It is almost time for Toronto Raptors training camp, and after a roller coaster summer, it will be nice to finally be able to focus on the the on-court product. What happened this summer was not a surprise to many, as the franchise player, he who looks like a Raptor himself, Mr. Chris Bosh took his talents to South Beach. Aside from that, Colangelo attempted his token summer roster overhaul, but will less success this year due to one failed signing and one trade that died on the table. But despite all of this, there is still a certain level of excitement going into the 2010-2011 season for Raptors faithful.
It will be interesting to see if Amir Johnson will be able to live up to his new contract and likely starting spot in place of CB4. The acquisition of Leandro Barbosa should bring some much needed excitement to the backcourt. New rookies Ed Davis and Solomon Alabi will likely be given significant playing time with the team so thin up front. Sophomore DeMar DeRozan will likely take a big step forward with increased responsibility this year. There are several reasons to be optimistic this season, despite the fact that the playoffs are likely out of the question.
But knowing that the playoffs are likely out of the question in the suddenly competitive Eastern Conference, the type of season that the team will realistically have must be considered. If they were unable to make the post-season with Bosh on the team last year, just how bad will it be this year? Further on that point, will it be so bad that we should hope for absolute disaster in favour of a high draft pick in next years Draft?
That is the question that all Raptors fans must ask themselves as the season draws near. The last time that the team found themselves near the bottom of league standings, Bargnani was the result. With no disrespect to the towering Italian, he has not exactly been first overall material just yet. This could very well change this season as he will be given the keys to the team, but his lack of rebounding and interior defence are unlikely to change.
So what is there to look forward to if the team finds themselves in the top 5 of the draft next year? Will it really make much of a difference whether they pick top 5, or top 10? Well considering how the 2011 Draft looks to be shaping up, and considering the Raptors needs at this time, it might be in the teams best interest to fight for every win they can this season, and stay away from the top of the lottery at all costs.
The reason? Well if Raptors fans have been somewhat disappointed with Bargnani so far, imagine if they draft his clone? Even worse, what if they had three opportunities to do so? That could be the case if Jan Vesely, Donatas Montiejunas and Jonas Valanciunas all declare for the draft this coming year. They are all between 6’10 and 7’0, none weigh over 240, they all shoot three’s and are all considered “raw”. This is exactly the type of player that the Raptors have been known to draft, and exactly what they do not need at this time.
The player that they do need is currently projected to fall in the middle of the first round. That player is Fab Melo, the Brazilian native who will be attending Syracuse this season. He stands 7’0 and tips the scales at 255 lbs. He too is seen to be raw and more of a project, at least he will be spending his time in the paint swatting shots away while his offensive game develops, rather than hovering around the perimeter waiting to launch a brick. But he might take more than one year at ‘Cuse, so maybe he will be a target in 2011. While this is all speculation at this point, as the season hasn’t even started, but there is no harm is hoping for what might happen next year right?
Or perhaps the front office needs to find themselves a real point guard of the future. Calderon is on borrowed time at this point. Jarrett Jack would be a fine tutor for a young stud. Barbosa is more of a combo-guard anyways. The wing position, which was for years the Achilles heel of the squad has been shored up with DeMar, Sonny Weems and Kleiza. The big men, between Amir, Ed Davis, Alabi and whoever else Colangelo brings in will at least be respectable.
So who is out there that could really be the Raptors point guard of the future? The most successful point guards as of late, from Derrick Rose to Russell Westbrook, have not only been able to manage the game, but also able to slash to the bucket and score themselves. It just might be that the perfect candidate for this job is a homegrown talent, something that the Raptors have always struggled to acquire. Cory Joseph. The soon to be freshman at Texas, and alumnus of Findlay Prep alongside fellow Canuck Tristan Thompson, Joseph could be exactly what the Raptors need.
He is able to slash with the best of them, but can also manage a team. He has an impressive handle and range from behind the arc. He is exactly what the Raptors need. Born just outside of Toronto in Ajax, he would not only answer Raptors fans calls for a Canadian player, but he could be their starting point man for years to come. In the way that the Maple Leafs selecting Nazem Kadri was a genius move, this could have similar, if not bigger effect on the fan base as well as on court product. There is no guarantee that Joseph will declare for the draft after just one season at Texas, but the possibility is there. Fellow Canadian guard Myck Kabongo is committed to Texas for 2011, so it might be wise for Joseph to have his one season for the Longhorns, then leave to give the keys to Kabongo.
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So what direction will this season take the Raptors? No one is quite sure, and amid recent news that Ed Davis tweaked his knee while playing pickup ball with the Young Gunz, Raptor fans are already nervous of what might be in store. There are plenty of impressive players aside from the three Euro’s that were mentioned earlier, but coming into the season there seems to be some teams in much worse shape than the Raptors.
The Cavaliers will likely be pitiful, but they will get themselves a new franchise player next year and start building around him. The Pistons don’t have much to work with, aside from rookie big man Greg Monroe. Minnesota never fails to disappoint, despite the litany of moves that they made this summer. Golden State, despite the emergence of Stephen Curry, will continue to be in the lottery.
This season will be interesting, and us Raptors fans will hope for the continued development of all the players with as few injuries as possible, if nothing else.
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