Main reason the Raptors should have dismissed Coach Triano after failing to make the playoffs
If Toronto truly wanted to re-sign Chris Bosh this summer then the Raptors needed to do the following 4 things this off season:
1. Dismiss their head coach, putting the full responsibility for their poor performances of the last 2 seasons squarely on his shoulders;
2. Hire an experienced successful NBA head coach, with existing cache amongst elite level players … e.g. Byron Scott, Jeff Van Gundy, etc.;
3. Add at least 2 quality prospects through the 2010 NBA Draft;
and,
4. Be a serious strategically-position Buyer this summer … instead of a weakly-positioned seller … intent on making the following pitch, first, to Chris Bosh – their only all-star – and, then, to Dwyane Wade, and/or LeBron James, and/or Joe Johnson, and/or Carlos Boozer, and/or Paul Pierce, etc.:
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[Courtesy of Vic, a poster at Raptors Republic who smacked one clear out of the yard at 11:12 AM this morning]
The Only Pitch The Raptors Should Be Making To Chris Bosh
3. The ONLY place in the entire league where you will not be the complement in every sense is Toronto. Toronto fans know you inside out, and have supported you through thick and thin. Regardless of what happens, you will always hold a place above almost any other Raptor in history. Even if James or Wade join you here, and they become the focus on the court, you will still be getting equal billing here as face of the franchise, and as much attention and focus here as either of them. The established fan base will also be much rejuvenated if you decide to stay. No other place in the league offers you this because if you team up with them anywhere else, you will always be second on and off the court. Teaming up with lesser talents vastly reduces your chances at championship contention in the short term and so if you’re about winning, that’s not much of an option either.So what are we getting at? You want to win, but you want to be the man. There is almost no place this can happen (assuming winning = teaming up with James/Wade) in the league except for Toronto. So let’s make this happen.
4. What we need to do: we need you fully on board and to commit to Toronto. Then we need to actively recruit, yourself included, Lebron James and/or Dwyane Wade. We have loads of assets to sign and trade to either the Cavs or the Heat in order to take their contracts on. We have large contracts/veterans in Calderon, Jack, Bargnani and Turkoglu, a whole slew of young talents in DeRozan, Weems, Johnson (s&t), Davis, Alabi, and Belinelli (talented without a doubt, maybe hasn’t used it fully yet) and expiring contracts in Banks and Evans, not to mention future draft picks. We can easily find a package that meets salary requirements AND ensures that the other team receives some talent in return. The key here is convincing James or Wade that Toronto is the place they want to go because once that’s done, we hold the leverage in offering whatever we want to the other team. We don’t have to fleece them, but if one of them commit to Toronto, the ball is out of their former team’s court.
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If the Raptors would have done each of these things, since the end of the 2009-2010 season, then their organization would be well-positioned, right now, to go forward, either:
A. With Chris Bosh;
or,
B. Without Chris Bosh.
Unfortunately, the Raptors did not do this.
As long as there is an attitude within the Raptors organization that their franchise is somehow “less-than” their competitors in the United States … and, therefore, is incapable of ever being able to build an authentic championship-calibre team, in Toronto, then, they will continue to be little more than a Treadmill Team, which dwells perpetually in the middle region of the NBA.
Bryan Colangelo’s series of poor personnel decisions over the last 4 years:
|
Season |
Poor Personnel Decisions |
Should have … |
|
2006-2007 |
Retained Mitchell/S, as head coach |
Hired SVG |
|
Trade Araujo/R for Humphries/K |
Kept then released Araujo |
|
|
Traded Villanueva/C for Ford/TJ |
Traded for a Wing or Big |
|
|
Selected Bargnani/A, as No. 1 [overall] Draft Pick |
Selected Roy/B or Gay/R |
|
|
Signed Jones/F, as UFA |
|
|
|
2007-2008 |
Signed Kapono/J, as UFA |
Signed Pietrus/M |
|
Failed to replace Garbajosa/J [post injury] |
|
|
|
2008-2009 |
Traded Ford/TJ, Nesterovic/R & Hibbert/R for O’Neal/J |
Traded Ford/TJ for a Wing or Big |
|
Fired Mitchell/S, as head coach |
Kept Mitchell/S |
|
|
Promoted Triano/J, as new head coach |
|
|
|
Traded O’Neal/J & Moon/J for Marion/S & Banks/M |
Kept O’Neal/J’s Salary |
|
|
Traded Marion/S, Humphries/K & Jawai/N for Turkoglu/H, Wright/A & George/D |
Kept Marion/S |
|
|
Named Triano/J, permanent head coach |
Hired an outside coach |
|
|
Traded Kapono/J for Evans/R |
Traded for a Wing |
|
|
Signed Jack/J, as UFA |
Signed Watson/E |
is the main reason Toronto is in its current position, BUT he should NOT be fired by MLSE.
Although his reputation, as a Top Notch GM, has certainly been tarnished by his less-than stellar work in Toronto, he is still highly respected across the NBA.
“Swinging for the fences” was not what the Raptors should have done each of the last 3 off seasons [i.e. by adding Kapono, O'Neal and Turkoglu].
However, “Swinging for the fences” is precisely what Bryan Colangelo should have done this summer … in an effort to keep Chris Bosh and build a championship NBA team in Toronto, in the aftermath of the Raptors’ total collapse at the end of this past season.
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As the old saying goes …
In this Life, timing is everything.
July 1st, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Khandor, you’re an idiot. Maybe we should have failed you, after your FIRST year of being a stupid writer. Triano’s had one full year under his belt and he should be canned? You guys kill me. He’s supposed to make a playoff with 9 new players? He’s rookie coach. The same way we don’t put alot of apples in the basket of a first year rookie, is the same way you should look at Triano. He’s rookie coach, working with what he had. He’s damn fime coach that ALREADY has the respect of players that have respect in the league. Tired of you uneducated people that take shots of Canada and the Raps, as if our team is the botoom feeders of the league. What about the Clippers, Nets? They’re worst than us. Triano’s a waay better coach than you are a writer. Sh*t headed foreskin.
– Edited: Cursing’s not allowed on this blog.
–
July 1st, 2010 at 8:28 pm
[...] khandor’s sports blog » Main reason the Raptors should have dismissed Coach Triano after failing … – As long as the there is an attitude within the Raptors organization that their franchise is somehow “less-than” their competitors in the United States … and, therefore, is incapable of ever being able to build an authentic championship-calibre team, in Toronto, then, they will continue to be little more than a Treadmill Team, which dwells perpetually in the middle region of the NBA. [...]
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:37 am
This article is a little terrible. Anyone can spew out ‘shoulda done this or that.’ You criticize BC for not making a respectable pitch to keep Bosh this summer when that is all he has been trying to do with his moves over the past 3 years!
A Bosh-less future for the Raps isn’t a tragedy, its an opportunity to nurture a young, athletic, hungry squad!
July 2nd, 2010 at 3:41 am
Khandor, has the NBA collectively lost it’s mind? Nearly all of these first day contracts were pure lunacy.
What the hell is David Kahn doing?
What in God’s name is John Hammond doing? 102 million for Gooden, Maggette and Salmons… Gooden will be 34 and Salmons 36 when his contract ends.
After his playoff performance, how can anybody in there right mind think that Joe Johnson is worth 120 million over 6 years. He is 29 years old. Kelly Dwyer is right in saying that that contract will immediately become the worst in the league upon its signing. Maybe Gil’s will give it a run for its money.
This day has left me speechless. I cannot wait to view the wreckage in a few weeks time.
How can David Stern even think to ask for any concessions from Billy Hunter in the wake of the amount of money that is going to be spent. A lockout is going to be inevitable.
July 2nd, 2010 at 3:45 am
Additionally, the Memphis Grizzilies might have the worst ownership/general manager combination in the league.
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Khandor, I completely agree with you. Almost every single move seemed questionable at the time, but what really stands out was the double flip of JO, practically giving away assets and positioning Miami – one of the key players for bosh – as a possible destination by taking Banks off their hands. Had they just the expiring deals of Ford, Nestrovich and Moon finish and trade calderon with a couple of the first rounders for cap relief, the Raptors could have been one of the major players in this free agrent bonaza.
I seriously question the decisions of BC. Compared to Babcock, who took an old team and managed to create enviable cap space, a number one pick and a franchise talent like Bosh, all BC has done has gone backwards. I think one of the franchise’s biggest regrets is firing Babcoack, he was seriously underrated and did a fantastic job with the raptors.
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:00 am
Me,
Did you see me write anywhere that I think Jay Triano is a bad coach?
I did not write that.
What I wrote in this entry pertains to what the Raptors c/should have done, at the end of this past season, to put themselves in the best light possible, from Chris Bosh’s perspective, if they truly wanted to be able to re-sign him and continue building around him as the center-piece of their franchise.
Even though Bosh was injured and missed the end of the regular season, Toronto SHOULD still have been able to qualify for the playoffs.
The fact that they did not … needed to be addressed by Bryan Colangelo.
i.e. the same way that Sam Mitchell needed to be dismissed at the end of the 2005-2006 season, when Bryan Colangelo first came on-board as the GM.
If Toronto would have done that … and then hired Byron Scott, and then traded Bargnani, the Raptors would be in excellent position today to go forward, either, with or without Chris Bosh.
That is how a first class GM operates in the NBA … by creating win-win situations.
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:06 am
The Rap-ist,
1. What I happen to say about the quality of the Raptors’ personnel moves, I say BEFORE the event happens, not after-the-fact.
2. What the Raptors have done each of the last 3 summers is make the wrong moves at the wrong time.
i.e. swinging for the fences when they should have building slowly.
What the Raptors are doing … at least, so far … this summer is building slowly when they should be swinging for the fences, after having bulked up during the last 3 seasons with Chris Bosh already on-board.
There is nothing wrong with cheering on a young team with a bright future … except, of course, if that team is operating in YEAR 5 of a new regime.
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:13 am
SS,
IMO …
- Atlanta did the right thing, offering JJ the max, in their current situation
- Milwaukee is doing the right thing, given what they did last season, and where they want to go next year, except for signing Drew Gooden [who is not a good fit for their team]
- David Kahn did a bad job when he ran teams in the D-league and is off to a similar start with Minnesota
- a lockout is definitely looming on the horizon
- if Memphis keeps Rudy Gay, they are heading in the right direction, with Lionel Hollins as their coach
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:18 am
dg,
IMO …
- Babcock was a mediocre-to-bad GM, who at least had a solid plan of attack, even though he did not have the skills required to execute it properly
- Bryan Colangelo, on the other hand, has operated without a coherent plan, so far
- the Raptors SHOULD reach out to someone like Steve Kerr, as a possible replacement for Bryan Colangelo … on a long term basis, once Kerr’s new gig with TNT is no longer of interest to him
July 3rd, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Kerr would be a good addition, he managed to create a competitive team under severe stress from a penny-pinching owner + inheriting some bad contracts. I think the Raptors situation is similar (at a different starting position i.e. lottery team with bad contract vs. lower level playoff team with bad contracts). He would be a good signing.
With respect to Khan, while some moves seem baffling, isnt there some potential there? If they stay bad for a year and draft a stuf SG, this is the line-up they could be starting:
pg: Rubio, Flynn
sg: Stud SG, Webster
Sf: Johnson, Brewer
Pf: Love, Jefferson, Petrovic
C: Darko
Isn’t that a Jefferson for a defensive anchor trade away from a contender? I think so.
July 3rd, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Defensive anchor at the center position. Sorry, i didnt specify
July 4th, 2010 at 11:58 am
dg,
1. The spelling of David Kahn’s name is slightly different than mine. I wouldn’t want anybody mixing up the two of us.
2. IMO, Steve Kerr has a solid idea of what he wants to accomplish with an organization that he is in charge of building. Then things went awry in Phoenix he was astute enough to fix them right away with a series of moves that actually worked, based on sound basketball principles … which you could easily see in the additions/subtractions of the last 12 months. He is someone who has played the game at a high level … while winning multiple championships … thought about the game a great deal, as a “coach-on-the-floor”, and has analysed the game from the broadcast booth, on a nightly basis. He is someone with the type of judgment I could trust, from a Basketball Acumen perspective.
3. IMO, the line-up you’ve suggested for the T-wolves would still be quite a ways from developing into a legitimate contender in the WC … e.g. [i] Love, Darko and Pekovic [sp-?] aren’t good enough, as Bigs; although Brewer is a solid Back-up SF, Johnson is totally unproven as a legit Starting SF; and, neither do [a] “studly” OG’s nor [b] defensive anchor C’s simply grow on trees, in the NBA.
In fact, those two things are very difficult to find.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:08 am
You can’t blame him for taking the consensous number one pick. 0 teams in the league considered Brandon Roy as a first overall pick, BC doesn’t have a crystal ball.
If keeping J.O for a shot in the 2010 free agency market was your plan, then I’m sorry but your crazy. I somehow can’t see Lebron or Wade joining Bosh in Toronto…
If BC kept Mitchell we would still be seeing the Bosh, Ford pick and roll. His only play. He refused to develop young players at all and is a dump version of GS’s head coach. If you missed a shot he took you off the court, perhaps we should go back to that philosophy?
July 6th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Mike,
Welcome aboard.
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re: Bargnani as the consensus No. 1 Pick in 2006
Bargnani was NOT the consensus No. 1 pick in 2006.
Bargnani was the player who Bryan Colangelo thought would eventually develop into the best player from the 2006 draft.
These are two very different statements/observations.
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re: what the Raptors SHOULD have done in the 2006 Draft
If you take the time to read elsewhere on my blog then you will be able to see that what I advocated prior to that draft was for the Raptors to:
i. Trade out of the No. 1 position;
and,
ii. Select either Rudy Gay or Brandon Roy.
If they had the foresight to follow that route back then they would not be in the situation they are today.
At the time … there were very few, if any, other NBA observers who stated publicly, in advance, that the Raptors should:
- not have taken Bargnani
- not have taken Aldridge
- not have taken Thomas
- but, should have traded down to take either Gay or Roy
except me.
End of discussion.
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re: Jermaine O’Neal with the Raptors
Again …
If you’ve taken the time to read elsewhere on my blog, then, you would already know that I am someone who advocated, in advance, that the Raptors:
- should NOT have signed O’Neal in the first place
and, then,
- should NOT have traded him along with Jamario Moon to Miami, in exchange for Shawn Marion, prior to the trade deadline during the 2008-2009 season
You see …
The fact is that I am not someone who makes a habit of only using 20/20 hindsight when evaluating the merits of a team’s personnel moves … I am someone who states in advance what a team should or should not do and then seeks to hold them accountable for those moves after-the-fact.
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re: LeBron or Wade joining Bosh in Toronto
I have never said that either of these two other players would ever be interested in joining Bosh in Toronto.
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re: Sam Mitchell
Again …
You just haven’t taken the time to read the rest of my blog.
If you did, then, you would already know that I am someone who believes and advocated that Sam Mitchell should have been dismissed by the Toronto Raptors following the team’s 27 win season [i.e. 2005-2006], not 2+ seasons later, during early December of the 2008-2009 campaign.
I am someone who had/has immense respect for Sam Mitchell the man; and, far less respect for Sam Mitchell the basketball coach.
July 16th, 2010 at 5:52 am
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