May 5, 2003

GRADING OUT THE MANY FAILURES AND FEW SUCCESSES OF A RAPTOR SEASON

       It was a terrible year.  There is little doubt about that, and for most fans they likely just want to forget it ever happened.  But to look ahead to next year we must first look backward and analyze which players can contribute in the future and which should be looking for work elsewhere.  What follows is part one of a grading report on the players and management –there is no need to grade out the coach since he has already been given the expected result.

GM Glen Grunwald was severely hamstrung in his attempts to improve the team by ownership’s refusal to go over the expected luxury tax figure.  The loss of Keon Clark was huge as the team lost one of its few big men, and an inability to find anyone who could contribute from inside was a telling mark in the season of disarray.  Having to bring in cheap players like Jelani McCoy and Greg Foster did nothing for the confidence of the team.  His draft day trade with the Lakers for Lindsay Hunter and Chris Jefferies was nothing of consequence for either team, though Kareem Rush looks like a player for L.A. He did score well with the acquisition of Lamond Murray, even though Murray missed the season due to injury, and the signings of Voshon Lenard and Rafer Alston.  Keeping Lenny Wilkens as coach was likely an organization decision based in part on money and turned out to be a huge mistake.  All in all this was not his best season.  Can he turn it around for next year?  The organization believes he will, they signed him up to a long-term contract. C+ 

Vince Carter spent most of the season in a suit rather than in uniform and thus makes it difficult to grade out his year.  However there are concerns about the superstar’s motivation—for working hard enough to avoid injuries and working hard enough to come back from injuries.  There were positive signs in his limited play.  The offence goes through Carter and as such he is responsible for making sure that everyone on the floor is involved—and he did this very well.  He also showed leadership for the first time urging his teammates not to give up on a lost season and showing disgust when another loss was in the cards.  His defence improved and his shot selection was often much better, but he needs to improve his basketball knowledge.  He needs to know when his team needs him to be a playmaker and when to be a scorer.  Sometimes being unselfish with the ball is not in the best interests of the team.  He needs to understand that at times the team needs him to score 40 points for them to win, and his teammates will love him all the more for it.  Next year is nowhere near a make or break year for Carter, but his reputation and his lustre have taken a beating the past two seasons.  If he is to resume his place as one of the league’s pre-eminent players then he will have to lift his game back up to that level, and lead his team back up the conference ladder.  C-

Morris Peterson continues to stumble somewhere between being an effective NBA player and being completely lost on the court.  Having completed his third professional season much more was expected from Mo Pete than was produced.  The talented forward seems to have a hex on him preventing him from utilizing all of his many skills.  Instead of finding seems in the defence and taking it to the basket he has found a comfort zone on the perimeter where can put up another one of his wobbly three point attempts.  He has one move to the basket, a curl move from up high that most teams were able to shut down, and he seemed unable to adjust to what the defences were giving him.  There is little doubt that he cannot be a main scorer, but can contribute if the defence concentrates on another player—such as Vince, and forgets about him.  Mo needs a coach that can push him—Lenny continued to run him out there for 38 minutes a game and that severely hampered his progress.  Mo is entering the final year of his rookie contract and as such will be looking for a hefty increase.  The Raptors likely can’t afford him--nor at his present level would they want to.  He is one of the team’s few marketable commodities.  Expect Mo to be plying his trade somewhere else next year.  C-

Jerome Williams was one of the few bright spots on the team.  Injuries forced the career back-up into the starting rotation and he responded with career highs in all categories.  He proved just how valuable he could be, and his rebounding and his energy were greatly missed when he was out of the line-up.  He developed more of an offensive game this year; he began to regularly sink jump shots, and still maintained his nose for the offensive glass.  But for an inside player who gets his fair share of fouls his free throw shooting was abysmal.  Many games hinged on the team’s poor free throw shooting percentage and JYD was the worst of the lot.  His defence seemed to be spotty at times—injuries and a lack of focus were the main contributing factors—and this is as huge negative for a player whose reputation is based on defence.  His offence isn’t strong enough to warrant regular starting duty on a winning team, and with his marketability and the emergence of Michael Bradley as a rebounder off the bench, last season just might have been JYD’s last in a Raptor uniform.  B+

Michael Bradley took advantage of the opportunities presented to him and turned himself into a regular contributor off the bench.  His rebounding was terrific and his all-round game improved as the season progressed.  He has some ball-handling skills, is a terrific passer, and can move the ball around on offence.  He really needs to work on his shooting this off-season.  If he can develop a mid-range jump shot and can start knocking down free throws on a regular basis then his overall game will improve and his minutes will increase. His defence is still suspect, but more of that comes from a lack of playing time and his inability to find the right position on the court than it does to a lack of skill.  His development as a defensive minded rebounder off the bench could impact JYD’s role on the team.  The Raptors can’t afford the luxury of having two players of almost the same skill set on the roster and Bradley is younger and cheaper.  B+

Lamond Murray came over from Cleveland and was expected to fulfill the role of primary shooter on the floor.  If the injury that took him out of action for the season is completely healed then he could return to that role next year and be a tremendous addition to the team.  Incomplete

Mamadou N’Diaye will attend training camp on a trial basis--the only question is for what team.  D-

Next week—Antonio Davis, Alvin Williams, Voshon Lenard, Rafer Alston, Lindsay Hunter, Chris Jefferies, and Eric Montross.