Team Overview
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This season was one of resurgence for the Raptors as
they flirted with the post-season for the first time in team history. The veteran
leadership of Charles Oakley and
Kevin Willis, coupled with the
youthful exuberance of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, as well as the coaching of Butch Carter and the management of Glen Grunwald, the Raptors have shown that they will be a force to be reckoned with in
the near future. A team record of 23-27, leaves Raptors fans wanting in earnest for the
Raptors to break to .500 barrier next season. To achieve this goal, the team must re-sign
Oakley and Wallace, and lock up McGrady for the future, to ensure that the success they
have gained does not falter as it did when their third season was not as promising as the
second. |
Draft History
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The Raptors have selected two of the past four ROY
recipients, one under the hand of Isiah Thomas and the other under the guidance of Glen
Grunwald. Damon Stoudamire, the '96 ROY, has since been traded to Portland and it looks as
though his time there may be through as well since he can't quit complaining about either
a lack of playing time or scoring. Vince Carter, the '99 ROY, has taken the city of
Toronto by storm and looks to be the future of the franchise, along with the teams '97 NBA
Draft selection, Tracy McGrady. McGrady has continued to progress and looks to blossom
under the tutelage of Butch Carter. The teams selection in the '96 NBA Draft, Marcus
Camby, is currently being featured in the NBA finals and has seemed to form a cult
following by Bill Walton who seems to never say a bad thing about Camby, or
"his" Knicks. The truth is, Camby is still a bench player and weak side shot
blocker who would NEVER have been the starting center that the Raptors had hoped for. |
Team Analysis (by Player)
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STARTING LINEUP
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Alvin Williams Pos: PG Stats: 5.0 ppg, 2.6 apg Status:
signed to '00
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Williams is NOT the long term solution for the Raptors
at the point guard position. He was inconsistent at times and was barely utilized in the
fourth quarter, even in games that the Raptors had no chance of winning. He needs to
improve his confidence, once he begins to slash into the lane on a consistent basis, he
will be more effective as a point guard since he will have the option of scoring himself
or distributing the ball to his teammates. An improvement on his outside shot would help
as well. |
Doug Christie Pos: SG Stats: 15.2 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.27 spg
Status: signed to '04
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Christie remains as a team stabilizer as the only
original Raptor still on this season's roster. He is an excellent defender and understands
his role and plays it effectively. One of the knocks on Doug's game is his tendency to
take bad shots and this is still an area of his game that he will have to work on to
improve as the Raptors shooting guard. |
Vince Carter Pos: SF Stats: 18.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg
Status: t-opt '02
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Carter surprised everyone on his way to becoming the '99
NBA Rookie of the Year. His highlight reel dunks and enthusiasm will be something that
Raptors fans will be able to enjoy for years to come since Vince has openly expressed his
love for the team, city, and its fans. His must continue to work on his offensive game and
look to improve his defense which seemed to surprise most people. His athleticism and
desire to learn will help greatly in both of these areas. |
Charles Oakley Pos: PF Stats: 7.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
Status: Free agent
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Charles Oakley has provided the veteran leadership and
hard work ethnic example that the the Raptors have needed ever since their inception into
the NBA. Without his guidance, the development of at least one player, Vince Carter, would
not have been so much, so quickly. Vince himself credited Oakley for his guidance along
the way, and he is definitely the first priority of the Raptors. |
Kevin Willis Pos: C Stats: 12.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg Status: signed
to '00
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The Raptors needed rebounding and a low post threat at
the conclusion of the '98-'99 season and in a trade with the Rockets for virtually nothing
(read: Roy Rogers and draft pick), the received all that and more. The more that they
received was a veteran player with post season experience and the respect of his
opponents. Even though he is aging, he is still good for 30 minutes a game, and can
provide guidance to another low post threat, maybe someone like Rebracka. |
KEY BENCH PLAYERS:
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Tracy McGrady Pos: G/F Stats: 9.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg Status:
signed to '00
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The success of the Raptors is perfectly correlated with
the development of McGrady. As he goes, so do the Raptors. If the Raptors can sign him
long term, they could have another Jordan/Pippen tandem on their hands if Carter improves
his shot and is able to move to the 2 spot with T-Mac at the 3. He showed great strides of
improvement this season and the presence of cousin Vinny will not doubt help as well. |
John Wallace Pos: SF Stats: 8.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg Status: Free
Agent
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J-Dub did something for the first time in his career
this year: played defence. At the beginning of the season he wasn't playing much and he
only started to get more playing time as his defence improved. It is this development that
hurt his playing time, but if the Raptors re-sign him, they will be guaranteed the instant
offence that Wallace provides, along with an improved defensive presence. |
Dee Brown Pos: PG Stats: 11.2 ppg, .387 3pt% Status: Free
Agent
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The best three point shooter on the Raptors and one of
the best in the NBA this season provided the veteran stability that the young team needed
during the fourth quarter of games. The Raptors should look to re-sign him to help bring
along the young nucleus of players that they have when Oakley and Willis retire, which in
both cases may be sooner than later. |
John Thomas Pos: PF Stats: 4.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg Status: signed
to '00
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The Minnesota product has provided more than expected
and is a definite "banger" in the low post. He can guard low post players who
are, at times, six inches taller than him and do so quite effectively. |
Team Needs
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- A quick point guard who can distribute, penetrate, and hit
the open jumper.
- A low post player who can learn under Willis and Oakley
and take the throne once they depart.
- A slashing swingman as insurance for the possible
departure of Wallace or McGrady.
- Height; aside from Oakley, Willis and Stewart, the other
frontcourt players, Thomas and Slater, are greatly undersized for their roles.
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My selection
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With the 12th selection in the 1999 Usenet NBA Mock
Draft, the Toronto Raptors select
. From Barton County Community College, Alek Radojevic. Why?
Radojevic provides the Raptors with the height they need
and a future low post threat. Even though the team also owns the rights to Rebracka, they
are unable to pay him the type of money that he will earn in the European leagues and it
looks as if his desire to play in the NBA is not paramount. Radojevic has a great upside
than the other big men in the draft, mainly Eschmeyer and MacCullough, and this is why I
have chosen him with this pick. |
Other players considered
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Who the team will select
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I think that the Raptors may take Radojevic, or go for the swingman insurance
and select Artest, Marion or Jones, whomever of the three is still available at the 12th selection. Whoever
the selection may be, it is doubtful that they will make the starting lineup and can only
hope to provide off of the bench to work their way into the 9 man rotation. |
Other moves the team should make
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- re-sign Oakley and Wallace.
- lock up McGrady with a long-term contract.
- dip into the free agent market to acquire a big man,
perferrably a veteran.
- look at trading down from the #5 spot and still select
Andre Miller.
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