Expectations Could Exceed What B.C Can Do?

Bryan Colangelo has a nice life. A great job that pays well it is hard to feel sorry for him in a lot of ways. Still as I look to July 1st and everything getting rolling I kind of do feel sorry for him. All the big trades that happened out of the draft has only amped up the pressure on Bryan Colangelo. I think people expect him to make some kind of big splash that just is not possible. True the Raptors are only one of 5 teams with money to spend. The others being Memphis, Detroit, Atlanta and Oklahoma City.The one name that seems to get talked about the most, in terms of the Raptors is Hedo Turkoglu. It is said he wants 5 years @ 10 million a season. In an economy such as it is no way, no how, would I pay Hedo 10 million bucks and no chance in hell I am giving him 5 years. Both the years and the dollars are far to much for me.

The Orlando Magic where Hedo has come from have been able to over pay for both Lewis and Pietrus and make it work. But times are changing and with a new CBA on the horizon and an economy that suggests the cap number will drop not just this year but likely next as well. It says to me that teams need to think long and hard about the choices they make this year. There is also the 2010 free agent class to consider as well. The talent pool in that free agent class, promises to be one of the best ever. Bottom line if you sign Hedo to the deal he is looking for I think it is a mistake and one the team would benefit from in the short run but pay for in long run. Short term thinking is not going to fix this team.

Colangelo did say that based on all of his options he has 4 plans already in place for the offseason. I would imagine that 2 are tied to Shawn Marion. The plan if you are able to re-sign Shawn. Which Colangelo has seemed more confident about that than I would be. That being said B.C knows a lot more about what Marion might do than me. I still see it as doubtful in my mind. However Colangelo has said if he does not sign they can explore sign and trade options. That is something I do see as highly likely. Given the past relationship between Marion and Colangelo I could see Shawn being willing to help some what by being agreeable to a sign and trade.

I am sure there is a break in case of emergency Bosh trade plan. That being said my guess is it locked in a vault never to be seen unless absolutely necessary. I said on the radio in Montreal that I would be surprised if we do not see Bosh back for training camp in Toronto.

At the end of all of this Bryan Colangelo is trying to please his superstar and his fan base in the short term but he has to see the long term as well. Can Colangelo make the big splashes that everyone expects or hopes for? However more importantly can he do it in a responsible way that does not paint the Raptors into a corner that they will not be able to get out of. That is the real question that concerns me the most. As much as I want Chris Bosh to remain a Raptor. I do not want it to be done in a way that we make a ton of deals that make great sense in the short term and little to no sense in the long term.

Even though I am sure we have all had day dreams of wanting to be in Bryan Colangelo's shoes (nice as they would be ) and that we could fix all of this. Reality is that the answers are not simple and it is a tough job that Colangelo has with a lot of people with very different views and agendas looking at him for answers. I will just end this by wishing him luck cause I think he will need some to make everyone and happy. But more important position the Raptors to be better in both the short term and the long term.