85 lakers

1. This much is obvious: Hire a new GM. I like BJ Armstrong a lot. Other than that, I'm open to suggestions. Isiah Thomas, should he get let go by the Knicks, is not an option.

2. This team NEEDS to make a decision on Jalen Rose. And soon. I am a Fab 5 guy, I like Rose's offensive skills. But he's dead weight. I won't use the word cancer, but he's close. Shop him around, hell, even take him at a loss. But please, do something with him.

3. At the end of the season, fire the head coach, and make a run at one of these three guys: Mark Ivaroni (asst in Phoenix), Nate McMillian (he's unhappy with thugs in Portland), Mark Few (Gonzaga). Prior to the hire, I talk to Chris Bosh, and ask him his thoughts. Maybe I even give some serious thought to Paul Hewitt, who has done a great job at Georgia Tech. (Hewitt is a very good coach).

4. A PG decision must be made. Mike James or Calderon. After much thought, I don't think sticking with James is such a bad idea. He'll want to test the market ... but I feel MAYBE he could be a Steve Nash-type of PG. OBVIOUSLY NOT Steve Nash, but a PG with the ability to shoot from 3, drive effectively, AND distribute. A 17-8 guy.

5. The #1 guy i throw money at on the FA market is Joel Przybilla. He allows Bosh to slip to 4 with ease. Moreso, he brings defense, toughness, and rebounding. And Bosh still gets all the shots he needs. He's going to want big bucks ... pay him.

6. The draft is too far away to really predict, but here's who I like: 1) Aldridge. 2) Adam Morrison. I know, I'm changing my tune, but the more I watch his game, I think he actually can score on anybody. He's an offensive machine. He lit up Memphis and Michigan state, two teams with athletic wings - the same type of players he'll be going against in the NBA. Let's see what he does in March. I think he can play the 3. What of CV? Well he seems to have hit a wall at about the 30-game mark (equiv of 1 college season ... but Chris Paul has not hit it, and he plays more minutes). Let's see what happens from here on out. Nothing wrong with him as a 6th man.
3) Rudy Gay. Why Gay over Morrison? The offensive threat factor. Pressure is off James and Bosh. And IF you have Bosh and Przy inside, that's a good defensive tandem.

I FIRMLY believe with their second pick the Raptors should try for JJ Redick. Go ahead and point out how poorly most Duke players wind up ... but I still feel Redick will be a factor in the NBA. I also like Maurice Ager and G Diaz (Miami), although the latter is more of a PG/SG and probably another James-type player.

rip away.

crimedog

1. experienced GM...that's their requirement...that means no BJ Armstrong. I don't know if there was any truth to those kiki leaving denver rumours...but if so, do what it takes to get him.

2. totally disagree. he IS deadweight, but what's our hurry? our goal is still 2007...DO NOT TAKE A LOSS. If you want to ditch him for penny, fine, but don't you dare include the denver pick.

3. not sure how i feel about the head coach. i think we need SOME consistency with this org and Bosh would be heading into his third coach AND gm in four years...but i agree with trying to feel out the players...i think i trust Embry for that. Oh...and McMillan just signed a Huge deal with portland...so that won't do...not thanks to a college coach...maybe to Iavorni...but it might be Lenny time - Don't worry, i don't mean hire lenny...i mean hire a stable, reputable coach.
- maybe throw a big contract at stan van or donnie nelson to get them out of retirement...paul silas?
- we DO need a new defensive scheme, that's for sure

4. decision? what decision...calderon is not ready to be a starter...if he ever will be...and we need two pgs anyway. i wouldn't mind signing james at the right price...but i wouldn't count on 17 and 8, and you should probably have your license revoked for even mentioning steve nash...at least make a reasonable comparison, like stephon or something.

5. maybe...he's a legit 5 and a shot blocking presence that we need...but he's always on a losing team, and might just be a stat stuffer...but i'd be happy with a reasonable contract...but he's not the long term solution...i'd rather draft inside help (like shelden williams)

6. like you said...too far to predict, but i think point guard, defence (preferably interior) and secondary star power are the main requirements to look for.

Ballyhoo

I'm not sure if this plan fixes the Raptors. What it does do is turn them into a capped out .500 team, which is not what you want in the NBA. Unless your GM is really good you're not going anywhere from that kind of situation.

Obviously we need a good GM and coach, can't disagree there.

no_free_baskets

2. who wants him with that contract? no one...maybe he was a cancer earlier in his career, but hes been nothing but a pro here...for someone with his stature in the league, to be benched twice, and keep his mouth shut (and we all know how jalen loves to talk.) in the media was truly a professional act through and through..

3. dont know enough about ivaroni or few to contribute something positive to this thread, but i certainly like the systems (at least offensively) that they run...it would be fun to watch as a raps fan....mcmillan, i dont know how we get him with that contract hes tied up to in portland...im assuming wed have to give some type of compensation, which i wouldnt feel too comfortable with...

4. i get where youre coming from with the james and nash thing in terms of pure numbers, but they are completely two different types of player...james will look to get his before looking to distribute, while nash always looks for his teammates first, his shots, second...

5. funny you mention pryzbilla, because i think (not 100% sure thou) in babcock's 1st yr as the raps gm, both woods and pryzbilla were fa just coming out of minesota...i think its pretty obvious to say, babs, picked the wrong guy there....as for him coming to the raps, i dont think we have the cap space this summer to sign him...surely, he'll ask for at least foyle's contract of 5yrs at 41 mil. i dont believe we have that much room under our cap.

6. ive changed my mind, and aldridge is my guy so far, too.....imo, reddick will not be there with our 2nd pick...just about everything has gone wrong with the nuggets and they're still above the 500 mark. (arent they 1st in the northeast too?) i just think theres little chance that they stay in the lottery, and imo, reddick is a legit late lottery pick (maybe a bit higher) in this underwhelming upcoming nba draft.

ballocks

it's an interesting plan. you should run it by wayne embry.

i have a three step plan:

1) enrol all toronto fans in an nba salary cap summer course with larry coon (depending on larry's availability- storyteller would just take his place if larry couldn't lecture).

2) enrol all toronto journalists in the same course twice (then have them write an even tougher final exam, and failing to ace the test would simply not allow them to cover the team at all).

3) implement a new system for handling coaches and gm's: after hiring our new pairing (or leaving sam as coach, whatever), force everyone to commit to a five-year plan where firing anyone, under any circumstances, would be prohibited.

i talked to wayne about #3 already. he was concerned that he might die before his term was up and was wondering what we'd do. i told him he'd just have to run things from the grave. (he said he needed internet access down there to get larry coon's everchanging faq, and i told him that it wouldn't be a problem.)

peace

85 lakers

How will this plan cap out the Raptors? You've giving money to

According to hoopshype.com's salary listing, Murray and Williams' salaries come off the books. It's 8 million between them.
You don't think Przy and James can be had for something in the neighborhood of that?

Calderon should come on the cheap.

Of course, you'll notice moving Rose was my #2, and if you can move him - worse contract have been moved - then you're in business.

Do you think Bosh is going to stick around if the Raptors don't at least look to deal Rose, AND they don't sign James? What will that say about the team and wanting to win?

As for Nate in Portland ... he hates it. He's got a thugged-out roster, players who give him lip, and they are eons from sniffing the .500 mark. In the era of TO, Artest, and Larry Brown, getting out of a contract is nothing.

Ballyhoo

The Raptors have $53 million in committed salary next year. Let's assume James opts out (safe assumption), that leaves $49.2 million in salary. Now according to your 2nd step the team somehow gets rid of Rose, for all expiring contracts (unlikely imho), that gets us down to $32.3 million. The cap is $49.5 million this year.

Now your step 4 said sign James, and step 5 said sign Przybilla. James and Przy can't be had for $4 million each, they'll get MLE at least. They're two of the best players available in a weak FA crop.

James: $6 million/y
Przybilla: $6 million/y
Raptor pick: $2.5 million/y
Denver pick: $1 million/y

So $32.3 million + $15.5 million = $47.8 million. So technically you're right, not over the cap, but not enough under to have any flexibility. And then you have $12+ million/y extension kicking in for Bosh the following year. And it's going to be hard to get rid of Rose for all expiring contracts.

ThatBlazerGuy

As for Nate in Portland ... he hates it. He's got a thugged-out roster, players who give him lip, and they are eons from sniffing the .500 mark.

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. Nate has shown no displeasure in Portland. He has turned a team of youngsters and underachieving vets and really gotten the best out of them, so far equaling Mo Cheeks record at this time last year. He has a huge contract, and a big factor in him choosing Portland was because he wanted to stay on the west coast. Believe me, the chances of Nate opting out of his contract to move thousands of miles east and sign with Toronto, a team that is not better than the Blazers, will not happen. Simply absurd.

charlz

BJ armstrong? The guy who refused to player here in year 1?
<b>hades no!</b>

1. Hire doug collins
2. Draft Gay or morrison
3. Fire Sam <b>dysfunctional-back-stabbing-could-not-assmble-a-defensive-set-if-my-life depended-on-it</b> Mitchell
4. Hire Eric Musselman

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crimedog

yeah...you don't know what you're talking about, do you?

who cares even if nate was unhappy. he JUST signed a longterm deal. what do you want to do, trade for him?

alvin williams has a player option...i doubt he turns that down somehow...so that's not coming off anything.

calderon is already signed...and even if you have the $ to get james and pryz after that...are they the guys to use all our capspace on? does this team plus pryzbilla smell like a contender?

shookem

Every thing that I would have said was already said in no free baskets, Charlz and crimedog's posts, but here's my quick version.

1. Yes, but no.
2. Rose can't be moved that easily.
3. Yes.
4. Sign James, keep Calderon.
5. Yes, if there's room after James.
6. Morrison, Alridge, Splitter, Bargnani, Gay, Carney, or one of the Duke boys, any of those players would be fine with me. But it's still a little early.


What effect (if any) will dangling that presidents position option out there have?

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charlz

Don't Touch Pryzbilla - he is going to do a mark blount.

__________________
“I may be wrong... but I doubt it”
--Charles Barkley

85 lakers

Hey, look! Step #2 is taken care of!!


And you said it couldn't be done!