The Raptors off-season soo far

As you can expect from a "mover" such as Bryan Colangelo, it is no surprise that The Toronto Raptors have been busy this off season. They just made the trade of the draft.
Here's how it played out

To Toronto:
Jermaine O'Neal
41st 2008 draft pick (Nathan Jawai)

To Indy:
Me.J Ford
Rasho Nesterovic
17th pick (Roy Hibbert)
and either Maceo Baston or Joey Graham

This trade is all but done, and all those people who say otherwise tell them to answer this. When the Raptors draft somebody in the first round, they have a press conference in the days following introducing there pick to the Toronto media.... Where has that press conference been for Hibbert. Not to mention Hibbert was nowhere found on the raps radar, in fact I am pretty sure he didn't even come for a workout, and if he did, only one.

Anyways this trade is a make or break, and even in different sports, it is very similar to the trade for Scott Rolen of the Blue jays, both have long injury lists. O'Neal has not played 70 plus regular season games since 2003..... that was 5 years ago. He may be still in his late 20's, but remember, hes been in the NBA for over 10 years, as he came straight out of high school. Granted he didn't play much his first couple years in Portland... those legs and especially the knees are much older than late 20's. If he can give us 55 plus games and be ready for the playoffs... watchout the raptors will be a force downlow. This move also signifies that barring something crazy, my man JK, Jason Kapono is back in the starting 5. Last season, coach of the Raptors Sam Mitchell did a horrible job of finding open looks for JK. He's a spot shooter who can't really create his own shot. But as we saw in the playoffs, he can occasionally drive to the net, and his accuracy from long range is unreal. I see O'Neal and Bosh creating double teams down low, with JK wide open for the threes, Mitchell won't even have to find ways to get him open looks, all he has to do is motivate these guys and look good in his suits, which is the only things I think he's good at, as a coach. There are rumors out there that Carlos Delfino is as good as gone, most likely to Europe. There are also rumors concerning Anthony Parker who is signed for this year, but has a 3 year 21 million dollar deal from Olympiakos sitting on a table that for a guy like him, has to be a once in a lifetime contract, those are numbers he will never see in the NBA.

Although I've gotten offtrack I see this trade as valuable to the Raps if O'Neal stays healthy. Jawai is a guy who if we can get him motivated can be a rotation guy. At the same time he's got some serious weight on him and some attiude issues. The NBA lifestyle will either send him to the Mcdee's and clubs or get him serious that he wants more than one of those plushy contracts. We gave up Ford, who gave up on this TEAM once he decided to complain about being a backup to a guy who was much better than him, I guess it's tough making 8 million a year. This trade also ensures that the Raps will go from a 13-15 man rotation, down to a 10 man rotation, with the 10 guy only getting garbage minutes. It also means we need a backup point guard unless Roko Ukic is as good as many people are saying. He is finally coming over from Europe, and if he can solidify the backup spot, it opens up some money for a guy at the 3 or 2 who can slash to the net and get to the line.

Ozel