Having your cake and eating it, too … in Raptorville
PART 1
When Chris Bosh spoke with the assembled media, in Toronto …
Chris Bosh’s post-season press conference [April 15, 2010]
… he made his intentions quite clear, with respect to:
1. His decision to declare for unrestricted free agency this summer;
2. His desire for a maximum contract;
3. His willingness to listen to the sales pitches of other teams
4. His willingness to re-sign with the Raptors after July 1, if the team does the right things in the interim to indicate that Toronto would, in fact, be the best place for him to continue his pro career, as an elite level player who is committed to [i] maximizing his ability, and [ii] trying to win the NBA championship
Q1. Has Chris Bosh done anything since that press conference to indicate that he has changed his mind about any of these 4 intentions?
A1. No, he has not.
Q2. Have the Raptors done anything since that press conference to indicate that they are committed to building a championship calibre team in Toronto?
- retained Jay Triano, as their head coach
- retained Andrea Bargnani [C], as their No. 2 scorer [with Bosh]
- alienated Hedo Turkoglu, as their principal acquisition from last season
- added PJ Carlesimo, as a new assistant coach
- added Ed Davis [PF], as a 2010 1st Round Draft Pick/No. 13
- added Solomon Alabi [C], as a 2010 2nd Round Draft Pick/No. 50
- extended an olive branch to Hedo Turkoglu, as their No. 3 scorer [with Bosh]
- re-signed Amir Johnson [PF], as their own UFA
A2. No, they have not.
=====================
PART 2
i. Was the major weakness on last year’s Raptors team the poor performance of its front-court players?
[e.g. considering the play of Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson, Reggie Evans, Rasho Nesterovic, Patrick O'Bryant and Joey Dorsey]
or,
ii. Was the major weakness on last year’s Raptors team the poor performance of its Point Guards?
[e.g. considering the play of Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack and Marcus Banks]
or,
iii. Was the major weakness of last year’s Raptors team the poor performance of its wing players?
[e.g. DeMar DeRozan/1st-yr, Hedo Turkoglu, Antoine Wright/UFA, Sonny Weems/2nd-yr, and Marco Belinelli/3rd-yr]
==================
Unfortunately …
and despite the message which the team’s fans are being given by the Basketball Operations department of MLSE,
Raptors introduce Davis and Alabi at the Air Canada Centre
… it does not seem as though Bryan Colangelo has a solid grasp of where the team’s REAL problems are actually rooted [i.e. #1. The overall attitude and under-whelming performance of Andrea Bargnani, C; and, #2. Their current slate of less-than stellar wing players].
==================
PART 3
If Chris Bosh does not eventually re-sign with the Raptors, he will have made a sound basketball decision, based upon what the Raptors’ management team has shown him over the course of his 7 seasons in the NBA, including the personnel moves which they’ve made [and not made], thus far, this summer … if his primary goal is to compete for a league championship.
If Chris Bosh does eventually re-sign with the Raptors, he will have made a sound financial decision, based upon the fact that he can earn an additional $30.0 M more of guaranteed money from the Toronto Raptors, over the course of his 6-yr maximum contract.
The next week, or so, is going to be very interesting, and should solidify what exactly Chris Bosh’s priorities actually are, both, as a person and an elite basketball player.
Unfortunately, the Toronto Raptors priorities have been established for quite some time already, as a profit-centered business operation.
Tags: Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Ed Davis, Hedo Turkoglu, Jay Triano, MLSE, Solomon Alabi, Toronto Raptors
July 6th, 2010 at 9:50 am
To be honest with you
you can’t build a team around someone who MAY stay with your team. If we did build the team based on Bosh staying we’d be left with a giant hole at the front court.
I’m sure Bosh already told Colangelo his intentions and doesn’t want to publicly state that he’s not returning to the raptors. Otherwise Colangelo will lose even more leverage than what’s already lost. People complain that players don’t shut up and keep their feelings private. maybe this time a player did.
July 6th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Kandar you seem to forget bosh never improved is defense from when he was 19 years old. His blocks and steals are all down from his first year in the NBA. How does the best player on your team get worse at defense as he matures? He has had no commitment to winning and thats why the raptors just missed the playoffs last year. Your franchise guy like wade and lebron need to be your most committed defensive player and BOSH hasn’t lived up to his end of that deal
July 6th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Shrugz,
1. Welcome aboard!
2. If you have read what I have had to say about the enitire Chris Bosh situation … if not, then, I suggest that you take a look around my blog a bit more before leaving more comments … then, you should know already that I am someone who has previously advanced ways for the Raptors to continue building towards a championship team, either:
i. With Chris Bosh and without Andrea Bargnani;
or,
ii. Without Chris Bosh and without Andrea Bargnani.
3. It would be my best guess that Chris Bosh has, in fact, not yet told Bryan Colangelo he [CB4] has no intention of re-signing with the Raptors and/or the team with which he would like to play next … because he has yet to figure this out for himself.
Once he does this, I believe that Chris Bosh will let Bryan Colangelo know, asap.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:29 am
It sounds like the Raptors have made their decision, based on the moves you have mentioned. The decision whether Bosh remains a Raptor is no longer his. It has been made.
Last years move’s were insurance and it shows BC had the foresight to envision. We are in a much better position to let CB4 walk.
Whether he walks or a sign and trade is whats to be determined and I do not want another teams garbage. I trust BC, whichever way it goes, will make the right decision.
Its odd, when you mentioned 3 areas of weakness, you zone in on Bargnani. You mentioned his attitude, which how you have insight into is beyond me.
Bosh’s attitude last year could well of been the source of problems. You don’t hear his teammate say much, even Jack. But thats only conjecture on my part. Not arrogant enough to claim to be a mind reader.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:31 am
aaron,
1. Welcome aboard!
2. Blocks and steals, in isolation, are not accurate measures of a player’s true ability on the defensive end of the floor.
3. In Bosh’s early years with Toronto, he had the opportunity to play the Center position with a competent teammate at the Power Forward position for the majority of his PT. Unfortunately, however, as the last 4 years have gone by:
i. Andrea Bargnani’s minutes have gone up;
and,
ii. The Raptors have become a team which has focused less on the defensive side of the ball, with a shift in the Basketball Philosophy of Bryan Colangelo and the change in coaches from Kevin O’Neil [under Rob Babcock] to Sam Mitchell and Jay Triano.
4. IMO … to suggest that Chris Bosh is a poor defensive player when he’s aworking at the Center position in a system which has a balanced approach to offense, defense and rebounding is to make a simple error in judgment, from a basketball acumen perspective.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Tinman,
re: the Raptors have made their decision
Respectfully, I will have to disagree with this position, due to a very simple fact.
Q1. Have the Raptors pulled their offer to re-sign Chris Bosh to a maximum contract off the table?
A1. No they have not.
Therefore, the fact is that this decision is still Chris Bosh’s to make.
===============================
Last year’s moves do not qualify as “insurance”, in my book:
- retaining Triano
- retaining Bargnani
- trading for Evans
- signing Jack
- signing Turkoglu
At least, not at the cost of:
- a minimal salary to an inexperienced Head Coach
- a big ticket extension for an inconsistent 1-way player
- a mid-level contract for a mediocre under-sized Power Forward
- a mid-level RFA who is a mediocre Combo Guard
- a $50.0 M contract for 5 years to an over-30 player with the skill-set of a Point Forward
That’s called bad decision-making re: player personnel moves.
===============================
re: I trust BC to make the right decision
This, my friend, is a laughable statement to make, after what’s transpired with the Raptors organization over the last 4 years.
===============================
re: Bargnani is a key factor in the demise of the Raptors, since the 2006-2007 season
If you’ve listened to and watched closely what’s gone on with this team over the last 4 seasons … with a high degree of Basketball Acumen … then you, too, would be able to ascertain just how disliked Andrea Bargnani is by his teammates – i.e. not as a person, but as a basketball player.
Did you see how he was treated by Sam Mitchell?
Did you see how Chris Bosh said that he was tired of just talking and talking to the same players over and over again?
Did you see how the players on this year’s team wanted the coaches to hold more/certain players accountable for their errors and blatant deficiencies?
Did you see how those vocal players then identified a rift between certain segments on this year’s team?
Did you then see how the Raptors went completely into the tank after Chris Bosh got hurt vs Cleveland at the end of the season, and the team was forced to rely on Andrea Bargnani to carry them to the playoffs?
Anyone who cannot see who the REAL problem is on the Raptors simply doesn’t understand how the NBA game actually works and which players have the respect of their teammates and which ones do not.
[PLEASE NOTE: During the last 4 seasons not a single negative comment has been uttered from a player or a coach with the Raptors, casting aspirations in the direction of Chris Bosh.]
===============================
re: Bosh’s attitude this past season.
Chris Bosh’s “attitude” this past season was NOT the source of the Raptors problem … and that’s not strictly conjecture, on my part.
That’s my personal assessment as professional sports consultant.
July 6th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
“Did you then see how the Raptors went completely into the tank after Chris Bosh got hurt vs Cleveland at the end of the season” -Raptors stunk both with and without Bosh after the allstar break.
“Did you see how he was treated by Sam Mitchell?” – therein lies the problem. CB4 was Sam’s boy.
“Chris Bosh’s “attitude” this past season was NOT the source of the Raptors problem” – so Bosh had absolutely nothing to do with last season? Why is he made of Teflon? Wasn’t there a reference to how his attitude changed after the AllStar Break? Surely a professional sports consultant(hahahahaha) like yourself heard them rumours.
“That’s my personal assessment as professional sports consultant”
hahahahah – you must work out of your parents basement!
“Did you see how those vocal players then identified a rift between certain segments on this year’s team?” – we heard from the vocal players. What else was said? Don’t assume you know the whole story.
“Q1. Have the Raptors pulled their offer to re-sign Chris Bosh to a maximum contract off the table?” – who knows whats going through BC’s mind. Quit pretending. Until the papers are signed.
“During the last 4 seasons not a single negative comment has been uttered from a player or a coach with the Raptors, casting aspirations in the direction of Chris Bosh” – because Sam wouldn’t tolerate it for 2 1/2 of those years and I don’t here ringing endorsements coming from his teamamtes either.
Wow – it sure is easy to take apart someone’s comments. Almost as easy as Monday Morning Quarterbacking which is all that you do.
July 6th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Tinman,
re: Quote 1
I’m not talking about the Raptors’ performance pre vs post all-star break.
I’m talking about how the Raptors played their last several games of the season without Chris Bosh in the line-up, when all they had to do was beat Chicago in a home game to make the playoffs.
re: Quote 2
How Mitchell treated Bosh is irrelevant, when evaluating how Mitchell treated Bargnani … unless, of course, you are trying to suggest that Bargnani has accomplised in his career to-date the equivalent to what Bosh had accomplished in the first 4 years of his NBA career.
Is this what you’re trying to suggest?
[and, hence, Mitchell was remiss for failing to treat Bargnani just like Bosh]
re: Quote 3
I said that there was no reference by a coach or another player to any sort of poor attitude exhibited by CB4.
The person who suggested negative things about the attitude of certain players on the team after the all-star break was none other than Bryan Colangelo … and, he was very careful not to name any names specifically.
Bosh isn’t made of teflon.
The problem is that certain individuals in the on-line community try their best to blame things on him because they don’t happen to like who they think Chris Bosh SHOULD BE as a the leader of their favourite NBA team.
This problem is those people’s not Chris Bosh’s.
re: Quote 4
Unfortunately for the likes of you, I happen to not work out of my parent’s basement.
re: Quote 5
Please go right ahead and tell whatever else it is you believe might have been said by players who were unwilling to talk on the record.
[this should be good for a laugh or two]
re: Quote 6
I’m not pretending anything.
I’m simply stating a fact.
According to the public record … Bryan Colangelo has yet to pull the offer off the table, or do you believe otherwise?
re: Quote 7
Why no negative comments have been forthcoming is irrelevant to THE FACT that no negative have materialized.
=================
re: Monday Morning Quarter-backing
Au contraire …
It doesn’t appear as though you are very adept at “picking apart” comments after-the-fact at all.
SIMPLE FACT FOR YOU
My comments/opinions/recommendations are written, in advance, AND then subsequently referenced after-the-fact for accuracy.
If you can’t see and admit that to yourself then, unfortunately, there is nothing further for me to say to you.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Tinman — while Khan’s phrasing can provide some comic relief at times (with all due respect
), when it comes to the subject matter above (CB4), there is a reason that teams are lining up to offer him the max. ESPN says he’s worth the max. Pat Riley is said to strongly prefer him over Amare or Boozer. When it comes to conversations about big FA’s this summer, there are the big 3 (NOT just 2), and then there’s everyone else. CB4 is an elite level player (and PERSON) in this league, and any view otherwise is nonsense.
My view is that the poor effort level that Andrea and Hedo put forth on a regular basis should be apparent to the most casual of observers. My view is that the used-car-salesmanship of BC should also be equally apparent, this many years into his tenure, to the most casual of observers. My view is that Triano, good intentions notwithstanding, lacks the experience and the platform to be an elite NBA coach. But that’s just my opinion… of course you’re entitled to embrace Andrea/BC/Triano/Hedo/whoever else you want…
July 7th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
[...] khandor’s sports blog » Having your cake and eating it, too … in Raptorville – Unfortunately, the Toronto Raptors priorities have been established for quite some time already, as a profit-centered business operation. [...]
July 14th, 2010 at 9:20 am
I have been blogging since 2007. For years I made a few bucks here and there with Adsense and some affiliate sells, but I wasn’t making enough to quit the day job for sure. I tried getting traffic from Adwords, SEO, Yahoo, article marketing, social sites, and even email. The problem was that I just couldn’t get enough traffic to really make anything. Then I found out about a new way to buy traffic for so freaking cheap that it was nuts. I could then send that cheap traffic (for pennies!) to my blogs, get enough sales to realize a 1000% return on my investment, and suddenly my life was changed. I’m banking $300+ on a bad day now, and the future is looking way better. If you’re sick and tired of only getting a handful of visitors to your blog, check this site out. I’m not some stupid foreigner trying to sell crap on DP. This is LEGIT! You will go from a few dozen visitors a day to thousands! —> Blog Traffic Secret