khandor’s sports blog

According to the following report …

Knicks waive Brewer, claim Brown off waivers

the Knicks made a series of inter-related roster moves, yesterday and today:

ON MONDAY

Good Move – Cut Kelenna Azubuike/G-F [who had not been used, thus far, this season]

ON TUESDAY [today]

Bad Move - Waived Corey Brewer/G-F [who is a sound defensive wing player]

Good Move – Signed Derrick Brown/SF-PF [who is an under-rated still-youngish forward, and a much better player, overall, than either Azubuike or Brewer]

When you consider some of the personnel moves which Donnie Walsh/GM has made during the last 1.5 seasons:

ADDING
1. Carmelo Anthony/SF-PF
2. Chauncey Billups/PG
3. Amare Stoudemire/PF-C
4. Landry Fields/G-F
5. Derrick Brown/F
6. Ronny Turiaf/PF-C
7. Bill Walker/OG-SF
8. Toney Douglas/PG
9. Renaldo Balkman/PF
10. Shelden Williams/PF
11. Shawne Williams/PF-SF
12. Roger Mason, Jr/PG-OG
13. Andy Rautins/OG-PG
14. Raymond Felton/PG
15. Timofey Mozgov/C
16. Anthony Randolph/SF-PF
17. Keleena Azubuike/G-F
18. Tracy McGrady/G-F
19. Larry Hughes/G-F
20. Jonathan Bender/F

and,

SUBTRACTING
1. Eddy Curry/C
2. David Lee/PF
3. Danilo Gallinari/PF-SF
4. Wilson Chandler/SF-OG
5. Raymond Felton
6. Timofey Mozgov
7. Anthony Randolph
8. Keleena Azubuike
9. Tracy McGrady
10. Jonathan Bender
11. Larry Hughes

[among an even more extensive list of transactions for 2009, 2010 and 2011]

it is quite apparent why he is rightly considered to have been one of the top … and most respected … GMs in the NBA for the better part of the past 20+ years.

Paul Silas is off to a solid start as the new old head coach for the Bobcats.

——————————————————-

Silas says Bobcats will play up-tempo style game

Paul Silas’ first practice as the new interim coach of the Charlotte Bobcats Thursday had one noteworthy twist.

Instead of practicing with a 24-second shot clock, the Bobcats worked with a 14-second shot clock.

It’s all part of Silas’ plan to play up-tempo basketball—a stark contrast to the style of his predecessor, Larry Brown, who was fired on Wednesday.

“I want to bring some energy to this ball club,” Silas said after being introduced as the fourth head coach in franchise history. “I want us to get up and down and let it all hang out. If they don’t want to get up and down, they can come sit down by me.”

The Bobcats currently rank 29th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 91.7 points a game. Only Milwaukee is averaging fewer points. The Bobcats have averaged just 80.2 points during their current four-game losing streak and have not scored 100 since beating Denver 100-98 on Dec. 7.

“We’ve got shooters,” Silas said. “We’ve got defenders. We’ve got shot blockers. We’ve got all the ingredients that you need. The guys just have to get out and play and believe in themselves and believe that I believe in them. I’ve found that if you have a confident player, it’s unbelievable what he can do.”

Guard Stephen Jackson(notes) welcomed the commitment to playing up tempo.

“It’s rejuvenating,” Jackson said. “The styles are like night and day. Hopefully this will bring some life to us and give us some confidence and get us playing well again. Up-tempo, we’ve got a great group of young guys and this fits their style. Hopefully we can do a good job at it and enjoy it because it’s definitely fun.”

——————————————————-

With a roster that looks like this:

it’s the right decision for Charlotte to shift to an up-tempo game that can increase the Minutes Played for talented but, thus far, under-utilized youngsters like Tyrus Thomas, Domenic McGuire, DJ Augustin, Derrick Brown and Gerald Henderson.

The collection of players on the Bobcats’ roster at-present is not good enough to contend for a Top 4 spot in the Eastern Conference this season.

Used in the best possible way, however, by their head coach:

[for example]
 

there is more than enough NBA-level talent on this year’s team to remain in the hunt for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs well into the spring, if not for the entire campaign.

Despite what many Raptors fans might choose to think …

this evening’s tilt against the Bobcats is not a prime example of a game which Toronto SHOULD actually win this season.

Although Charlotte has struggled to score points on the road, thus far, they have split [i.e. 1-1] their 2 away games played against an opponent with a Team Defense that is actually as poor as the Raptors.

———————————–

Published Wagering Line

Open: Toronto -1/+100

Current: Toronto +1/-106 [as of 2:00 PM ET today]

———————————–

When push comes to shove in this specific game – in all likelihood - the Bobcats are going to be able to get enough stops to get the win outright … because their overall Team Defense is better, and the Raptors’ overall Team Defense is, in fact, so poor, which should allow Charlotte to score just enough points to succeed … due, primarily, to the individual match-up advantages which exist in their favour at:

i. The Starting OG, SF and PF positions;
ii. The Back-up SF and PF positions; and,
iii. The Head Coach position.

———————————–

PS. Of particular interest whenever the Bobcats come to town is the opportunity to watch Derrick Brown go to work, in-person, at the SF [and, sometimes, PF] position – as one of Charlotte’s Key Subs off the bench - since he was one of the handful of players recommended in this space, prior to the 2009 NBA Draft, for the Raptors to select, instead of DeMar DeRozan [OG/SF],

i.e. With the 9th pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors …

Oh, my … what might well have been the case for the Raptors, since then, if they would have only followed that specific advice and come away from that draft night with 2 [or more] solid young rotation players like D-Brown and Marcus Thornton.

Last year, in just their 6th season in the NBA, the Charlotte Bobcats qualified for the playoffs for the first time:

———————–

2009-2010, 44 wins, 7th place Eastern Conference
2008-2009, 35 wins
2007-2008, 32 wins
2006-2007, 33 wins
2005-2006, 26 wins
2004-2005, 18 wins

———————–

While some NBA observers are describing the current situation in Charlotte as being one of the worst-case scenarios in the league … and, therefore, are forecasting that the Bobcats will take a step backwards this season, given their relative level of “productive activity” this summer … yours truly does not fit into that category.

When you look at what has occurred in Charlotte over the last 12 months:

you should be able to see that this team has, in fact, added several young/still youngish players to its roster with a fair degree of upside, while making steady progress in the win column each season, qualifying for the post-season for the first time, and solidifying its ownership situation under the sole control of arguably the G [basketball player] OAT.

———-

Q1. Are the Bobcats capable of winning the NBA championship this season?

A1. No, they are not.

Q2. Are the Bobcats a prime example of a Treadmill Team without any real hope of ever winning a League Championship in the not-too-distant future?

A2. No, they are not … at least, if you examine “the arc of their development path,” in relation to some of the other sad-sack outfits in the history of the NBA [e.g. LA Clippers & Toronto Raptors].

In all likelihood, Charlotte should/will be able to compete effectively for a lower tier playoff position again this season … which is a solid accomplishment for a franchise in its 7th year of existence.

During Wednesday’s television broadcast of the Orlando/Toronto game, Jack Armstrong, Toronto’s analyst, made the following observation about the perceived talent level for this year’s Raptors team:  

Then, on Thursday evening , during the FAN590′s ”Hoops” broadcast, Eric Smith, Toronto’s radio analyst, tried to re-iterated this same point of view, when a caller suggested that the Charlotte Bobcats should actually be considered as “a better team with more NBA talent than the Raptors” … along with, at least, 4 other teams in the Estern Conference, i.e. Boston, Orlando, Cleveland and Atlanta.

After hearing Eric’s response to that caller, this is the exact comment [including errors] which was submitted by yours truly to his FAN590 blog, The Rap, on Friday, Dec 18 2009, at 2:17 PM:

————-

Hi, Eric.

I heard you on speak with a caller on last night’s show, just prior to 8:00 PM, concerning your belief that the Raptors [11-17/.393] are a better team than the Bobcats [10-14/.417]. According to what you said, your opinion was based on conversations you have had with various NBA insiders who you have encountered across the league and what their impression of Toronto and Charlotte has been to this point in the season.

Respectfully, it is my contention that you … and these NBA insiders who you happened to have communicated with regarding the relative strength of these two teams … happen to be incorrect in this assessment, and will eventually be proven wrong are the season plays itself out.

After starting the season poorly, without Stephen Jackson on their roster, the Bobcats have begun to climb up the standings in the Eastern Conference, and are now ahead of the Raptors. Although the Raptors [#4] have played a more difficult schedule than the Bobcats [#15], to this point, IMO, Charlotte has more “NBA talent” on its current roster, and should probably be expected to close out the current season by finishing ahead of Toronto in the final standings.

Calderon [+1] > Felton
DeRozan < Jackson [+1]
Turkoglu < Wallace [+2]
Bosh [+2] > Diaw
Bargnani < Chandler [+3]
———————-
Jack = Augustin
Belinelli < Henderson [+4]
Wright < Brown [+5]
Johnson = Mohammed
Nesterovic [+3] > Diop
———————-
Banks < Murray [+6]
Seems [+4] > Law
 Mensah-Bonsu = Graham
Evans [+5] ?
O’Bryant = Ajinca
———————-
Triano < Brown [+7]

PS. Hopefully, the fanbase should now be able to see that we’ve been saying for a while now, re: Jose Calderon’s relative lack of individual defensive prowess not being the major catalyst for the team’s many short-comings on that side of the ball, has been a highly accurate assessment.

————- 

As you can clearly see there are several typos and what appear to be “publication errors” contained in that specific comment, which was submitted rather hurriedly and is still awaiting moderation/publication at The Rap.

In an effort to clear up any mis-understanding which Eric Smith - or other visitors to his blog – might have … 

Here is a more “in-depth” analysis of the rosters for the Raptors and the Bobcats, with a few adjustments to the initial ratings that more accurately reflect the current state of affairs with these two teams, from the perspective of this coner:

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Visitors here are invited to elaborate further on their own answer to this question in the comments section.

re: How an astute NBA observer might expect the first part of the schedule to unfold for the Raptors this year

Game 16 – at Charlotte [Wed Nov 25]

This is a back-2-back game for the Raptors. Although these two line-ups are relatively equivalent, in terms of individual match-up advantages, the additional experience which Raja Bell and Larry Brown have, in comparison with DeMar DeRozan and Jay Triano, respectively, gives Charlotte an edge which should be enough to secure a W in a close game.

Expect the Bobcats to be one of several improved teams in the EC this year battling for a lower tier playoff spot with the Raptors.

Raptors expected W-L Record: L, 6-10

—————————–

PS. This contest holds a high degree of interest, due to the presence of rookies DeMar DeRozan [No. 9/1st Rd, USC, OG-SF], Gerald Henderson [No. 12/1st Rd, Duke, OG-SF] and Derrick Brown [No. 40/2nd Rd, Xavier, PF-SF]. Brown, in particular, was a relatively unheralded player in this year’s NBA Draft who yours truly would have liked to see the Raptors trade down to obtain … in addition to receiving other assets, in exchange for the No. 9 [overall] Selection. Although it is still very early in the process, all three players seem to be acquitting themselves nicely in the NBA.

Earlier this spring, yours truly was asked to provide an example of the type of player who SHOULD be obtained by the Raptors in a trade which involved Andrea Bargnani, as a possible #4/PF to play beside Chris Bosh [as the Dino's main-frame Center]. The two names that came to mind straight away were Anderson Varejao [unrestricted] and David Lee [restricted], both of whom are designated as Free Agents at the moment.

Two years ago, as a restricted free agent, the Cavaliers took a long time bringing Varejao into the fold, only doing so after a protracted hold-out. This past season he played as a Starting #4/PF for Cleveland, riding shot-gun for LeBron James, to the tune of 66 W’s in the regular season campaign. As a 27 year old player, going into his 6th season in the NBA, Varejao [6-10, 260] is the sort of effective, role-playing, garbage man who could excel beside Bosh, in a number of different ways [e.g. Offensively, Defensively and in terms of Rebounding].

Right now … in the aftermath of trading for the Big Diesel … the Cavs are in the market for a wing player with solid defensive skills, big game experience and a lively pair of legs with the ability to re-energize their offense without needing the ball in his his hands a great deal of the time.

Do the Raptors have a player on their roster, at the moment, who fits the bill, in this regard … that could possibly be used in a sign and trade to secure the services of Mr. Varejao in return?

By chance … Yes, they do.

His name happens to be Shawn Dwayne Marion … and he’s a perfect fit for Cleveland to complete their roster, hunting for their 1st NBA Title next spring. He is an under-sized, highly energetic #4/PF, who would thrive playing beside [and between] King James and Shaq Daddy. 

———-

A second good option for the Raptors is David Lee.

Raps setting their sights on Knicks’ big man Lee
The Raptors are widening their NBA free-agent search that now includes one of the more intriguing players on the market.

Capping a whirlwind 24 hours to open the negotiating period, league sources say Toronto is trying to obtain David Lee, an energetic rebounder who is a New York Knicks restricted free agent.

The sources couldn’t say whether the move on Lee would be a straight offer or whether it would be a sign-and-trade transaction with any of Toronto’s current free agents …

Lee, 26, had a breakout year with the Knicks last season, averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds a game. He had a salary of just about $1.8 million (all figures U.S.) and is seen as one of the top young free agents out there; he’s a restricted free agent so if Toronto were to simply make an offer and not try to engineer some sign-and-trade transactions, the Knicks could match it.

———-

Instead of chasing after a good but older player with their available money this summer … e.g. Hedo Turkoglu [age 30] … the Raptors would be much further ahead if they pursued either Anderson Varejao or David Lee AND then used him as their Starting Power Forward beside Chris Bosh [C] this season.

If the Raptors would have just drafted Derrick Brown last Thursday night …

1 Jose Calderon
2 Anthony Parker
3 DeMar DeRozan
4 Carlos Delfino
5 Derrick Brown
6 Reggie Evans
7 Anderson Varejao or David Lee
8 Chris Bosh [Center]
9 Andrea Bargnani

that’s the sort of 9-Man CORE GROUP which could:

* Win their fair share of regular season games this coming season
* Convince CB4 to re-sign with the Raptors next summer 
* Be the foundation of a solid contending team in the EC for the next decade.

By initiating legitimate discussions with Danny Ferry and Donnie Walsh there are all sorts of possibilities which exist for Bryan Colangelo to improve the Raptors this off season … including possible trades involving other talented young players – e.g. Andrea Bargnani, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, JJ Hickson and Danny Green – on each of their respective rosters.

Prior to last night’s proceedings, these 15 individuals were identified by this corner as players who could have given the Toronto Raptors what they need, at this moment in time, heading towards a long term future [A] with or [B] without Chris Bosh:

Perception vs Reality – Who SHOULD Raptors Draft?

Al-Farouq Aminu [6-9, 215, SF/PF, Wake Forest, now unavailable]
Tyreke Evans [6-6, 219, PG/OG, Memphis]
DeMar DeRozan [6-7, 220, OG/SF, USC]
Earl Clark [6-10, 226, PF, Louisville]
Derrick Brown [6-8, 225, SF, Xavier]
Terrence Williams [6-6, 213, OG, Louisville]
Wayne Ellington [6-5, 202, OG, UNC]
Danny Green [6-6, 208, OG/SF, UNC]
Sam Young [6-6, 223, SF, Pittsburgh]
Marcus Thorton [6-4, 194, OG, LSU]
Tyler Hansbrough [6-9, 234, PF, UNC]
Taj Gibson [6-10, 214, PF, USC]
Dante Cunningham [6-8, 227, PF/SF, Villanova]
Tyler Smith [6-6, 212, OG, Tennessee, now unavailable]
Nando De Colo [6-5, 190, OG, France]

This is what happened last night with each of those 15 players::

- Al-Farouq Aminu. Withdrew from consideration; back to Wake Forest.
- Tyler Smith. Withdrew from consideration; back to Tennessee.

- Tyreke Evans. SACRAMENTO/No. 4, selected by Geoff Petrie.

- DeMar DeRozan. Player the Raptors/No. 9 wanted all along.

- Earl Clark. PHOENIX/No. 14, selected by Steve Kerr.
- Derrick Brown. CHARLOTTE/No. 40, selected by M-Jordan/L-Brown.
- Terrence Williams. NEW JERSEY/No. 11., selected by R-Thorn/K-Vandeweghe.
- Wayne Ellington. MINNESOTA/No. 28, selected by David Kahn
- Sam Young. MEMPHIS/No. 36, selected by Chris Wallace. 
- Danny Green. CLEVELAND/No. 46, selected by Danny Ferry.
- Marcus Thorton. MIAMI/No. 43, selected by Pat Riley [traded to New Orleans-Jeff Bower/Byron Scott].
- Tyler Hansbrough. INDIANA/No. 13, selected by Larry Bird.
- Taj Gibson. CHICAGO/No. 26, selected by J-Paxson/G-Forman.
- Dante Cunningham. PORTLAND/No. 33, selected by Kevin Pritchard.
- Nando De Colo. SAN ANTONIO/N. 53, selected by RC Buford/G-Popovich.

———-
 
1. Over the next few seasons, it is going to be most interesting to watch the development of these 15 players.

2. The Charlotte Bobcats [37-45] are gradually building a very solid team:

* Adding Gerald Henderson [OG] and Derrick Brown [SF] last night
* Trading for Boris Diaw [PF-SF], Raja Bell [OG], Vladimir Radmanovic [SF-PF] and DeSagana Diop [C} last season
* Drafting DJ Augustin [PG] & Alex Ajinca [C} last year
* Re-signing Gerald Wallace [SF-PF] last year
* Re-signing Emeka Okafor [C-PF] 2 years ago

3. There’s a very good reason the same names keep popping up when the Larry O’Brien Trophy is awarded, in June, to the NBA Champions.

Update:

* Marcus Thorton has subsequently been traded to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for two future 2nd Round Draft Picks [i.e. 2010 & 2012].

Although some in Raptorville do not believe that there is a suitable market for the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft, should the Raptors actually be looking to trade down into the Middle/Lower section of the 1st Round … if they can also acquire an additional 2nd Round Selection, in the process … yours truly does not share that opinion.

For the consideration of those other individuals … here’s a look at Exhibit A:

Mavs trade No. 22 [to Portland] for three picks
The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the 22nd pick in Thursday’s NBA draft from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the 24th and 56th picks in this year’s draft, and worst of their second round picks in 2010.

The trade has been agreed to in principle by the two teams. It should be finalized by the league office later today.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban posted twice on Twitter: “We think we can get our guy at 24″ and “You never know when 2nd rd picks can come in handy.”

———-

The key questions which SHOULD now be asked by the Raptors loyal fanbase are:

Q1. The one posed in the headline for this article;

and,

Q2. If the Mavericks can indeed “get their man” at No. 24, is it conceivable that the Raptors could in fact do the same … if their list of possible draftees was to look like this?

1. Tyreke Evans
2. DeMar DeRozan
3. Gerald Henderson
4. Earl Clark
5. James Johnson
6. Terrence Williams
7. Derrick Brown
8. Sam Young

It is going to be most interesting to see in what positions these 8 players are selected in tomorrow night’s Draft.

will most likely select one of the following 6 players:

1. DeMar DeRozan [OG-SF]
2. Gerald Henderson [OG-SF]
3. Jrue Holiday [PG-OG]
4. Jonny Flynn [PG]
5. Jordan Hill [PF]
6. James Johnson [SF-PF] 

according to Bryan Colangelo [GM].

[PLEASE NOTE: This is a link to a radio interview from Jun 17, 2009 which every Raptors fan should listen to, as it deals with Thursday's NBA Draft, the acquisition of Reggie Evans and the team's POV re: Chris Bosh.]

From the perspective of this corner, however, by doing so … they will, once again, be throwing away another golden opportunity to build their team into a legitimate long term contender for a Top 4 spot in the Eastern Conference, by not trading down to a Middle or Lower Spot in the 1st Round, while acquiring an additional pick in the 2nd Round, in a classic two-for-one scenario.

Q1. Why does this year’s Draft qualify as such an occasion?

A1. Because the players who fit best with what Toronto needs right now, as well as looking down-the-road a piece … possibly, to a life without Chris Bosh … are not perceived by others to be worthy of selection in the No. 9 position but will most likely be available in the Middle or the Lower section of the 1st Round, and/or in the 2nd Round.

Draft preview: Closer look at the small forwards

Derrick Brown is a player with a tonne of NBA ability, at the Wing position, who should be there for the Raptors in the Middle of the 1st Round.

———-

Xavier’s Brown has been coming on the last few weeks, benefitting from long arms (a 7-2 1/2 wingspan) good workouts up and down the first round, and the pedigree of bigs that Xavier has produced for NBA teams, including Brian Grant, Aaron Williams, Tyrone Hill, James Posey and David West. He’s active — “bouncy,” one personnel man says.

“Sometimes, kids get better and I think he’s one of the kids that’s grown with the process,” said a Northwest Division executive. “He’s been able to expand his game a little bit and show some of the things he couldn’t show at Xavier.”

———-

Derrick Brown would fill their need for an immediate ”starter” who can score the ball, rebound his position and defend with solid athleticism and considerable length.

For the number crunchers …

Q2. When you look at these simple game stats, what do you see?

A2. A player who shot 43.3% from behind the arc last season … shooting three times as many treys than the year before [in which he shot three times as many as he did his first year in college] … scored at a solid rate of 1.42 PPS [i.e. higher than DeMar DeRozan and Tyreke Evans], and improved his Ast:TO each of his 3 seasons at Xavier University.

[PLEASE NOTE: Players who are capable of doing THIS, and reach the point where their ratio is above 1.00 have a HIGH Basketball IQ.]

In conjunction with his outstanding Wingspan, his solid vertical & lateral agility scores, his ability to do THIS:

on a regular basis, and the fact that he conducts himself like THIS:

when dealing with the media in a first-class way … say that this young man, Derrick Brown, “Is ready” to play in the NBA, right away.

================================================

When you couple a player like Derrick Brown with a:

Taj Gibson [late 1st Rounder, early 2nd Round, Horace Grant type]
Dante Cunningham [late 1st Rounder, early 2nd Round, James Worthy type]
Danny Green [2nd Round, Bruce Bowen type]
Marcus Thornton [2nd Round, Mitch Richmond type], or
Nando De Colo [2nd Round, Manu Ginobili type]

you are talking about a serious increase in FIRST-CLASS athletic ability and NBA skill level that can immediately elevate the Quality Depth on the Raptors’ roster to the point where they could contend with the likes of Boston and Cleveland and Orlando, etc., in the not-too-distant future, either:

A. If Chris Bosh re-signs with their team; 

OR,

B. If Chris Bosh is traded [for comparable parts] and Andrea Bargnani continues to improve, as their Center, moving forward from that point.

———-

The ball’s been placed in Bryan’s Colangelo’s hands … for the sake of loyal Raptors fans everywhere … let’s hope that he doesn’t drop it, again.

Related:

Perception vs Reality – Who should Raptors draft?