This is a pickle, Bryan, this is a pickle …
As the Raptors continue to sludge through the 2008-2009 season, there are now voices being raised in the traditional media, the blogosphere and, in general, amongst their rabid fanbase, that the time is at-hand for this outfit to swing another major deal … e.g. I. No panic, but Colangelo looking for a good deal, II. The State of the Raptors & III. Doug Smith confirms: Raps trying to move JO.
Well, you know what?
Q1. How often can the followers of this team actually get it wrong … when it comes to gauging accurately [I] WHAT moves SHOULD be made [or not] and WHEN they should be made [or not] to improve its fortunes?
A1. Just about … EVERY SINGLE TIME.
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“Now, listen to me … I, I beg of you not to do this thing. If Potter gets a hold of this Building & Loan there’ll never be another decent house built in this town. He’s already got charge of the bank, he’s got the bus line, he got the department stores and now he’s after us. Why? Well, it’s very simple … because we’re cutting in on his business, that’s why. And because he wants to keep you living in his slums and paying the kind of rent he decides. Joe, you had one of those Potter houses, didn’t you? Well, have you forgotten? Forgotten what he charged you for that broken down shack. Here, Ed … you know, you remember last year when things weren’t going so well and you couldn’t make your payments, well, you didn’t lose your house, did yah? Do you think Potter would have let you keep it. Can’t you see? Ca … can’t you understand what’s happening here? Don’t you see what’s happening? Potter isn’t selling … Potter’s buying! And, why? Because we’re panicking and he’s not, that’s why. He’s picking up some bargains. Now we, we can get through this thing alright … if we … we’ve got to stick together, though, we’ve got to have faith in each other.” – George Bailey
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FACT IS …
He who really knows what he is doing DOES NOT sell … when others say that he SHOULD. He waits. He watches. He evaluates. He sits tight. He holds on. He rides it out. Then, eventually … when the time is RIGHT … HE STRIKES! He BUYS, again, over and over and over. He doesn’t sell. In fact … He NEVER ever really sells, at all … Truth be told. He is ALWAYS buying … something, somewhere, from someone … whether The Other party realizes it, or not. It’s really quite irrelevant, in the grand scheme of things. At least it is … to THE ONE WHO REALLY KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.
It’s an Immutable Law of the Universe … designed to test your mettle.
Nothing more and nothing less than that.
Tags: Bryan Colangelo, Dave Feschuk, Doug Smith, George Bailey, It's a Wonderful Life, RaptorsRepublic.com, RealGM.com
January 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I agree with all that you’ve said about not panicking, selling when hysteria hits a fever pitch, etc. Moves in those conditions result in deals like the one that brought JO here.
BUT – don’t you think there’s an argument that this exact moment could be a good time to sell high on JO? (I’m not saying I’m in agreement with this, but here goes)
He had a string of solid individual games before he got hurt. Other teams see this. He hasn’t yet become a locker-room cancer (which I think is entirely possible in the near future), and has played with a lot of heart this year. (or fake braggadocio, depending on your POV) There is a definite market for experienced big men with a mean streak come playoff time, and I’m sure that a team like Boston, Cleveland, or someone out west would love to have him.
The obvious monkey wrench here is JO’s monster contract, which no team would love to have. Honestly, I think he’s very close to untradeable at any point prior to next season because of the numbers another team would have to assemble to make a deal work. Next year, more takers because of the expiration, obviously.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Scott G,
Agreed … for the most.
That’s the reason I included the bit about Kapono and O’Neal in the first sentence of what I wrote earlier this morning over at RR, in comment #22:
Raptors vs Bucks Stream, Chat and (Twitter) Blog
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The two provisos I would put with your perspective are …
1. Given O’Neal’s current knee injury [once, again], IMO, he is going to be viewed as “Damaged Goods”, across the League, right now.
The other GM’s might also be wondering just how it is this collection of misfitted Raptors has suddenly begun to play better without Jermaine O’Neal in their midst … and to speculate upon the notion first raised by Larry Bird, when he decided to move JO last summer, re: the actual contribution he makes to a team at this stage of his career with that hefy price-tag in-tow.
2. If Bargnani can continue his improved play of late, while O’Neal is out … and, then, O’Neal can return to the line-up, as a Back-Up Center who is effective in short stretches and capable of playing in a series of games without getting re-injured [which, BTW, I do not think is the case, at all] … then, IMO, he might become a solid tradable asset as the Trade Deadline approaches this season.
January 6th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
It’s been a while since we’ve last touched base, but I thought I’d stop by to let you know that I am going to host a live blog for tonights game between the Lakers and Hornets. I would appreciate if you stop by and join in on the fun!
January 6th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
[...] This is a pickle, Bryan, this is a pickle … – [...]
January 6th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
LABT,
If I can pick up the game on TV or on-line somewhere, I’ll do my best to drop by.
I haven’t had a chance to see the Lakers play in a while and would like to see the progress they’re making towards 70 W’s and capturing the 2008-2009 NBA title.
Cheers
January 6th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Yeah – your two added observations are definitely true. He IS damaged goods, and he WAS when BC traded for him. Despite all the “best shape of my life” pre-season bravado, the cat is out of the bag on this one.
Regarding his usefulness as a role player on this team — do you think that JO has the emotional makeup to accept such a role, on this specific team? If we were talking about the Celtics, I’m sure he’d be a great teammate off the bench. Here, however, playing behind Bargs, and potentially Hump/Vosk in terms of minutes, I feel there is a significant risk that he behaves poorly to the detriment of the team.
As you point out, though, on the other hand he could up his trade value as a role player for us.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:37 am
Scott G,
I agree with your perspective on the risk involved. IMO, he does not have the type of character which is needed to succeed in this specific role with this team, at least, not at this stage of his own career.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
The Bargnani vs O’Neal situation is a challenge for Triano, with input from BC to show whether or not he is an NBA Coach or not.
The best way for Bargnani, who is the future of the Raptors to grow is to play consistently 30/35 mins as a 4/5, prefably as a starter.
It is Triano’s challenge to come up with an effective rotation between Bosh, Bargnani, and O’Neal, that’s what an NBA coach does. His early indication is that when O’Neal is fit he will start, and Bargnani will come off the bench again.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Johnn19 – your last sentence is exactly what I’m afraid of. That rotation was clearly ineffective prior to O’Neal’s re-re-re-injury, and I don’t see any reason for that to change just because Bargs got a few good games under his belt as a starter.
You’re completely right in your middle pgh – let’s hope Triano agrees! lol
January 7th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Wow.. a Johnn19 sighting. After the insults you were throwing down around here, I am shocked you would have the audacity to say anything.