Crossword

I'd be extremely happy if we could get either Nene or Bonzi to come up to Toronto.

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SkywalkerAC

Yup, if Nene is judged capable of returning healthy, a sizable offer would secure him, and one of the more exciting frontcourts in the league- no true center but a rotation of Nene, Bosh, Sow, Araujo, and Villenueva.

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Ballyhoo

The only impact player is Ben Wallace, and the chances of getting him are zilch. Frankly the rest of the guys on that list are not the type of players you want on a rebuilding squad.

changv10

Top options

1. If Ben Wallace *thinks* about coming here, sign him at MAX. ELSE...
2. If Nene wants around 6-7 million per year, sign him. ELSE ...
3. Draft a big man ... Aldridge/Splitter/Shelden-Williams. If all not available for us ...
4. If Nazr Mohammend wants around 3-4 million per year, sign him. ELSE...
5. Sign some lesser FA center, (Francisco Elson?) wait 1 year and get Magloire.

I feel that big guys like Pryzbilla, Wilcox, Gooden are decent signings ... but I consider them as 'forever mediocre'. 'bila has the length and the presence, but that's about it. Gooden and Wilcox are PFs ... we already have 2 of the better ones in the league in Bosh and Villanueva.

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Rhubarb

I don't see what people have against Przybilla.

IMO he'd be a good fit for this team. Won't be our starting center for the ages, but he'd boost our interior D as well as anyone. A big, defensive minded guy like him would be more than welcome.

As for Nene, the odds of him wanting to sign for a reasonable contract is as low as Big Ben wanting to shift from Detroit to TDot. Not going to happen, so pass.

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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"

Turkish Delight

No way I want Al Harrington here. We have enough wing players, and power forwards. He'll just be taking time away from Charlie Villanueva and Joey Graham. We need someone who can play some minutes at the 5, and he is definately not one of them.

sammysamosa

Nene would really look good in a raptors uniform...i think he's really underated..he's got really good inside passing and he uses his size pretty well...and if it doesn't cost us the max to get him we should have money left over to grab another talented guy.we'd have a huge line-up next season

C Nene
PF Bosh
SF Charles
SG Mop
PG Calderon/James?

either way we'd have three bigs which are 6'10 or bigger...and nene weigh's like 270..so our rebounding woh's would be over..

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aizn

yea, nene sounds okayyy, but u really have to base everything on who we take in the draft and the upcoming trades that could happen b4 the trading deadline.

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Humpty Dumpty fell down, that's his hard time.
Jack B. Nimble, what, nimble, and he was quick,
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Now little Bo Peep cold lost her sheep
and Rip van Winkle fell the hell asleep.
And Alice stilled her hunger in Wonderland"

Ballyhoo

I don't have anything against him as a player, but I don't want him because he's going to get overpaid. If the Raptors could get him for 3 years $14 million it would be a great addition, but I think someone will throw $40 million at him, and the Raptors just can't do something like that at this stage of rebuilding, especially when we could add something similar for much cheaper through the draft.

shookem

I watched the Portland /Minny game last night, I don't usually get a chance to watch the Trailblazers, but Joel looked awesome last night. He looks like a great interior defender, with amazing shot-blocking abilities and soft enough hands to lay the ball in the bucket.

I'd consider signing Przybilla or Nene. I don't think there is anyone in the draft that would help the Raps as much as either or these two could next year.

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flushingflash

i dont see any impact players on that list except for ben wallace, and if the rpas wanna get a nene or nazr then they better not overpay, no crazy 10 mill contracts.

Junkyard Dog13

sign Nazr this summer, extend Sow and in 07 bring in Rashard Lewis.

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drlove_playa

What good is having Nene? He's just like all the other players we have had. He can't player defense for the life of him. He is also injury prone and he is going to want about $8-10 million a year, you wait and see.

We need a good shotblocker and rebounder. Someone that is going to make a player think twice about driving to the rim on us. I like the idea of Joel, but again, someone mentioned he is going to get $40 million without a doubt.

Crossword

I'm not very impressed with this big man class. Hopefully Nene's one year absence will help lower his value to a good price, but he realistically hasn't proven much in this league. Just say no to Joel. Not at his commanding price.

Bonzi Wells, I think, would be a great addition to this team. He'd make a solid defensive swingman rotation with Mo and Joey, and he provides great rebounding for his position. Also, he's a slasher on offense which will provide some much neede balance in our lineup. Plus I don't think his contract demands will be as high as the big men's. If we could get a solid big man in the draft and sign Bonzi I'd be all for that.

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ColinBeehler

You can't use it like that. The rule is for capped out teams who want to keep their players. They can sign their own players and go over the cap. You can not have a tonne of cap room, sign other teams players, get up close to the limit, and then sign your own guy with the Larry Bird rule.

I like that idea. If Bonzi can be had for a reasonable price. He is 30 years old and is averaging 15-8. I wonder what he would be worth contract wise. Joey, him and Mo Pete would be a sick group of defensive wing players. All of them are reasonably athletic, capable defenders who can rebound alright. I would still be in favour of drafting a top tier scoring small forward or shooting gaurd in 2006 or 2007. I would also be fine with drafting a big man this year. Sheldon Williams, Lemarcus Aldridge and Tiago Splitter come to mind depending on where our pick lands.

I really think we should sign Joel Przybilla tho. I like what he would bring to our team, like everyone is saying, and I am sounding like a broken record. Defense and rebounding, hehe. He is 27 years old, averaging 6-6-2.5, and there are a few other guys on the market that could command as much or money then him. So we could maybe get him for a reasonable price. I would be willing to sign him on a contract starting at... anywhere up to say, 5 or 6 million. At 6 million I would say he is getting expensive. But the more I think about it, the more I believe that this offseason could really be HUGE for finishing off our team, and getting it ready to compete. When you think about all the names I just threw out. and... How realistic it seems. Just think of our roster if we got two or three of those guys.

Przybilla -Aldridge/Sheldon/Splitter, Araujo
Bosh - Villanueva, Sow
Bonzi - Graham, Villanueva, Sow
Peterson - Bonzi, Graham
Calderon - Ukic

Obviously over the next couple seasons, I could see players like Villanueva, Aldridge/Splitter/Sheldon and Joey moving up in the depth charts and Bonzi and Przybilla playing more of a back-up role

I think our PG position is still a little thin and inexperienced. But early this year, Calderon really showed what he is capable of and I expect him to show that again consistently. Between the '07 draft, '07 free agency, and maybe Mike James, or some other lesser solid vet PG, I think we could fill all of our holes.... and that would be awesome!!! EEEE!!!