Unknownone

What exactly is so urgent about NOW? The team's rebuildin' - that's a fact and havin' Ukic here won't accelerate the progress that markedly such that the Raptors'll advance cleanly through to the postseason and championship contention anytime soon... Instant gratification: usually not a good look... And if he should arrive in 2 years' time w/ a crop of rookies, how is that goin' to be significantly different than him present now w/ this year's class of freshmen?

Please accept (or in some cases, resign yourself to) the fact that we will incur some pretty demoralizin' losses this upcomin' season, that there'll be moments of brilliance balanced out by hair-pullin' episodes born out of awkward inexperience... And that if this plan is carried to fruition, the satisfaction of watchin' the team grow incrementally will prove to be more satisfyin' than any panic-driven/stricken quick fixes...

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That is an important point to remember. Anyone who says they know for sure that Villanueva is going to be a horrible pro, or a great pro, is lying, quite frankly. It's impossible to know.

"The way Tim Duncan plays and the way he is off the court is what any mother or father would love. It doesn't sell in this society of quick gratification, titillation, instant thrills and chills, and that's not what Tim Duncan is."
Gregg Popovitch

Thievery Corporation

He has starter potential, and spending 2 yrs on a competitive team in Europe rather than a crappy team that's rebuilding here would help him more, esp when he gets guaranteed time there. But his trainers had better get him on hard *** drills, weights, and plyos. I don't want him to come here to Toronto a weakling.

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TC's Hottest Women in Order of Personal Preference

1. Ana Beatriz Barros 2. Vida Guerra 3. Alessandra Ambrosio 4. Leann Tweeden 5. Jessica Alba 6. Alley Baggett 7. Josie Maran 8. Mallika Sherawat 9. Adriana Lima 10. Mercedes Terrell 11. Carmella DeCesare 12. Aish Rai 13. Jessica Biel 14. Beyonce 15. Elisha Cuthbert 16. Bipasha Basu 17. Amerie 18. Frederica Fontana 19. Lucia Tovar 20. Rachel Stevens

Rhubarb

Thought I'd pose a question:

Previous to these 'Roko to Spain' revelations, many have taken Roko to be the point guard of the future for this team.

However, with Roko unlikely to be here until a good 2 years or so, what stance do we take on our PG position?

Reality suggests we'll finish with a top 10 pick and a top 20 pick again this season. Nothing's a given, but I'd go so far to suggest we'd go in with a mindset of 'best player available'. With that being said, if the best player available was a quality PG (of which there appears to be a few in the 2006 class in Sergio Rodriguez, Ronnie Brewer, Jordan Farmer, Darius Washington), do we select them and expect them to be the future at PG, or place confidence in Roko and draft another player who perhaps fills some needs like a wing player or an extra big man?

Bottom line, where do now stand in view of Roko's future here?

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Tim Duncan: "People should stop talking about Bosh as a future force. He's already a force, right here and now."

"I don't really look at guys and memorize players, but (Bosh) is very impressive. He can shoot, he has an inside game, physical at times, he's pretty good...he's more than holding his own." - Shaq

"I really like him...to me he's already pretty special," Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki said after continually getting beat to the basket by Bosh. "He's going to be a great player in this league."

"Chris Bosh really has emerged to be a star in this league. There are more than the top three (in the 2003 draft)." - Dwyane Wade

I love everything about him, I love his game, I love his work ethic. He definitely has my approval - Kobe Bryant"

Thievery Corporation

Thought I'd pose a question:

I say draft Best Player Available regardless. There's still a chance that we don't get Roko so we get a PG if he is the BPA. It's time to take a high-potential risky pick. I'm sick of Babcock making the safe pick of the proven player. I want him to draft someone with superstar potential.

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TC's Hottest Women in Order of Personal Preference

1. Ana Beatriz Barros 2. Vida Guerra 3. Alessandra Ambrosio 4. Leann Tweeden 5. Jessica Alba 6. Alley Baggett 7. Josie Maran 8. Mallika Sherawat 9. Adriana Lima 10. Mercedes Terrell 11. Carmella DeCesare 12. Aish Rai 13. Jessica Biel 14. Beyonce 15. Elisha Cuthbert 16. Bipasha Basu 17. Amerie 18. Frederica Fontana 19. Lucia Tovar 20. Rachel Stevens

KristianH

This is most likely false rumour. It was not confirmed by neither Ukic, his agent or Tau Ceramica. Doesn`t make sense for Tau, why would they pay 1mil$ buyout to Split and then let Ukic go for free after two years. C`mon.

speedythief

Maybe they signed him knowing that his goal was to play in the NBA sooner than later, which is what Ukic has been saying all along--that he wanted to polish his game in Europe for the NBA, not for a lifelong career in Europe.