RAPTORS: SIGNING THE WHITE ED O'BANNON

Quick points in the wake of the Raptors' pending signing of small foward Jason Kapono (pictured) to a $20-million deal:

• It's too kind by half to say this has raised some, uh, healthy skepticism (see RaptorBlog forums and HoopsAddict). Kapono's a nice player, the most proficient 3-point shooter in the NBA last season, but $20 million across four years is a big cap hit for a one-trick pony. He doesn't rebound well and he's not rangy on defence, which are teamwide weaknesses.
  
  Since he's a UCLA player, you could almost call him The White Ed O'Bannon, in reference to the forward everyone wanted the Raptors to make their first draft choice in 1995. By the way, if you ever see the highlights of the '95 draft, you might see a very fresh-faced future co-blogger appear on screen applauding after the Raptors announced their choice of Damon Stoudamire.
• So why did Canada's basketball lord and saviour Bryan Colangelo do it? It could be a challenge move to Andrea Bargnani to play inside, rebound more and stop settling for shots from 20-25 feet out. Everyone knows Bargs can shoot the 3, but sorry, being seven feet tall dictates that you have to take the ball to the rack. It's manifest destiny or something.
• In Kapono's defence, he went through a two-month stretch where he sank a semi-halfway unreal 58% of his threes while playing in Miami's static, stand-around offence. It only begs the question what he can do with a group who know how to swing the ball and get an open shot.
• It's human nature to figure Colangelo has more moves planned, considering what other Eastern teams have done (Celtics trade for Ray Allen, Nets re-sign Vince Carter, Bulls draft Joakim Noah, Knicks get Zach Randolph). Have the Raptors really done enough to improve?
• Which reminds us: Few fans would be able to easily let go of José Calderón.
• The Raptors might have the best bunch of 3-point shooters in the Eastern Conference now but the other qualities associated with championship basketball -- grit under the boards, defence, is almost in absentia. Who knows, they might be fixing on trying to be Golden State -- have one blowout quarter with a 15- or 20-point swing and just maintain for the other three.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.