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Raptors dangle first-round pick ahead of trade deadline
February 22, 2011
Doug Smith
LOS ANGELES—Bryan Colangelo is dangling a carrot for other NBA general managers as the league’s trade deadline looms.
Colangelo said that, between now and Thursday afternoon’s deadline, he’s willing to part with one of the two first-round picks the Raptors have in June’s draft.
“We might consider doing something now with the Miami (first-round pick) if the right kind of player can be obtained,” the Raptors president and general manager said in an e-mail.
But fans looking for some major transaction to boost the sagging fortunes of the 15-41 team may end the week disappointed because there hasn’t been a lot of movement in any trade discussions.
“We are having discussions with several teams, but mostly for smaller type deals that don’t compromise our plan of acquiring future assets or creating more flexibility,” said Colangelo.
The Raptors don’t have a lot to offer. Satisfied with the young group he’s put together, Colangelo only has a couple of veterans with expiring contracts who would likely attract any significant interest. But Reggie Evans and Leandro Barbosa are just returning, or are about to return, from injuries and it’s hard to imagine getting much more than low draft picks or players with longer-term contracts in return.
DeMar DeRozan, Ed Davis, Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and Jerryd Bayless are seen as integral parts of the franchise’s future and it would have to be a blockbuster for Colangelo to surrender any of them.
Sonny Weems and Julian Wright are hardly marketable commodities, with youngsters Alexis Ajinca and Solomon Alabi bit pieces who wouldn’t fetch anything.
Colangelo does, however, have one card to play that would come into the picture in any huge deal. He still has about $12.2 million U.S. left in a “trade exception” created by the departure of Chris Bosh last summer. It can be used to acquire players without having to take back equal salary in return.
But unless there’s an above-average player of interest on the market — and there aren’t many — Colangelo may sit on the money and see what transpires before the exception expires in early July.
“If a significant piece is available that makes us better long term, we would certainly entertain that idea (using the full exception) as well, but (it’s) unlikely,” he said.
The Raptors aren’t the only team finding it difficult to make a deal these days. With a lockout looming (the league’s collective agreement expires June 30 and negotiations have barely begun), general managers are loath to take on much new salary with the coming economic picture muddled.
“The market can be described as a little hesitant as teams prepare for the unknowns of the CBA, but also because Melo (Carmelo Anthony, who could be traded by Denver any day to either New York or New Jersey) is a fairly big domino that has yet to fall,” said the general manager.
February 22, 2011
Doug Smith
LOS ANGELES—Bryan Colangelo is dangling a carrot for other NBA general managers as the league’s trade deadline looms.
Colangelo said that, between now and Thursday afternoon’s deadline, he’s willing to part with one of the two first-round picks the Raptors have in June’s draft.
“We might consider doing something now with the Miami (first-round pick) if the right kind of player can be obtained,” the Raptors president and general manager said in an e-mail.
But fans looking for some major transaction to boost the sagging fortunes of the 15-41 team may end the week disappointed because there hasn’t been a lot of movement in any trade discussions.
“We are having discussions with several teams, but mostly for smaller type deals that don’t compromise our plan of acquiring future assets or creating more flexibility,” said Colangelo.
The Raptors don’t have a lot to offer. Satisfied with the young group he’s put together, Colangelo only has a couple of veterans with expiring contracts who would likely attract any significant interest. But Reggie Evans and Leandro Barbosa are just returning, or are about to return, from injuries and it’s hard to imagine getting much more than low draft picks or players with longer-term contracts in return.
DeMar DeRozan, Ed Davis, Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and Jerryd Bayless are seen as integral parts of the franchise’s future and it would have to be a blockbuster for Colangelo to surrender any of them.
Sonny Weems and Julian Wright are hardly marketable commodities, with youngsters Alexis Ajinca and Solomon Alabi bit pieces who wouldn’t fetch anything.
Colangelo does, however, have one card to play that would come into the picture in any huge deal. He still has about $12.2 million U.S. left in a “trade exception” created by the departure of Chris Bosh last summer. It can be used to acquire players without having to take back equal salary in return.
But unless there’s an above-average player of interest on the market — and there aren’t many — Colangelo may sit on the money and see what transpires before the exception expires in early July.
“If a significant piece is available that makes us better long term, we would certainly entertain that idea (using the full exception) as well, but (it’s) unlikely,” he said.
The Raptors aren’t the only team finding it difficult to make a deal these days. With a lockout looming (the league’s collective agreement expires June 30 and negotiations have barely begun), general managers are loath to take on much new salary with the coming economic picture muddled.
“The market can be described as a little hesitant as teams prepare for the unknowns of the CBA, but also because Melo (Carmelo Anthony, who could be traded by Denver any day to either New York or New Jersey) is a fairly big domino that has yet to fall,” said the general manager.
