butr

Philly Inquirer, David Aldridge.

Theory:

BC knows he IS going to trade down to the 3-5 slot. Bargnani is a smokescreen based on all the BS from scouting trips to the ast. GM link. BC knows Shelden Williams is his guy, so through Papa and coach K lets Shelden know he should not workout with anyone wasting his time beyond 5. This keeps other teams from realising he is worth a top pick and trading up to get him. At 5 he is still a "reach" this way. At the time Marion was a "reach" for BC.

Ah, I like my Conspiracy theories.

Flush

If colangelo likes it....I like it

shookem

If BC is a mastermind that can pull of this type of thing, why won't he use his powers to hustle Tiago out of Spain?

I'll always think Splitter will be a better NBA player than Williams, until I'm proved wrong, but Sheldon in the right behind him in terms of draft wishes. For the same reasons too. If we ended up with Williams and significant added value, I wouldn't be unhappy.

__________________

Hockey Forum.com Toronto Raptors Toronto Blue Jays

speedythief

If Bargnani is a smokescreen, the only way it makes sense is if we think Portland wants him and would be willing to trade up to make sure they get him. I don't see another team in the top-whatever, excluding possibly Atlanta (who need a point guard more, but who knows what they'll do) willing to give up an asset to move up if they think Toronto wants Bargnani.

Question is what is Bryan trying to squeeze out of Portland? A point guard?

Flush

His 'powers' can't change the buyout clause written into his contract.

Splitter's numbers have been less than stellar in the Playoffs

shookem

They have and the buyout is an issue, but not to the point the BC hasn't mentioned Ukic's name, same team and not too different contractual situations.

__________________

Hockey Forum.com Toronto Raptors Toronto Blue Jays

shookem

I'd say yes, but he already traded Hoffa for a guy of equal inexperience. Unless of course the talk of wanting to get a more experienced lineup was a smokescreen. Or there's more trades to come and this guy looks at the NBA like a chess board.

__________________

Hockey Forum.com Toronto Raptors Toronto Blue Jays

chocolove

If we were able to trade down to get a pg and be able to draft williams i wouldnt mind that at all. Williams is a beast that can rip your head off and watching a few duke games last year i know he can play basketball too

GoRaptors

There are issues to consider that would make me believe that it is not a commitment fro the Raptors. As it includes the top 5, Atlanta is a possibility as they might realize that adding another finesse small forward would not be particularly beneficial too them. Chicago might also be interested as they seem to like players from Duke and they could use an aggressive power forward/centre. I believe Bryan Colangelo stated that there is not a point guard or centre in the draft that can be a very significant contributor.

as far as the quote
Bargnani has been rumored to be Toronto's choice with the top pick, but many teams think that's a smoke screen. They believe that the Raptors don't want to take Bargnani with the first selection. The Raptors would have to convince skeptics who wonder whether Bargnani is ready to play right now - a group that includes Toronto's own all-star forward, Chris Bosh.

Just because otheres feel that Bargnani will not be selected by the Raptors with the first selection, it does not mean that he would not be drafted at a later spot by Toronto.

The issue of convincing skeptics including Bosh that Bargnani would be ready to contribute right now is a bit scary. This situation is alleviated a bit if there is a trade down to get Bargnani as he would not have the status of a no. 1 overall selection.

Flush

We're slightly off track here but I'll explain quickly.

I don't really understand your post, but I'll guess; Ukic and Splitter are actually in very different
situations.

Colangelo is apparantly discussing Ukic coming over next season, but his discussions are with Ukic's camp not Tau.

An NBA team can only pay 500, 000 of a players buy out and the player must pay the rest. Ukic was drafted in the second round so he does not have a contract, the team and player must negotiate a contract and its parameters. Therefore Ukic and the Raptors can negotiate a larger contract that incorporates the European buyout.

Splitter, would likely be drafted in the first round. Players drafted in the first round have a prearranged contract based on their draft position. As it stands it does not appear that Splitter would have been drafted high enough to compensate for the money he would have to pay for his buyout.

And as far as I can figure the details of their Buyouts are very different.

butr

The reason behind this in my view is that SW has been solidly in the 8-10 range for the last 2-3 weeks in terms of where guys are going.

Charlie was a "reach". Hoffa was a "reach". Both to different effects. The mocks are an idea but are often wrong by miles in slots.

Point is that to take the power away from those teams 6-10, you don't let them have a shot at realising they might want to trade up to 2 or 3 to get him. You can't control a trade ahead after you traded down.

Plus there are ways of making it seem that a promise came from elsewhere, IE Atlanta. There are no real PGs of note and the don't need swings. ATL is a perfect scapegoat for such a "promise".

narrator

Can Colangelo spin straw into gold, too? Because that would be awesome.

Everything is a smokescreen. It's the nature of the beast.

__________________
"If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you read of this is useless fine print is another second off your life. Don't you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can't think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all who claim it? Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think everything you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told you should want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned."

butr

All that and Splitter is not that great of a player. How many times has he taken his name out now?

cv3bandwagon

Personaly I think the Sheldon Williams deal has nothing to do with us. Atanta has shown interest in him and his guarantee in the top five is Atl at 5.