Raptors Recap; December 26 @ Cleveland

Game 1- @Cleveland (W 104-96 / 1-0 / streak W1) Monday December 26, 2011


Background
The Cavaliers and Raptors are both teams trying to rebuild after the departure of their franchise player. A year and a half after the Heat's Big Three came together in Miami, both Toronto and Cleveland have restocked with an interesting and somewhat promising collection of youth, but no overt team direction other than building for the future.
The Cavaliers debuted Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, the first and fourth picks respectively in the 2011 NBA draft, while the Raptors trotted out some new free agent acquisitions for the first time, but will wait a season for Lithuanian draft pick Jonas Valenciunas who is still under contract in Europe.
For both teams, winning this season doesn't make much sense strategically. A mediocre season resulting in a mediocre draft pick would stunt the rebuilding process of either team. This leaves these teams in an uncomfortable paradox where they are still trying to pander to an expecting audience. This season is about developing young talent, seeing which players can develop chemistry with others and within their respective coaches' systems, and keeping an eye on the future.

Outcome
The Raptors looked like the more cohesive unit on this night, played some aggressive defense, and held off the Cavaliers with a 104-96 victory in Cleveland.

Key Matchup
Irving got off to a rough start, while Calderon proved his veteran savvy over the young prospect. Calderon finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and only 1 turnover, while Irving went for 6 points and 7 assists. Calderon also looked more comfortable running the team's offense as he found open looks and often connected with James or Amir Johnson cutting through the paint. Irving struggled to find ways to assert himself and will need time to adjust to the NBA after a stunted training camp and pre-season.

Raps Review
The Raptors won with balanced scoring, seven players had at least ten points led by Calderon and DeRozan with 15 points apiece. Outside of Bargnani and DeRozan, the Raptors will need other players to step up and score throughout the season so this game bodes well for the Toronto offense. The Raptors also shared the ball and every player except Jamaal Magloire finished with at least 2 assists. Sharing the ball led to good offense including 7-for-7 shooting for Ed Davis. DeRozan was the finisher in this game, scoring 6 straight points partway through the fourth quarter.

José Calderon; the mad scientist

Welcoming New Raptors

The free agency frenzy is still in full tilt, with rumors constantly flying about when and where Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are going. Here, in Raptorland we weathered the storm in quiet fashion. The current Raptors roster is progressing towards success, built on young and developing talent. With the Raptors most recent draft pick, #5 overall, Jonas Valenciunas staying in Europe for the upcoming 2011-12 season this is a Raptors team clearly looking to the future. Might as well hunker down and endure another season of ongoing progress and an imaginary light at the end of it all. This does not mean the Raptors will tank the season, but having a high draft pick in the stacked 2012 draft is definitely in the Raptors plans. This being said, this offseason was about stability, veteran leadership, filling in the personality guys around new Head Coach Dwane Casey's defensive philosophy, and exploring team identity, all while maintaining financial flexibility going forward. Bryan Colangelo did a pretty good job sticking to the plan. Without further ado, meet the new Raptors!

Rasual Butler
- 6'7, 205 lbs, Small Forward
- 5.0 points, 1.9 rebounds per game for the Clippers last year. Finished season in Chicago
- 32 years old, entering his 10th NBA season
- Butler is a player known for his three-point shooting and his career 36% from deep should help the Raptors who broke their NBA-record streak of "games with at least one three-pointer" last year. Toronto used to be an excellent shooting team, but were among the league's worst last year with 29th most 3s made, and the league-worst three-point percentage of .316%. He's a larger wing player at 6'7" and he'll help the Raptors depth at SF, plus he once guest-starred in a Trina music video.

Aaron Gray
- 7'0, 270 lbs, Centre
- 3.1 points, 4.2 rebounds per game last year for New Orleans
- 27 years old, entering his fifth NBA season
- Aaron Gray gives the Raptors size and strength in the middle and can help shift Bargnani to his preferred power forward position. He has started in just 25 games in his career, but don't be surprised if he fits into the Raptors starting lineup on occasions this year. He's the seven-footer the Raptors have lacked and his physical presence should help the Raptors in areas where they struggled last season including blocks (26th in the NBA) and defensive rebounds (27th).

Pictured with fellow newb Anthony Carter

Jamaal Magloire
- 6'11, 265 lbs, Centre
- 1.9 points, 3.4 rebounds per game last year for Miami
- 33 years old, entering 12th NBA season
- Magloire is a Toronto native, and the first Canadian player that the Toronto Raptors have ever employed, which I find hard to believe. Nicknamed "Big Cat," Magloire made the 2004 All-Star team after averaging 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds, and is the only Canadian not named 'Steve Nash' to ever be named an NBA All-Star. He'll be a fan-favourite as well as introduce toughness to the team. He already gave DeRozan a solid hit in practice. In limited minutes he will be able to play centre alongside Bargnani and allow Andrea to roam as he likes to do. A solid acquisition, on a one year contract.

Anthony Carter
- 6'1, 190 lbs, Point Guard
- 4.4 points, 2.3 assists per game last year for New York
- 36 years old, entering 13th NBA season
- Carter is a guy that won't sell a lot of jerseys in Toronto (also, his surname is Carter) but he will bring work ethic, solid defense at the guard position, leadership and overall experience. After going undrafted out of the University of Hawaii, Carter has bounced around from team to team. As a career third guard he won't mind playing behind Calderon and helping Bayless develop. If the Raptors ship Calderon out, for whatever reason, Carter will play a more significant role on the court. Off the court, he's allowed to attend coaches meetings and aspires to coaching after he retires, which bodes well for the Raptors who now have a coach on the floor.

Gary Forbes
- 6'7", 220 lbs, Small Forward
- 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds per game last year for Denver
- 26 years old, entering his second season in the NBA
- Forbes was the last signing for the Raptors and only came into the picture when a deal for Mickeal Pietrus fell through. He was a restricted free agent, and Denver had the right to match Toronto's contract offer and keep him, but they decided to let him walk. He will provide depth on the wing at Small Forward where the Raptors need it. Born Panamanian, Forbes has played in Venezuela, the Philippines, Italy, and Israel and broke into the NBA last year spending 25 games with the Denver Nuggets. He has potential and upside, and probably caught the Raptors' eye when he scored 39 points to lead his country to a victory over Canada in this summer’s FIBA Americas Championship tournament. Forbes is also internet-famous for scoring 78 points in a pick-up game this summer, including 13 threes which is good news for the Raptors.

Raptors Free Agency 2011

This upcoming free agent banquet will have to be scarfed down quickly as training camps and free agency open simultaneously on December 9 this year. This means teams will scramble to make moves to complete their teams, either for the quick fix and a chance to win now, or to set them up with a quality player for the long run. The Raptors should be in the latter category. While Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams have created most of the buzz this offseason they are not actually free agents for another year. Here's the best out there for the Raptors, as I see them. The Raptors would be best suited not to over-spend on a class of free agents this year, as mediocre improvement now should be sacrificed in favor of the continuation of the youth rebuilding the team has been fairly successful at in recent years. The Raps would be best signing an unrestricted free agent outright rather than trying to outbid a team on a restricted free agent, where their current team is allowed to match the bid and keep their player. Players I have listed are realistic signings and within our price range, not just dreams.

Free Agents

Unrestricted Free Agents

Point Guard

Veteran backup/ mentor to Jerryd Bayless - Anthony Carter, Earl Boykins or Carlos Arroyo
If they part ways with expensive and volatile Jose Calderon, they'll need someone behind Bayless.
I like Anthony Carter at this spot.

Unexploited talent - Sebastian Telfair.
Still has a talent level that hasn't translated into NBA success and could shine if given the opportunity. Worth the risk for the right price.

Well... one of them ruled the world

Shooting Guard

Bench depth - Roger Mason
The guy can shoot, has been deep in the playoffs with some good Spurs team and can bring a winning mentality.

Future power - Chris Douglas-Roberts
CDR is still just 24 and averaged 9.8 ppg as an occasional starter on the Nets two years ago. Still lots of upside here at a discounted price. At 6-7 he could play SG or SF, and probably challenge James Johnson for the starting SF spot.

CDR as a teammate of Derrick Rose in Memphis, dunking on Kevin Love

Small Forward

Three-point threat - James Jones
Last years' All-Star game Three Point Shootout Champion he could provide the three-point stroke that the Raptors used to employ so well, but somehow lost last season.

An added threat from deep like James Jones would help space the floor

Potential talent to develop - Al Thornton or Ime Udoka
Thornton's been on some bad teams, Udoka on some good ones. Both would appreciate any court time the Raptors could give them to showcase their talents.

Power Forward

Instant fan attraction - Yi Jianlian
This guy hasn't shown much in the NBA and the Raps are already pretty crowded at the position. I just don't see them going for Chuck Hayes or Troy Murphy when they already have Amir Johnson, Ed Davis and probably Andrea Bargnani at this position. Yi would be a fan-favourite in the metropolitan city and if he surprises we're golden, if he disappoints we didn't lose too much.

Yi, as pictured here with Olympic teammate Yao Ming

Centre

While we wait for Jonas Vanenciunas - Tyson Chandler
He's definitely too expensive, but impatiant Raps fans already have to wait a year for Jonas to arrive on the roster after being drafted 5th overall in this past summers' draft. And it will probably take years before he's fully acclimatized to the NBA. Chandler would be a great fit if he brings defensive mentality and intensity and allows Bargs to slide over to the PF spot. Valenciunas is insurance.

Chandler played excellent defense against Dirk while on the Hornets, then joined him to win a championship

Less expensive options - Aaron Gray or Jamaal Magloire
Gray is younger and a big body (and I'd love a "GRAY" raptors jersey so, yeah, I'm biased), while Magloire would probably love to end his career in his hometown of Toronto.


Restricted Free Agents

If the Raptors are going to blow the load and try to buy a player away from his team, here are some logical spending sprees, for the most part these guys' teams would be crazy to let them go;

Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons – $2.8 million – Restricted ($3.9 million Qualifying Offer)
-penetrating powerful point guard. Should stay in Detroit.

Nick Young, Washington Wizards – $2.6 million – Restricted ($3.7 million Qualifying Offer)
-part of the Wizards youth movement, he can definitely score in bunches.

Marcus Thornton, Sacramento Kings – $0.8 million – Restricted ($1.1 million Qualifying Offer)
-made huge improvement in Sac-town and should have many suitors

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers – $2.9 million – Restricted ($4.0 million Qualifying Offer)
-tons of upside, could be the reason the Sixers let Iguodala go. Will stay in Philly

Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks – $0.9 million – Restricted ($1.1 million Qualifying Offer)
-probably the most available of the bunch, could be valuable in the Raps rotation

Jeff Green, Boston Celtics – $4.5 million – Restricted ($5.9 million Qualifying Offer)
- "I can really f**king play this game, man" he says. Green needs a platform to shine and it hasn't been in OKC or Boston. He'd be great in Toronto, but don't expect him to slip away from the Celtics who gave up Perkins and lots of Ubuntu to get him.

Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies – $3.6 million – Restricted ($4.5 million Qualifying Offer)
-most sought-after FA after Nene. He's not going anywhere.

DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers – $0.9 million – Restricted ($1.1 million Qualifying Offer)
-big, talented, jumps out of the gym. Perfect compliment to the Blakeshow. Staying a Clipper (which may not be such a bad thing anymore)

*thanks to Hoopsworld for all of the free agent contract info
http://www.hoopsworld.com/2011-nba-free-agents/