Apr 17, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors small forward Rudy Gay (22) shoots the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Celtics 114-90. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

For the past three seasons, the Denver Nuggets have been waiting to break through the glass ceiling in the Western Conference. After trading star player Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks, many expected them to drop out of the race – but the results have been better than expected, peaking at the third seed in the Western Conference this past season. The man who deserves the most of that credit is Denver general manager Masai Ujiri. When Ujiri took over the operations in Denver, he took a roster in flux, and created a ton of flexibility. From trading Carmelo Anthony to trading Nene a season after re-signing him, Ujiri made sure that Denver could contend for a high seed in the West, all while keeping options open for the next move.

Now, Ujiri takes his show to Toronto.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, Masai Ujiri agreed to a five-year, 15 million dollar deal to take over the basketball operations in Toronto. It’s certainly a shock to see the 2013 Executive of the Year on the move, but the Raptors certainly wanted to make a splash after the firing of Bryan Colangelo. After failing to make the playoffs after adding Kyle Lowry, Landry Fields, and rookie Jonas Valanciunas in the offseason; as well as trading for Rudy Gay during the season, the Raptors go into next season with hindered expectations. The hiring of Ujiri changes things to say the least.

With Ujiri at the helm, the easiest thing to suggest for Toronto is clearing the decks. Going into the 2013-2014 season, the Toronto Raptors have 72 million dollars on the books. Toronto still has their amnesty clause to use on a large contract, and boy do they have multiple contracts. Rudy Gay still has two years left on his contract for 37 million; Andrea Bargnani is right behind him with two years and 22 million left as well. Throw in DeMar DeRozan’s four-year, 40 million dollar extension kicking in next season, plus Landry Fields’ 12 million dollars over two seasons, and Toronto’s contract situation becomes one of the toughest in the league to manage.

All in all, Toronto does have a couple bright spots. Terrance Ross and Jonas Valanciunas are locked in for the next three seasons, and in terms of trade assets, Kyle Lowry is an expiring contract valued at 6.2 million. When healthy, Lowry is one of the better point guards in the league, and even in a league full of great point guards, Lowry could draw a ton of interest. Another option is moving Amir Johnson. With two years and 13 million dollars left on his contract, Toronto could sell someone on the 25-year old as a solid backup for the next two seasons. Problem is, Toronto wouldn’t get much in return, meaning his deal could either be strictly a salary dump, or used to help funnel one of Toronto’s terrible contracts.

As for Denver, I’m enticed to say that this will work out, but I have some issues saying they will recover from this. Yes, this team just finished in the top three this past season, but Danilo Gallinari has yet to get surgery for the ACL tear he suffered in April, and Andre Iguodala is a free agent this summer. If Gallinari doesn’t return for the 2013-2014 season, and Iguodala decides to take his talents elsewhere, Denver could take a considerable drop this upcoming season. My second fear is that Denver is a puzzle that wasn’t completed. In Ujiri’s trails is JaVale McGee and Wilson Chandler – two players who probably should be moved, are signed until the 2014-2015 season. Another small fear is if Denver hires someone outside of Denver’s current staff, then what does that mean for head coach George Karl?

A bevy of questions with a ton of time. It will be interesting to see how both teams produce moving forward. Can Toronto rid themselves of the terrible contracts of the past? Can Denver continue the run of success and break through the glass ceiling of the Western Conference?

Feb 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Raptors forward Rudy Gay (22) waits to take his next free throw as point guard Kyle Lowry (3) tries to quiet the crowd in the closing minutes against the New York Knicks at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Knicks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Why? Offense. Oh, the offense. The Toronto Raptors are my League Pass crush. My lover on the side, my best kept secret. Where do I start with the appeal in this team? From point, is the beautifully unpredictable Kyle Lowry. Every possession is wrought with tension as the result could be anything from him hitting a fading three ball from far beyond the arc to…well, him missing that ill-advised fading three. Coming off the bench behind Lowry is John Lucas III, who is by far one of my favourite back-ups in the league. He drives at the rim like he has a death wish (or perhaps is still bitter after the LeBron dunk), and shoots the three pretty well too. He’s streaky, and I’m sure he causes Raptor fans to tear their hair out at times, but as a neutral onlooker, it’s a ball watching Lucas play.

Toronto’s guard rotation includes DeMar DeRozan, Terrence Ross and Alan Anderson. DeRozan is the biggest name player of the trio, a past Dunk Contest participant and high-volume scorer. Although his potency as a slasher is his primary means of scoring and adding to the highlight reel, DeRozan has began to develop a more versatile offensive game that is making him more and more fun to watch. Terrence Ross burst onto the scene winning this year’s Dunk Contest as a rookie, topping Utah’s Jeremy Evans in the final. Ross’ minutes are still limited as his overall game develops, but expect the University of Washington product to add many more putbacks, windmills and dagger threes to his already impressive highlights package.

The latest Raptor on the block, Rudy Gay, brings his silky and powerful scoring touch with him from Memphis. The key difference between the two however, is Toronto’s frantic pace. It allows more streaking drives, more clutch floaters and a lot more mayhem and fun from Gay. He may not be the kind of player who can lead a franchise to a championship, but he’s an impressive, entertaining player without a doubt.

The Raptors front court doesn’t boast the same level of entertainment as the back court, though Amir Johnson always plays like he’s in a street fight and Jonas Valanciunas has heart for days. While Bargnani, perennial whipping boy, makes for some painful viewing, the lunging blocks and thunderous dunks that Johnson brings off the bench makes up for it. Valanaciunas is a quality work-in-progress, making enough hustle plays to make you grin while still making all those rookie errors that allows things like this to happen.

Toronto’s style of play isn’t always pretty. They have a lot of guys on the roster who take a lot of bad shots, Lowry and Anderson specifically. They’re hardly a flawless team, as their record indicates, and I don’t write this with the intention of painting them as an elite team full of superstars. But in a sense, that makes them endearing to watch. They’re a young squad with a lot of energy in spite of their dismal record – something you can credit to the ever-excitable coach Dwane Casey.

Whenever you’re scanning the list of games for the day, always keep an eye for who Toronto’s playing. Against the elite teams, I’d steer clear. Blowouts are never fun, and a good defense can make Toronto look very bad, very quickly. However, when they clash with fellow lottery teams such as the Cavaliers, Timberwolves and Hornets? Mark it as essential viewing. It’s the best team Toronto’s put out since Vince Carter left (sorry, Chris Bosh), and they’re only getting better.

Dec 5, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks to the basket against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Since Bargnani’s role has has now been deemed ”changed,” it’s looking more and more likely that he’s going to stay with the Toronto Raptors past the deadline and potentially through next season. With the Raps apparently wiping the Carlos Boozer-for-Bargnani deal off the table from last week, this was ultimately was a sign of their lack of urgency to deal him at all.

I understand that Bryan Colangelo’s position is to avoid just throwing away Bargnani for the sake of it, but what exactly will Bargnani’s “new” role? Will he make it back into the starting lineup and replace the ever-popular Amir Johnson, who’s been playing great? Will he be the Raptors new 6th man weapon? Do they try him at center again and shove Jonas Valanciunas back to the bench? It’s unclear as to what this changed role will be. About the only thing that is clear with the Raptors recent moves is that he will no longer be the No. 1 option (Gay), and not likely the No. 2 either (DeRozan/Lowry).

The pressure off Bargnani might be a good thing. I was definitely in the “Trade Bargnani” camp over the past few weeks, but if the expectation of him is now one with less pressure and to give the team (and possibly the bench) more versatility, then I can get behind that plan. Especially in the midst of a winning streak and playoff push in the weaker Eastern Conference.

Anything’s possible.

Article via Sam Amick, USA Today Sports can be found here.

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

For Toronto, it would give them another ball handler who can push the tempo with the new pieces they’ve acquired during the offseason and more recently with the Rudy Gay trade. Telfair isn’t quite the streaky shooter that Lucas is, but he can be a steady hand if needed.

Currently Telfair is averaging about 17 minutes per game in backing up Goran Dragic in Phoenix and the move would ultimately mean that they’re ready to start giving some minutes to UNC rookie Kendall Marshall. The Suns are already a mess this year, so it’s hard to know exactly what they would look for in a trade other than a draft pick. Linas Kleiza perhaps? With Kleiza’s tremendous ability to stay off the court this season, Raptors fans certainly hope so.

Sources: Knicks showing strong interest in Phx’s Jermaine O’Neal…Phx also talking w/Toronto about moving Sebastian Telfair

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 20, 2013

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

The young swingman drove the lane hard, before dunking all over the Denver Nugget’s Timofey Mozgov.

Check out the video below:

October 31, 2012; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) hangs off the basket after dunking against the Indiana Pacers at the Air Canada Centre. Indiana defeated Toronto 90-88. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-US PRESSWIRE

Home openers are all fun and games… until that point when your team has blown a late 8-point lead and visiting team’s point guard hits a floater in the lane with 2 seconds left to put them up a couple of points. Then it’s infuriating.

I was there at the Air Canada Centre earlier tonight to witness a crowd was completely alive, as the excitement of another fresh Raptors slate began. There were collective cheers and eventually signs as the Raptors do what they’ve typically done in the past, disappoint.

Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of moments last night to be extremely excited about as  Raptors fan and I still have them projected to make the playoffs in the East. However, the Pacers are just a little farther ahead. Here some game and team observations:

• The Pacers won the game, but I have to start with the Kyle Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas factors. These additions are literally going to change this franchse. Lowry finished with an impressive team-high 21 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. He controlled the game for the Raps with his quickness, active on the ball defense and his shooting (6-11 FG, 2-3 3PT, 7-7 FT). He penatrated the lanes, dished and finished with explosiveness. I think there was even room for him to be more aggressive… this is his team now.
• The fans are already in love with Jonas Valanciunas. Even though he had very solid numbers (12 pts, 10 rebs in 23 minutes), perhaps his biggest accomplishment was staying out of foul trouble early, which will be his achillies heel all season. His hustle and solid on the ball defense in the post clearly impressed the crowd. Don’t forget, he’s 20 and will get better each game.
• The Pacers showed why they are the better team and simply had more composure down the stretch and were led by their three best players in Paul George, David West, Roy Hibbert. Indiana weathered a Raptors storm (a 10-point lead) and when tied at 88, George Hill managed to get in the lane and hit a floater with only a couple of seconds left. The Pacers then applied solid defense on the inbound, forcing Andrea Bargnani to take a tough shot.
• David West absolutely dominated in the second half and scored 14 of his game-high 25 points in the 4th quarter. He was making jump shots away from the basket (something West is extremely good at), no matter who was D’ing up on him. Several times, the Raptors left him open around the basket, which he made them pay (12-19 FG).
• Paul George got off early and finished the game with a double double, including 15 rebounds. The Raptors had no answer from him early on. Paul George is going to be a special player in the league and it’s easy to see why so many people have him near the top of their Most Improved Player rankings.
• Toronto also had no matchup for Roy Hibbert. Valanciunas played the most minutes against him, but Hibbert’s length was too much as he got easy buckets in the paint in the first half. His defense (5 blocks) in the second half was key in keeping the game close when the Raptors were gaining momentum. He silenced a rowdy crowd several times.
• Jose Calderon and Alan Anderson got crunch time minutes for the Raps. Calderon had a really nice game with 15 off the bench and made some key threes in the second half, but missed an ill-advised jumper late in the game. Anderson actually got 19 minutes overall.
• To the crowd’s frustration, the refs actually missed some very obvious calls against the Raptors in the game. Several times on Lowry and DeRozan, there was a lot of contact when driving to the basket where there was no call.
• Before the game, DeMar DeRozan addressed the crowd to thank them for the support. He also received a 4-year extension from the team ($38 million), what must have been moments before the game.

October 10, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Toronto Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani (7) shoots the ball over Detroit Pistons forward Jason Maxiell (54) at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Always involved in daily NBA discussions, my buddy Andy decided to toss some random questions at me (interview-style) about the upcoming prognosis of the Toronto Raptors season. Here’s how it went down:

“With the season starting shortly and preseason action well underway, I wanted to throw a few questions your way.  I wasn’t sure how many would be a good number, so I went with my average score on a par 5.”

Who do you see having the biggest impact on the Raptors front court this season? This question is not narrowed to new comers.

I really want to say Jonas Valanciunas (who desperately needs a nickname beyond “Jonas”) because of his potential and his commitment to being an inside presence, but I have to say Ed Davis. It’s make or break for him this year. When we talk about true impact, Davis will either progress to the point where he makes the Raptors front court formidable and is a valuable rotation guy (especially with defense/rebounding) or he continues to do what he did the last two years, which is be insignificant. In this third season, the last of his rookie contract, this is it for Davis. He has a team option next year that the Raps may very well decide not to pick up if he doesn’t take another step forward this season. Andrea Bargnani should get back to being the team’s primary option on offense, Amir Johnson and Aaron Gray are exactly what we think they are, bench players who rely on hustle and size to outmuscle and defend opponents. While Davis’ offensive skills will always be of the inconsistent variety, with some improved free throw shooting and even more aggressive rebounding, he has the opportunity to push the Raptors front court to be one of the more solid ones in the Eastern Conference. I’m a believer in Ed Davis… for now.

Is John Lucas the next Jerryd Bayless, or is there something to be excited about here?

I can’t help it, I am excited about the point guard depth. Probably not as excited as LeBron when he dunked over Lucas’ head last season, but I’m anxious. One thing I love about Lucas is that he knows he’s a point guard, unlike Bayless, who seemingly loved the combo guard label. Bayless showed some real flashes, but his streaky shooting, poor shot selection and copious amount of turnovers drove fans crazy. Lucas, although smaller than Bayless, is a better shooter and distributor of the basketball. Put it this way, if Jose Calderon was traded tomorrow, I’d be fine with Lucas as the sole backup. I could not say that with confidence about Bayless.

What’s the most exciting part of Jonas’ game that you didn’t know prior to preseason?

Definitely his size and ability to bang down low, particularly his commitment to rolling hard off pick and rolls. I knew he was big, but until I saw him in person, I didn’t realize he was that big… and technically at 20 years old, the kid is still growing! I love that he realizes that with his size, he’s an actual post player. The Raptors already have a 7-footer who’d rather play the perimeter than rebound down low. Jonas is the anti-Bargnani. He plays the pick and roll, unlike Bargnani, who plays more of a pick and pop game. Jonas wants to bang, hustle, rebound and dunk… again, the opposite of Bargnani.

How many wins will it take for you to consider this season a success? That’s right I’m asking for a number – you ain’t no coach or GM – it’s a reasonable question.

41 wins. If they finish .500 at 41-41, that’s a successful season for two reasons. First, it’s an improvement from last year’s 23-43. Since they aren’t a team that considers their season “Championship or failure,” improvement means success. Second, I think 41-41 gets them into the playoffs in the East, barely. I have them projected for the 8^th seed right now and if this squad makes it into the playoffs only to get destroyed by the Heat in the first round, that has to be considered a success.

Is Andrea Bargnani the biggest scoring threat for the raptors this season?

Yes. I think Kyle Lowry will up his scoring and be a legitimate, consistent scoring threat, but Bargnani will still be the #1 option in Toronto. His versatility alone makes him the biggest matchup problem and best option. Because of Lowry’s penetrating and playmaking ability, theoretically, Bargnani should get even better looks this year, whether it be open jump shots or inside dumps (when he’s there). He was a 20+ point per game guy last year (and arguably headed toward a potential first All-Star game) before his injury and I think he gets right back to that this season. Lowry has already voiced how excited he is to be playing pick and roll with Bargs and Jonas, so he’s already looking his way, though they haven’t played a game yet.

How many minutes per game will Magloire average?

Easy. He will average 8.7 minutes per game and play in 31 games.

Will Jose Calderon be traded before the deadline? If he is, isn’t that a good sign?

Yes he will, for a variety of reasons. With Jose on the final year of his deal and being owed $10 million this season, whether he’s traded this season or exits after next season via free agency, the Raptors are still getting rid of that huge salary. There’s really two perspectives. First, from the team’s perspective, they will be paying their backup point guard $10 million dollars! John Lucas, who was signed this offseason is certainly capable of handling the backup duties. By trading Jose at the deadline, they’ll get something in return for him, whether it be a trade exception or even another expiring deal, but one with a player who will contribute more to the team outside of the point guard position. On the other hand, from Jose’s point of view, is he going to be miserable playing the backup role after years starting? I say yes. There were rumblings all offseason about a possible trade demand by Jose, then things quickly quieted down as the season got closer. I think those rumors will strike up again and Jose will want to be dealt out of town, and likely to a contending team with point guard needs. I think he’s already on the list of “players most likely to be traded at the deadline.”

If you could have any Raptors first round draft pick back and in their prime right now, who would it be and why? Vince, Tracy, and Bosh are off limits here.  Hoffa is fair game.

Rafael Araujo, without hesitation. The guy was an absolute stud coming out of… I’m sorry, I can’t even continue with this joke any further. Hoffa was their worst pick ever. I’ll go with a real pick, give me Jonathan Bender.

July 19, 2012; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry watches the game between the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors at the Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

To this day, my buddy Andy still gripes about the moment when the ESPN story broke about Kyle Lowry being traded to the Raptors, and I completely agree with him. The story itself featured less than a paragraph about Lowry and the potential impact he could have on the Raptor franchise, but rather focused more on the Rockets continued implosion and based on loose memory, mentioned the possibility of Dwight Howard and Jeremy Lin at some point further down. Trust me, as a Canadian basketball fan/enthusiast/writer, I pay attention to this stuff and so do the other fans.

So rather than be bitter about the lack of press that the trade for Lowry received south of the border, I think it’s important to capture the buzz being felt around Lowry’s arrival in Toronto and what it means to the always-loyal Raptors fan base.

I’m confident that many Raptor fans, once left seething at Brian Colangelo for the failure to land Steve Nash this offseason, are well beyond that drama now and ready to move on with their “Plan B” at point guard. Steve Nash is an eventual Hall of Famer and still an elite point guard, but to consider Lowry a “Plan B” is entirely wrong. Beyond his patriotic connection, would Nash have been an upgrade over Lowry anyway? Toronto will never know.

A young, very skilled guy that actually wants the keys to a continuously rebuilding Raptors franchise trying desperately to win basketball games and gain some slight relevancy in the league? Yes, please!

Beyond just basketball, Kyle Lowry represents a fresh start for the Raptors in 2012-13. With one year left and through layers of trade rumors, this will be the end of the Jose Calderon era as a starting point guard in Toronto. Even in his best season (2008-09), Calderon was at best an efficient player, garnering praise for his high percentage shooting and assist-to-turnover ratio. Raptors fans are ready for a change, a change of scenery. While Calderon will still be loved by fans, does anyone really think he’ll make it past the trade deadline? Nobody should expect Lowry to bring the efficient shooting (only .409% last season), but he will provide a new slashing excitement and quick, dynamic point guard play that hasn’t been experienced in T-Dot since perhaps the Damon Stoudamire days.

Another element to the Lowry repertoire is toughness. Raptor fans have had love affairs with their “tough, hustle guys” in the past. To name a few, Charles Oakley, Jerome Williams, Reggie Evans, Amir Johnson were all fan favorites because of their willingness to sacrifice their bodies to chase down loose balls and extend plays. At a time when Jose Calderon looks scared to death to drive to the rim anymore, Lowry brings that penetrating toughness as his actual strength. He certainly doesn’t mind the physical contact and often being labelled as an above-average defender at his position, he’s just as physical on that side of the ball. Lord knows, the Raps could use some additional defense at the 1-spot. It practically inevitable that this will become Lowry’s team and he will quickly establish himself as a fan favorite in Toronto.

As the Raptors open up the preseason tonight at the Air Canada Centre against Real Madrid (Lowry is questionable with a sore leg for tonight), a new hopeful, different kind of buzz will be in the air. One led by new and improved dynamic point guard play. This combination of slashing, scoring, toughness and solid defense is one that the Raptors have never experience from their floor general. Lowry is hope, potential and excitement… Raptors fans know this.

April 15, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass (30) drives to the basket and scores as he is defended by Charlotte Bobcats center Byron Mullens (22) during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

• BRANDON BASS, PF, Boston Celtics
  Last season: 31.7 MPG, 12.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 14.21 PER
  The Celtics certainly have a new look to them this season. The biggest changed occurred at the 2-guard spot with Ray Allen taking his shooting stroke to South Beach and the C’s bringing in Jason Terry and Courtney Lee to replace him (though Avery Bradley will eventually be the starter). However, the key guy in the Celtics equation isn’t a new addition of one of Rondo, Pierce or Garnett. It’s Brandon Bass, and particularly his growth in an increased front court role this season. The guy averaged almost 32 minutes per game last season, but beyond Pierce and Garnett, the Celtics had a lot of trouble scoring (26th overall) and rebounding (30th) up front. With the return of Jeff Green from heart surgery, the drafting of two very young forwards (Sullinger and Melo) and the career question mark this is Chris Wilcox, the Celtics depth at forward for at least this upcoming season is unknown. This is where even more weight shifts to the shoulders of Bass, who showed flashes of ability last season.
• 

  Apr 8, 2011; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez (11) drives to the basket against New York Knicks power forward Shelden Williams (13) at the Prudential Center. New York Knicks won116-93.Mandatory Credit: Jim O

  BROOK LOPEZ, C, Brooklyn Nets
  Last season: 27.2 MPG, 19.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 21.96 PER (5 games)
  As the “backup plan” to Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez cashed in with a HUGE contract this offseason, despite only playing in 5 games last year. With the Nets being truly thin at the center position, Lopez will need to be THE guy, meaning he has to stay on the floor for the whole season. Even though the Nets have some very high profile names on their roster (and of course added Joe Johnson), it’s Lopez that should feel the pressure to be an interior force, particularly defensively, in the middle. The Nets hope that the alarming 3.6 rebounds per game from their 7-footer in 5 games last year will be closer to triple that amount for this season.

• 

  April 15, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Raymond Felton (5) controls the ball against Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) during the first quarter at Power Balance Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

  RAYMOND FELTON, PG, New York Knicks
  Last season: 31.8 MPG, 11.4 PPG, 6.5 APG, 13.46 PER
  After the Knickerbockers missed out on Steve Nash this offseason, they brought over Jason Kidd to handle mentorship duties. Kidd will provide endless leadership, but the real impact to the point guard position and to the team, will be the question of whether or not Ray Felton can have a bounce back season. Yes, Melo, Amar’e and Chandler are the stars, but the Knicks need Felton to really RUN this team for the important game stretches. After a terrible year in Portland and once again hearing the punchlines about his weight, he should have plenty of motivation to push this team to a playoff run. The Knicks may know right away how deep the commitment is when Felton and his frame show up for training camp.

• 

  May 12, 2012; Boston, MA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Evan Turner (12) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (back) during the first half of game one in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

  EVAN TURNER, SF, Philadelphia 76ers
  Last season: 26.4 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 12.69 PER
  It’s obvious that the Sixers will live or die based on the degree of dominance displayed by Andrew Bynum. But aren’t we at a point of make-or-break with Evan Turner? A former #2 overall pick and once considered the best player in college basketball in his draft year, Turner’s Pippen-like point forward versatility has not translated to the NBA. With Thaddeus Young, Dorell Wright, Jason Richardson and Nick Young requiring a significant amount of minutes at the SF and SG spots, they will push for Turner’s playing time, especially if he starts slow. He needs to build upon Doug Collins’ increased trust factor in the playoffs where he played 34.5 minutes per game. That 12.69 PER has to come up.

• 

  Mar 29, 2011; Newark, NJ, USA; Houston Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry (7) drives to the basket against New Jersey Nets point guard Jordan Farmar (2) and power forward Kris Humphries (43) at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

  KYLE LOWRY, PG, Toronto Raptors
  Last season: 32.1 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 18.89 PER
  One could easily argue that Jonas Valanciunas will be just as big an X-Factor as Lowry. As of now, he’s the only “true” center on the Raptors roster. But without seeing a single minute of NBA action, it’s hard to set realistic expectations. Lowry however, acquired via trade and coming off a fantastic year in Houston, was given the keys to the entire offense in Toronto, while pushing Jose Calderon to the bench. Whether he averages close to 20 points or 8-9 assists per contest, production out of point guard position is something the Raptors sorely lacked. Combine that with his unquestioned toughness and he has a chance to be THE guy that leads the Raptors back to a playoff birth.

Apr 13, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry (7) takes a shot against the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter at the Toyota Center. The Suns defeated the Rockets 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

“Interesting” is an interesting word. Human nature tends to point us in the direction of using that word when we encounter the unknown and with sports, it’s often the easiest way to deflect a bold prediction.

As basketball fans, even the casual ones, we know that the Los Angeles Lakers will be insanely good this season. We know that the Charlotte Bobcats will be putrid once again. What we don’t know is the Toronto Raptors, who, with yet another offseason makeover, figure to be somewhere in between. Does that mean a playoff birth or another lottery appearance? It’s all in how the word “interesting” is interpreted.

We could start with those that feel like the Raptors aren’t quite there yet. Some knocks against the Raptors playoff hopes next season:

• Their clearly unsuccessful track record. Last year they finished 11th in the Eastern Conference and haven’t been in the playoffs since the 2007-08 season.
• The more challenging Atlantic Division. With the Celtics, the improved Sixers and Nets, and the unpredictable Knicks providing stiffer inter-division competition for the Raps, this means a much tougher path to a playoff seed.
• Lack of offensive firepower. Although their defense was significantly better last season, they still lack the offensive weaponry to hang with the teams in their division and definitely not with the league’s upper echelon.
• The absence of a “true” superstar. Facts are facts; Andrea Bargnani was an overall #1 pick. But you would be hard-pressed to find a person that considers him a true, reliable superstar. He’s never made an All-Star Game and when he finally looked the part last season, he got hurt and missed a ton of time. If you’re not at work, you can’t produce. While the Raps desperately hope that Kyle Lowry is the team’s next star, it’s laughable to look outside of him to find that next potential star.

However, there are those that comprise an optimistic minority that see the Raptors as a playoff team in 2012-13. They (and I include myself in this group) see the “interesting” side of the coin as a team with very legitimate competitive opportunities next season. Some of the reasons why:

• The re-shaping of the Eastern Conference. With some position swapping sure to take place in the East, the Raptors will find themselves right in the middle tier of teams competing for one the bottom playoff spots. The Bobcats, Magic, Wizards, Pistons and Cavaliers have very solid potential to have a worse record than the Raps, leaving them to deal with a short list of teams fighting for playoff positioning. Stealing games (especially the home ones) within their division will be key.
• The point guard upgrade(s). There is a consensus that the Raptors improved their squad over the summer. They upgraded their below-average point guard position with Kyle Lowry bumping Jose Calderon out of the starting spot and even bringing in the suprising John Lucas III. The toughness factor was definitely addressed by adding these guys.
• The “Landry Fields” defensive factor. I know, I know, they drastically overpaid him as a ploy to lure Steve Nash, which of course did not work. So while Fields rakes in the cash, the Raptors did improve their perimeter defense by bringing him in, and likely into the starting lineup. The team already made a leap (9th overall in points allowed) last year under Casey’s watch, so adding another solid wing defender certainly won’t hurt.
• Their two lottery picks. Technically the Raps will be featuring not one, but two, Top-8 lottery picks in the rotation this season. Jonas Valanciunas (#5 in 2011), who many claimed would have been the second pick after Anthony Davis had he come out this year instead, will be coming over from Lithuania to play the true center position, something the Raptors have lacked for a while now. This year’s pick, Terrence Ross (#8 in 2012) should get minutes right away, providing some much needed outside shooting and his own brand of tough defense.
• Bargnani is back! Finally, they should have a healthy Andrea Bargnani back for the whole season. Although he’s never made an All-Star Game as a #1 overall pick, he was making his best case last season before his injury sidelined him for a total of 35 games. As the number one option, it can’t hurt the team to have 19.5 points (his 2011-12 average) back in the lineup every night.

Regardless of how you place “interesting” as an adjective to describe the 2012-13 Raptors, they will be a fun team to watch. Lowry, Valanciunas, Fields and Ross will provide some highlight reel material along with some hard-nosed defense, if you’re into that sort of thing, which we are. Even if they end up slightly short of the playoffs this year, a realistic reason for optimism does exist.

Feb. 22, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andris Biedrins (15) against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. The Warriors defeated the Suns 106 - 104. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE.

Thankfully, all the Dwight Howard drama that just ended didn’t heavily involve actual contract talks, but rather the various pieces that made up the final trade puzzle. The contract stuff? Oh that will be next year. Although you just might hear it mentioned once or thirty times during the season itself.

But speaking about contracts, let’s move away from Howard. There are plenty of bad contracts scattered throughout the league and EVERY team has been guilty of handing out a bad contract or two over the past few seasons. It’s a reality of NBA business and sometimes the decision to offer an unproven NBA player a sizable contract is the indirect portrayal of an NBA GM’s quality.

Frequently, a “bad” NBA contract has as much to do with length (number of years given) as it does with the dollar value and guaranteed money. However, in this instance, we’re going to eliminate the length factor and focus in on simply the 2012-13 NBA salaries and determine the ugly contracts haunting some teams.

Andris Biedrins, Warriors ($9,000,000)
Few players have fallen off the earth as quick as Biedrins, so let’s start here. Just a couple of seasons ago, the Warriors thought they had their center of the future and a defensive force in Biedrins. What they got instead, since his very nice 2008-09 year (11.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.0 spg), were three seasons full of injuries and declining production. In averaging only 15.7 minutes per game last year, (and even started 35 games) he averaged 1.7 ppg and 3.8 rpg. Worst of all, the guy shot 11% from the free throw line! 11%!! Good thing the Warriors are only investing $9 million dollars into this terrible situation this season.

Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets ($19,752,645)
Personally, I didn’t like this contact the moment the ink dried on the paper. I completely respect Johnson’s game and do think he’s a great talent, but he’s not a max player. While we know he can score the basketball, he’s better suited to be #2 option or even an equal part of an outstanding backcourt like he will be in Brooklyn with Deron Williams, rather than “the” guy. Obviously his 25.0 ppg in 2006-07 was impressive, but he also only played 57 games that year. Simply , there are better players in the league that are making a fraction of Joe’s $20 million. Now joining the Brooklyn Nets, he gives them four players that now make at least $12 million (Humphries, Lopez, Johnson, Williams). While I think the Humphries and Lopez contracts are bad as well, Johnson’s seems to bring least bang for $20 million bucks.

Ben Gordon, Bobcats ($12,400,000)
Although Gordon finally lands in a place where he’ll be featured as at least “a” primary scoring option again, he’ll be doing it for an extremely costly $12.4 million! Other than scoring, Gordon has failed to provide anything else of significance on the court (I suppose that one could make a small case for his three-point and free throw shooting). For the bulk of minutes he’s played, his career averages of 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game are disappointing. Really, it’s almost unfathomable to think that Ben Gordon will be making more than $12 million next season. But then again, doesn’t that perfectly reflect what the broken Bobcats are these days?

DeSagana Diop, Bobcats ($7,372,200)
Speaking of the Badcats, how on earth is DeSagana Diop still making THIS much money? Really, how is Diop even in the league at all? His 2011-12 stat line represents what a complete travesty this salary is: 12.0 mpg, 1.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.5 bpg. On top of that, I didn’t think that 36% shooting was even possible for a 7-foot center. Keep the dollars and losses flowing Charlotte.

Jose Calderon, Raptors ($10,561,982)
With the signing of Kyle Lowry to be the new starting point guard in Toronto, Calderon’s contract becomes an even bigger disaster. Calderon, currently the highest paid player on the Raptors squad, ultimately got handed a multi-year deal for his career year in 2008-09 when he averaged 8.9 assists, shot 98% from the free throw line and was at the top of league in assist-to-turnover ratio. However, by acquiring Lowry, Jose will now come off the bench, making him an extremely overpaid backup point guard. The Raptors failed to find partner to move him this offseason, so they now have to endure one more season of this inflated deal. Even though his numbers haven’t declined significantly, his impact has been minimal and doesn’t justify a $10.5 million contract.

Luke Walton, Cavs ($6,091,363)
The glory days of Luke Walton being an important role player appear to be over, though he is still being paid like one. While there will be more opportunity for minutes in Cleveland than there was in L.A., at 32-years old and with a limited skill set to begin with, Walton won’t contribute like a $6 million player should. Luckily, the Cavaliers have a very young roster, lots of cap space and really no other terrible contracts on the team. It’s not ideal, but they’ll be able to absorb the signing of Walton’s paychecks for one more season.

Amare Stoudemire, Knicks ($19,948,799)
There really couldn’t be a “bad contract” post without mentioning a New York Knick could there? Look, Amare Stoudemire is still a solid player, he’s just not the same player he was during his Suns glory days and certainly not a guy that should make $20 million dollars. Even though he now represents one third of New York’s “Big Three,” this is an absolute joke of a contract. Amare really needs to bet back to the 20 and 10 player he used to be and avoid punching fire extinguishers to validate this monstrosity.

Hedo Turkoglu, Magic ($11,815,850)
This contract doesn’t even need an explanation, as it’s punchline popularity has spanned a couple of seasons now. The contract is so attached to Turkoglu like it’s a cancer that whenever he’s mentioned in a trade scenario, the question is always, “who is going to take on Hedo’s contract?” The Raptors were on the hook for giving Turkoglu a 5-year, $54 million deal in 2009, but now the Magic hold the three remaining years on this juggernaut.

Marvin Williams, Jazz ($8,287,500)
As a former #2 overall pick, a big time bust with an even worse contract. Somehow has averaged 30.4 minutes and started 78% of his games over his career. Marvin’s coming off season of 10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg and shooting a career-low 43% from the field, certainly not worthy $8.2 million. But you really can’t blame him, he cashed in and the Jazz traded for him. It may be begrudgingly, but Utah now has to pay the guy.

Dishonorable mentions
Al Horford, Hawks ($13,000,000), Kris Humphries, Nets ($12,000,000), Carlos Boozer, Bulls ($15,000,000), JaVale McGee, Nuggets ($10,000,000), Corey Maggette, Pistons ($10,924,138), Rudy Gay, Grizzlies ($16,460,538), Zach Randolph, Grizzlies ($16,500,000),  Richard Jefferson, Warriors ($10,164,000), Brad Miller, Suns ($5,104,000), Stephen Jackson, Spurs ($10,059,750), Amir Johnson, Raptors ($6,050,000)

Mar 21, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Vince Carter (25) shoots a three point shot during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the American Airlines Center. The Lakers defeated the Mavericks 109-93. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Few players in NBA history have been as fiercely debated as Vince Carter. From season to season, team to team and over his entire career arc, Carter has always invoked passionate opinions of both praise and severe criticism from all walks of basketball life.

As we all know, coming out of out college, Vince drew many comparisons to Michael Jordan, particularly the athleticism and the creative scoring ability. The million dollar question at the time was, as is with any potential Jordan clones, “would Vince and his Tar Heel blue roots, live up to the hype?” Many have tried, all have failed. My apologies for speaking like he’s already retired (let’s face it, he’s got one foot half way out the door already), but it’s begs an interesting question, did Vince do enough in his career to warrant a Hall of Fame entry?

Contributions to the game

Dunks, dunks and highlight-reel dunks. Sadly, years down the road this may be all we associate with the Vince Carter era. For the most part, that will be accurate. We certainly will not remember Vince for his defensive efforts, or his very obvious lack thereof.

Aside from the several hundred incredible in-game dunks Vince has on his enormous highlight portfolio, there are two moments that truly stand out when we think “Vince Carter.”

The 2000 All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest. To NBA fans, those words are practically enough. Carter put on the greatest Slam Dunk performance of all time. Yes, better than Spud Webb in ’86 and better than Jordan-Dominique in ’88. With cousin Tracy McGrady by his side, the degree of difficulty, the uniqueness and the ferocity in which Vince delivered those dunks will be etched in our basketball minds forever and will likely stand as the greatest set of dunks ever. This is partly due to the amazing, breakthrough show that was displayed (especially at that point in time) and partly because well, no one of significance enters the contest anymore. I mean, Nate Robinson is a three-time champion for crying out loud. But keep in mind, Kenny Smith’s “It’s ovaaaaaah!” phrase was coined in the process as well.

Although it was another dunk moment, the other Vince staple was the “le dunk de la mort” (the “dunk of death” as the French media referred to it) in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. There may be no greater basketball posterization than when Vince jumped OVER Frederic Weis’ head and threw down the most authoritative, symbolic dunk possibly of all time. Weis was promptly never heard from again. The vision of Vince with the USA on his chest and  surrounded by an emphatic Kevin Garnett (who he almost punched out while celebrating) and Gary Payton (with a full head of hair I might add), is a moment we will all point to years from now as possibly the greatest dunk ever. Now that is contribution.

To his credit, and aside from the dunking, Vince did have several fantastic seasons in Toronto and New Jersey before moving on to his native Orlando, a brief stint in Phoenix and then eventually Dallas. He is an 8-time All-Star, won Rookie of the Year in 1999, an Olympic gold medalist and made two All-NBA teams (3rd team in 2000 and 2nd team in 2001). It’s impossible to say that Vince Carter wasn’t a household NBA star during the NBA’s rise in the 2000′s decade.

What the numbers say

His career totals are obviously impressive. Even as his minutes and offensive skills have dwindled the past two seasons, he still stands at 21.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.9 apg and 1.2 spg over an average of 35.7 mpg for his career. In terms of scoring, he averaged a career-high 27.6 ppg in only his third season in Toronto (2000-01) and later, 27.5 ppg in his first season in New Jersey in 2004-05. Just last season, he became only the 37th player in league history to score 20,000 points. His playoff averages are also impressive as he holds 23.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.2 apg averages in 60 playoff games.

For comparison sake, here is a quick random sampling of how Vince Carter’s statistics measure up to a couple of very recent Hall of Fame inductees that played similar positions:

Obviously this paints only a relatively small part of the career picture, but you can see, statistically speaking, Vince stacks up very well to these highly-regarded Hall of Fame veterans.

Fair criticisms

 Here is where the argument turns sour for Vince. While his offensive talent is undeniable, he’s collected a tremendous amount of criticisms over the years about his disinterested tanking habits. Quite honestly, you could never really commit to saying that Vince Carter “gave you his all” every game, especially as a Raptor fan. At his peak, he certainly had his individual moments and when engaged fully, could go toe to toe with any star in the league. But when the smallest ”nagging injuries” became more nags than injuries, the perception of Carter’s durability as a prime scorer and team leader took a punch in the gut.

Eventually (and like more frequently today), Carter essentially forced his way out of Toronto after he became complacent with upper management, Head Coach Sam Mitchell and their commitment to winning now.

Even though he was a New Jersey Net at this point, what especially did Carter in with the fans (especially the ones north of the border) was his answer to a question asked by TNT’s John Thompson in January 2005. Thompson asked if he always pushed himself as hard as he should, to which Carter replied, “In years past, no. I was just fortunate to have the talent in being able to… you know, you get spoiled when you’re able to do a lot of things and you see that, and you really don’t have to work at it. But now, with all the injuries and all the things that have gone on, I have to work a little harder and I’m a little hungrier. That’s why getting the opportunity to have a fresh start with New Jersey has made me want to attack the basket for a lot reasons.” Seems like a confession of quitting to me.

In the seasons after Toronto and New Jersey, Carter’s reputation of carrying a lackluster attitude continued to plague him, although not to the degree of his final days in Canada. His defensive effort was and has remained the butt of many jokes across the league’s fans. By the time his playing days in Phoenix were winding down, his contract (was owed $18 million, with only $4 million guaranteed) heavily outweighed his production. He was waived in December 2011.

The Championship factor

Look, it’s plain and simple… titles do matter in this league. The “did he win an NBA Championship?” sometimes makes or breaks the case for many borderline potential Hall of Fame candidates. Whether it was the inadequate cast of characters he had by his side or his inability to effectively lead his team, or a combination of both, Vince Carter never really sniffed an NBA title. He brought the Raptors to within one shot of making the Eastern Conference Finals and actually got there with the Magic later in his career, but overall his playoff shortcomings will loom large in a serious Hall of Fame discussion.

It’s not always fair, but it matters.

The final verdict

Unfortunately for Vince, despite his contributions to the world of NBA Video, the Hall of Fame wasn’t established on video highlights, but primarily on numbers, credentials and championships. While his (offensive) contributions to the game were significant, did he do enough outside of his dunking legacy? Personally, I think he did NOT. I think that his lack of playoff pedigree and sub-100% nightly efforts on the basketball court (especially on the defensive end) caused too must unrest among even his most loyal fans and likely plenty of his peers. This stuff does and should matter when attaining Hall of Fame status is so reachable.

I will point this out as well, to settle any questions of bias. While I reside in Toronto and am a close Raptors follower (even still bitter at times), I was never a Vince “hater” or left him for dead when he left the city. I’m actually a big Tar Heels fan too, so I have watched his entire career. I’ve always respected his offensive talent and the years he gave the Raptors, even if they didn’t all add up to 100%. Even when they were a joke in the Eastern Conference, he gave the team at least a set of shoulders to rest some on.

It’s really hard to imagine the Basketball Hall of Fame without Vincent Lamar Carter and all his death-defying Sportscenter highlights included. However, when you look at the body of a true Hall of Fame career, a certain standard of winning basketball games needs to be an absolute priority when casting that ballot. While it’s an incredible argument to be debated by many when the time arrives, I think Vince falls just short.

Thankfully, YouTube will always hold Vince’s legacy.

Stefanski has been the general manager in Philadelphia since 2007 and has been responsible for a number of important moves for the franchise, including signing Elton Brand, hiring Doug Collins and drafting Evan Turner with the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

It has long been rumored that Stefanski was a possibility for the Raptors GM job; throughout the summer Bryan Colangelo has been interviewing possible candidates, including Jeff Bower of the New Orleans Hornets and Dennis Lindsey of the San Antonio Spurs. (more…)

We now have the official draft order for the upcoming NBA Draft:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Utah Jazz

(more…)

LONDON — The NBA is taking regular-season games to Europe for the first time.

NBA commissioner David Stern announced Monday that the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets will play a pair of regular-season games in London this season.

The teams will face each other March 4 and 5 at the O2 Arena, the same venue that has hosted preseason games over the last several years.

Stern said on a conference call he wasn’t yet sure if the regular-season games would be an annual occurrence for the league.

“We’ll need to assess how we do in March,” Stern said. “It would not surprise me if this becomes an annual event. But I don’t want to make a commitment on it.”

The NBA has been looking to expand overseas for years, and Stern has said in the past he would like to play a meaningful game in London before the city hosts the Olympics in 2012.

It’s not surprising that the Nets — even coming off a very, very bad season — are one of the teams who will play these contests. New owner Mikhail Prokhorov, the league’s first foreign owner, has been persistent about his desire to make his new franchise a global icon for basketball. Playing games in Europe certainly isn’t a bad start.

Boston Celtics (50-32, Lost NBA Finals): A-

For the aging Boston Celtics, the objective is clear: keep the team competitive for one more season while the Big 3 still have value. This summer, the Celtics did exactly that. Danny Ainge managed to reach agreements with both Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, keeping the core of the team intact for yet another year. Then, with Rasheed Wallace retiring and Kendrick Perkins out for who knows how long, he inked Jermaine O’Neal to a contract, who can do most of the things Sheed did while replacing his outside shot with better post skills. He rounded out his effort by re-signing Nate Robinson, who demonstrated his value as a backup point guard in the playoffs, and nabbing Avery Bradley in the draft. He’ll provide a great shooting touch in the second unit that the team previously lacked. The one error? They let defensive stalwart Tony Allen slip through their fingers.

Toronto Raptors (40-42, Missed Playoffs): D

The only reason this isn’t an F is because Chris Bosh’s departure was basically inevitable and there was nothing they could really do. Nevertheless, when a lottery team loses its one star, it’s a recipe for disaster. Ed Davis won’t be ready for a couple years, and while dumping the disgruntled Hedo Turkoglu and his bloated deal on the Suns was a good move, LeAndro Barbosa isn’t going to save the team. And giving Amir Johnson $34 million over 5 years? Please. It’s going to be a miserable year north of the border for the Raptors.

New York Knicks (29-53, Missed Playoffs): B-

Amar’e Stoudemire is a great get for the Knicks, but can he really be a difference maker for them? After all, he’s not that much of an upgrade over David Lee, and no one has seen what he can do without Steve Nash’s wizardry. Donnie Walsh’s plan was to snag two A-List free agents off the market, and he didn’t come through. Raymond Felton’s a good point guard, but $8 million a year is a little steep for someone who hasn’t shown he can be an elite player. Andy Rautins and Landry Fields aren’t going to set the court on fire either. All this notwithstanding, the Knicks have an outside shot at the playoffs this year even in the talented Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia 76ers (27-55, Missed Playoffs): B+

The Sixers’ biggest addition came via the draft in Evan Turner, who figures to be a poor man’s Brandon Roy within a couple years in the NBA. When you add on Jrue Holiday’s development at the point and the swap of Samuel Dalembert for Spencer Hawes, and it’s pretty promising lineup to go along with Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young. If new coach Doug Collins (another plus) can figure out how to motivate Elton Brand, this team could surprise a lot of people this year.

New Jersey Nets (12-70, Missed Playoffs): F

New owner Mikhail Prokhorov wants a championship within five years, but his Nets were the only key players to strike out in the pursuit of top-of-the-line free agents. Instead of reeling in LeBron, Chris Bosh, or Carlos Boozer, the Nets overpaid Travis Outlaw and brought in three role players in Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, and Johan Petro. While the team will inevitably improve its record as Brook Lopez improves and Devin Harris bounces back, this summer was a total disappointment for the Newark Nets.

And that’s exactly what Robert Sarver did yesterday. The Suns owner who likely squashed his chances at re-signing STAT when he dismissed former GM Steve Kerr went out and acquired two players who immediately recharge a depleted starting lineup, Josh Childress and Hedo Turkoglu.

Childress spent the last two seasons playing ball in Greece with Olympiakos, but before that he was a solid role player for the Atlanta Hawks, providing a spark of scoring and rebounding in an efficient manner. Though the deal isn’t officially done because Childress is a restricted free agent, the Hawks are extremely unlikely to match, now that Joe Johnson’s mammoth contract has financially handcuffed the team.

Turkoglu will come to the team as part of a trade, and the Suns’ major loss in the deal is Leandro Barbosa, the blinding-quick combo guard and former sixth man of the year. His loss is a tough blow to the shooting and quickness of the Suns team, but Turkoglu’s addition, assuming he plays up to potential, will more than make up for Barbosa’s absence.

Turkoglu leaves Toronto on fairly bad terms, after playing very bad basketball in his one year north of the border. Ideally, his change of scenery will remind him of his play the year prior in Orlando and make him a major contributor to Phoenix. If he does redevelop his skills on the basketball court, he’s a major asset.

At 6-foot-10, Turkoglu has the size of a power forward but the handling and shooting of a guard. As a result, he fits perfectly into the Phoenix run-and-gun system. While he’ll spend a fair amount of time in the post, making up for the void Stoudemire left behind down low, he’ll also be a major figure on the perimeter, taking plenty of three-pointers and running the point forward. This will give the aging Steve Nash a break on offense, allowing him to save his stamina and legs by not having the bring the ball up the court every possession.

Childress adds depth on the wing and an adept scoring touch driving to the rim and as a jump shooter. Expect his scoring numbers to increase playing alongside Nash in an uptempo offense.

While these acquisitions certainly don’t make the squad better than it was last year, it’s nice to see some degree of damage control and respect for Nash. Phoenix could have done nothing and suffered through a mediocre season while Steve Nash wasted away through possibly the final year of his career. Instead, the Suns still have a very good chance to making the playoffs in the West next year.

Los Angeles Clippers: No. 8 Al-Farouq Aminu and rights to No. 18 Eric Bledsoe

The Los Angeles Clippers need whatever they can get to recreate a winning culture in Los Angeles alongside the Lakers. On Thursday night, management did a good job to take the next step with the team. Going in, the void at small forward was the one pressing concern. The Clippers were fortunate to have Al-Farouq Aminu fall to them at No. 8, and he provides them with an instant influx of athleticism, defense and versatility. Then they acquired the second-best pure point guard in the draft in Eric Bledsoe at No. 18, giving them a good shooter and passer whom they can groom as a potential replacement to the aging and declining Baron Davis.

Toronto Raptors: No. 13 Ed Davis

After narrowly missing out on the playoffs in 2010, the Raptors will very likely lose Chris Bosh to free agency. Accordingly, they’ll have to go back to the drawing board for figuring out a plan to win. With their selection of North Carolina’s Ed Davis, they immediately inject some talent into the position that Bosh will probably vacate. While his college production wasn’t solid, Davis has a lot of upside, with great rebounding and a developing post game. With a couple years under his belt, Davis can take his game to the level that suggested he could have been a top-5 overall pick a year ago.

San Antonio Spurs: No. 20 James Anderson

It’s not often that a perennial contender like the San Antonio Spurs can add a good value in the second half of the first round, but they have done exactly that. Following up on their steal of DeJuan Blair in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, the Spurs add an excellent talent in James Anderson. He’s a good-sized player who’s an above-average scorer, and he plays admirable defense, too. While he won’t be the next Hall of Famer, he will be a serviceable role player for many years, hopefully providing San Antonio with someone who can maintain their high level of performance.

Source: Yardbarker.com

Over the course of the playoffs, a case has begun to surface that the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol is the best offensive big man in the game. Some even go as far as to say he’s the best big man overall. I will concede this: Gasol’s play has been markedly great over the course of this postseason, and the suggestions of 2008 that he’s soft are long gone — the Lakers would not be close to where they are without his constant support.

Accordingly, it makes sense that people are crowning him the best right now, when he’s playing at his best. Unfortunately, a few playoff series make up too small a sample size to serve as a significant basis for the argument at hand. Let’s look at the comparison between Gasol’s postseason and regular-season numbers.

During the regular campaign, Gasol was solid on both ends of the ball. Injuries limited him to only 65 games, but he still gathered averages of 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field and 79 percent from the stripe. On defense, his length proved a solid deterrent to opposing power forwards, and he registered 1.7 blocks per contest.

In the playoffs, Gasol has been closer to inhuman. In the second round and the conference finals, Gasol dazzled spectators with a wide array of post moves, tip-ins, and an automatic mid-range jumpshot. During the first three rounds, Gasol could have made an argument for the best big man in the league, at least on offense. But take a look at Gasol’s matchups in those three rounds and some questions begin to arise.

In the first round against Oklahoma City, it was Jeff Green. Against Utah, it was Carlos Boozer. And against Phoenix, it was Amar’e Stoudemire. What do those three guys have in common? They’re all 6-foot-9, and Gasol has a three-inch height advantage on all of them. No wonder he was so dominant. He had a significant length advantage on all his defenders. It puts a damper on any nomination that he’s the best big man.

So when Boston came around, Gasol did hold his own in the first two games in Los Angeles. But when the series shifted to Boston, it was a different story. In Games 3, 4, 5, Gasol averaged only 15.6 points and 9 rebounds while shooting a measly 44 percent. It goes to show what effect a good defender can have on the supposed best big man.

But just looking at Gasol’s numbers doesn’t decide this. There needs to be some comparison. On the defensive end, the discussion starts and stops with Dwight Howard. He’s the best defender in the game; there’s no question. He blocks so many shots, but that doesn’t do him justice. The number of shots he effects or discourages has a profound impact on Orlando’s defensive game. Think of it like a big slugging hitter chasing a home-run record. If Barry Bonds didn’t get walked all the time, he could hit a lot more home runs. If opposing players took shots indiscriminately without considering Howard’s swat, he’d rack up a lot more blocks.

On the offensive end, you have to look at both Chris Bosh and Stoudemire. Bosh averaged six more points per game this year than Gasol. He’s much more athletic, his post moves are just as good, and his perimeter game’s even better. Some may argue that Gasol’s a better passer, and he is, but to whom is Bosh going to pass the ball? Sonny Weems? C’mon. As for Stoudemire, he may not have a back-to-the-basket game, but his face-up skill set is fantastic. He’s significantly more explosive than any top-tier big in the league not named Howard, and he has a better shooting touch than Gasol does.

So Gasol is clearly not the league’s best big man. And NBA fans shouldn’t let a few solid playoff games misguide them into thinking he is.