June 30, 2008

IF IT’S A NEW BEGINNING FOR O’NEAL THEN IT’S A BOON FOR THE RAPTORS

By no means is Bryan Colangelo done.

With the trade for Jermaine O’Neal the Raptors now have huge holes at point guard and in the front court.  If both restricted free agents, Calderone and Delfino, are re-signed as expected then the Raps have 10 players under contract for next year.  There is much work to be done yet to fill in the remaining spots.

But first let’s analyze the O’Neal trade.  While there is concern over O’Neal’s health (he is rehabbing from major knee surgery) I am certain that the Raptors did everything possible to assuage their worries.  After all they are on the hook for $44 million over the next two years so I have to believe that they pored over every single doctor report.  For his part O’Neal insists that his missing nearly half of last season was simply protection of his knee, and his career.  For their part the Pacers were more than willing to let O’Neal sit since they weren’t going anywhere and wanted as high a draft position as possible.

There are too many positives to this trade.  The Raptors essentially gave up three players (Two rotation players and a draft choice) to get O’Neal.  The strength of the club last season was its depth–it’s weakness was it didn’t have enough quality players.  The Raps traded depth for the better player.  The benefit of last season’s mediocrity was that it pointed out in blatant terms the weaknesses of the club.  The team desperately needed interior defense, some toughness, rebounding, and a wing player who can create his own shot.  This trade improves the club in three areas, and gives the Raps much, much more.

Remember, aside from the issues of last season and the brawl from several years ago, Jermaine is a six-time all-star who was the cornerstone of a Pacer team that won 61 games in 2003-04.  And he isn’t past his prime–he will turn 30 just before the season begins.  There’s a lot of basketball left in him.

Also take into account that Jermaine O’Neal needed to get his career back on track.  His time in Indiana was over.  He needed a fresh start.  He got his wish.  Now he has the two years left on his contract to prove that he is still among the NBA’s elite.  He also has to prove that he can be a leader again, that he can be a dominant defender again, and that he can help a team win again.  O’Neal has a lot to prove–and from my experience it’s always a positive when a player feels a need to prove himself all over again.

There is concern that O’Neal isn’t the player he was those few years ago, but the Raptors don’t need him to play at that level.   They don’t need him to be the focal point on both offense and defense.  They don’t need 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots per game.  If he can provide the interior defense and dissuade opposing players from getting to the basket then he will help this team.  If he simply provides a strong line of defense and forces opposing shooters to put up bad shots then he will help this team.  If he can corral rebounds at both ends of the floor then he will help this team.  If he can provide an offensive fulcrum when Bosh is on the bench then he will help this team.

I have no doubt that Jermaine O’Neal’s addition is the next step in the building of the Toronto Raptors into an elite club.

If Bryan Colangelo can add the remaining pieces (a veteran defense-oriented point guard to back up Calderone, another big body or two to help defend and rebound, and a wing player who can score off the bounce) then the Raps will make the quick jump up the ladder.  

Any way you look at it though this team will be much better next year, and as a Raptor fan I am thankful for that.  O’Neal will bring an edge that was sorely missing from this team last year.  It would have been hard to watch this team underachieve two years in a row.

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