The Raptors’ Off-Season Reality

How can you go from being 4th seed at the All-Star Break to being complete garbage at season’s end? From a playoff contender (although, some doubt their ability to get to the 2nd round even at their best) to completely missing the playoffs and going into another rebuilding phase. If Chris Bosh walks (which is likely in light of this end-of-season trainwreck), it is going to be an extremely busy off-season for Colangelo.

The only way the Raptors can unload Hedo’s overpaid contract (9m – 12m for 5 years!) is if they add on a prospect. Sadly, the only prospects that have any value are Demar DeRozan and Sonny Weems. DeMar is guaranteed to be a solid player and has shown good work ethic (ala Ronnie Brewer type). As well, Weems has shown good promise with his run with the Raptors and does offer some upside. His contract also comes cheap at 800k for one more year. Johnson can’t be shopped around as he’s a free agent next season. Belinelli is garbage 90% of the time. He would show flashes of his ability to score and hustle but that would happen once every 30 games it seems. He is by far the most inconsistent player in the Raptors (yes, even more that Turkoglu). Most of the time he’s taking “impressive acrobatic/off-balance shots” that completely misses the basket. I remember reading a ridiculous article that praised him for this as if he’s Manu Ginobli or Larry Bird. He barely shot 40% during the season while getting ample playing time. He disappears like a fart in the wind. That’s just ridiculous for someone who’s role is to provide offensive spark off the bench. Thus, no one will take him as there’s still a huge question mark on his reliability as a role player.

Either they wheel and deal with DeRozan/Weems or they have to get rid of Jose Calderon. Hedo is utilized best when running plays. That was his role in the Sacramento Kings and the Orlando Magics. That’s what made him an important piece in their run. That role also opened up opportunities for him to score. The Raptors have way too many ballhandlers who can’t play a lick of defense. While Calderon is a pure point guard, it’s either get rid of him and his overpaid contract too (9m – 10m for 3 more years) or get rid of Turkoglu. Jack is a keeper (he’s the only one who plays some semblance of defense) and one of these guys have to go. Calderon offers value because he is a pure point guard despite being a defensive liability.

The Raptors have too many defensive liabilities. Calderon being the absolute worst. I suggest bringing some 1990′s New York Knicks hardknocks basketball to Toronto! I’m sick and tired of all these EURO-style teams. That’s never going to work unless you have Steve Nash at the helm. Even then, that style can only get so far in the NBA. Bring a Charles Oakley, Junkyard Dog and Antonio Davis type of players.

And no, I don’t think Chris Bosh will sign after this mess. He’ll do a sign-and-trade deal though for sure (the guy’s not a jerk) because Toronto is the only team that can offer him maximum money. A couple of possibilities for that scenario is Bosh going to the Knicks for David Lee. That’s if the Knicks can’t sign another big free agent … well, primarily LeBron James. Another scenario is Bosh going to the Heat for Beasley and for sure some more prospects (I’d demand the veteran Haslem too).  Wade is adamant about the need to bring in another tag team partner that he has been missing since Shaq left. Now that Jermaine O’Neal’s garbage contract is gone (one that the Raptors unloaded the year before, I didn’t foresee that being a regrettable act at all), they’re definitely in that position. Both the Heat and Knicks are going to have massive cap space and will be in the hunt for Bosh. It’s good to see that the Knicks will finally get out of the Isiah Thomas-Era too when pseudo-center’s like Eddy Curry would get rewarded with massive contracts for grabbing 6 rebound per game.

Bosh deserves a better team. Colangelo tried though. Expect him to get one more chance to shift things around. Should be an interesting off-season.

And yes, get rid of Belinelli, please!

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