You just knew Bryan Colangelo was going to do something about the Toronto Raptors point guard situation before the draft.
You just knew Bryan Colangelo was going to do something about the Toronto Raptors point guard situation and on the eve of the draft, it would appear he has made a move.
Reports have Jermaine O’Neal on his way to Toronto with Indiana receiving a package of T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Joey Graham and the 17th pick in the draft. The Pacers are dismissing the reports as speculation and nothing can be finalized until July 9 when the trade moritorium ends, but it would seem the deal is done. Colangelo met with the media the day before the draft and said that there were four or five possible trade partners and that most of the calls he was receiving centered on the diminutive Ford.
"If he comes to play, Toronto becomes a team that is now a serious contender in the east" said one Western Conference assistant coach.
"He (O’Neal) gives them (Toronto) a low post presence that you have to have in the East and don’t be fooled by his seemingly slight frame. He will go down in the post and work there all day. If you don’t get him off the block or front him, he will score or get fouled."
O’Neal is a former all-star with questions swirling around his health. He played only 42 games last season because of a knee injury, but if he stays healthy, the Raptors address a number of team needs with one player.
Besides being a threat in the post, O’Neal brings some much needed shot blocking as Toronto finished 25th in the NBA in that category. The fact that the Raptors perimeter defence was weak could have been helped by a shot-blocking presence and now they will have O’Neal back there to erase an occasional perimeter breakdown. He will also rebound, particularly on the offensive end where the Raptors were better than only four other squads in the NBA this past season.
There will be benefits to other players. With the Raptors perimeter-oriented attack, it was occasionally difficult for shooters to find space, and consequently, shots as the team stood around the arc making them easy to defend. O’Neal’s presence inside will give Chris Bosh and the long range shooters a bit more room. Andrea Bargnani will have some of the pressure on him alleviated as he will not be counted on as heavily to play inside and he can go back coming off the bench to play against opposing second unit players. He will still have to figure out how to play with Bosh, but it will be easy for him to play with O`Neal.
So let’s start with the inevitable questions.
Did the Raptors give up too much?
Considering it was a given that Ford was the subject of trade inquiries from other NBA teams and was going to be moved, Rasho Nesterovic becomes an expiring contract after July 1, neither Maceo Baston nor Joey Graham expected to get much playing time and pick No. 17 probably not going to have much of an immediate impact, the answer is no.
So let the charade start on Thursday night when Toronto selects the player in the draft, who will be traded to Indiana. In fact, it will be the Pacers advising the Raptors who to pick for them.
Who now backs up Calderon at the point?
This is one that will have to be addressed through free agency. It will have to be a guy that has to be able to start in a pinch, in the event that Calderon gets injured, have the skills to break down the defence on the dribble, run the break, and defend his position. There are many names out there but if you are making a move to live in the moment and try to win now and not later, which is what this trade seems to suggest, there are plenty of serviceable players to fill the void.
What about the money?
There will be plenty of cash tied up with O’Neal’s contract that has two years remaining with a reported $21.3 million to be doled out this season and $22.9 million in 2009-10.
If you don’t think Colangelo is trying to maintain flexibility just look at the free agent class in 2010 when O’Neal’s deal is done and Bosh will be poised to sign a new contract.
The deal can’t officially be announced until July 9th when Ford loses his status as a base year player, but in the mean time, Toronto fans can wait for the next bold move by Colangelo. You just knew he wouldn’t stand pat and there is probably more to come perhaps a move to grab a pick somewhere at the top of the second round where it is expected that there will still be some quality players on the board.
