3 Trade Deadline Deals The Raptors Should Consider

Position wise, the Toronto Raptors have immediate needs in the middle (none of the three PF's are adequate), at the point (same goes for Jose) and at the small forward slot ('nuff said). Here are three deals the Raptors should look at as we approach the 2010-2011 NBA Trade Deadline.

Trade 1: Leandro Barbosa and Joey Dorsey for Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll

Not the first time I've posted this. The Grizzlies have been aggressively shopping Thabeet and with the recent Rudy Gay injury, one would think OJ Mayo goes back to the starting role to shoulder some of Gay's scoring responsibilities. This would obviously open up a need for a bench scorer like Barbosa and help the Grizzlies make a playoff push in the always competitive Western Conference.

Trade 2: Jose Calderon for Marvin Williams

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly in the market for another point guard to boost its chances of beating one of Boston, Miami or Orlando in the playoffs. Now there is speculation that they might target someone like Sessions, who is not being actively shopped, I believe a veteran play maker would help them in the playoffs more.

Enter Jose Calderon. There were rumours of the Hawks being interested in the Spanish play maker from as early as the summer of 2007 when he had his coming out party that drew comparisons to a young Steve Nash. However years went by, injuries happened, Bosh left and now suddenly looks like a average point guard in the NBA.

However that should be enough to help the Hawks in the playoffs. They don't have a true facilitator on the roster and him and Bibby would make a solid point guard rotation for Atlanta. Marvin Williams has been shopped by the Hawks and with Josh Smith getting more minutes at the 3, his role on the team has diminished.

The Raptors have a clear need at 3 and while Marvin Williams isn't going to save the franchise, he will have a fresh new start on a team with no added pressure where he wouldn't have to justify being picked second overall over the likes of Chris Paul, Deron Williams and many others. Ditto for Thabeet.

Now the trade would obviously leave the Raptors without a point. Which leads me to the third trade idea.

Trade 3: The Return Of TJ Ford

How ironic would be it if the Raptors went back to TJ Ford after deciding that Jose was the way to go after the 2007-08 season? The two were to be traded for one another this past summer as Toronto was involved in a four team trade rumour. TJ Ford has been on the trade block since last season and would likely require very little to reacquire his services from Indiana.

Reggie Evans and Julian Wright for the speedy point guard provides the Pacers with additional depth off the bench up front. Both of them being on expiring contracts is also a big plus.

Vancouver Wants A NBA Team?

"Maybe we shouldn't have done it there, maybe we should have only expanded into Toronto . . . that was a great disappointment to me," he said.

Stern is doubtful the NBA could ever return to British Columbia.

"I don't think we can go back," Stern said. "I think that was a great city, and I think we just didn't take advantage of the opportunity."

Via Vancouver Sun

That was taken from an article written in 2008. On a recent Bill Simmons ESPN podcast, he spoke with NBA commissioner David Stern about the current state of the NBA, the CBA, possible contraction, and Stern's regrets about both Seattle and Vancouver.

He mention the interest coming from investors in cities like Las Vegas, Seattle, Anaheim and yes, Vancouver. He also praised the Vancouver Canucks on their spectacular success in the NHL.

Now this isn't the first time that investors from the area have expressed interest in the NBA. Francesco Aquilini, owner of the Canucks, was rumoured to be interested in purchasing the Indiana Pacers and moving the team to Vancouver, B.C back in 2009. Ofcourse nothing happened since the team is still in Indiana. But how viable is the current market and infrastructure if the NBA were to return to the area?

The current Rogers Arena, formerly known as the General Motors Place, isn't exactly the newest arena compared to the ones in Kansas City or Pittsburgh, but it's been extensively renovated since its 1995 construction with new luxury suites including renovations for the 2010 Winter Olympics and makes a lot of money for the Canucks, something that Mr. Stern likes.

Now the arena will obviously need some alterations to host NBA basketball however the facility is ready to go in terms for a prospective NBA team. And with rumours of Heisley willing to sell his Grizzlies, why not sell it to Aquilini and move the team back? Memphis is not a hotbed for NBA basketball and I'll admit that neither is Vancouver, however they are a better market right now than Memphis.

During their first stint, the Grizzlies also failed to draw in corporate sponsors and reach out to the city’s various ethnic communities. Basketball has now literally exploded in popularity in China and among Chinese-Canadians, so much so that Team China received most of the cheers than Team Canada when the two teams squared off in an exhibition match up in Vancouver last summer.

Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian will be free agents this summer and Jeremy Lin shouldn't be hard to acquire in a trade. And those moves would make sense position and roster wise for the Grizzlies when Zach Randolph bolts in the summer to whoever that pays him the most. With those 3, they should have no problems reeling in corporate sponsors and fans alike.

Steve Nash would be ideal choice however it seems like at his stage, he would be better off playing for a contender. Not to mention that there are more Canadians than ever before playing in the NCAA.

Something to think about.

Trade Idea: Grizzlies make a playoff push; Raptors continue to rebuild

The Knicks have been willing to move Anthony Randolph and Memphis has gauged interest in Hasheem Thabeet, but the Rockets have sought more immediate help. Memphis' Marc Gasol will be a restricted free agent, but the Grizzlies have so far said they will keep him through the deadline.

Via Houston Chronicle

The Griz continue to comb the league for a deal involving Hasheem Thabeet. They aren't getting any offers compelling enough to give away the 7-3 project center. Right now, it's J-will or bust. The Griz aren't planning to to sign any players to a 10-day contract.

Via Memphis Commercial Appeal

As far as I know the Griz continue to be open to offers for disappointing center Hasheem Thabeet and aren't looking to move Mayo.

Via Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Vancouver Memphis Grizzlies are unlikely to get any sort of value for the 7-foot-3 center out of Tanzania. Currently a game out of the final playoff spot behind the Trailblazers and with persistent trade rumours featuring OJ Mayo, the Grizzlies desperately need more production out of their second unit if they want to make their final playoff push. In terms of production and efficiency the Grizzlies bench are ranked second worst in that category. So here is my trade idea.


Grizzlies trade:

Hasheem Thabeet
DeMarre Carroll

Grizzlies receive:

Leandro Barbosa
Joey Dorsey

Barbosa is a former 6th man of the year should help bolster Memphis' weak bench. The Raptors on the other hand continue to rebuild as they take a chance on the former 2nd overall pick from the 2009 NBA Draft. On a team with no center (Ajinca is meh and Alabi is NBDL material), it shouldn't be hard for Thabeet to break into Jay Triano's rotation.

Win-win for both teams.

Rudy Gay Wants Your All Star Vote

Jose Calderon to Memphis Trade Idea

So the other day I was browsing through the internets and I stumbled upon this...

The Grizzlies are merely lukewarm about Mike Conley's future as their starting point guard.

However, Memphis is only going to supplant Conley if they acquire an obvious improvement.

They reportedly made a play for Chris Paul prior to the draft and they selected Greivis Vasquez at the end of last month.

RealGM Wiretap


That got me thinking becuase I remember reading the Grizzlies having some sort of interest in Jose. And I was right...

Forward Chris Bosh apparently is ready to depart via free agency. Hedo Turkoglu publicly stating his desire to be traded. So the Raptors reportedly have indicated a willingness to listen to offers for Turkoglu and guards Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack.

While the Grizzlies have not engaged the Raptors there is some organizational interest in Turkoglu and Calderon. However, both players' long-term contracts starting at $9 million apiece might calm any Memphis desires.

The Commercial Appeal


So here is my idea...

Toronto Raptors trade:

• Jose Calderon
• Joey Dorsey
• *if needed* 3M in cash to help cover the 300K in Xavier Henry's contract

Don't really need to sell why the Raptors should do it. I think Jose is a better point guard than Conley but he's not needed now. Conley is young, fits the "Young Gunz" movement and would push the ball better than Jose. DeMarre Carroll is a hustle forward playing both 3 and 4. Haddadi is interesting because he has some skills for a guy his size (7'2") and background (Iran).

Then there is the financial aspect of the deal where the Raptors drastically reduce long term financial commitments. Too lazy to go into it during work LOL

Memphis Grizzlies trade:

• Mike Conley Jr
• Hamed Haddadi
• DeMarre Carroll

The Grizzlies have 'organizational interest' and an upcoming free agent in Conley who they either re-sign in the offseason or replace with someone else. Conley so far hasn't shown them that he is a starting caliber PG in the NBA. Jose has so far but some might argue otherwise. But at this point he would be a starter on that team. The Grizz have a history with Spaniards and trading for Jose could help them retain Marc Gasol if he does want out, not saying he wants out of Memphis. Remember when they traded for Navarro's rights? This would be something similar.

The Grizzlies would also get a local Memphis Tiger product in Joey Dorsey. Ideally I would like him on the Raptors because he provides toughness and rebounding but there is too much clutter on the Raptors power forward depth chart. He should fit right in sharing minutes with Arthur behind Z-Bo.

And there is the most important part. Cash. 3 Million of it. I think that would sell the trade to the Michael Heisley.