First and Foremost, a Canada Day Toast:
To all those who had the foresight to book Thursday and Friday off, enjoy your long weekend. But either way, today is a much needed break from the work-week grind for all of us. It’s also a time to celebrate, spend time with family and friends, while feeling proud to be Canadian. Well, minus the shame of the environmental and health destruction that the irresponsible development of the Oil Sands provides. Just a reality check, this is the Republic after all.
Canada’s sports scene is no stranger to that sense of pride, regardless if opinions are like you know what. On the mainstream level, we may play the background more often than not, but does that really matter when each city’s passion can rival any fan base out there?
Toronto, for the most part, is viewed as the enemy through the rest of the country’s eyes. Yet in the big picture, we have each other’s back (or so I hope), even if you live in Montreal or Ottawa. A special shoutout to Vancouver is in order, as the NBA would be a better place if two Canadian franchises were still roaming the hardwood.
As of this article’s publishing, NBA Free Agency has been live for nine hours. Canada Day aligning on the calendar is nothing new, but can still offer up a chance to keep the good vibes flowing. Time will tell if that’s just false hope rearing its ugly head or perhaps the Raptors actually land a few quality pieces. Free Agency is about to send the basketball world into chaos, as a result, opening up the trade market even further. Two avenues that will prove to be pivotal stops on the Raptors’ road to recovery.
Now, let’s get this party started.
“We’re Open For Business.”
Those magic words are what every fan of a squad in need wants to hear, and by all accounts, Masai Ujiri isn’t just giving the media empty soundbites. The unexpected LaMarcus Aldridge news undoubtedly adds an entire new dimension of possibilities, even if Toronto seemingly sits as the long-shot to score Portland’s force in the middle.
It’s difficult to keep our imagination in check, the jolt this team would receive from an Aldridge addition is a tantalizing one. A mobile, dual-threat Power Forward (if only) who thrives equally in the post as well as from mid-range (it still has a place in today’s game). The Raps’ 26th overall ranking in total rebounding would welcome an instant makeover with open arms, less plotting in the interior would give K-Low and DeRozan some much needed room to breath, and the pressure on Valanciunas to become a focal point would be alleviated. Alright, alright, I’ll snap out of it.
If the Raps do in fact hold the least appeal among potential suitors, we still made his shortlist, which in itself can only help the luring of other quality names. Every time we think about what could have been, the 2006 draft becomes increasingly painful. I usually applaud GM’s for taking risks on what they believe in, but the margin of error made by selecting Andrea Bargnani over Aldridge has haunted this organization ever since. I’ll cut Colangelo some slack, however, as 19 players selected in that first round are currently not suiting up in the NBA, even our “beloved” Kyle Lowry was passed over until 24th overall. But i digress, let’s get back to the business at hand.
You can add a couple names to the rumour-mill mix. Bismack Biyombo’s shot-blocking presence and rebounding prowess offer an intriguing and helpful skill-set. But when another Blazer, Wesley Matthews, joins the discussion, we proceed to stand at attention. Terrence Ross is running out of chances to prove his worth, while Matthews immediately stretches the floor in a way Ross apparently will never be able to do. This presents a chance to kill the waiting game. Matthews’ supposed clean bill of health by the start of next season is an encouraging sign, but an Achilles injury does leave room for hesitation. Especially considering the likely asking price.
If the Raps’ brass are intent on forcing the T-Ross issue, Matthews and other candidates such as Khris Middleton, and to a lesser extent, Iman Shumpert, open the door for the elephant in the room to poke its head out earlier than originally thought. DeMar DeRozan is sure to opt out of his final-year player option heading into the 2016-17 season, and attaining unrestricted status to boot. At that point, thanks to the league’s impending new TV deal, the cap will have increased to a level where contracts will reach new heights. Whether it’s a max-deal or not, DeRozan is about to seriously cash in. The question is, will MLSE and Masai be the ones handing him the paperwork?
Is DeMar a max-player? Well, that isn’t necessarily the main talking point moving forward. Unworthy players will “earn” max-dollars (or close to it) with more regularity as we go. It’s becoming the nature of the system. Now, while it’s within Toronto’s reach to shell out in back to back years, the Raps’ could get proactive and deal DeRozan as soon as this offseason when the return would be at it’s strongest. The odds are slim, but you can’t rule out a roster overhaul.
Speaking of changes.
New Blood:
Let’s put it in reverse and go deeper into Draft night, an evening that shed some positive light on this organization. The script has yet to be written, but when a team says goodbye to one of their more inconsistent and one-dimensional members, while at the same time welcoming a potential aid to a major weakness, not to mention topping off their first-round picks over the course of the next two years to make a grand total of four, it should be deemed as a success.
Greivis Vasquez was an important part of the Raptors’ movement, but proved to be expendable over time. Vasquez deserves recognition, though, the spark and clutch element he supplied to a stagnant group was at times invaluable. Still, there’s only so many times a player can dodge questions about their presence on the defensive end before a franchise decides to pull the plug. Boosting the available cap space in the process made this transaction a no-brainer. This city wishes GV luck, but nice doing business, Milwaukee.
Enter Toronto’s first-round pick. The 6’6″ defensive-minded Point Guard from the Utah Utes, Delon Wright. Winner of the Bob Cousy Award for the NCAA’s best at the position. How many times have opposing guards broken down the Raps’ perimeter defense with relative ease? A massive flaw in the this team’s “system”.
The book on Wright suggests poor shooting with a troublesome jumper and just 29.9% from downtown in his senior year. But it also advocates for a stat-stuffer with exceptional anticipation at both ends, and the knack for getting to the rim. Opportunity is ripe for Wight to be handed meaningful minutes off the hop, even if he’s relegated to backup duties.
Wright does face a learning curve, but if the upside comes to fruition, that script could include a chapter where Lowry doesn’t fulfill all four years of his recently signed contract.
This is not a Bruno scenario. All signs point to Wright’s calm demeanour and polished mindset. At least now with the Raps’ newly founded 905 D-League squad, we’ll be able to witness first hand if Bruno’s nervous hands and deer-in-headlights disposition have progressed. That 905 logo, however, feel free to insert Kramer’s “Don’t look at me, I’m hideous” line, here.
At the risk of using the most overused reference of all-time, Bruno literally may have been “Two years away from being two years away”. A disappointing thought, but he still owns plenty of potential to prove something to his critics, as flashes (in very small doses) of intangibles have been on display. How he fits in the Raps’ current state of affairs is up in the air. Which brings us the road presently travelled.
Future Fireworks?
The league has evolved to a point where life behind the arc, efficiency on the pick-and-roll, and the ability to drive the lane take precedence above all else. This is not groundbreaking intel, as less emphasis on the traditional big has been brewing ever since Damon Stoudamire was coming off screens by Carlos Rogers. But what will happen if the offseason proves to be a bust? What if the value added to the roster is minimal at best, can the status-quo learn from their shortcomings?
The four left standing in the playoffs (Warriors, Cavs, Hawks, Rockets in case you’ve been on vacation) were the same four who finished the regular season in the top five of 3-pointers made (per game and total), and in the top seven of 3-point attempts (per game and total). The good news is the Raps reside an encouraging 9th and 8th respectively (per game and total).
The discouraging part is the majority of those threes were jacked up with no discipline. The separation begins when those top four also occupy the top ten in assists (per game and total), while the same category showcases Toronto’s indecisive ball movement as they ISO-lated themselves to the point of 22nd overall status (per game and total).
Wild and disorderly attempts only breed a lack of box-out fundamentals, and a lack of box-out fundamentals leads to poor position, poor position makes for inadequate rebounding, inadequate rebounding morphs into easy transition buckets the other way, and easy transition buckets the other way calls for yours truly to throw his TV off his balcony.
What if Amir Johnson and Lou Williams are both re-upped? That notion only lends itself to the same old story. An encore presentation of last year’s bitter disappointment cannot repeat itself. We can’t relive Lowry’s gambling problem, the James Johnson roller-coaster, Dwane Casey’s somewhat-forced misusage of JV, or the lethargic vibe this team gives off in general. Hell, Patrick Patterson, despite his flaws, might have been the only player who served up what he’s supposed to on a nightlly basis.
Just because “small ball” has risen to the forefront, it doesn’t mean the backseat positions will ever dissolve. But, if you can’t manage the mentality, or acquire the players to help the new-school NBA work for you and not against, this team will self-destruct by the All-Star break. And we’re hosting the event.
If Aldridge chooses his hometown of Texas, or decides on California, there’s more where that came from. Toronto as a free agent destination is gaining a bit of traction. As for redemption, all we can do is just sit back and enjoy the ride. Keep the faith? Definitely, maybe.
Happy Canada Day, Cheers.
