Raptors make a trade -- but it's a small one

This isn't going to go down as earth-shattering but the Raptors have made a small deal.

They've acquired David Andersen from the Houston Rockets and some cash for a future second round draft pick, according to team sources.

Big? No. A deal? Yes.

Andersen slides into the trade exception and the second-round pick that goes out is one for 2015 belonging to the Clippers and is protected Nos. 51-55.

I know, that's as obscure a pick as you can imagine.

Andersen's hardly overwhelming but is maybe intriguing.

He's a 6-11 Australian who came to Houston from a career in Europe and Russia last season and averaged 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and about 14 minutes a game in 63 games.

He's more depth for the frontcourt and with a contract that pays him $2.5 million this season with a team option at $2.7 million for 2011-12, he's hardly a bank-breaker.

Comments

[Greg from Australia]

David Andersen is currently playing for Australia against China in the Stankovic Continental Cup in China - 28/07/2010. For your info he just shot the game winning basket with 1 second remaining, Australia 64, China 63. My advise to the Raptors, don't play him as a center - hes a bit slow and not athletic, but he shoots the lights out for a 6'11 at long range and has a good post up game. He's no superstar point blank, but do your research on his Euroleague stats, every team he has played on has gone on to win major Euroleague titles. Just play him too his strengths. He was never going to fill Yao Mings shoes...those silly little Rockets...

P.S If you need a cheap quality back up point guard that plays up tempo basketball take a look at Patty Mills from the Blazers, the kid has a big upside.

[Greg from Australia]

The Australian men’s national basketball team have upset their higher ranked Chinese hosts, 64-63, in their opening game at the 2010 Stankovic Continental Cup tonight at the Liugang Gymnasium in Liuzhou, China.

Despite playing before a rabidly pro-China crowd, Australia (ranked number 11 in the world by FIBA) came from behind to upset the number nine ranked team on their own court.

The Australian NBA duo of David Andersen and Patrick Mills teamed up to score the winning basket for Australia. With one second left to play, Mills drove to the hoop and found Andersen, who made an acrobatic lay-in.

Mills top-scored for Australia with 13 points, while Matt Nielsen added 12. Joe Ingles, Mark Worthington and Andersen all chipped in with eight points apiece. For China, it was their NBA players who shone. New Jersey Nets star Yi Jianlian had a game-high 17 points while former Dallas Maverick and LA Clipper Wang Zhizhi had 12.

Australian head coach Brett Brown - (Spurs Assistant Coach) said Mills and Andersen showed their NBA class with the final play.

“We called a time out and made sure we got the ball to Patty, and he made a great play to find David,” Brown said. "David then made a difficult, skilled shot. That was just two NBA players making plays. They got us over the line.”

Brown was satisfied after earning a close win first up after an uneven first half.

“The first half we were very erratic, and it was really a typical first game after a tough training camp,” said Brown. “Our rhythm was just not there yet and we were very scattered. We had 11 first-half turnovers and sent China to the line 17 times because we came out a little too aggressive. That’s a natural by-product of us coming off a very good training camp.

“We got down double digits twice, but to the players’ credit they persevered and the second half was much better,” Brown continued. “We only had four turnovers, they only got to the line eight times and I was happy with our defence in the second half. Australia outscored China 20-13 in the final period to earn the win. The Chinese led 37-28 at the half.

Australia's next game will be tomorrow night (Thursday 29 July) when they face off against powerful European team Slovenia, who are ranked 20th in the world. In the tournament’s earlier game, Slovenia beat Iran 107-74 behind Primo Brezec’s 13 points.

Australian 64 defeated China 63

[David]

another big from Australia, i think that's a road taken before, worked out real well last time, small time move that means next to nothing

[m]

FWIT, Russia is a country (all countries tend to be part of a continent). The eastern edge of Europe is bounded by the Ural mountains, west of the Urals lies Europe and on the eastern side lies Asia. Russia straddles the Urals thus Russia is in both Europe and Asia. Stay in school, kids or at least read a book.

[Vincent]

Andersen is good enough to be a 10-12 minute a game backup center on a non-playoff team. The protected draft pick isn't the biggest loss, though if this team is to build for the future, having any draft picks would seem better than trading for a 10th man, who is seemingly not part of the Raptors future. Personally, I think if the team is taking a rebuilding direction, they should find another young player they could potentially develop - unless they feel that Andersen was not utilized enough in Houston, and that he could play better than his current contract's value (quite possible) and maximize his value. If the money sent in the deal is enough to cover almost all of Andersen's contract, then I think it's a decent deal.

[Guy who lives in Europe and who has lived in Central Asia]

Just for reference sake - Russia is a country that has land that geographically occupies both Europe and Asia. It sits in both continents - a fact of being so large a country.

Small move by BC. More to come, we'll have to wait and see. And let's all wait to judge the GM until we see all the moves and the team actually plays together. A little patience. Rome was not built in a day, and these Raptors are more like the 7 hills of Rome then the city itself - i.e. we ain't even at the stage of building a beautiful city yet.

[shan2on]

hey doug,

does this limit Mr. Dorsey's chances of being the possible 3rd Five ?

or ...

could this be the piece added to move andrea to the 4 (where he should be) and have amir start ?

then maybe dorsey would get some playing time ...

thoughts ?

Blogger's note: I think Dorsey's future is tied to Evans'

[Graham]

Finally some people got it right!! Yes Russia is both part of Europe and Asia the separating point being the Urals. What makes me laugh is the people on the board who were admit it was one of the other..

As for the trade.. I hope its part of something bigger otherwise its just another medicore big.. not a bad piece someone to eat up some garbage time but nothing special..

I would assume something else is being worked on that may move out a couple of the other bigs. Doug have you heard anything specific?

[kathyt]

Great. A basketball blog that’s turning into a geography lesson. LOL

[PeterK]

Get ready for the worst rebounding season having Bargs and Anderson as centers.

[Michel G]

As others have pointed out, the area west of the Urals is considered part of Europe. I can't believe people have to be corrected on this.

[kelsey]

Im sorry I know this is a minor deal, but I understand all of the fustrated Raptors fans. Nobody wants to hear about this guy as there is NO POSSIBLE UPSIDE..even if he is a bench player.

Take it what you like but, Toronto has picked up another tall non atheletic player that happens to be European ancestory. To many bench players, I m really hoping Colangelo gets a deal done to move at least 4 more players.

[GM]

Ah, Kelsey finally says it like it is. "European ancestry" now instead of just European. Code for "white"... The race card has been dealt.

[John]

ya the starters could beat the backups because the starters are all mediocre players who probably wouldn't be starting on most teams

[NOS]

I believe that this is a nice deal, considering that he is going to be a backup center. He is a center. He is not a power forward. He is not Shaq (i mean he is not so strong like him, he is softer this it true) but he is very good, or at least he was in Europe one of the top-class centers.
I believe if he will have the time to play, he will be a nice surprise.