Colangelo Has Magic Balls...

I was eating dinner at my parents’ house; Swordfish, Spanish rice, and salad. Delicious. I had a cookie and a half for dessert, but little did I know I would later get some icing to top it off.

It was 7:17. I started to make my voyage up the long staircase towards the television in the family room.

No RaptorsTV.

I knew I wasn’t going to see it at my parents’ place, so a few quick kisses later, I was on my bike. It was 7:27. I had to make it from the Annex to Queen and Bathurst in 3 minutes.

It wasn’t going to happen.

I got home at 7:35. I locked up my bike, and tried to shoulder through my front door… only to realize it was locked.
Some precious moments of key-jiggling pass… I break the Da Vinci code, and I’m home free.

But how late am I??

I rush up the stairs, turn on the television...and they’re just about to hand out the 14th pick - the bottom of the lottery. I made it… In time.

Everything goes as planned through 9 or so (my internet’s down as I type this, so pardon me for any inaccuracies)… They get to 5, and the Raptors logo has yet to come up.

I close my eyes.

The Atlanta Hawks get number 5… good news from here on in.
The Portland TrailBlazers drop from best possible chance to 4th.

I yell with excitement, and do what any modern-age young man would do…

I change my MSN Messenger name to reflect my emotions… “Top 3 Pick, baby!!!!”

After their commercial break, they returned with the number 3 pick…

The Charlotte Bobcats. Thank you, Gerald Wallace. Now please… just take out those damn Knickerbocker Bulls.

Fists clenched. Teeth grinding. Eyebrows crunched.

“The number two pick in the 2006 NBA Draft goes to… The Chicago Bulls!!!!”

I am yelling my ass off by this point. I flip my chair over, commence in jumping up and down… and of course…

Change my MSN name (“FIRST PICK!!!!”).

I call my Dad, my buddy Juan… start leaving messages on people’s phones… good times.
Never have the Toronto Raptors selected first overall.

Bryan Colangelo has magic balls.

==
Now, the question is… what do the Raptors do with this first overall pick? The fact that they have the option to do whatever they wish is a beautiful thing. Since there’s no consensus top-pick… they can not only fill a need without coming under scrutiny, but if they so wish… they can trade the pick to another team that’s got a particular player in mind.

As of right now, I don’t see why they wouldn’t draft the 7-footer out of Italy. Andrea Bargnani.
Yes, he’s not a center… no, he won’t play much inside the paint. Yes, Chris Bosh already plays his position, and Charlie’s got the 3… but remember, the Raptors have also all but hired Mauricio Gherardini – the boss of Beneton Treviso, the team that Bargnani plays for.

Oh, and this guy’s apparently great. He’s tall, and can shoot the lights out. What bothers me is that he’s another that's been branded “the next Nowitzki.” What tall Euro that can shoot isn’t?? Ivan Chiriev, please stand up.

I’m not saying this is who I’d draft… but all signs point to this being the choice as of right now (at least, in my twisted mind).

There’s also Tyrus Thomas (LSU), and LaMarcus Aldridge (Texas) as quality big men… Not to mention Brandon Roy (Washington), Rudy Gay (UConn) and Adam Morrison (Gonzaga) as top-notch swingmen.

In terms of point guards (the Raptors other glaring hole), nothing is set for the top end of the draft with Marcus Williams (UConn), Rajon Rando (Kentucky), Jordan Farmar (UCLA) and Randy Foye (Villanova) all expected to be late lottery/early mid-rounders.

This is where the trading down could come into play. If the Raptors don’t feel Bargnani (or whatever other big man) is where they want to go at this point, they could probably snag a few nice trade offers to move down and grab a guard…

My favorites as of now are Marcus Williams (this guy can really set up some plays, and has the connection with Charlie V) and Jordan Farmar (another great playmaker – but he needs to tighten his decision-making). I also like the possibility of trading down and perhaps grabbing Duke’s Sheldon Williams. He’d be an under-sized center in the NBA (at 6’9”), but has a 7-foot-2 wingspan, plays solid D, and can go to work in the post.

So there are obviously lots of options… and that’s the beauty of having first pick.

Who do you like? What do you want the Raptors to do?

==
I’m off to Spain in a couple quick days (and no, I haven’t heard from Jose Calderon in the last couple weeks)… so I’m going to miss even more pre-draft workouts. But if all goes well, I’ll get to see some of the big names after I return (which conveniently coincides with the consummation of the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp).

I’ll keep you posted.

Until then, I bid you farewell… (I also want to take this point to thank all of you readers who sent me vicious e-mails telling me to write more. Way to kick my ass into shape. Maybe I’m still drunk off the lottery-winning-vibe… but I love you. Seriously.)