Raptors - what Babcock coulda done...

In salute to a 1-15 start, I thought I’d do another what-if blog on the Raptors…

Rewind to June 7th, 2004. The Raptors introduce Rob Babcock… here’s a modified history of what coulda-been… using all data available at the time of the transactions too... all of these moves were rumoured at the time.

June 24, 2004 – Raptors draft Andre Iguodala – no surprises here, as the Raptors go for the best available player in the draft, passing on the absurd notion of drafting Rafael Araujo
July 14, 2004 – Raptors sign Rafer Alston to a 6 year, $29M contract
July 30, 2004 – Raptors match New Orlean’s Hornet’s offer to MoPete
August 18, 2004 – Raptors sign Loren Woods to a minimum contract for 1 year, instead of a 2 year deal
Sept 20, 2004 – Raptors sign Matt Bonner to a minimum contract for 1 year
December 16, 2004 – Raptors release Roger Mason Jr.
December 17, 2004 – Raptors trade Rafer Alston to the Houston Rockets for Mike James, after Rob Babcock realizes his mistake in signing this irratic player
December 17, 2004 – Raptors trade disgruntled All-Star Vince Carter, Morris Peterson, and Lamond Murray, along with their 2005 first round pick, and a conditional lottery-protected future draft pick to the New Orleans Hornets for Jamal Magloire, P.J. Brown, and their 2005 first round pick, instead of the ridiculous rumoured trade to New Jersey
January 17, 2005 – Raptors trade Donyell Marshall and a 2nd round pick to the Phoenix Suns for their 1st pick (21st overall) in the 2005 entry draft
February 11, 2005 – Raptors don’t have to pay $10M to get rid of Zo’s contract
June 28, 2005 – With the 4th pick overall, the Raptors select Chris Paul, out of Wake Forest, and with the 21st pick, take Charlie Villaneuva, out of Conneticut
August 3, 2005 – Raptors sign Jose Calderon out of Spain, and sign Matt Bonner
August 15, 2005 – Raptors elect to use amnesty rules on Jalen Rose’s albatross contract, then re-sign the guard for the $1M league minimum.

November, 2005 – Raptors open the season with a lineup consisting of:
PG Chris Paul
SG Jalen Rose
SF Andre Iguodala
PF Chris Bosh
C Jamal Magloire
Bench:
Guards – Jose Calderon, Mike James, Alvin Williams + other bench fodder
Forwards – PJ Brown, Charlie Villaneuva, Matt Bonner + bench fodder

Raptors open the season with a good mix of young and old, with a strong defensive front court anchored by Iguodala, Magloire and PJ Brown, who teach Bosh and Charlie V a lot on the defensive end. These athletic big men, hide Chris Paul and Jalen Rose’s short-comings on defence, and allow for a very up-tempo offence. They lack backup swing-men, but those are pretty plentiful.

Frankly, I would’ve liked this reality a whole lot better. Raptors are in a worse cap-situation for a year or two, but they are a much better team now, and in the future, and don’t lose out on revenues due to lack of interest.