I first heard the news about the Charlie trade when I got home from a long night at a club (needless to say, it got emotional).
How could they trade Charlie??
I had read/heard all the rumours. I knew it was a possibility, but still I didn't want to believe.
But after a little more thinking (and sobering up), I realized that this is the best thing that could have happened for the Raptors.
Charlie's stock will (likely) never be higher... and the Raps get that slashing/play-making point guard that they've coveted so much.
They say TJ Ford can't shoot, but his Field Goal percentage went up from .384 in his rookie year, to .416 after his back injury, to .490 in these past playoffs.
So what that says (to me, at least...) is that it's at least getting better, and he can hit shots when it matters.
With that being said, his ability to shoot (or not) is not that imperative to why he's heading to Toronto. Yes, being able to hit your jumper keeps the defense honest (take notes, Jose Calderon), but he's really here to get the ball to Chris Bosh (and Bargnani?). Ford can do that (insert bad pun about Ford driving through the lane, and watch the sponsors come running).
They also say that Ford can't defend. But according to those same critics, there are probably only two handfuls of players in this league that can.
Ford being a listed 6'0" probably doesn't help (meaning he's more like 5'10")... but what can you do?
The Raptors went against the common mantra, which states you never trade to downsize (meaning, don't trade a big for a small)... but in this instance, they Bryan Colangelo felt it appropriate.
I was in love with Charlie's (offensive) game. He had that touch where on most nights, any time he'd touch the ball you'd know it's going in. But on the other end, if the opposition gave the ball to their SF, you'd know that more often than not they'd be scoring.
Charlie is a marvel. A talent you don't find often. Which is why he should flourish in Milwaukee. But we say this again, with this move, it is now (again) Chris Bosh's team.
The lone (super?)star.
==
Rumours seem to be heating up that the Raptors are looking at Indy's unrestricted guard Freddy Jones. They guy who won the dunk contest in it's worst-ever edition. They guy who made sure he wouldn't fall under the label of a dunker, by working on a 3-point shot that can now be deemed somewhat "reliable" (edit: I just looked at his stats, and noticed he only connected on 34% of his 3's, down from 38% the year before).
He's a nice athletic combo-guard, who when he played starting point, had a deft passing hand (picking up 13 assists/3 turnovers in 2 games). Granted, the sample size is not great... but it is what it is.
Either way, if the Raptors could snag Jones, it would be a solid pick-up in my books (i think he's the best suited free-agent out there), and I know it would make my buddy Juan happy.
==
Big Ben is set to join the Bulls. How do you think Pistons' fans feel about this?
A couple months ago, Wallace was saying he wouldn't need an agent to work out his new deal in Detroit... then he goes out and hires super-agent, Arn Tellem, and the jury flees the court.
Wallace turns down a ridiculous (for a 31 year old undersized "center" with no offensive game) 4 year deal worth $48 million (which the Pistons already thought was too steep), so sign in the Windy City (on July 12) for 4 years and a reported $60 million.
Big Ben also turned down efforts for the Pistons to sign and trade him (likely to keep him out of the Central division), so he could leave for Chicago.
The Pistons got fleeced... the Bulls got MUCH better... and even moreso if they can get rid of Tyson Chandler (as rumoured to the Hornets - possibly as early as today).
==
Also... I just wanted to touch on THIS...
What would inspire EA Sports to put T-Mac on the cover of the upcoming NBA Live?? Are they trying to reverse the curse (which says, any athlete that dons the cover of their video games enjoys an injury-riddled season)? Maybe it will heal his back?? I'm baffled. Unless EA appreciated how McGrady dealt with sitting out most of the season, I don't see how this is a fit. Maybe it's because he sells so many damn jerseys.
Either way.
We'll speak soon.
Oh, and to Gutsy Normis (and everyone else curious about Roko Ukic)... everything I'm hearing is that he'll be stashed overseas for at least another year. He still hasn't played that much, dealt with some illness, and also boasts an ugly buy-out clause. So as they say... there's always next year.
2 comments:
yeah, i'm okay with TJ. we needed a real PG, and we got him.
For all those talking about how we should have just drafted Foye or Roy or Williams, you're crazy: not one of those guys has played in the NBA against this type of talent, they are all unproven.
i love charlie. i love that he brought excitement and a reason to watch him overcome last year, as our team died a horrible death, languishing at the bottom of the league all year (and that horrid horrid beginning).
my favorite part about this sports-team thing is how everyone feels that they are the better GM. that perhaps we, the singular, are better, understand better, what it takes to make it in the NBA. how to build a team, deal with contracts, scout, etc.
i'm going to let the man do his job. i'll always cheer for charlie. the guy deserves it.
and i cannot cannot cannot wait to see this team together on the floor next year.
I like the ford pickup, kid is solid... a solid sportingnews kind of player too so thats always a plus.
As for charlie, I do agree his stock is high, but i still think his stock can get higher in the next two years, but it comes down to the team need of a PG i guess, and bargnani factors in nicely id say.
Tmac is on the cover becuase he is SICK! but more importantly like u said his name and image sell well, i wold have liked to see them follow suite and get a young guy who could go to the finals liek they did with Dwade ...BG7?
Tmac is still in my top three raptors right up there with Wince
Roko u scum.
Post a Comment