizon free ringtones verizon tv theme ringtones mosquito ringtones cell cricket free phone ringtones free lg ringtones verizon wireless get free ringtones for my cell phone free get ringtones cingular cell phone ringtones free cingular wireless ringtones free ringtones for motorola phone get free ringtones free tracfone ringtones listen mosquito ringtones nextel ringtones cd cell free phone ringtones verizon wireless info nokia remember ringtones You used words like vision and excellence that frankly make me giddy like a little school girl.
Only two seasons ago, this was a 33 win team, that really had no hope of going anywhere. Sure we had Bosh, but very little else to field a team that would get into the playoffs. Joey Graham was being talked about far too often for my liking, and the bad taste of trading VC for a dozen donuts was still reeling in our mouths.
Then came the unexpected, the brain trust at MLSE dipped into their pockets, and pried you from the Suns. Giving you a massive contract and the power to make decisions as you see fit was something we weren’t used to as fans. Sure none of your teams never won a championship (most teams don’t) but at least they were good teams. You have made this a better team, there is no doubt about it.
I wont rehash what you did the first full year on the job. Fair is fair, the team improved by 14 games, won the Atlantic and lost in the first round to a veteran team. Cool, baby-steps, I get it….anyways…
After getting thumped in the first round by the Nets, some retooling was in the air. The Raptors had some wiggle room to grab a couple guys to replace an injured Garbajosa and the potentially departing MoPete. They were in desperate need for a second scoring option, and some help in the front court for Bosh.
Surprisingly, and somewhat disappointingly, you came out of left field with those moves. I say somewhat, because I expected the holes to be filled, whereas the moves you made were in line with what you did in Phoenix:
- You let Morris Peterson walk run to the Hornets without any compensation (sign and trade for someone/something/anything).
- You signed Kapono to a 4yr/$24mill contract.
- You traded a couple 2nd round picks to Detroit for Delfino.
- You didn’t get that second option on offense.
- You didn’t get anyone who would bang in the post/boards with Bosh.
- You didn’t get anyone who was “tough” in the non-euro sense.
- You signed a D-leaguer who eventually took over the starting 3 spot.
- For some reason, you put together a shooting team, but you let David Hopla walk…
I say disappointingly, because MoPete was replaced by three guys; the lack of toughness exhibited in the Jersey series was not addressed; and a plan B for Garbajosa was not implemented (you yourself said that was a big reason for the fall off this year).
I speculated that the lack of movement on your end was because you assumed Bargnani would pick up from where he left last season, and be that 20pt a night guy for this squad. A lot was resting on this kids shoulder. Didn’t help he was played out of position almost every time he was on the floor. I mean, starting him at center was…bad; starting him at small forward was worse and his natural position of PF belongs to Bosh. Not sure how he fits in, if he does at all.
This summer will be huge for you. IMHO, the Raptors need someone up front with Bosh, who can grab rebounds, block some shots, and score in the low block; they need a second scorer, preferably on the wing (starting 3) who can slash and create his own opportunities; the point guard situation needs to be sorted out asap, and defense needs to be addressed, be it a player who can shut down penetration, an assistant coach, or both.
Being a manager means you have to make a decision, get the pieces to make it a reality, execute, and re-assess. This is an ongoing process I assume you are actively engaged in. To me, this is your job. You did it last year when you signed Fred Jones, it didn’t work out, and you shipped him off for Juan Dixon. We understand the game man, every decision wont be the right on (one can’t help but to think how good the Suns would have been if you just gave Joe Johnson what he wanted, and kept him)
The Forderon situation needs to be resolved before training camp. Both of them have come out and said they want to start/run a team. They each bring something different to the court, and at this point, most people don’t care who stays as long as what you get in return for whoever is shipped out is a legitimate piece to line up with Bosh.
Moon can’t be the starting 3 next year (neither can Bargnani). You need to bring someone in who can slash, score, defend on the perimeter and potentially rebound from that spot. May I suggest Pietrus, Maggette, or potentially Artest?
What we (and by we I mean myself) do expect is that your pride wont get into the way of you pulling the trigger on a deal that would make this a better team. You don’t have to look further then the rumours of Jefferson for Bargnani and pieces. You said it yourself that you have to give talent to get it back. This would seem a prime example.
I admit, it would be tough shipping out Bargnani at this point, only to watch him turn into what was expected…but if we got something valuable in return for him, aka Jefferson, I wouldn’t care. It’s not like we haven’t seen others leave the Raps only to shine (McGrady and Billups).
Some of us have lost faith in your ability (Fan Boy has slashed the price for your t-shirt), but for some reason, I still think you can right this ship. To paraphrase Tarantino:
“When you have the chance to make a move, you may feel a slight sting. That’s pride fucking with you. Fuck pride. Pride only hurts, it never helps.” - Thanks Arse, I know I bit one of your posts from before, but it’s fitting.
Yours Truly,
Sam Holakoozadeh (aka Raps Fan)
Publisher, RaptorsTalk.com
Technorati Tags: Bryan Colangelo, Carlos Delfino, Chris Bosh, David Hopla, Fred Jones, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Joey Graham, Jorge Garbajosa, Jose Calderon, Juan Dixon, MLSE, Morris Peterson, Richard Jefferson, Rob Babcock, TJ Ford, Vince Carter
Popularity: 18% [?]
May 11th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I like Brians ideoa of going after peitrus he’s okay on the boards and he can be a god corer. we need a big number scorer sg position of SF does’nt matter. jr smith or someone good on the boards is very good. i’d give up tj def, KEEP JOSE TRADE TJ
May 11th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Where did Bosh come from? Who drafted him?
Good luck Bryan. I am laying half my chips on you messing up again and the other half on you doing nothing.
How are those flights home working out for you? Gas prices must be a bitch. Oh, wait, MLSE pays for those..my bad.
Have a good summer, lugnut.
AltRaps’s last blog post..Linkage - May 11
May 11th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
LOL..you really dont think he can salvage this Alt?
May 12th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Just like Afghanistan is a failed State, the Raptors are a failed Sports franchise.
In the words of Newman from Seinfeld: “Nice game pretty boy!”
May 13th, 2008 at 2:24 am
ouch… $3.95 for a ‘In BC We Trust’? this is a dark day in Raptorland…
Eddy’s last blog post..With season over, Raptors must address point guard spot (AP)
May 13th, 2008 at 11:10 am
yea, how the might have fallen…and quickly…market economics are a direct reflection of what people’s feelings are.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:40 am
effing cretins who can only regurgitate the obvious…and then add cretinous comments in the delusion that they are being insightful….do you think Basketball in indentured, you cretin? Do you think you can sign anyone you want at any time and force coaches to stay at your will, you moron?
Colangelo hasn’t done everything right, far from it, but he IS limited by many factors which the stupidest fan base in the NBA doesn’t quite seem to grasp.
OTHER teams have to want to trade assets and coaches like Hopla make their own decisions that have nothing to do with money….
Until the mouth-breathing, basement-dwelling, Mcjob working asshats in this godforsaken hockey town full of “swirsky fans” gets a clue, grow up, grow some brain cells and do a little research, we will suffer the ignorance posted ad nauseum….
May 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
nunya were you not hugged as a child?
May 13th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
at least he didn’t call me an infidel…
May 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I know this is kinda stupid but it bugs me to no end that he’s still going on foreign scouting trips instead of looking closely at NCAA talent. FAQ on my site keeps telling me BC’s plan is to build an All-Euro team and I really don’t have anything to counter that argument.
Arsenalist’s last blog post..Lebron over KG + Colangelo tried to contact D’Antoni
May 13th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Nicely said Sam and I think we as fans took alot for granted during last summer’s offseason. I didn’t have high expectations for this team other than just making the playoffs, but with other Eastern teams getting stronger as the season went on, Bryan definitely has his work cut out for him this summer if we want to continue moving forward instead of regressing.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Arsenalist: there is no counter to FAQ because he is right. leaves a bad taste in my mouth too. i wouldn’t mind as much if he also scouted ncaa, but it doesn’t seem like he is doing any of that at all. can’t put all your eggs in a euro basket, doesn’t make sense.
Doc: thanks man…i wont lie, i was disappointed with his lack of movement last off-season, and the moves he did make, didn’t make a whole whack of sense. he can’t afford to sit idle this summer and expect a different result next year. we know what these guys can do: 41 wins and out in 5 in the 1st round.
May 14th, 2008 at 1:48 am
when u think about it . .
i do agree wid some of what da publisher wrote and i feel that even though we’ve made the playoffs . . Bryan Colangelo did make a few mistakes but that’s soft . . the raptors have a big future with a lot of talent
these r some of my intakes about free agency, trades etc.
I feel that Calderon has been a big impact to this team. When TJ got injured due to that incident . . Calderon really did step up
What I think should happen to improve the Raptors point guard situation is try to get someone that has more of a passing mentallity and also a scorer.
I think that the Raptors should sign Calderon and trade TJ Ford . . possible players that would most likely fit good into this situation would be the Magic’s Jameer Nelson, the New Jersey’s Devin Harris, Phoenix’s Leoondrio Barbosa, Milwakee’s Mo Williams. Raptors could make a big run if they were to talk anaylse da players in the NBA.
You talk about defence . . rebounds . . players like Bruce Bowen, Andrei Kirelenko, Samuel Dalembert. I can’t stress but to say that if we acquired at least one of these guys, the Raptors would be such a better team. Talk about lack of rebounds, guys like Al Jefferson, Tyson Chandler, Andrew Bynum. Also talk about go 2 guy. A go 2 guy is a guy u know that when it come to cruch time, they’ll get the ball. Raptors talk about needing a 20 point scorer. If the Raptors acquired a guy like Kevin Martin or Stephen Jackson, the Raptors wouldn’t have to rely on Bosh in crunch time u know what i mean. Like whenever i view these Raptor games, i notice that when it come to crunch time, the Raptors have a tough time deciding who should take the last shot. But if they had a guy like Kevin Martin or Stephen Jackson, the Raptors would be fine offensively.
These r my final 5 intakes on what the Raptors need to do this offseason
1.Point Guard situation. Sign Calderon. Trade TJ Ford
2. Find a go to guy. A 20 point plus scorer
3. Find someone to help Chris Bosh defend the paint, find someone to help guard the perimeter
4. Look at getting rid of some of the older players on the team. Try to see who they could trading them.
5. Keep Sam Mitchell for one more season.