As some of you may know, I have long been a Rockets fan, but in the past few years have also become a Raptors fan as well, in that I live in Toronto. Today is the draft lottery which, to those of you who know anything about the Raptors, has been a universally bad day. That is not an overstatement. I am making an appel here to my fellow Rockets fans to have a little compassion and fair play in their hearts, and think of the Canadian team for just second or two with an inner eye towards karma, and I am going to presnt my case why they deserve it; Unique to NBA history, and not likely to ever be repeated, the Canadian expansion teams were intentionally screwed in the draft for the first 5 years of their existence; they were restricted from the 1st overall pick, irrespective of their record. Now before you say, tough luck, but you chose to take it, you need to know that in Toronto there were 3 groups looking for the rights to the franchise, and the one which everyone considered the best said it wouldn't accept playing against a stacked deck like that; so they were passed over for another group that would. A few years later that other group mismanaged their way into trouble, and were bought out by, you guessed it, the 1st group. The Canadian teams were also stuck with only being able to use 2/3 of the regular cap for years. At least once the Raps won the lottery, but had to pass on the top piuck as agreed. Since then, in each and every year, the Raptors ave been screwed in the lottery. They have always, repeat always ended up drafting lower than their record suggested. It's odds on that that'll happen some times, but every time is a curse. Last year the Raptors finished the season with the most games lost to inuury of any team in NBA history, and in what was seen to be a 3 deep draft where they should draft 3rd drafted, of course, 4th. Now Bosh has turned out fine, but the curse still held. Of course, in a league where things like Malone's suspension..er..fine and the Jordan Rules have applied for years, amny in Toronto feel there's a little more to it than a curse, but that's just frustration. But considering years and years of being screwed, many of them admitedly intentionally, I feel it's about time the Rpas caught a break on lottery day. they are likely to pick 8th. Even staying there would be a record setting event, but I feel that all the bad luch should pay off in some good luck for once, and hope that those of you in Houston with nothing to fear from the Raptors, and considering the luck has to go somewhere might see it in your hearts to wish my other team a little retribution today. I hope you do. Thanks for listening.
1995: 7th pick - Damon Stoudamire 1996: 2nd pick - Marcus Camby 1997: 9th pick - Tracy McGrady 1998: 4th pick - Antawn Jamison Traded to GS for Vince Carter 1999: 5th pick - Jonathan Bender 2000: 21st pick - Morris Peterson 2001: 17th pick - Michael Bradley 2002: 20th pick - Kareem Rush 2003: 4th pick - Chris Bosh Just looking at Toronto's track record you can say they make good picks overall..trouble is keeping those picks one reason or another.. PG-Stoudamire SG-TMac SF-Vince Carter PF-Chris Bosh C-Camby Bench: MoPete, Rush but we all know that couldn't have happened.
If you agree to not bash the US that much in the D&D, we might consider supporting a Canadian team in the NBA Dish.
*sends good Karma* I always wish the Canadian expansion teams well for very selfish reason: I want the NBA to thrive in more countries and attract more diverse talents. Good luck. P.S. The Lakers thank you for Kareem Rush, he is working out beautifully.
Go, Raps. (Do something right.) Toronto is one of the great cities in NA -- anywhere, actually. If Raps management were = to the city's quality then this would be a night to see TR on the hardcourt not the plush seat of a lotto nite.
That I do not suspect. However, Chicago does not want an underclassman. There is a trade, I smell it, of picks with them and Atlanta.
I never understood that Kareem Rush trade to LA, all they got was the lakers pick right? and he hasn't done anything, and if they wanted him they could have taken him w/ their own pick since it was earlier than the lakers. Im pretty sure there must have been something else included from LA but i can't remember what it was.
Why would Dwight Howard be upset? Chances are he’ll end up being the building block of the Charlotte Bobcats. Orlando will go with Okafor. The Clippers need a point guard, so they’ll draft Livingston. The Bulls don’t want a high school power forward, so they’ll draft Deng. That leaves Howard for the Bobcats. Kind of reminiscent of when the Minnesota franchise started by building around a high schooler.
That scenerio would be best for Howard and probably the Bobcats too but you never know the pick could be traded also.
I can see the Clippers taking Howard. IMO, I see it going 1.) Okafor 2.) Howard 3.) Deng 4.) Livingston
