The Raptors have a lot of options with the No. 5 pick in the draft, one of which may be a trade.
So everyone is hyped up about Thursday's NBA draft, huh? In this corner, it's sort of "yes and no" since there are so many smokescreens and misinformation floating around in this giant poker game played by the league's general managers.
One of the most recent rumours involving the Raptors has a point guard of note, Tony Parker, possibly coming to town in a trade involving the Raptors' fifth pick in the draft. Believe what you will, but for now I'm told there's not much to this. But hey, as I always say, I've been lied to before in this business, so stay tuned.
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There is an old adage that says luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Raptors new head coach Dwane Casey has just been given the opportunity and with his coaching background he is certainly prepared for it. Consider him a lucky man if you will.
The timing of his hiring and introduction to Toronto couldn't be better for Casey as he comes to a team that is at the bottom of the heap defensively in the NBA and there is no place to go but up.
"Defensively I'm going to be a hands-on control freak so to speak," remarked Casey.
It sure sounds like Casey is going to pay more than lip service to that buzz word "accountability."
"One thing that I plan to do is help this team develop an NBA defensive identity," said Casey.
The two aforementioned phrases were probably music to the ears of Raptor fans who were watching and listening in on his introductory news conference.
But back to the issue of timing as Casey takes over the Raptors at a point when expectations say there needs to be improvement. Both he and the general manager who hired him are tied together on a somewhat short timeline and they need to work together. Casey is getting some of these players at the right time.
DeRozan is a third-year player who is familiar with Casey and had some individual success last season as his game is starting to develop. A young athletic bunch with the likes of Ed Davis, Amir Johnson, Jerryd Bayless and James Johnson, the latter three have been on good teams and understand how important the defensive end of the floor is, could and should be ripe with malleability.
What about the case of Andrea Bargnani? The man that his general manager called an enigma and left for his summer vacation with questions swirling around him, his play and his future? As much as many in the fan base want him moved, should patience not be exercised because of this new coach? Casey had a horse very similar to Bargnani in Dallas with Nowitzki.
Yes there is the unfair comparison of Bargnani to Nowitzki but if you look at their similarities, it might be wise to exercise a little bit of patience and let Casey work with him for a while. Again, the timing might be right.
Bargnani had his chance to lead a team this year and be the No. 1 option and it did not go according to plan. With the criticism coming his way, if he wants to improve and show that he is indeed a good player, he now has a coach who has helped someone in the same position accomplish what he wants to achieve.
Bargnani has been in the league for five years and although he was in a new situation this season, he is developing a sense for the game and the time might be right for him to start to turn the proverbial corner. Could Casey not give some input as to what it took to surround Nowitzki to make him a success? As Casey said yesterday, maybe in reference to Bargnani as no specific names were mentioned, "you don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
But everybody associated with a 22-60 should be motivated to right the ship and again, having a man who will collect a championship ring once the next season resumes, whenever that might be, is good for the Raptors.
Yep, that's good timing and it appears Casey is prepared for his opportunity. With room to grow and a team to grow with, Raptor fans may look back one day and say, "it was lucky that Dwane Casey was hired in Toronto".
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What if we don't have a season to watch starting in the fall? We're getting down to the final days before the collective bargaining agreement expires as the owners and the players ramp up the discussions.
