Tag Archives: Hedo Turkoglu

by | April 4, 2013 · 10:42 pm

Colangelo’s Future a Murky One

One of the biggest questions heading into this coming offseason for the Raptors and their ownership is what exactly they are going to do with GM Bryan Colangelo.

Though he is highly respected within MLSE and has a very high-profile around the league, the results he has been able to achieve on the court have been a “mixed bag” at the best of times.

He did bring the Raptors their only Atlantic Division championship and did manage to manoeuver his way around some terrible contracts and big acquisitions that didn’t work out.  He’s drafted well and is well-respected around the league. This season he liftedn the veil on the Raptors front office to create two highly successful television programs in Behind the Draft and Open Gym that have earned league-wide praise.

These shows may not seem like a big deal to the average fan, but both have raised the profile of the Raptors around the league and have likely helped to earn Colangelo a few “brownie points” with the “bigwigs” in the League offices.  This type of positive standing around the league doesn’t really do anything for the product on the court, but it can definitely have positive impacts for the ownership.

Bryan Colangelo doesn't have a contract for next season and there is no guaranteel that the Raptors will bring him back.

Bryan Colangelo doesn’t have a contract for next season and there is no guaranteel that the Raptors will bring him back.

On the flip side Colangelo hasn’t gotten great results where it counts.  The Raptors, under Colangelo, haven’t made the playoffs in the past five years and he has given the fan base in the city no real reason to believe that the playoff drought will end anytime in the near future.

So what exactly should the team do with their high-profile man in charge?

On one hand there is little doubt that Colangelo has shown himself to be one of the classiest executives in the business over his career. He has been part of winning franchises and has proven to be a winner elsewhere. He managed the Phoenix Suns very well and was able to make a number of big moves that thrust that franchise into the championship conversation year in and year out.

Since arriving in Toronto he has taken a number of different approaches to winning.  He was one of the first to really invest heavily in players playing overseas, signing a number as free agents in his first tenure (Garbajosa, Anthony Parker) and drafting one first overall (Bargnani).  He has tried to make big free agent acquisitions (Hedo Turkoglu) and he has shown that he isn’t afraid to make a big trade (Jermaine O’neal, Rudy Gay).

None of these game game plans have worked to a positive conclusion.  While it isn’t clear what his next course of action is one would have to assume it will involve Rudy Gay and Jonas Valanciunas as the core moving forward. Depending on your outlook this core might seem promising or not quite enough to compete for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Still, he has shown an uncanny ability to fix the mistakes that he makes.  When he was in Phoenix he was quickly able to turn the trade of Jason Kidd for Stephon Marbury back into his favour.  By acquiring Penny Hardaway he created capspace for himself to sign eventual two time MVP Steve Nash. The result was a solid run for the franchise.

Here in Toronto he quickly turned the hated Rafael Araujo into the serviceable Kris Humphries. He made a huge commitment to Hedo Turkoglu, which turned out to be a disaster, but then moved him to Phoenix for a dependable Leandro Barbosa and saved money in the process.

He is one of the best GM’s at fixing his own mistakes.  What Raptor fans have to ask, is whether they want to let him make any more.

Another plus working for Colangelo is that he is not a “stand pat” kind of general manager.  He never has been and never will be.  Colangelo takes risks.  He signs players he believes in and isn’t afraid to move confidently in a direction others may disagree with.  Drafting Andrea Bargnani was a shrewd move as was his decision to draft Jonas Valanciunas with the 5th overall pick two years ago. The two decisions have worked out differently, but you cannot say that he isnt afraid to take risks.

Obviously, as fans, you want every risk Colangelo takes to turn to gold, but the fact that he isn’t afraid to do what he feels is right for the team is an admirable trait.  Hopefully his most recent risk of acquiring Rudy Gay turns out like many of his others.

Colangelo’s risks have also earned him the ire of the fan base in Toronto at times.  He chose not to trade Chris Bosh before his free agency and did not receive any compensation for the teams franchise player.  His drafting and subsequent handling of Andrea Bargnani has incensed Raptor followers and may well be the reason he is ultimately let go this summer.

While Colangelo has made his fair share of mistakes in his time as GM of the Raptors and there are plenty of reasons to look to a new GM in the fall, the question remains: who out there is better? Who would you bring in that could do a better job?

Do you simply get rid of a quality GM because he hasn’t got the job done? or do you wait until someone better for the job emerges?  Colangelo doesn’t have the results.  This year, like the four before it, will end in disappointment and missed opportunities.  But if you let Colangelo go, you have to replace him with someone better suited for the job, someone more likely to get results.

If not Colangelo, then who?

I am as disappointed with this season as anyone.  I miss playoff basketball, hell I miss the possibility of playoff basketball.  Losing stinks and under Colangelo we have done our fair share of losing.  But there are a lot of positives in place with this team going forward.  A young core, a potential star to build around and tradeable assets that can be used to help improve this team.  Colangelo has shown over his career that he can swing a big deal to maximize the value of the player being traded.

So maybe he should stay for one more “playoffs or bust” season.

Colangelo’s fate has not yet been sealed and the decision to keep him around or not is not going to be as easy as it may seem.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | October 30, 2012 · 11:19 am

The Landry Fields Era Begins

The small Forward position, as it tends to be,  is filled with intrigue this year.  The Raptors went out this summer and added Landry Fields to the fold.  He provides defense, high basketball IQ and the ability to mesh with anyone you put on the floor with him.

His path to Toronto is well documented.  The short version of the story goes something like this.

The Raptors and Bryan Colangelo really wanted Steve Nash, but it looked as though Nash was going to head to the Knicks in a sign and trade deal that centered around Landry Fields.  The Raptors quickly moved to sign Fields to an offer sheet they knew the Knicks couldn’t match which effectively eliminated them from contention for Nash.  Toronto was then seen as the clear front-runner for Nash’s services until the Lakers entered the fray, stole Nash away from Toronto with promises of championship glory and the Raptors were left with a pretty large contract offer to Landry Fields which he was then signed to.

Some contend the Raptors contract to Fields was a huge mistake and will set the franchise back.  Others, myself included, feel that while they overspent to get Fields, he brings a work ethic and defensive presence that will markedly improve this team and will specifically bring tough wing defense, something the Raptors have not seen for a long time.  Though more expensive than he should have been, the Raptors are still likely to get decent return for their money.

Landry Fields has a lot of doubters in Toronto after signing a big contract. It will be interesting to see if his hard work and defensive intensity can win over fans the way he was able to in New York.

The Toronto Raptors haven’t really had a strong presence at the Small Forward since the days of Tracy McGrady.  Recent starters have included (in no particular order) Jason Kapono, Jamario Moon, Hedo Turkoglu, Shawn Marion and Sonny Weems.

While the small forwards for the Raptors have had varying degrees of success, a few (see Turkoglu) were cataclysmic failures, but  none made a significant impact for the club during their time as a starter.

Landry Fields may change that.

Fields is known around the NBA as a hard worker, a defensive presence and good teammate.  His his focus on the defensive side of the ball will certainly come in handy for a team that has had significant issues guarding the perimeter over the years.

Fields is a positive personality and will certainly endear himself to the Toronto media.  Truth be told, he already has.

But that contract….

Many pundits, bloggers and journalists choose to focus on the length and cost of the contract Fields has.  To be fair it is an expensive and longer term deal for a guy with only two years of experience under his belt, but certainly not a contract that is going to cause cap issues for a long period of time and it is likely flexible enough to become a tradeable asset if the situation presents itself.

Fields is an upgrade at the position and if he can improve on his woeful 3-pt shooting he could become a solid offensive piece to the Raptors game plan going forward as well.

If not, the Raptors have a host of solid pieces to back Fields up and offer the Raptors a number of different matchup possibilities.

Linas Kleiza is a pure scorer who brings instant offense off the bench.  There are some in the Raptors fan base that believe he should have been the starter to maximize Fields defense on the second unit with Jose Calderon, a noted deficiency on the defensive end.  Though Kleiza has had great success internationally, he has yet to put it together consistently for the Raptors.  He’s been injured and inconsistent in his time in Toronto, but still offers the Raptors great flexibility. He is a natural small forward and can also slide over to the 4 if need be and create a strong smaller lineup when Casey wants to go small.

If Kleiza can shoot the ball well and play the way he did in the World Championships then he may see increased minutes throughout the season, maybe even some time in the starting lineup.  Especially if Fields struggles on the offensive side of the ball where he has not been as effective.

Alan Anderson is another interesting option for Dwane Casey off the bench.  The journeyman really impressed the coach in limited time last season and continued his strong effort throughout the pre-season.  Anderson is a smart and savvy veteran who knows what his role is.  He provides strong defensive ability (like Fields) and can score, mostly because he has a knack for getting into great position to score.

Dwane Casey is going to have struggles at times finding enough minutes for everyone, but he has something a lot of coaches do not have: options. He can pull out an almost pure scorer in Kleiza or go for defense with Anderson and Fields.  If he wants to go small he can easily move Kleiza over to the 4 and both Fields and Anderson can slide over to the two if need be.

Casey has a great deal of depth at his disposal and can utilize it to exploit the matchups he wants.  The fact that these three players are versatile enough to play other positions and do not usually get into foul trouble could mean that we could see any of the three on the court in various positions.

The forward position is sure to be a strength for the Raptors and it is clear that with Landry Fields in the starting role the focus will continue to be on the defensive side of the ball.

Landry Fields will get his opportunity to prove fans and doubters wrong even if he isn’t a high scoring small forward in the mould of Tracy McGrady.

Hey, at least he isn’t Hedo Turkoglu.

***

ZTH

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by | September 18, 2012 · 8:19 pm

Raptors are Worth Getting Excited About

It’s not easy being a Toronto sports fan.  Most of the time it actually feels like a condition, a sickness, an inescapable purgatory.  For years the fans in this city listen to the hype about their local teams and never see the results on the court, ice or field.  The Maple Leafs haven’t been relevant since the 1990′s and may not even play this year (I’ll let you decide whether that’s a good or bad thing), the Jays were decimated by injuries this season and despite the hope of an extra playoff spot in the AL have fallen miserably short of their goal.  The Raptors haven’t been exciting since Colangelo’s first year on the job and have struggled ever since winning the Atlantic division in 2006-07. Don’t even get me started on TFC and the Argos are a Doug Flutie and Rocket Ismail short of peaking anyone’s interest.  The city hasn’t had anything to truly celebrate since Joe Carter took a Mitch Williams offering into the left field bullpen.

But this year might be different.

Don’t go expecting a parade down Yonge street just yet, but there is certainly reason for optimism as the Toronto Raptors get set to start training camp.

The team has been relatively quiet the last couple of years but seemed to turn a corner last year under new head coach Dwane Casey.

The team is preaching something it has never preached before: defence; and for the first time in years, the Raptors are seeing improvement.

Dwane Casey has the Raptors realistically hoping for something that hasn’t been seen in Toronto for a long time: playoff basketball.

Under Casey last year the Raptors ranked 12th in defensive efficiency, improved to 9th in defensive rebounding and more importantly stressed these aspects of the game when talking to the media and each other in practice.

The “culture change” resulted in overall better play.  The Raptors were no longer a push over on the schedule, they quickly became a team you didn’t really wanna play.  They lost many close games last year, a staggering 14 games by 5 points or less.  Fans began to wonder if Dwane Casey was able to get as much production out of the roster he had, what could he do with an improved roster?

This summer Bryan Colangelo went out and changed the team’s look.  This is not exactly an uncommon occurrence when you’re talking about Colangelo and the Raptors.  It seems he does this sort of facelift every off-season, trying to find a perfect balance of players that are able to compete in the weaker Eastern Conference.

This summer was different though.  He didn’t make a splash for the sake of making a splash.  He didn’t try to build a team around a Power forward.  There were no Jermaine O’neals or Hedo Turkoglu’s, he didn’t waste money on unproven players like Jason Kapono and he didn’t go overseas looking for the next Jorge Garbajosa.

Colangelo looked to his coach and signed, drafted and traded for players that fit the system and philosophy that Casey is preaching in Toronto.  Casey wants to push the ball on offense and defend the ball well to take away opponents chances to score.

Enter Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, John Lucas III, Terrence Ross and Quincy Acy.  Even smaller transactions to fill out the roster focused on the defensive side of the ball with the recent acquisition on Dominic McGuire and the re-signing of veteran Alan Anderson.

Colangelo is giving his coach pieces he needs to continue building a new culture in Toronto.  In Kyle Lowry the Raptors now possess one of the better defensive point guards in the league and one that is going to push the ball up the floor on the offensive side of the court.  In Landry Fields the Raptors have added a “glue guy”, a player that is happy to do whatever little things need to get done in order to help the team win.  He is a lockdown defender and happy to play without the ball in his hands.  Given the roster around him, he is likely to have every opportunity to improve his woeful shooting stats with open looks at the basket.

The drafting of Terrence Ross (a defensive specialist and solid 3pt shooter) and Quincy Acy (Reggie-lite) show further commitment to the defensive side of the ball.

With these strong new pieces in place, Dwane Casey can now build a much stronger system for this team to compete with.  Add to the fact that the additions will take a lot of pressure off of DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani.  They will now have others on the team to share the ball and offensive workload with and teammates who can cover for some of the weaker defenders.  DeMar can focus on slashing to the rim and Bargnani can rest assured that he will have open looks with opposing defenses collapsing onto a driving Lowry. Andrea will also not have players cruising to the rim on the defensive side of the ball.  Two of the best defenders on this team will be situated on the perimeter and have a knack for staying with their man.  This will mean Andrea won’t always need to be helping on the defensive end (something he just isn’t good at).

The addition of Kyle Lowry improves both the Raptors perimeter defence and their offensive capabilities. Both will be needed if the team intends to make a playoff run.

With the additions of Lowry and Fields it has made the Toronto bench that much more talented by moving Calderon and Kleiza to the second unit.  Both players are good enough to be starters on many teams in the league.  There are some who may even argue that Kleiza should open the season as the starting SF, but either way the Toronto bench now sports a lot more talent than it did before.  Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Jose Calderon, Jonas Valanciunas, Linas Kleiza, John Lucas are a solid list of reserves for any roster.

Colangelo finally has a deep roster where everyone can focus on the things they do well and a coach on the sidelines who can keep it all organized in a system every player has bought into.

This roster still does not contain a superstar player though.  There isn’t that one guy out there who can take control of a game all by himself.  There is no Lebron, Durant or Kobe.  This is an undeniable fact.  Good thing the Raptors play in the Eastern Conference. With their level of talent they should be in the conversation come playoff time.

The Raptors will need to focus on the bottom half of the Eastern conference as the top half seems all but locked up.  There are a number of teams who are pretty much guaranteed a playoff berth.  Miami, Boston and Indiana are almost sure shots to make the playoffs.  You have to think that Atlanta and Brooklyn will be there as well.  Chicago is a big question mark without Rose and with a decimated bench. If Tom Thibodeau’s team is able to keep it together without Rose, that leaves 2 spots for  NY, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Washington or Toronto.

Now if you’re the optimistic side of the Mini-wheat you will say that the Knicks are weaker without Lin and Fields, Philadelphia is likely to have injury issues with Bynum and Cleveland and Washington simply isn’t ready for the next step. This leaves Toronto in a pretty good position.

If you’re the pessimistic side of the mini-wheat then you’re looking at NY thinking they are a lock with stars like Amare, Carmelo and Tyson Chandler and the other three teams, with improved young rosters, are also very dangerous threats. This leaves the Raps hoping for a collapse by one or more teams or some serious injury issues somewhere.

No matter what happens the bottom tier teams in the East are not setting the world on fire and could potentially leave the door just open enough for the Raptors to sneak into the playoffs.  This might not seem all that exciting when you consider they become likely first round fodder for the Miami’s and Boston’s of the Conference, but it would signify another step forward for this young team.  Another move in the right direction for the franchise and a feather in the cap for a coach who seems to be getting better as time goes by.

This team has a plan in place.  They have a system that works well, a deep roster with a lot of talent, a coach with vision and GM that is quick to fix problems.

No matter which way you look at it, the Raptors have a good chance of being a part of the postseason discussion this year.  There is a good chance they will be playing meaningful games in the Spring.  That’s reason to get excited.  It’s more than Raptors fans have had the last few years.

If that doesn’t increase attendance and TV numbers, the fact that the NHL is likely to face a long work stoppage could all add up to a year where the Raptors are the centre of attention in Toronto.  Something that hasn’t happened since the days of Vince Carter.

With an improved up-tempo roster, a group of players that fit very well into the system and style of play that the coach is preaching, some tradable assets (Calderon, Ed Davis) to potentially use down the road and a coaching staff with a clear vision and philosophy.  This might finally be the year the Toronto Sports fan gets to experience something that has been absent for a long time.

Playoff basketball.

Lord knows, this city has endured enough to deserve it.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | July 24, 2012 · 9:45 am

In Defense of the Landry Fields Contract

This offseason it would appear one of the most polarizing debates for Raptor fans is the signing of Landry Fields.  The signing of the Knicks restricted free agent was done with a bigger picture in mind.  The move instantly upgraded the small forward position and, at the time at least, prevented Steve Nash from signing elsewhere.

For a day or two it seemed like a stroke of sheer genius.  Our GM had effectively solidified his big off-season by signing another strong piece to the team puzzle and blocking the competition for his coveted free agent point guard.

Then, the Lakers came in and made Nash an offer he couldn’t refuse and Colangelo and the fanbase in Toronto watched their coveted acquisition walk away to the bright lights of Los Angeles.  The Raptors were left in the cold with only a significant offer sheet signed for Landry Fields.

Suddenly the signing that looked incredible days before, appeared to be a giant mistake.

Despite Colangelo’s acquisition of Kyle Lowry to take over as point guard, many Raptor faithful still see the Landry Fields’ contract as a mistake.

Bill Simmons put his two cents in as well on Monday and fans continue to doubt the contract that Fields was signed to this summer.

“I saw the talent and the young group of guys they have…When they came to me and wanted me to be a part of that, I was excited. I love the city of Toronto, too.”

The deal is for $18.7 million over three years.  The last year of that contract is guaranteed for close to $9 million.  That is a lot of money to pay a player that has only two NBA seasons under his belt and one that doesn’t appear to be a superstar in the making.

The contract is expensive and Colangelo admittedly overpaid to get Fields, but it wasn’t as bad as most people think.  The first two years (at close to $5 million per year) are actually fair market value for a player of Fields abilities. The third, well that was the year that got the deal done and one that could become a tradeable asset later on.

Fields has been a consistent starter over the last two years with the Knicks and was named to the All-Rookie team in his first season.  He was also part of the Rising Stars squad at the All-Star game.

This past year he encountered a little bit of difficulty, but when playing with Jeremy Lin found great success in the back court for the Knicks  en route to a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

The popular Basketball site Wages of Wins, argues that Landry Fields is worth the money.  In a climate where teams overpay players with enormous salaries and don’t get very much in return, giving Fields a decent term for what should amount to steady production seems like a wise choice.

Is the deal a little too much? Probably, but it’s only three years for a player just entering his prime.  Restricted free agents are not cheap and you usually have to be creative to get them and need to fork over a little more coin.

Fields fits right into the Raptors rotation and is a player with a pedigree that fits quite well with current head coach Dwane Casey.  He has the potential to be a part of this Raptor team for a long time.

Fields is a bulldog.  He works hard on both ends of the floor and judging by his stats he is capable of providing opportunities to win on both ends of the floor.  He is a great lockdown defender who will likely be given the task of guarding some of the NBA’s most elite scorer’s during the next three seasons and he shoots the ball well (46%) FG%) he just hasn’t been a very good three point threat (25%).

He instantly becomes the starter at small forward when the season begins, unless he and DeRozan change positions in training camp.  He will become one of the better wing players the Raptors have had in recent years and he is only 25 years old.  If you’re gonna spend big money on a free agent, better to spend on one entering his prime than one on the downside of his career.

What should give the Raptors more comfort with this signing is the way Fields played with New York point guard Jeremy Lin.  When Lin and Fields were on the floor together Fields averaged 10.1 PPG, had 6.1 RPG and shot 50% from the field.  In Toronto, he will have a solid point guard distributing the ball in Kyle Lowry.  Their chemistry could help improve Fields’ numbers even more as Fields will be one of the top offensive options on the floor for the Raptors.

Toronto fans are beginning to warm slightly to Fields’ despite the fact that Steve Nash elected to go elsewhere.  Fields has shown himself to be very media savvy and has a great sense of humour in most interviews he’s had here so far.  He’s also shown a fondness for the city of Toronto, something Raptor fans seem to always look for.

He is active on twitter and has a number of popular youtube videos he created with Canadian Andy Rautins.  He should be a popular player in media scrums and post game pressers.  He’s funny, approachable and isn’t afraid to be himself.  He has the potential to be the mouthpiece for the team. A player as likeable and camera friendly as Fields hasn’t graced the Raptors locker room in a long time.

Though all of these qualities do not impact what happens on the basketball court, they remain important nevertheless.  This isn’t to say fans won’t enjoy his play on the court.

Fans are likely going to enjoy his style of play.  He works hard, gives his all and does little things that get fans cheering.  He was a fan favourite in New York and will likely become one here.  There is a certain type of player that Toronto fans tend to gravitate towards, usually these players play the game of basketball the way a hockey player would.  They’re fighters and work hard.  They play a team-first game, aren’t afriad to get dirty and admit to their own mistakes.  That is Landry Fields in a nutshell.

Raptor fans who fear handing out big contracts to players like Fields need to understand that this isn’t like Jason Kapono, this isn’t going to end like Hedo Turkoglu.  Hedo was coming off of one solid year and cashed in, he was also much older than Fields and Kapono didn’t have anywhere near the skill set of Fields.  He was a one-dimensional player that failed to fit into a system designed for him.

Fields’ contract is not an albatross that will clog capspace for years.  His first two years are very modestly priced at $5million and the third and final year is $9 million (An average cap hit of $6.3 million) which, if he doesn’t end up working out, could become an asset in a trade as an expiring deal in the third year.

This will be different.  Fields fits the mould of what Dwane Casey wants his team to do, he’s young and athletic and a top-notch defender and fills a direct need this team had.

Fans need to get over the failed attempt at Steve Nash and realize we may actually be better off with Lowry and Fields in the long run.  They’re younger and fit better with what the Raptors are trying to do in the long term.

Yes, the Raptors did overpay a little, but it is very likely they will get their money’s worth.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | July 4, 2012 · 9:48 am

Raptors have the Right man in Charge

It’s been a pretty crazy few days in Raptor land.  Steve Nash may be coming home to Canada to lead the Raptors back to the playoffs with the hope of  hosting a postseason game for the first time in four years.

There have been all kinds of wild rumours and big time dollar figures being thrown around over the “twittersphere” and beyond.  While you may agree or disagree with the players names and dollar figures being tossed around.  One thing should be very clear for Raptor fans.

We are lucky to have Bryan Colangeloas our General Manager.

Colangelo has been a steady hand for this Raptors franchise. His decisions are not always successdul, but they are bold.

In his time in charge of the Raptors he has been active and creative in trying to build a team that will be competitive.  True, his attempts haven’t always brought success on the court, but he has shown resiliency and an ability to admit his mistakes, which keeps the Raptors active every year.

In the past he presided over shrewd business decisions like trading highly regarded rookie Charlie Villanueva for TJ Ford, going overseas and bringing in fairly unknown international players like Jorge Garbajosa and Anthony Parker.  Those moves won him an Atlantic division title.

He tried to take the next step by trading to acquire Jermaine O’neal, but that didn’t work out so he turned him into Shawn Marion and then ultimately Hedo Turkoglu.

Now the Hedo acquisition, at the time, was a stroke of genius.  A trade that simply should not have been able to happen. The Raptors acquired the biggest fish in the pond that year.  A calculated and complicated transaction that, in the end, didn’t pan out.

Hedo was moved quickly (he was likely to be run out of town anyway) for Barbosa who was moved to clear capspace.

And here we are.

Many will look to Colangelo’s record and see a whole lot of failures.  Jermaine O’neal didn’t mesh with Bosh, Turkoglu was an unmitigated disaster.  But what I see is a GM trying to improve every year and who continues to take risks.  Better yet, none of the risks he has taken has cemented the raptors into Salary cap hell or left the team stuck with an untradeable contract.

He’s taken risks, but, unlike other GMs, has been able to get himself out of situations that haven’t worked.

Now this offseason has started with a bang.

Colangelo is throwing a lot of money in an attempt to lure Steve Nash back to his homeland and has made a gigantic offer to Landry Fields.

The Steve Nash signing is about building a culture and selling tickets (lets not kid ourselves here).  Nash would instantly become the face of Toronto sports.  Sorry Jose Bautista and Phil Kessel, but Nash would instantly become the most marketable athlete the city has seen in a long time.  That is instant cash for MLSE.

Steve Nash coming home to Canada, is a dream that is on the verge of reality.

A three-year offer is also safe in many ways.  Nash is older but there is every indication his body can continue to withstand the grind of an 82 game season.  Three year contracts are shorter terms and become tradeable assets in the final year.  If the Nash thing doesn’t work out, his contract is a chip to play in that third year.

Nash to Toronto would mean butts in seats.  But let us not forget the basketball side of this story.  Nash would be a steady hand at the driver’s seat for a team filled with young talent.  His addition instantly makes Demar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and Bargnani that much better.  It takes a lot of pressure off of them as well.

Nash has made a career out of creating superstars.  Players that have played with Nash have made names for themselves because they were given the ball in the right places. Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudamire, Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, and more have all benefited greatly from playing alongside Nash.

There is every reason he can do the same with Toronto’s young, talented lineup.

Nash to Toronto makes sense.  Basketball wise and money wise as MLSE stands to make millions on jersey sales and merchandise.

Hence the signing yesterday of Landry Fields.

The New York Knicks are one of the few competitors for Steve Nash (yes LA and Dallas are hanging around too but they aren’t really in play).  Colangelo, in a brilliant move, effectively eliminated his stiffest competition for the prize he wants.

New York can’t use Fields in a sign and trade, they’ve taken their eye off of Jeremy Lin (their now biggest concern) and likely have no money left for Nash.

A stroke of genius.

Also, assuming the Raptors do not rescind the offer after signing Nash, Landry Fields represents a significant upgrade at the 3 for Toronto.  He’s tough, can score and plays strong on the defensive end. A trait I’m sure that is not lost on Dwane Casey.  He’s also likely to improve his game with Nash distributing the ball.

Now this decision could all blow up in the face of Colangelo again.  He could lose Nash to Dallas or Nash could sign and be a bust in the mould of a Hedo Turkoglu.  Maybe we watch Nash deteriorate in Toronto and he isn’t able to take us anywhere.

Something tells me that if given the opportunity, Colangelo will right his wrong, clean up his mess and be able to point the ship back in the right direction.  That’s what he’s always done.

For now we get to enjoy one of the most exciting off seasons the Raptors have had in years.  There is a real buzz surrounding the team and in the eyes of most, a real shot at achieving some success.

We have Colangelo to thank for that.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | March 19, 2012 · 10:09 pm

Remembering Barbosa

While I was away the trade deadline came and went with the Raptors moving Leandro Barbosa to the Pacers for a 2nd round pick.  I have to admit I was not shocked by the trade as I read the ESPN ticker while I was in Mexico.

Barbosa did not fit into the future of the club and his skill set was much more useful to a team that had visions of playoff basketball in their future.

He will be successful in Indiana, as he was much of his career.  He will immediately lift the level of play for the Pacers second unit and help give them an advantage in whatever playoff matchup they are destined to end up with.

Barbosa has always been one of the better subs in the league, since his days as Steve Nash’s backup. He was the perfect complement to Steve Nash and the Suns high-octane offense.  He kept that team humming on the second unit providing  superior point play that other backup guards could not cover.  When Nash wasn’t on the court, the offense didn’t miss a beat. Plus Barbosa was versatile enough that he could be on the floor with Nash at crucial points in ball games providing that team even more offensive weapons.

When Colangelo acquired Barbosa for Hedo Turkoglu before the 10/11 season; fans rejoiced.  Mostly because the team was able to get anything for Hedo’s lazy ass, but also because Barbosa was still a highly efficient player.

Barbosa's speed and scoring ability will be missed in Toronto for the rest of this year. Though he didn't fit into the future fans will be sad to see him go.

He came to Toronto at a low point and provided this team with instant offense.  For the past two seasons two things have been certain with Barbosa on the floor. He was going to score a bunch and if he didn’t, he was going to do everything he could to score.

Barbosa wasn’t always the most unselfish player on the floor, but even in his older age he was still lighting quick.  I remember watching Raptor games from my perch in the Sprite Zone and marvelling at just how quick he really was.  A hard player to guard.

Barbosa will be missed. Especially for the rest of this year.

True, other players will get more of a shot. Bayless and Forbes specifically.  This will give the Raps a chance to see what these younger players are made of and will also likely lead to more losses and ultimately a better shot at a better pick.

But who is going to score?

Barbosa provided ample scoring every night and that kind of production likely will not be replicated by any of the Raptors current players; at least not as consistently.

The part that makes the least amount of sense is that Colangelo didn’t get anything of true value for Barbosa.  A second round pick is easily acquired at any time throughout the season or off-season.  Barbosa’s salary was going to come off the books at the end of the year regardless of the trade.  So why now?

I guess Indiana just needs Barbosa a little bit more.  And he deserves another playoff run.  He’s a vet that plays hard, game in and game out and he deserves a shot to play playoff basketball again.

Best of luck to Leandro in Indiana. The city will enjoy watching him and he might just help them win some games along the way.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
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by | March 5, 2012 · 11:24 pm

The Hopeful Side of a Tough Loss

The Raptors didn’t quite have enough in the tank to beat Dwight Howard and Orlando Magic, but what Monday nights’ tough loss did show us was that the Raptors might not be as far away from contention as people might think.

The Raptors were without Andrea Bargnani. They were without Amir Johnson. They’re first round pick is playing in Lithuania and they were still able to hang with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic one night after a well fought victory over Golden State.

These are usually games that the Raptors disappear in, where they use the back-to-back excuse to justify their sluggish effort.  Tonight they need no such excuse.

They executed on the offensive end, played tough defense on a fairly versatile lineup and didn’t turn the ball over.  Had they gotten a few calls in the fourth quarter from the refs or been able to contain the dagger shot from JJ Reddick the result would have been different.

For a team that is supposed to be terrible and currently focused on”tanking”, they are showing a great deal of fight.

Tonight the Raptors had another great effort from Demar Derozan who once again looked like a rising star and phenomenal supporting efforts from Jarryd Bayless and James Johnson (who is quietly becoming my favourite Raptor).

Losses are okay.  They do pave the way for better draft opportunity, but the way we are losing games is very encouraging.  This “lottery” team is a lot closer than anyone gives them credit for.  They have heart and they could easily be on the opposite side of these close games.

It will be interesting to see what happens when Bargnani returns.  He may be the player that tips the scales and turns these close loses into close victories.

Believe it folks, there is great reason to be optimistic in Toronto.

Zan For Three

In Praise of Coach Casey

Let us give credit where credit is due.  The Raptors have looked great in recent games showing energy on the offensive end and great attention to defense.  This team looks a lot more hopeful than the lottery bound Raptors of a year ago.

The main difference in this years team is Dwane Casey.

Demar Derozan and the Raptors put forth a valiant effort on Monday night, but fell just short to the Orlando Magic. Still Derozan and the Raptors are giving Raptor fans a reason to be hopeful for the future.

He has brought his “Pound the Rock” mentality and has this young team buying into it.  They are active on the defensive end and using matchups to their advantage.  Yes, there is often an open jumper or two that they’d love to have back, but there is a marked difference in this years team from last years.

The Raptors, miraculously, rank  10th in the league in points allowed this season.  Many of the players that were blamed for their poor defensive efforts last year still remain with the team.  Casey just has them playing with more energy and his system clearly hides some the players defensive deficiencies.

The Raptors looked like a team that needed to be blown up last year.  ”Trade everyone and start fresh”.

Not this year.

The Raptors may lose a lot of games and end up in the lottery once again, but there is plenty of reason to be optimistic.

The Coach has turned this team around.

Bargnani was looking like an All-star before his injury.  Derozan is turning it around.  And a team ranked 10th in points allowed can only get better when you add in Jonas Valanciunas next year.  The guy is a wall and a solid defensive presence under the basket.

Thanks to coach Casey, The Raptors are buying into a philosophy, creating a culture and working hard every game even though thoughts of a playoff appearance are but a dream.   Most importantly he is beginning to make an entire city believe that things are getting better.

Everything is looking up in Toronto.

Mr. Everything

So this James Johnson guy is a pretty solid player, eh? He is all over the floor.  I haven’t seen a player like him in Toronto for a long time.  He drives the net, rebounds the ball, drops dimes, blocks shots and hustles all over the ACC floor.  He is an intangible, an X-Factor for the Raptors every night and  it is not surprising that he stays on the floor for much of the games he plays in.  Casey can’t take him off the floor.

Johnson is a little bit of everything and he presents matchup nightmares on both ends of the floor for opposing teams.

Add to all of this that he plays multiple positions, drives the net and has a post-up game and the Raptors have themselves a solid asset.  The trade last year engineered by Bryan Colangelo to bring in Johnson (for a late first rounder), looks like a stroke of genius one year later.

Johnson is a versatile player that looks like he has found a place in the Raptors lineup and their future.  And with good reason.

Hedo’s Return

We should be used to the boos that players receive in Toronto once they’ve left the city on bad terms. But Hedo is a bit different.  Unlike Vince Carter there is no chance for reconciliation here.  This was a bitter divorce and it is absolutely personal.

Hedo played terribly here.  He didn’t seem to care and unlike Vince, never took us anywhere.  He is, quite possibly, the most hated former Raptor of them all.  A whole lot of promise and talent that completely stunk it up in Toronto.

What makes him even worse is his complete inability to admit he was, at least, partially at fault.

Rightfully so, he was booed every time he touched the ball on Monday.  And thankfully he had an absolutely abysmal game.  Ending up with not a single point, 1 rebound and 9 assists.  Sounds familiar right?

He still does have a lot of game left in him and he has been a fairly decent player for Stan Van Gundy and the Magic, but his ineptitude in Toronto will never be forgiven; nor forgotten.

On Monday he, ironically, was thoroughly outplayed by the hardworking James Johnson.  It was delightful for the ACC crowd to watch him stink it up, and completely typical from anyone that watched Hedo over his time in Toronto.

A lot of talent wasted.

Zan of the Night

Demar Derozan

Give it up to the kid from Compton for bringing it on back to back nights.  There is something different in him lately.  That infamous game where he was benched for the entire fourth quarter, and sent an angry tweet out to his followers, has awakened a fight in him that Raptor fans haven’t seen in a while.  Casey cracked the code and has helped turn Derozan into a focused player who is playing in the flow of the offense.  He isn’t forcing the issue, he’s looking for his teammates and he is doing the things that make him successful. Specifically, driving the net, looking to draw contact, and not trying to shoot his way out of a slump.

Derozan is a big reason why Raptor fans have reason to hope for the future of this franchise.

Not Zan of the Night

Hedo Turkoglu

Even if he scored a billion points I would still put him here.  He happened to score 0 points, 1 rebound and 9 assists.  Certainly not a “balling” evening.  He looked terrible.  His shot was awful and he was no match for James Johnson on either end of the floor.  One could argue that the booing got to him, but this is Hedo.  He doesn’t care.  He didn’t care when he was here and he doesn’t care now.  Although still a useful player in Orlando, he looked as horrible as he did when he played here tonight.

Just like old times.

Ball

***

Kristoffer Pedlar
The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | January 2, 2012 · 12:29 am

Raptors Magic Fades in the Fourth

For three quarters the Raptors looked like a very strong basketball team.  The shots were falling, they defended the ball well, Dwight Howard wasn’t really a factor and the Raptors looked confident.

Then the fourth quarter happened.

It wasn’t pretty.  The shots didn’t fall, the perimeter defense was non-existent and the Magic shot the lights out from behind the arc.

The effort from this team was, for the most part, something to applaud.  Andrea Bargnani looked like a superstar out there for the third game in a row, Derozan battled through some early shooting trouble, and Jose Calderon was very effective at the point.  The Raptors battled and even had nice contributions from Jamal Magloire and Leandro Barbosa off the bench.

In the end the hot shooting of Hedo Turkoglu, Ryan Anderson and JJ Reddick were too much to handle for the Raptors defense.

This team continues to battle. They have shown much improved effort on the defensive end, especially in the first half  tonight, and they are hanging with teams on most nights.  The most impressive element of this loss is the way Andrea Bargnani has played.  He looks every bit a superstar out there and he is making a case to continue as the face of this franchise.

A loss is a loss but there are certainly positives to take away once again.

The Zan for Three

Toronto’s All-Star

It is way too early to even speculate about who will or wont make the All-star team, but if it were being held today, Andrea Bargnani would be on the roster.

During his last few years he has been criticized for not caring, not battling and being very weak on the defensive end.  This year, and I know it’s early, he looks confident. He is demanding the ball and scoring in a variety of ways, and although he isn’t the best defensive player he has created a presence under the basket.

This is something that Toronto fans need to be happy about.  If the Raptors win because Andrea plays like an All-star, that’s a win I’m willing to take no matter how it affects our draft position next year.

He is a reason to be excited so far this year.

Hedo Turkoglu was a factor in Orlando's fourth quarter comeback.

Ball

Oh the obligatory “ball” reference.  Hedo actually looked pretty good out there but I’m talking about the Raptors new offensive philosophy.

Dwane Casey has said that his number one option on offense is Andrea Bargnani and his number two is Demar Derozan.  He is going to ride them all the way win or lose.

This philosophy is both positive short-term because it allows us to see whether either player can handle the rigors and pressure that come with being a number one or number two option.  It also helps the Raps in the long-term because it signifies that this is their team.  They will be the focal point offensively going forward and next year, when the games start to matter, they will be ready to lead.

Ball.

Mr. 3000

Say what you want about Jose Calderon.  He seems to be the new poster boy for the haters out there, but he is one efficient point guard out there ont eh offensive end.  His stats speak for themselves, but he really does put his teammates in good position out there and he protects the ball quite well.  Although he likely isn’t part of the future he seems like a great choice to lead this years young team.

He’s also got 3000 assists in his career.

Jose has been my favourite Raptor in his time in Toronto.  He’s had is ups and downs to be sure, but he has been a constant professional, plays hard, shares the ball, loves the city and genuinely loves being a Raptor.

Congrats on 3000 Jose.

Zan of the Night

Ryan Anderson

Wow, can this guy shoot.  He is a dangerous, dangerous player out there.  He’s tough to guard and if he’s open he’s lights out.  The Raptors D did a pretty good job on the interior, but they fell asleep on this guy late in the game and he absolutely killed us.

Not Zan of the Night

Ed Davis

Maybe it’s just bitterness that he is on my fantasy team and hasn’t delivered yet, but he’s been kind of invisible out there this year.  True, a lot of his minutes are going to Magloire and Amir definitely deserves to start, but I was expecting a lot more.  He is going to have to work a lot harder out there and take advantage of his reduced minutes in order to get more.  I believe he’s part of the future of this ball club, but he hasn’t shown it so far this season.

 

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by | December 23, 2011 · 9:46 am

Moving Forward with Johnson

In the third part of our season preview we take a look at the small forward position.  Once upon a time this position was occupied by such Raptor greats as Vince Carter, TMAC, Tracy Murray, Jamario Moon and oh course Hedo Turkoglu.  Suffice it to say, there has been plenty of bad to go with the good.

The Small forward position on most teams is filled with someone who can score in bunches and has potential to be an All Star.  Think Lebron, Durant, Carmelo, Granger.  These are the types of players you want playing on the wing.

Th Raptors are still waiting for their Durant.  For now they have James Johnson.

Is he the Raptors Durant?  Not likely, but he could develop into something this year.  He’s going to be given plenty of opportunity.

The Players

James Johnson

Linas Kleiza

Gary Forbes

Demar Derozan

The Story

Basically James Johnson is being given the opportunity here to play heavy minutes.  He is a player that Colangelo has always liked and when he was acquired it was with an eye to the future.  Bryan think Johnson might turn into a serviceable role player, a consistent starter, a spark off the bench.  This year we get to find out.

This year we will find out where James Johnson fits in the Raptors future plans.

Of course, Linas Kleiza is still around.  After an impressive World Championships last year he did very little to endear himself to the Raptors faithful and now he is likely to be coming off the bench unless he can earn his starting spot back.  Although he had a rough year last year, I wouldn’t count him out.  He’s a scorer and still possesses the skills that were on display at the World Championships.

Forbes and Derozan will slide over to the 3 when Casey wants to play “small ball”.  Each possess speed and the ability to defend and will fill in admirably when Barbosa is at the 2.

In Our Dreams

James Johnson proves he is worth keeping around.  This is a kid that Colangelo was after in the draft two years ago and sees him as part of the future.  I’m, at this point in time, inclined to believe Colangelo.

The best case scenario sees Johnson playing heavy minutes, scoring lots of points and defending big time small forwards admirably.  Kleiza embraces his role off the bench and becomes a nice scoring threat when the starters are getting a rest.

Ideally the Raptors want their Small Forwards to be competitive.

The Reality

James Johnson is a good player, but he isn’t an elite forward.  He will have some nice games and then he will disappear.  The reality is that he is a nice player on a second or third unit, not a first unit.

Kleiza could be starting material, but he needs to learn to play with the intelligence that he played with during the World Championships.  He was a leader there, can he be here? Tough call.

This position is one to watch for Raptor fans, but I wouldn’t expect miracles.  Small progress here is still progress.  The Raptors are going to get murdered against the Durants and Carmelos but hopefully as the season progresses Johnson and Kleiza show the Raptor brass that they are worthy of a spot going forward.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald

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by | May 18, 2011 · 9:03 pm

Better Late than Never for the Raptors and Colangelo

MLSE finally made it official on Tuesday: Bryan Colangelo is staying in Toronto for at least two more years.

For a franchise about to undergo a long-term face lift, this was the right decision.

Colangelo offers the Raptors a seasoned veteran to help steer the ship in the right direction and an executive that understands the CBA better than most.  He has gained respect throughout the league and gives the Raptors a GM that has been through the wars.  He also provides the team consistency a trait, hard to find in today’s short-sighted sports world.

Bryan Colangelo will be calling the shots for the next two years in Toronto after finally signing his extension.

The fact that his deal is only guaranteed for two years could become an issue in a year or so if the Raptors franchise tries to expedite the rebuilding process in an effort to get to the playoffs quickly.  However Colangelo doesn’t seem the type of executive to deviate from a plan unless there is a purpose.

Colangelo, of course, built a very successful team in Phoenix with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire at the forefront (both players he drafted) and then turned Toronto into a playoff team in a single year with key acquisitions like Anthony Parker, TJ Ford and Jorge Garbajosa.  He has drafted very well over his time in the league and is responsible for a number of highly touted draft picks including Demar Derozan and Ed Davis, who now make up the main part of Toronto’s core.  He also cornered the market in Europe drafting Andrea Bargnani and Hiring Assistant GM Maurizio herardini as Assistant GM.

Bryan Colangelo has proven he can win and more importantly he has proven that he can adjust to life as an NBA GM very quickly.  Colangelo turned Jermaine O’neal into Hedo Turkoglu into Leandro Barbosa in a matter of two years.  All of those acquisitions were heralded throughout the NBA at the time they were made and has ultimately left Toronto in a very good financial situation going forward.

Whether he is building a championship team or building on success, he has shown he can do it all.

Why MLSE took their time making the decision to resign is anyones guess. The Teachers pension plan held to their guns but ultimately saw the light.

The decision to give Colangelo the keys for another two years will allow him to finish what he started.  Remember that Colangelo inherited a lot of what he had to play with in Toronto.  Chris Bosh was an inheritance he had to deal with and there was no indication that he wanted to really keep him around.  His first move as GM after all was to draft a player that was younger and played the same position.

In Toronto’s first year without Bosh they struggled, but showed much promise.  Demar Derozan emerged as a possible centrepiece and Ed Davis looks like a possible stud going forward.  Amir Johnson has continued to progress and Jarryd Bayless may turn out to be a brilliant pickup.  These young ones make up the core of the team going forward and now Colangelo looks to add to that base with a top 5 pick and considerable cap room.

Colangelo is finally out from under the obligation that was Chris Bosh and now is beginning, for the first time, to really build a team that is his own.  The board on MLSE was right in handing him the keys to the franchise and letting him mould this team in the image he sees fit.

Colangelo has been a success his entire career and there is no reason to think he won’t be once again with the 2011-12 Toronto Raptors.  His first task now awaits him as the Raptors will select fifth overall in this June’s draft.  With his eye for talent, Toronto could walk away with another draft night steal.

Welcome home Mr. Colangelo.  Let the work begin.

***

Kristoffer Pedlar

The Zan Tabak Herald
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