Originally Posted by Searching for '93

I’m prepping for the next installment of Ranking Raptor Draft Picks and saw something interesting:

Here’s what Colangelo has acquired through the draft as GM of the Raptors:

Andrea Bargnani. (Kobe sums up Bargnani nicely.)

That’s it.

Three drafts, one player. Can that be right? Let’s see:

2006 –

* The Raptors drafted PJ Tucker with the 35th pick. Tucker plays for BC Donetsk in the Ukranian Super League.
* Daniel Gibson, Paul Millsap and Leon Powe were selected after Tucker. (I’m just saying.)
* Edin Bavcic was selected 56th and traded to Philadelphia.
* The Raptors exchanged their first pick in 2005 (Charlie Villanueva) for TJ Ford. Keep that in mind for later.

2007 –

* The 2007 Pick was traded when the Raptors acquired Lamond Murray. Motherfucker. In 990 situations out of 1000, a first-round NBA draft pick is too valuable to throw into a trade, even if it’s lottery protected. We don’t even need to get into the philosophical side of the debate. I’m making that statement purely from an economic standpoint. You control the salary of your first and second round picks. Simple as that.
* Traded the 52nd pick to the Portland Trailblazers.

2008 –

* Nothing. Let’s dig deeper in a very superficial, “these are the facts” manner:
* The Raptors drafted Charlie Villanueva in 2005.
* Villanueva was traded for TJ Ford.
* Rasho Nesterovic (acquired for Matt Bonner (!), Eric Williams and a 2009 second round pick), TJ Ford and the 17th pick in the 2008 draft were traded to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal and the 41st pick: Nathan Jawai and his heart condition.
* Jermaine O’Neal and Jamario Moon were traded to Miami for Shawn Marion’s contract and $9,216,000 that sits on the end of the bench until 2011.
* So… If you’re scoring at home: Charlie Villanueva, Matt Bonner and a 2009 draft pick have been parlayed into:
o $17,180,000 of cap space, less approximately $4,000,000 because the salaries of Bosh, Calderon, Kapono and Bargnani appreciate in 2009.
o $4,464,000 and $4,752,000 of dead-weight over the next two seasons.
o Check it out for yourself on the HoopsHype page. (Awesome resource.)

So, how comfortable is everybody with Bryan Colangelo rebuilding the franchise? Kind of comfortable? Not comfortable at all? Desperately worried? Pouring gasoline on themselves? Gnawing on their own extremities? I’m curious.

And, did I miss anything?

- S’93