If a Tree Falls....

Well its finally done. I swore to myself that I would not write something new until BC traded Jermaine O'Neal to Maimi for Shawn Marion. Thanks to Pat Riely's dicking around, you have all been robbed of my insight into the craptastic Raptors.

So what do I think of the Matrix donning a Raptors uni? Well, to all the haters out there, I am standing up and saying, I really like this trade! I know, that's a pretty muted response, but you can't expect to say stand up and say that I loved it, when it clearly has its flaws.

Here's what I am thinking:

1. Marion is now the starting SF. Awesome!!!!!

A) Defense - He is hands down the greatest man on man defender on the wing that the raptors have ever had even though he has slipped. We no longer have to watch every elite wing in the L back our helpless defenders into the high post and hit gimmie turn arounds from the free throw line.

B) Offense - definitely trickier to integrate Matrix. Now I think we can all agree that Matrix's best seasons were with Nash. Which makes me think that he is a player that is really depandent on his pg to find him opportunities in the offense. Will jose find him those shots? We will see, but he is the best finisher that the raps have had since Vince left town.

2. Marcus Banks - I have gone on record many times saying that Banks gets ripped just because he is owed 4 million for another 2 years. At the same time people insist that Delfino NEEDS to be resigned this summer for a 500K less and an extra year, but that is worth it cause Delfino is the shiznit. I think Banks in the off guard spot on the second unit will be as good as Delfino on the offensive end. He is probably the 4th best athlete on the team, and on a team that is too white I welcome the additional pigmentation.

3. Trading a future non lottery first rounder. Colangelo definitely seems to hate first round picks outside the top 13. I don't share the same level of outrage that some of you have displayed. The pick has excellent lotoo protection especially since
the protection doesn't runout for 5 years. Many of the people who have said that a 17 pick really wasn't going to help the raps can't turn around now and say the raps gave up the "future" of the franchise. Yes, the raps gave up some potential young talent, who could be a solid rotation player, but I doubt this first will "haunt" the raps forever. Did BC give up a little extra to not pay JO 22 mil next season? For sure, but its not the end of the franchise.

As for the warts on this deal, I am not going to talk about them here. Most of the print media in this city hates it, so if you want to fill up on some haterade, I suggest you go to those sites.

Wednesday marks the start of a new era, I am excited again!

Raptors Trade Rumours - Rubbish!

The Raps lost against the Lakers - big surprise. Is there any need to analyze why? Isn't it obvious? On to trade rumours.

As the Raps have hit the skids in recent weeks, the meda have been churning out some pretty godawful trade rumours. Here is a quick analysis of these shit sandwiches.

Straight up, that rumour of Barbosa is fucking ridiculous. Just because we wish it could happen doesn't mean it will. Keep dreaming Toronto!

Look at what Phoenix are doing right now. The 2008/9 season is Steve Kerr/Nash/Shaq/Grant Hill's collective last chance power drive.

Will they win it all? No.

Will they blow it up before the season ends? No. Because acquiring Shaq was done FOR the playoffs. They are going down in flames together - it is predestined.

So why would they trade one of their best players in Barbosa? Well the answer is: they wouldn't. Especially not to Toronto who have NOTHING that Phoenix would want. Even after racking my fertile imagination the only thing I could think of that might work is if the Suns wanted to trade Barbosa for Calderon and then use him as Nash's heir. Is that a likely scenario? Ummm. No. What else could they want? Bargs? It is the only other possibility of any likelihood. Is Colangelo looking to deal either of these guys? Doubt it.

Saying that he likes Barbosa as a player is the same as saying "I think Chris Paul has what it takes to be an NBA point guard." Or "Charles Barkley was super at rebounding the basketball." It in no way reflects any attempt to actually bring the player to Toronto.

Marion has been exposed for what he really is this year. An awesome open court player who sucks in a half-court offense. Well, guess what - a slow shitty half-court offense is precisely what Toronto is. Why would bringing a whiny baby like him be a good thing? His moping is almost of Vince Carteresque proportions. Practically speaking, the only contract the Raps have to match him is Jermaine O'Neal. Why would Miami take an injured O'Neal with a two-year contract over a healthy Marion with a one-year contract? They wouldn't.

Is there any point in even addressing the pathetic rumours of Nocioni, Belinelli or Luther Head? Is anyone dumb enough to believe they are the answer? Tinkering won't cut it.

The only rumour on the table that still sort of makes sense is the Gerald Wallace one. I wonder if Colangelo had a few beverages if would admit he should have sent TJ Ford to Charlotte instead of Indiana? My guess is yes.

Then again, it does not seem to me that any of these above possibilities are the aces up Colangelo's sleeve that he will need to keep Bosh in Toronto. We can keep guessing, but the vast majority of the time we will be completely blindsided by what the GM does. That is just a fact.