2012-13 Toronto Raptors
Draft Grades, Needs, Free Agents, Season Preview
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Toronto Raptors
2011-12: 23-43, 11th in Eastern Conference
2012-13 Predicted Conference Finish: 8th
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Jonas Valanciunas/Amir Johnson/Aaron Gray/Jamaal Magloire
PF: Andrea Bargnani/Ed Davis/Quincy Acy
SF: Landry Fields/Linas Kleiza/Alan Anderson/Dominic McGuire
SG: DeMar DeRozan/Terrence Ross/Jerel McNeal
PG: Kyle Lowry/Jose Calderon/John Lucas III
Head Coach: Dwayne Casey (2nd season)
Toronto's offseason was:
... the Raptors found an experienced, yet still young and developing, point guard of the future in Kyle Lowry, whom they acquired from Houston for a future first-round pick. What makes me like the deal even more is that Lowry is only owed a very respectable $12 million over the next two years. Toronto also found a needed upgrade of talent on the wing by drafting Terrence Ross and signing Landry Fields.
Of course, the offseason also confirmed the highly anticipated arrival of 2011 first-round pick Jonas Valanciunas, who spent last year playing overseas. Raptors fans got a taste of what the big man will bring to the team during the Summer Olympics in London as he will bringing a needed true big man to Toronto's roster.
2012-2013 will be a success if:
... Toronto sneaks into the postseason. I have the Raptors doing just that as the eighth playoff team in the Eastern Conference, which would be quite a turnaround for a team that finished 20 games under .500 last season. Toronto has improved ots depth across the roster, and I think the addition of Valaciunas will be huge as it will provide the team with a needed physical presence inside, and allow Andrea Bargnani to play his more natural power forward position.
2012-2013 will be a disappointment if:
... progress isn't made. Maybe I'm overestimating how improved the Raptors will be this season, but with the additions they made this offseason and the hits that teams ranked below them took, Toronto is certainly a team on the rise. If that doesn't happen immediately, it would be very disheartening.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer:
The only key player who becomes a free agent is Jose Calderon, whose name has been in trade rumors since Lowry was acquired this offseason. His $10.5-million contract comes off the books, which will open up enough cap space for Toronto to possibly add a couple of minor pieces. That is, of course, if Calderon actually sticks on the roster the entire season and isn't dealt during the year.
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Toronto Raptors
2011-12: 23-43, 11th in Eastern Conference
2012-13 Predicted Conference Finish: 8th
2012-13 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Jonas Valanciunas/Amir Johnson/Aaron Gray/Jamaal Magloire
PF: Andrea Bargnani/Ed Davis/Quincy Acy
SF: Landry Fields/Linas Kleiza/Alan Anderson/Dominic McGuire
SG: DeMar DeRozan/Terrence Ross/Jerel McNeal
PG: Kyle Lowry/Jose Calderon/John Lucas III
Head Coach: Dwayne Casey (2nd season)
Toronto's offseason was:
... the Raptors found an experienced, yet still young and developing, point guard of the future in Kyle Lowry, whom they acquired from Houston for a future first-round pick. What makes me like the deal even more is that Lowry is only owed a very respectable $12 million over the next two years. Toronto also found a needed upgrade of talent on the wing by drafting Terrence Ross and signing Landry Fields.
Of course, the offseason also confirmed the highly anticipated arrival of 2011 first-round pick Jonas Valanciunas, who spent last year playing overseas. Raptors fans got a taste of what the big man will bring to the team during the Summer Olympics in London as he will bringing a needed true big man to Toronto's roster.
2012-2013 will be a success if:
... Toronto sneaks into the postseason. I have the Raptors doing just that as the eighth playoff team in the Eastern Conference, which would be quite a turnaround for a team that finished 20 games under .500 last season. Toronto has improved ots depth across the roster, and I think the addition of Valaciunas will be huge as it will provide the team with a needed physical presence inside, and allow Andrea Bargnani to play his more natural power forward position.
2012-2013 will be a disappointment if:
... progress isn't made. Maybe I'm overestimating how improved the Raptors will be this season, but with the additions they made this offseason and the hits that teams ranked below them took, Toronto is certainly a team on the rise. If that doesn't happen immediately, it would be very disheartening.
Looking Ahead to Next Summer:
The only key player who becomes a free agent is Jose Calderon, whose name has been in trade rumors since Lowry was acquired this offseason. His $10.5-million contract comes off the books, which will open up enough cap space for Toronto to possibly add a couple of minor pieces. That is, of course, if Calderon actually sticks on the roster the entire season and isn't dealt during the year.
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Geiger
10-18-2012
11:43 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.137
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I think the Raptors will be one of the biggest improvements throughout the NBA..they upgraded in all the positions they needed to and Derozan will have another year of experience behind him. Toronto wont compete in the playoffs, but getting there shouldnt be a problem.
haha
05-27-2012
09:54 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx0.47
(total posts: 1)
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get rid of aron gray keep bayless use calderon n draft pik to get higher pik, draft bradley beals pray to god jonas is as good as everyone says n AB will have a 26 point 7 rebound season get my asia boi linsanity in a raps jersey n yes nick name jonas the valanciraptor!!!! :D
Janine
11-02-2011
04:15 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx22.2
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A mtinue saved is a minute earned, and this saved hours!
Dave
06-26-2011
11:32 am
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An excellent selection.
With Bayless and still having Calderon we need a PG like a hole in the head. Hopefully after Calderon is traded for a pick we can target Torontonian MYCK KABONGO PG in 2012 and have another 1st rounder to go after a SF (John Henson?) Alongside Kanter, he is the best Center this year and next and was a very intelligent choice. Forget nationality and skin colour, Center has been a need for the last decade
Big Val
06-24-2011
09:11 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.204
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Of the high upside, unknown foreign bigs-- Jan Vesely has quickly become popular because of his Birdman-like highlight reels and smoking hot girlfriend and Bismack Biyombo may be the most fun because of his name, but Lithuania is a basketball factory and the kids that come up there know how to play the game. The only issue is developing physically and adjusting to the more rugged NBA style of play. I like Big V's chances better than any foreign big man down the road but it will take some time to happen.
mpr
06-24-2011
10:28 am
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@John
IMO, unless there's a stud PG like Rose, Wall, Paul, etc., available, it's always a good idea to go big. Skilled bigs are a rare commodity and Valanciunas offers the skill set to complement Bargnani, or even make Bargnani potential trade bait in a deal for a PG. I like Kemba Walker, but I don't think he'll find it as easy to get his shot off on the NBA level. I'm not saying he's the next Mateen Cleaves, but he and Knight were overrated going into this draft due to teams' desperation for quality PGs, IMO. The Raptors didn't reach and made the correct (albeit BORING) pick.
John From Toronto
06-24-2011
01:05 am
xxx.xxx.xxx1.88
(total posts: 1)
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Suprise! Draft time again and the Raptors draft a European big man. Thought this was a nice opportunity to draft a potential point guard of the future like Brandon Knight.
Although Valanciunas sounds like he has a lot of upside this is certainly not a pick that the Toronto fan base can fall in love with nor will it pay immediate dividends in the win-loss column. More empty seats at the Air Canada Centre. Yawn...when is the Leafs season starting...
Raptorized Dan
06-23-2011
10:21 pm
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New nickname: The Valanciraptor.
Northern Charge
06-23-2011
10:14 pm
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(total posts: 1)
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Oh man. Another white, European player. Surprise! I'm starting to think it's because they have been scared off by all the American studs they have had that didn't want to play there. Europeans aren't as picky.
It'll be a year or two before he is even able to come to Canada to play, and by then DeRozan will have demanded a trade out of town. Book it.
huja wang
06-23-2011
09:02 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx0.67
(total posts: 1)
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this is an awful pick it should have been kemba walker or brandon knight
Walter
06-21-2011
05:19 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 1)
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First comment... we're going to have comment boards like this all over the site soon. We're still working out the kinks, so this is not the finished product.
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2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 25
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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