Analysis: Colangelo’s juggling act wearing thin

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Bryan Colangelo

Bryan Colangelo enjoys shaking the roster up.

Ever since being named the Toronto Raptors’ president and general manager more than four years ago, Colangelo has continuously tinkered with the roster in hopes of finding a winning combination.

When he first took over in February of 2006, the Raptors’ roster has always had a minimum of three players that were on a different team the year before and a starting five on opening night that has featured at least two new faces.

This trend looks like it will not change with the 2010-2011 version of Bryan’s Dinos, one that has eight new additions that head coach Jay Triano is currently trying to work into the lineup at training camp.

Making lots of changes shows that Colangelo is working hard. However, the question remains, is constantly morphing the roster drastically until something clicks really the best way to build a winner?

His track record indicates the method can be effective.

In the 2004-2005 season, Colangelo was at the helm of the Phoenix Suns and was named the Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year for improving the team from a dismal 29-53 record to a sparkling 62-20.

The Suns only had four remaining players on the roster from the 2003-2004 season on that team.

On the flipside, his revolving door of lineup changes brings about a lot of instability and has left Toronto without an identity — more so now than ever with the departure of Chris Bosh.

Not having some kind of defining trait is a common problem found in non-contending teams and is a dilemma the Raps have been battling with ever since Colangelo took over.

The turnaround he orchestrated in Phoenix wasn’t just brilliant because of the dramatic increase in wins, but because he was able to turn the Suns into an identifiable offensive force.

The former executive of the year is entering the last year of his contract and with expectations for the club set low, Colangelo may need to hope that a fifth roster re-shuffling in five years breeds success or he may not have a chance to rearrange it for a sixth time.

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By: Steve Loung
Posted: Oct 1 2010 8:02 pm
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