April 2, 2003

DRAFT MAY CREATE TEMPLATE FOR MAJOR RAPTOR MOVES

       There is widespread opinion among NBA personnel and pundits that this year’s draft is separated into two categories—the first three players and then everybody else.  Where the Raptor lottery ball lands will determine the course of action GM Glen Grunwald takes as he attempts to try and reshape an underachieving roster.  There is one thing for certain--this roster needs an injection of talent and heart if they want to compete in the eastern conference.  Competing with the west is an entirely different matter.

       If the Raptors are fortunate enough to land one of the top three picks Grunwald would need to only tinker with the back end of the roster.  Drafting high school phenom Lebron James or Syracuse freshman Carmelo Anthony would give the Raptors the secondary scoring option behind Vince Carter that they have been trying to find for years.  Granted both players are young and would doubtlessly take a year or two to realize their immense potential, but in the meantime they would certainly be strong enough talents to be the fourth man in the shooting guard/small forward rotation.  The three men in front of them would be Carter, Lamond Murray and either Voshon Lenard or Morris Peterson.  If the Raptors decide to resign Lenard—which would make the most sense depending on their ability to move out salary—that would enable them to trade MoPete for either another draft pick or perhaps an experienced big man to help out in the front court. 

      The other superstar in waiting is seven-foot Yogoslavian teenager Darko Milicic.  Milicic is certainly young, and at 250 pounds is thin for an NBA center, but he has tremendous ball handling and shooting skills and could be a post presence off the bench.  He also fill out as he gets older.  Milicic would definitely solidify the Raptors greatest need—a solid man in the middle-- for many years to come.

       If the Raptors aren’t that lucky and don’t get to choose one of these three players then they have a couple of options open to them.  With about a dozen players available after the top three that are pretty much interchangeable the Raptors could feed off another team’s desire for a particular player and trade down.  They would easily be able to take a young point guard to back up Alvin Williams with a late lottery pick and could very well unload some salary and perhaps pick up another first round choice in the move.  With the emergence of Michael Bradley the team now has—with JYD-- two solid energy rebounders to come off the bench.  As well as JYD has played this year he is not suited to being a starter.  He is too small to be a power forward and not quick enough to be a small forward, but his energy and his quickness are valuable tools coming off the bench.  The same goes for Bradley who doesn’t have near enough of an offensive game to start but adds an aggressive dimension that the bench sorely needs.   This leaves the team short one frontcourt starter who can either fill the lane or block shots. 

       The major stumbling block facing Grunwald this summer will be whether he can unload the Hakeem Olajuwon contract that hangs like an albatross around the necks of the franchise.  If Grunwald can find some sorry outfit looking to create salary cap space for the following summer then he may be able to take the $6 million owed to the lame duck future hall of famer off his books.  That money would certainly come in handy as he attempts to resign Lenard, and perhaps add an experience frontcourt player to the rotation.         

      Another wild card in the mix just might be Antonio Davis.  While it may seem unfathomable to imagine some team willing to incorporate Davis’ ungodly $12 million annual salary onto their books there may actually be a market for the veteran.  The Knicks were kicking Davis’ tires at the trade deadline and the Trail Blazers will be in desperate need of some experience up front after this season—and they are known to add veterans regardless of salary to their roster.  The Raptors are certainly not seeking to trade their one true big man, but with the emergence of Bradley, and if the team is able to add a center in either the draft or on the trade front it may make it much more palatable to move him.  If the Warriors come calling in the summer for perimeter players after losing Gilbert Arenas they may decide to take Hunter and maybe Jefferies for back-up center Adonal Foyle.  If something like that takes place then Davis may suddenly become expendable.

       We can pretty much assume that player such as Hunter, Mamadou N’Diaye and Rafer Alston (especially if the Raptors draft a point guard) won’t be back, and there is concern that Montross may never play again.  The rotation then would set up with the four core players Davis Alvin, JYD, and Vince leading the way.  Add on Bradley, Murray, and that back-up point guard—whoever he is--and suddenly there are seven players in the mix leaving room for two or three more players.  MoPete could be part of the rotation if the Raptors fail to resign Lenard or if they decide to use the money in other areas.   Otherwise Mo is trade bait.  There is definitely a void in the middle and even if Montross comes back and can play effectively for between 12 and 20 minutes a game the team still needs another defender in the middle.  Where that player comes from, and where any of the others fit into the rotation will likely be decided after the draft, or at least after the lottery balls have settled. 

       A busy summer awaits the Raptors.  A new coach, and perhaps an entirely new coaching staff will likely come aboard.  And there may be many new faces in purple next season as well.