By: Dustin Chapman

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• Selected Roy Hibbert 17th overall for Indiana, as a product of this draft pick being involved in the aforementioned Pacers-Raptors deal.

• Indiana selected Nathan Jawai 41st overall for Toronto, which will also be included in the Pacers-Raptors deal.

Draft night was fairly uneventful for Toronto, as they had just one [second round] pick to look forward to. However, they got decent value out of the pick, getting Australian center Nathan Jawai 41st overall. Jawai was thought of as a potential first round pick heading into the draft, and has great size to go along with developing tools that could help him make an impact in the NBA. Don’t expect Jawai in a Raptors uniform in 2009, but after a bit of seasoning overseas, he may be able to help them down the line.

Grade: C+

“With the first pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select….Andrea Bargnani” announced David Stern almost two years ago.  At that point, many were comparing him to Dirk Nowitzki, one of the the best in the game.  Many thought he could be better.

After Bargnani’s rookie season had ended, he was showing flashes of amazing potential, and stepped him game up huge in the playoffs.  At that point, even more were sure he’d be something amazing.  There were faults in his game, yes.  But surely he would get the coaching he would need to make his weaknesses his strengths.  Not everyone believed; he would undoubtedly have to silence the critics before he could climb the mountain to NBA stardom.

Halloween 2007, Game 1.  Bargnani puts up 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.  The Raptors romp the 76ers.  It seemed like a season to remember.  Game two, the Raptors defile the Nets by 37 points.  Bargnani puts up 21.  With Bosh and Bargnani playing the four and five, the future was brighter then the Toronto skyline itself.

The rest is a blur until May, when Orlando beats us in 5.  The off-season begins, 41-41. And we face a huge question.  Does Bargnani get amnesty?  His value right now is still high, and we probably could cash in somewhere.  Where exactly, is not important; but if we make the wrong decision, who knows what could happen; maybe it could be the difference between a championship and nothing a few years down the road.

What will it take to get Bargnani to take it to the next level? His good games were far from flukes, no question.  His talent is so unique.  We can’t possibly give up on him, can we? We’re all supporting him, and when Smitch didn’t for those few weeks, nothing changed.  My only other guess would be that Uros Slokar, who spoke fluent Italian helped comfort him, and let him relax a bit, I suppose.   Could that be it? Could he just be feeling alone? I am obviously not in the locker room, but I suppose it’s a possibility.

The two options are very clear, no question. The choice, not so much. Believe me, I am as confused as a drug addict doing calculus right now with all this.  But im hoping all the best for Andrea Bargnani.

       With two key dates approaching (Free Agent Deadlines & The Draft) the Raptors seem flexible.  We have excess talent at the point, and a whole in the wing, currently filled with question marks.  So, why doesn’t Bryan Colangelo simply put 2 and 2 together and trade TJ Ford, or perhaps sign and trade Jose Calderon, and trade for a player like Corey Maggette.  Then draft a big man at 17, and we’re set.

       Why won’t Bryan Colangelo doing that?  Maybe he will.  It seems to be everything we need.  Would it make too much sense? Probably.  Bryan Colangelo has a knack for doing the unexpected, then it turning out well. 

       If that’s all we do, I can see us eclipsing our 47 win record.  But why can’t we turn ourselves into contenders?  That’s what everyone wants;  The Celtics did it, the Lakers did it, and heck even we did it.  But unlike two years ago, why can’t we take it to the next level?  And for the first time ever since the inaugural season in ’95 earn some real respect. While staying young.

       Forget the depth, it took us to the middle of mediocrity.  So, while we’re paying Jamario Moon less then a million a season, lets take advantage of it, package him with Delfino, and lets get a first round draft pick  (drafting a SG to replace Parker as he ages).  Lets do what we can do to get a Gerald Wallace or Luol Deng (just throwing names out there) draft a tough big man with 17, and make Andrea Bargnani fight his heart out for minutes. 

      And as the season goes on, lets get rid of Rasho’s Expiring, and pick up what we lose during the season, whether its to injury or falling below expectations.  Bottom line is, forget the depth, forget the two point guards, the 2 and 3, and for that matter; everything but Bosh.   We were in a similar spot of building around Bosh two years ago but now we have more options.  Don’t expect something simple, I think Bryan Colangelo is going all out to put us back on the map.  And use innovation with decsions over prowess.

Again guys, hopefully im back for a bit, today was just an overview of what I hope to be writing about over the next few weeks.

June 3
SG – Wayne Ellington (North Carolina)
SG – Shan Foster (Vanderbilt)
SG/PG – Jamont Gordon (Mississippi State)
SG/SF – Danny Green (North Carolina)
SG/SF – Malik Hairston (Oregon)
SG – Courtney Lee (Western Kentucky)

June 4
C – Jason Thompson (Rider)
PG – Jeremy Pargo (Gonzaga)
PG – Drew Neitzel (Michigan State)
C/PF – Robin Lopez (Stanford)
C/PF – Kosta Koufos (Ohio State)
PF – Ryan Anderson (California)

June 5
C – Alexis Ajinca (France)
SG/SF – Chris Douglas-Roberts (Memphis)
C – DeVon Hardin (California)
SG/SF – Mykal Riley (Alabama)
SG/SF – Brandon Rush (Kansas)
SG/SF – Bill Walker (Kansas State)

DraftExpress’ Raptors Workout Schedule
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Posted By: Dustin Chapman