MVN - Most Valuable Network

Raptors Keep Calderon, Add Ukic and Adams

Jose Calderon has reached an agreement to return to the Toronto Raptors next season, at least that is according to his website (http://www.josemanuelcalderon.com/indexEN.html). The Raptors also have a verbal agreement in place to bring over PG Roko Ukic, their 2nd round pick in the 2005 draft.

While neither of these is surprising, there was an intriguing name also included, that of G/F Hassan Adams, the former Arizona standout who played last season in the Italian League after playing one season with the New Jersey Nets, who drafted him with the 54th overall pick in the 2006 draft.

While Adams didn’t produce much in his one year in the NBA he was a pretty consistent scorer in college for the Arizona Wildcats, averaging 14 points and 5.3 rebounds over his four year college career. I also trust our European scouting department and they must have really seen something they like in Adams’ game to bring him over in a crowded battle for playing time at the SG/SF positions.

Now, having said this I don’t mind the Adams signing, but not at the expense of Carlos Delfino, as this would appear to be yet another sign that Delfino will not be returning to Toronto next season. Delfino was one of the best players off the bench last season for Toronto, averaging 9 points in 23.5 minutes. Delfino was a great sharpshooter off the bench, as he shoot 39.7% from the field and 38.2% from behind the arch. He also was one of a handful of players who actually stepped up their game in the playoff series against Orlando and is really someone I think the Raptors are overlooking, as I don’t see Adams being capable enough to take over Delfino’s role.  Overall, I’m really not liking Toronto’s depth headed into next season, and unless there are a couple of acquisitions of solid bench players, such as Delfino, I don’t see how next year’s team will be any better than this year’s, even with a healthy Jermaine O’Neal.

The oddest thing to me about surrounding the rumors that Delfino is leaving is the fact that they say he will return to Europe. It’s as if they’re implying that Delfino can’t hold a job in the NBA and, other than money or personal preference, I would see no reason why any NBa team couldn’t use Delfino, as he’s a great shooter who can be one of your first players off the bench.

Pacers Get Hibbert, Raptors Get Jawai

Since Toronto’s 17th overall pick is a major part of the proposed (and essentially confirmed by Jermaine O’Neal) T.J. Ford-O’Neal trade, the Raptors are basically picking who the Pacers tell them to pick.

That pick was Georgetown C Roy Hibbert, who will essentially (along with Rasho Nesterovic and Maceo Baston) help replace O’Neal in Indiana. Hibbert at this spot was a little high, as he was projected to go behind the likes of Kosta Koufos, JaVale McGee, Robin Lopez at the center position.

Now, first, let me hypothetically break down how Hibbert would fit in Toronto. He really would be a good fit on the Raptors, as he is NBA-ready now and would be a serviceable back-up center down low.

His biggest asset is his height (7′2″) but he improved every year at Georgetown and put up solid numbers for one of the nation’s top college programs. I think Hibbert doesn’t necessarily have the upside some of the above mentioned centers have, but I think that he is the most NBA-ready and is more of a sure thing than any of those players. Hibbert definitely has the ability to be an above-average NBA center who will have a lengthy NBA career in front of him.

Now, I’ll break it down for the Pacers, as they get pretty much what I described above- a solid back-up for Rasho Nesterovic at the center position. I like this selection for the Pacers, as Hibbert can spend a year learning under a veteran center in Rasho.

Also, a little comment on another proposed trade involving the Pacers, the one that would send PG Jarrett Jack, F/C Josh McRoberts, and (the rights to) Kansas G Brandon Rush to Indiana from Portland, who would receive F Ike Diogu and (the rights to) Arizona PG Jerryd Bayless.

This deal kind of reflects that the Pacers will be getting Ford, as in trading Bayless they get a bigger PG in Jack (6′3″) who can handle the bigger PGs (such as Chauncey Billups) that Ford can’t handle. Jack is a solid back-up to Ford who has been in the league for three years and wouldn’t be hindered as much playing behind Ford as Bayless would be. McRoberts is an interesting addition to the trade though, as it is the fourth big man that Indiana would be bringing in.

41st pick: PF/C Nathan Jawai (Australia)- The Pacers second round pick will be heading Toronto’s way and I was literally drooling at the though of Memphis G Chris Douglas-Roberts falling to this spot, as he was a player that I thought would be a great pick with the 17th pick.  The fact that he fell to into the 2nd round at all was really shocking to me, and as Indiana/Toronto’s pick got closer I was really getting pumped. Alas, those pesky Nets chose Douglas-Roberts with the 40th pick, crushing that dream.

However, I’m still happy with the selection of Jawai who, like Douglas-Roberts, was projected to be a late 1st round pick.  He is pretty much everything that the Raptors need in a big man, as he a load and force inside, running 6′10″ and 270 pounds.  He is strong and surprisingly athletic for his frame.  I’ve also read that he can get angry and emotional, but not to the point where it affects his game in a negative manner.

I think Jawai could possibly challenge for a roster spot this season, as he brings the big body and strength inside to help this team deal with the Pistons, Magic, and any other team with a large front court.  He would be a great complement off the bench to our slender starters in Bosh and O’Neal off the bench, and a real change-up from the only other big man Toronto has under contract in Andrea Bargnani.

Jermaine O’Neal/T.J. Ford Trade Update

Just a day after the talks were reportedly broken off, it is being widely reported that both sides come to an agreement in the trade that would send C Jermaine O’Neal to the Raptors for PG T.J. Ford, C Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17th pick in tomorrow’s draft.

It appears that both teams dug deeper into the medical records of the proposed damaged goods they received and felt confident enough that they weren’t getting a lemon to give the trade a thumbs up.

Apparently, other players must still be added to the deal to make the numbers work, with that player most likely being C Maceo Baston and his expiring contract.

It’s also possible that other players could be exchanged, with Toronto possibly sending a larger expiring contract (say, Anthony Parker?) and getting another player in return.

Now, beyond these possibilities there are a lot of interesting things about this trade, mostly being that this trade can’t take place until July 9th. The reason is pure NBA Salary-Cap-ology, but to put it simply Ford can’t be traded until the free agency signing period for next season opens on July 9th.

This basically means that Toronto will be selecting whomever the Pacers tell them to choose with their 17th overall pick in tomorrow night’s draft.

So, it’s basically an arranged trade, two weeks before it can actually happen, with the NBA Draft happening tomorrow, and Toronto choosing a player for Indiana.

Now, I know that all the sources say that it’s a done deal, but so many things can happen between now and July 9th, first and foremost being that Toronto receives an upped offer from another one of the teams in the running because a prospect they coveted fall to Toronto’s 17th overall pick.

Now, whether or not Toronto receives a better offer for both Ford and the 17th overall pick, I don’t know, but if some team is willing to offer up something for just the 17th pick overall, I think Toronto has to listen.

As much as I like this trade for the Raptors, it just gives them even less depth. This is a team whose bench virtually disappeared when they were struggling in the second half, and now they’re trading PG 1B (Ford), one of the only players who played well in the second half (Rasho), AND the 17th pick in this year’s draft (at least a decent bench player) for one player?

Here’s the Raptors’ basic depth chart for next season:

PG: Calderon-Ukic(?- reportedly is coming over, will he stick?)

SG: Parker-Delfino(?- RFA, hopefully resigned)

SF: Moon-Kapono-Graham

PF: Bosh-Humphries-Baston(?- what if included in trade?)

C: O’Neal-Bargnani

The scorecard would be:

Gained: C Jermaine O’Neal

Lost: PG T.J. Ford, C Rasho Nesterovic, PF Jorge Garbajosa, 17th overall pick, PF Maceo Baston(?)

That’s basically five roster players lost, one gained. Now, I’m sure GM Bryan Colangelo is not through wheeling and dealing, I honestly wouldn’t even be surprised to see Toronto pick up an additional draft pick tomorrow night, and free agency hasn’t even started yet, so I’m sure this isn’t the opening night roster we’ll have to open the season.

But, let’s be honest, Toronto doesn’t have a lot of tradeable assets left after this deal (Moon, Kapono, Parker’s expiring contract) and they have even less salary flexibility after this deal, as they still pretty much only have a mid-level exception to snag help via free agency.

But what I do know is that Toronto finally has a solid, All-Star caliber scorer behing Chris Bosh, something they desperately needed, so now I’ll just sit back and watch GM BC continue to work his magic.

Jermaine O’Neal for Ford???

There seems to be a new, hot rumor surrounding T.J. Ford every day now, and the newest is that the Indiana Pacers will acquire Ford, C Rasho Nesterovic, and Toronto’s 17th overall pick for C Jermaine O’Neal.

If the Raptors were looking to make a big splash in trading Ford this would be it, as they’re getting a player in O’Neal who can be a 20-10 guy and back up Chris Bosh down low, giving Toronto it’s own pair of twin towers.

The cons to O’Neal are that he does have a huge contract ($44 million over next two years- bigger than Chris Bosh’s) and he also has injury concerns, averaging just over 51 games/season over the last four seasons.  But when healthy he is a beast and would give the Raptors two legitimate scoring big men inside.

The only part of this deal is that the Raptors are giving up the 17th pick (again).  I understand Ford and Rasho, and honestly I think this alone should be equal value, as O’Neal has injury concerns just as much as Ford and two years left on a huge contract.

Not many teams would take on a huge a contract as O’Neal’s, and Indiana is getting back the PG they are seeking in Ford, as well as a very adequate center in Rasho.

The 17th pick would put it a little over the top in my opinion, as Toronto has multiple holes and not a lot of attractive pieces to trade.  This is the deal I would love to do:

Toronto gets: C Jermaine O’Neal, 41th overall pick

Indiana gets: PG T.J. Ford, C Rasho Nesterovic, 17th overall pick

This way Toronto still gets a chance to acquire at least an upgrade on the bench with a second round draft pick, and besides, the Pacers would now have the 11th and 17th overall picks, so why would they need the 41st overall (a much riskier pick).

Now, having analyzed all this, here’s a link to tell you that the talks seem to have broken down: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aohi.CqXC.bkoO16QU5Wg3S8vLYF?slug=aw-tradeoff062308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Honestly, this sounds like one of the fairer trades out there, as it’s really risk-for-risk in trading O’Neal and Ford, with Ford’s risk being more medical and O’Neal’s risk being more contractual.

I don’t think this or any of the other deals mentioned are dead.  I believe that Ford and the 17th pick will be moved draft night, with a team in the running for Ford possibly seeing their coveted prospect falling to Toronto’s 17th pick and revisiting the offer or making an even more desperate one.

But, it should continue to be a fun couple of days leading up to Thursday’s NBA Draft, as the rumors will continue to swirl.