June 29, 2005

IGNORE THE CRITICISM—RAPTORS HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL DRAFT

      Hey, I was like all the rest.  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.  My first thought was that Rob Babcock had made another Arajuo-esque mistake by picking Charlie Villenueva with his first pick.  This draft had been building and building since the season ended like a volcano about to erupt as the Raptors had four picks at the draft and two in pretty much the first half.  There was too much talent available.  Not even Babcock could blow it.  Or could he?

       My second thought after the selection was that there was a trade in the works.  Sure, it made sense then.  The long-talked about deal with New Orleans for hometown boy Jamaal Magloire had to have been finalized and the Hornets wanted Villenueva.  That had to be it.  How else to explain the move?  The Raptors had so many needs—even Babcock talked about the many holes he needed to fill.  So why would he take someone who plays the same position as his best player Chris Bosh?  It had to be a trade.

       But the draft continued and no mention of a trade.  If not, then what was Babcock thinking?  At their next selection I had them picking one of three G’s—Danny Granger, Gerald Green or Joey Graham.  When the Raptors took Graham I let out a big sigh of relief.  Okay, they haven’t completely lost their mind.  Graham is s solid player with a defensive mindset and was taught at a strong collegiate program headed by coach Eddie Sutton.

       As I thought about Graham and what a good selection it was I came back to Villenueva.  Maybe it wasn’t such a horrible choice.  After all Donyell Marshall isn’t a center and he spent many, many minutes on the floor with Bosh this past season.  And Villenueva played for a hall of fame coach in Jim Calhoun and won a national championship two years ago at Connecticut.  He definitely had some stripes.  There is no reason why Villenueva and Bosh can’t play together.  Sure neither is a prototypical center, but then the Raptors already have that player in Arajuo and if the big Brazilian can develop even a little then the team will have a solid core of big men.  And when thinking about what followed—more big men but none that had Villenueva’s athleticism then the pick started to make sense. 

      When Roko Ukic was there for the taking at 41 it secured the evening.  Now the Raptors had accomplished exactly what they, and I, had hoped.  They found three players who can come in and be part of their rotation next season.  The depth of a team that had very little going into the draft had been improved by leaps and bounds.  If Graham becomes that solid perimeter defender and consistent scorer, and if Villenueva can rebound, block shots and get out on the run and finish fast breaks, and if Ukic can become the back-up point guard the team needs then this draft could go down as the best in team history.  Better than drafting Vince Carter, or Tracy McGrady.

       There is likely a deal or two still to come this summer.  Perhaps that center the team covets is still out there.  Perhaps another perimeter defender, or a rebounder, or a shooter.  But whatever is out there the Raptors have improved the depth of their roster and now have some very attractive commodities.   

      It started out slowly, but the night turned out to be very successful for the Raptors.