The one thing the Raptors MUST do this Summer

And its not keeping Chris Bosh.

Trade for Darren Collison. New Orleans already has Chris Paul and a guy like Collison on the bench is an embarrassment of riches. I don't care what it takes, trade for this kid right now.

While he was starting in place of CP, who was injured, he averaged just shy of 10 apg and had a few monsters with 14,15,16,18 and 20 assist games. The knock on this kid is turnovers and lack of rebounding. The former can be coached and the lack I couldn't care less about so its not exactly a big deterrent to bringing him to Toronto. He will (and did) get abused by the bigger point guards in the league but the Raps can create a defense that compensates for that. As for his shooting, he fired away at a 47.7% clip, including 40% from 3 point range. His starting numbers translate to roughly 16.5 ppg, 9.5 apg, 1.5 spg and 3.5 rpg. Oh yea, he's only 22 years old and still has 3 years left on a low cost rookie contract.

In a perfect world we could sign and trade Bosh to New Orleans for Collison and Okeafor (we'd have to include another player and/or pick i'm sure). Okeafor could then play Centre and Bargnani could slide over to PF where he's more effective anyways. We then have a great rebounding/shot blocking C who can chip in 10-13 ppg and a wizard assist man on point. We would also trade Calderone and keep Jack. We'd need to eat part of Jose's contract or take one back but fuck it.

Why would the Hornets do this deal? Think about a front court with Chris Bosh AND David West. Sure, neither are a true centre but it doesn't matter, no one aside from Dwight Howard will be able to guard them and they are both top end rebounders and efficient shot blockers. Also, they are both 20/10 guys and Chris Paul should love pounding the ball inside to these two. Speaking of whom, this is CP's team and Bosh wouldn't need to be the leader or face of the franchise - neither of which I think he was truly comfortable with. Now with the emerging Marcus Thornton, its a pick your poison type scenario every time another team plays New Orleans.

As for the Raptors, this trade would make us younger, tougher and more cap flexible.

Here's my fantasy lineup for 2010/2011:

PG: Collison
SG: Weems
SF: Turkoglu (trade possibility)
PF: Bargnani
C: Okeafor

Bench

PG: Jack
SG: Belinelli
G/F: DeRozan (6th man), Antoine Wright (if he resigns)
F: Johnson, Evans
C: Nesterovich

With a pick somewhere between 9 and 14 in this years draft we should be able to find a useful player. A lot depends on what players are moved this summer but I think top priority is getting an athletic, great defending, lights out shooter to play the 2 spot. Think MoPete but better on D.

Colangelo, make it happen.