The Raptors’ pursuit of Pao Gasol — and other NBA players of quality — comes with a question of timing and direction.
This is the last year on Bryan Colangelo’s contract with the Raptors. What needs to be addressed by ownership: Is Colangelo looking to trade to make his team better for the future, or would he be trading to make his team better in the short term, which would make certain his contract gets extended.
This isn’t Colangelo’s fault. This is the fault of ownership, putting itself and its GM in this dubious lame-duck position. Should Colangelo move Andrea Bargnani and friends, for example, to Los Angeles for Gasol, which isn’t necessarily happening, he would be getting the best player in the deal.
That’s good. What isn’t good: He would be picking up a 32-year-old in his 12th NBA season. That’s setting the supposed plan backwards.
While the Raptors are off to an atrocious start and no doubt need moves to make this team better, Colangelo isn’t dealing
