04/24/24
June 10, 2006
They won't have Hoffa to pick on anymore.:
The Toronto Raptors trade Rafael Araujo to the Utah Jazz for Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley.
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 07:42 PM - 9 comments
Also, this move could stand to make Villanueva a bit more expendable as they both have the same skill-set. Charlie has the size advantage at 6'-11" to Kris' 6'9". But Kris is looks to be the stronger of the two.
posted by lilnemo at 07:53 PM on June 10, 2006
Villanueva has one edge on Humphries: he can play the 3 on this team. I'm banking on Toronto taking LaMarcus Aldridge with the first pick. That gives them a front line of Bosh at Center, Aldridge at the 4 and Villanueva at the 3 spot. Pretty promising start inside for Toronto.
posted by chemwizBsquared at 10:59 PM on June 10, 2006
I don't think they're interested in moving Bosh to the 5 - in fact, Bosh has gone on record many times stating that he is more comfortable at the 4 and would rather play there. This was a move that got rid of the worst player in the NBA for two players - a total steal. Hoffa can go to Utah and learn how to set screens for the rest of his life. It really doesn't matter that Humphries may have some game - I find it hard to believe that he'll make Villanueva expendable. A veteran player and a lower lottery pick may make Vilaneuva expendable - but I would be shocked outta my chair if Humphries moves into his spot. He's a bench player at best from what I've seen.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:40 AM on June 11, 2006
Weedy, Now you've got me intrigued. Just why is he the worst player in the league? How could he be? Isiah Thomas hasn't traded for him yet...
posted by ajaffe at 09:36 AM on June 12, 2006
I'll play contrarian here and say that Utah made a nice move here as well. Sloan and the Jazz have always liked to have that big man who can set screens, regardless of if the prevailing strategic winds in the NBA would suggest that it should be otherwise. Though his performance was terrible, Araujo did not get a fair shake from the fans here in Toronto -- it will never be his fault that he was picked 8th overall. The fans hurt the development he needed as much as he did himself. Futhermore, having played at BYU, some home cooking could be just the thing that jump starts his career. This becomes a very low risk move for Utah, and I hope it pays off for Hoffa. I think it will. Whether the Jazz go anywhere is another kettle of fish.
posted by smithers at 10:10 AM on June 12, 2006
I'll agree with smithers here, part of the reason that Sloan didn't play Humphries that much is that he refused to shut up and run the sets (and "just" set screens). Araujo can definitely do that.
posted by lilnemo at 03:54 PM on June 12, 2006
Sure, there is nothing to stop Hoffa - who's NBA instincts seem to border on "Shawn Bradley meets Frankenstein" - from becoming a human screen in Jerry Sloan's Never Ending Series of Pick and Rolls and Fundamental Fun and having an pesudo-Ostertagian career. But let's be honest - the only reason fans in Toronto saw as much of Hoffa as they did was BECAUSE he was an 8th overall pick. It was like the franchise was desperate to be right, even when they were totally and irrevocably wrong. It was painfully obvious that he wasn't exactly going to contribute to the turnaround of the franchise after one season (hell, for some, one game). If he was a seond rounder, he'd be in the NBDL. If not - he should have been stapled to the bench as a constant reminder to look beyond the numbers. I wish him well, and I agree that it wasn't his fault he was selected so high. I also caution against the idea that his career can improve drastically - this wasn't a high schooler or freshman drafted who needed to blossom. This guy was 24 and four years into his college career. They're more of the 'what you see is what you get' type of player.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:55 PM on June 12, 2006
Well...Sloan found the next Osterdog...I mean, Pick-and-roll center who does nothing more than make a few mill a year for setting screens and whining to the refs. Oh and flopping...that's a MUST for Hoffa. Now they need AK-47 to stay healthy and Boozer to earn his money...and Okur and Harpring to keep shooting.
posted by chemwizBsquared at 08:34 PM on June 14, 2006
I can't believe that Araujo is worth any two NBA quality players (salary considerations notwithstanding). Having said that, this is a great move for the Raptors. While Humphries has yet to garner gaudy numbers he does have impressive tools. I could see him being coming off the bench for the Raps and contributing. I'd chalk up his performance thus far to Sloan's micro-managing. As for Whaley, well, when you're most notable for being suspended for fighting in the pre-season and lying to police about a barfight you're likely to get waived. In short, it looks like Colangelo is just getting started.