ollyaaa

Hi guys/Jeff,

Unfortunately when raptor torrents (website) closed I was unable to watch last season. The 2 seasons before I watched pretty much every game.

Today I was fortunate enough to be able to catch the last 2 quarters of the Philly game.

I'm shocked! We've made absolutely no progress! Here is what I'm left wondering, I'm curious what you guys (the experts) think.

WHY DID WE PAY DEMAR THAT MUCH! - I really like Demar, but after seeing him today (very small sample I know) it's SO OBVIOUS he's already the finished product. His game is identical to his 2nd season and he isn't going to improve. What on earth was the point in locking him up to this contract when it blatently won't get us any where in the long run. Jeez, if he's offered a fortune elsewhere what have we got to lose in trying to get more from Ross (for example)

Why do we have a culture of rewarding AVERAGE players WHO HAVE NO MAJOR IMPACT ON THE TEAM? Ok - this seems like a stupid statement. But the thing is - we should ONLY commit to players who appear to be above average. Otherwise what s the harm in seeing them leave and trying someone new(cheaper). Fans like hope - rebuilding teams survive because of HOPE.

These players are good examples from over the years

AMIR - I really really don't understand that contract
DEMAR
TURK
CALDY
BARGS
LANDRY
LINAS (slightly more understandable at the time but turned out badly)


Finally

Why do we never take a chance on Vets? These are some players who I believe were available for fairly cheap over the last few years

Kenyon Martin
Shaq
AI
T MAC
Blatche

We could even have a bash with Agent 0 or B Diddy?!

There have been plenty more. Why don't we sign Kenyon RIGHT NOW?

Look forward to hearing from you guys - my post isn't very well constructed by I'm thinking on the fly.

ETA - First DC coached game I've seen. I would have thought it was a JT team tonight if I didn't know otherwise. He seems like a waste of time.

sloppi

Raptors should start scouting European talent. There are a lot of amazing players here who dream about playing in the NBA. why not give them a chance?

Metallikid

This is what I'm afraid of.

Also I would rather have Kenyon Martin than Aaron Gray.

Sloppi I agree with you; if we're willing to play Anderson who started on a ten-day, we should at least be offering something similar to the star European players who have any shot to duplicate 1/2 of what they are in the Euroleague.

Luckedout

im sure there are scouts scouring europe for nba talent.


Demar's contract i dont understand and i dont like but i will say he's played exceptionally well for 3 out of the 6 games this season.

but 2 years later we've added Lowry, JV and a defensive minded coach (although i will say it really doesnt look that way right now) so we've added some good pieces but overall this team looks the same, bad 1st quarter starts, bad defence, no real shooters and a horrible GM.

ollyaaa

We seem to really reduce our chances of finding above average talent by locking up all these scrubs. Perplexing!

carp

Kenyon Martin isn't coming here.... he's probably waiting for a winning team to sustain an injury, like Rasheed Wallace did in years past. Some guys aren't going to come just because they're better than what you have. As far as your main premise, I agree. Signing guys like Landry and Kleiza before you've gotten enough core pieces in place doesn't help long term success.

DDUnreal

We're brutal. And will be for years to come. Lol @ people thinking everything would go perfectly and make the playoffs. Hopefully we resign Calderon and continue the joke train.

carp

Agreed! LOL at people thinking Ed Davis was a saviour! Oh wait, sorry, I'm just getting too amped with this I told you so nostalgic feeling! But yeah, for a franchise that generally doesn't have things turn out in the most ideal manner, it did seem foolish to think that they would this year as well. It's still early and Ed still has time to become a serviceable role player like Nick Collison and Tyler Hansborough have, but it's easy to see how this season could come off the rails quickly after all that preseason acceleration talk!

jeffb

Name one person who thought that.

ollyaaa

Well I heard he turned down a job in Europe in the hope of landing an NBA job. Surely he can't be that fussy?! Sheed went back to NY because of Woodson, he said it himself.

I agree most guys might not wanna come to TO, but whats the harm in a revolving door until we hit the jackpot? 1) we suck anyway 2) fans don't resent overpaid players 3) Higher chance of getting the next superstar 4) second only to championships is HOPE (maybe false) when it comes to happy fan bases 5) It would ESTABLISH A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY - you're not gonna get paid for being average - you need to work incredibly hard to play for TO.

I think it becomes apparent more and more every year what a superstar CB4 was and how important he was to this team. We've suffered more without him than the cavs have without LBJ for gawds sake!!!!!

ollyaaa

Ha ha, Jeff you're a funny guy. I see what you did there!

carp

Dude, there's no need to bash Ed Davis, he's just a little guy. Saying nobody believed in him is just cruel. Stop right now, we've heard it enough.