Pieces we want...

[Ripp]

So I think most of us will agree that the two biggest needs are:

1) Defensive, rebounding center.
2) Defensive, uptempo point guard.

Here are some possible targets:

Center:
a) Oden. Impossible to get from Portland, unfortunately.
b) Gortat? Languishing on Orlando bench, can be acquired after the 15th (I think.)
c) Joel Pryzbilla. Not sure if Portland has the depth for us to pull this off..

For point guards:
Guards:
a) I like Jerryd Bayless.
b) I also like Andre Miller.


There is a whole other issue of how to acquire these players, and what we'd have to give up. But first, let's identify what pieces are needed.

Feel free to propose other suggestions.

[Dr. James Naismith]

Hmmm .... something tells me you think Portland is possibly a good suitor to potentially make deals with.

Eventhough he isn't a centre, I've always like Nick Collison from OKC. Decent defender, but a no nonsense kind of player. Great rebounder and a good hustle energy guy for a forward.

[brothersteve]

There are lots of pieces to go after starting on Dec 15th.

I'd go after Noah!

[Dr. James Naismith]

I'd go after Noah!

Noah's a pipe dream right now. I don't think we'd have any pieces besides Bosh that would really entice the Bulls to deal with us.

[Raps Fan]

Calderon/Bargnani for Miller/Oden? Has some merit, but not sure how interest pritchard has in this. It satisfies a lot of problems for the Raptors, not sure how great it is for the blazers though.

[brothersteve]

Noah's a pipe dream right now. I don't think we'd have any pieces besides Bosh that would really entice the Bulls to deal with us.

If the Raps are going to trade to re-make the team - Bosh and his non-commitment to the Raps make him the guy to trade!

Bulls need Offense - Raps need Defense. There should be a deal there

[brothersteve]

Calderon/Bargnani for Miller/Oden? Has some merit, but not sure how interest pritchard has in this. It satisfies a lot of problems for the Raptors, not sure how great it is for the blazers though.

Dollars aren't close.

Miller is old.

[Dr. James Naismith]

Calderon/Bargnani for Miller/Oden? Has some merit, but not sure how interest pritchard has in this. It satisfies a lot of problems for the Raptors, not sure how great it is for the blazers though.

Something tells me Oden is off limits right now. I think they're pretty happy with that Aldridge-Oden tandem. If their front court ain't broke, don't fix it. They have a nice mix of offense-defensive where we on the other hand have just offense from our front court duo of Bosh & Bargnani.

Bosh & Noah would be a great tandem, but as I mentioned before I don't think the Bulls are interested in someone like Bargnani.

[Arsenalist]

At least call the Bobcats and see if D.J Augustin is available. Roy Hibbert would've been nice but Colangelo fucked that one up. Gortat is paid way too much, I think the draft is good for hustling big men. Samuel Dalembert would be a good defensive touch, Philly needs outside shooting, I'd dangle Calderon in front of them.

[brothersteve]

At least call the Bobcats and see if D.J Augustin is available. Roy Hibbert would've been nice but Colangelo fucked that one up. Gortat is paid way too much, I think the draft is good for hustling big men. Samuel Dalembert would be a good defensive touch, Philly needs outside shooting, I'd dangle Calderon in front of them.

Hibbert is back in the second unit because of his defense. He is just too slow.
Not the guy the raps should looking for.

Dalembert would be a nice pick-up, the 15% trade kicker is a problem though.

[Raps Fan]

If the Raps are going to trade to re-make the team - Bosh and his non-commitment to the Raps make him the guy to trade!

Bulls need Offense - Raps need Defense. There should be a deal there

Bosh is as non-committed as LeBron and Wade are, can't hold that against him. He's doing what's best for him, we all would do the same in his place. A trade with Bosh and Noah as the centerpieces would be horribly bad for the Raptors unless Rose came with him somehow.

[brothersteve]

Bosh is as non-committed as LeBron and Wade are, can't hold that against him. He's doing what's best for him, we all would do the same in his place. A trade with Bosh and Noah as the centerpieces would be horribly bad for the Raptors unless Rose came with him somehow.

Or Deng?

[Dr. James Naismith]

If the Raps are going to trade to re-make the team - Bosh and his non-commitment to the Raps make him the guy to trade!

Bulls need Offense - Raps need Defense. There should be a deal there

So are you suggesting a Bargnani & Noah front court instead? Does anyone think Bargnani can play the PF spot? I don't know, but if we can again show some type commitment to Bosh that we're building a team of "better & more complimenting" players around him I want Bosh here much longer than anyone else on this team.

[Dr. James Naismith]

Center:
a) Oden. Impossible to get from Portland, unfortunately.
b) Gortat? Languishing on Orlando bench, can be acquired after the 15th (I think.)
c) Joel Pryzbilla. Not sure if Portland has the depth for us to pull this off..

Hmmm ... Ripp .... is there something that you already know that we don't?

Apparently Gortat isn't happy with his lack of playing time right now. I don't think he's the answer, but waive POB, Pops and whomever else to make room for this dude.

I love the organization, but I'm not going to stay here being a back-up player and playing five minutes a game," Gortat told the Orlando Sentinel. "I hope people understand that. I know I can have a bigger role on another team."
"I really don't think about this now. But at some point, I want to have the chance to sit down with coach [Stan] Van Gundy and tell him how I feel and where I want to go with my career," Gortat added. "I'm 100 percent sure coach will understand and will do the right thing for me and the team.

"My agent will talk to Otis. But it's too early to say anything."

[brothersteve]

So are you suggesting a Bargnani & Noah front court instead? Does anyone think Bargnani can play the PF spot? I don't know, but if we can again show some type commitment to Bosh that we're building a team of "better & more complimenting" players around him I want Bosh here much longer than anyone else on this team.

Noah & Bargs would commitment each other. They play opposite in style & position on the floor.

Noah would push Bosh back outside. Bosh the jump shooter again.

Noah would complement either Bosh or Bargs on the defensive end.

Bosh can hold the team up for ransom in the summer - a S&T with a gun to your head will not return the value of a mid-season trade to a team that believes they can re-sign Bosh.

Waiting for Bosh is a big risk that the team doesn't have to take. And Bosh isn't LeBron or Wade - the wait isn't worth the risk.

[brothersteve]

Hmmm ... Ripp .... is there something that you already know that we don't?

Apparently Gortat isn't happy with his lack of playing time right now. I don't think he's the answer, but waive POB, Pops and whomever else to make room for this dude.

1) who do the Raps have earning $3m that the Magic would want?

2) Gortat earns about $2.8m more than his trade value (BYC player) which would push the Raps into Luxury Tax territory - can't see MLSE doing that unless they can dump enough salary elsewhere/ somehow.

[Arsenalist]

Hmmm ... Ripp .... is there something that you already know that we don't?

Apparently Gortat isn't happy with his lack of playing time right now. I don't think he's the answer, but waive POB, Pops and whomever else to make room for this dude.

No thanks to Gortat, the guy is signed through the 2013-14 season in an escalating deal. With the salary cap declining do you really want to tie up 7.5M in him? What he brings can be got through the draft, hell, even the D-League if you look hard enough. The guy is closer to Eric Montross than Brad Miller.

[ThatPatty]

Jose and Bosh for Monta and Biedrins

[hateslosing]

Jose and Bosh for Monta and Biedrins

Love this trade, Biedrins compliments bargs in so many ways and monta is on fire.

Do you think we could get Oden and others for Bosh? I am a huge Oden fan as of late, the guy is playing good ball.

[Ripp]

No thanks to Gortat, the guy is signed through the 2013-14 season in an escalating deal. With the salary cap declining do you really want to tie up 7.5M in him? What he brings can be got through the draft, hell, even the D-League if you look hard enough. The guy is closer to Eric Montross than Brad Miller.

5 years, 34 million. I think if you plug him in right now as starting center for the raptors, he will give you 10/10, good man-to-man and help defense in 36 minutes of play.

I don't think it is fair at all to compare him anyone in the d-league. Just because he can't get minutes behind Dwight doesn't mean he sucks. Don't you remember his good play in the playoffs, or last season?

Finally, look at the numbers:

http://www.82games.com/0809/08PHI13.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0910/09ORL11.HTM

Similar production, but Gortat is half the price.

Plus, Gortat has some potential for growth/improvement...Dalembert not so much.

ThatPatty: Interesting idea, but I don't think Golden State believes they can resign Bosh. Plus Monta and Biedrins are quality players on good contracts...Jose, not so much. I don't think they'd do it unless they could also unload Magette's albatross contract..

IMy favored approach is to get rid of Calderon, and acquire someone like Gortat also (obviously, finances might make this challenging..) More competition at the Center spot will hopefully light a fire under Bargnani's @ss, make him play with some passion.

I'm against acquiring someone like Noah. He is a great player, but better to buy low and sell high, than vice versa (e.g., the Hedo acquisition..)