As mentioned on GoatDiesel in the past, the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat have FINALLY completed the Jermaine O’Neal for Shawn Marion. That deal right there I just mentioned, seems like a good deal but let me delve further into this for you. Jermaine O’Neal will not make the journey to Miami himself, the Raptors have packed Jamario Moon and his disdain for the rim to Miami in return, we get the Matrix and Marcus Banks. Seems cool right? Ohhh GoatDiesel forgot to tell you, we also gave up A FIRST ROUND PICK!!! YES! The 21-34 Raptors that are bound for the lottery this season and probably NEXT traded a 1st round PICK! What do they get in return you ask? Marcus Banks! Do I hate on Uncle Phil’s game? No, he is actually a REALLY good on the ball defender (which we are sorely lacking) and he is almost as fast as anyone in the league. “So what’s your beef almighty Diesel?”, you ask? His contract is UGLY!!! We just took on 4M+ until 2012! For those of you that aren’t aware 2010 and even ‘11 are years you WANT to be cap friendly, 2012? Not so much. So all I can surmise is either Colangelo has something up his versace laden sleeve or the he REALLY wants to pull a George Costanza and go out in glory. He is about 1 move away from being WORSE than Rob Babcock, yes I SAID IT!!!
I will use this paragraph to apologize for all my CAPITALIZED LETTERS and exclamation marks!!! I am really upset by this trade and almost cried when I read that this trade went down.
Well don’t let me do all the blabbering, what did you all think? Hit me UP!!!
Peace!
I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t smile a bit when I first read that Chris Bosh told the Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo that he wasn’t going to re-sign with the team in 2010. If you have been to this site before you know just how unimpressed I am with Bosh’s leadership, shot selection and attitude. This is a GREAT example of all of that, wrapped into one giant ball and thrown in the faces of the Raptors fans and organization. Regardless if Chris felt this way before our slide into the basement of the Eastern Conference, he definitely should have kept this to himself or between him and Colangelo. Bosh has essentially done what I have wanted forever, make all the Raptors fans to take off their rose coloured glasses and start judging Bosh like every other player, instead of giving him a free pass because “his teammates” aren’t up to par or whatever other crazy excuses I hear game in game out.
Seriously, name ONE player you would take from the Cavs besides LeBron? Ok, I know Bosh and LeBron are on different levels but what I am getting at is, you don’t necessarily need the best players on your team to win, you need a good leader and good team chemistry and we have neither. The Cavs has bought into the team philosophy of (more…)
And I ain’t talking bout no Keanu Reeves!!! In an apparent deal between the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, new comer centre Jermaine O’Neal will be headed to the sandy beaches of Miami for a package deal of small forward Shawn “Matrix” Marion and PG Marcus Banks. If this deal does indeed go down, not only will I have successfully called this a month ago, I also believe it will mutually beneficial to both teams. Miami would get their MUCH needed defense help for Dwyane Wade but it would also finally give them their first legitimate centre since Shaq Daddy. (I know Alonzo Mourning was there but he is only 6′9). For Toronto this appears to be a god send. Right now the Raps are TERRIBLE on perimeter defence as well they are lacking a slasher and I believe Matrix addresses both these needs. Also, Toronto FINALLY receives a serviceable back up PG for Jose Calderon. While Roko Ukic has looked good in spurts and Will Solomon, well he will NEVER be talked about on this site. Sure Banks is wild and has never really worked out anywhere he has been, I think he’ll be a great fit here in Toronto simply because of his slashing abilities.
I will put together a full report if this deal actually goes down. I give the chances of this actually happening a 92% on the GoatDiesel scale of probability!!!
Peace!
