Solomon Alabi: Raptors Next Starting Center?

[Built Ford Tough]

At least according to Hoopsworld...

 

They already targeted their center... Solomon Alabi... he killed it in their min-camp in June and he really started to come around.

 

I talked with some people at the Raptors camp, and they said hands down Solomon was the best player there.

 

Dwyane Casey really likes him and he will get a real chance. Not saying they won't look to bring in bigs, but they think they have a possible starter in Solo and with Bargs and Ed Davis able to play the 5 spot, they may not have the gap you think they do.

 

Also keep in mind Solo was drafted after coming off knee surgery, he really didn't get healed until mid-season and Jay Triano just wouldn't play him -- Casey seems like he's open to playing him.

 

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Chat.asp?CHAT_TOPICS_ID=1770#ixzz1TS3SbSiq

 

It would be nice if he could be serviceable enough to the point where the Raptors won't go out and overpay for a stop gap center but I wouldn't count on that considering how raw he looked last season.

 

At the very least it would certainly help the Raptors tank job next year.

 

Of course it is Hoopsworld so I certainly doubt the validity of this.

[Real Deal]

I have seen a LOT of guys play, even many that play 5-6 minutes a night and people consider them scrubs.

 

But, I didn't see much of Solomon Alabi. I did see him in the Toronto/Miami game (because I watched it to see how Bosh would do), and Alabi logged about a quarter in that game, had a block or two.

 

I also saw him against the Lakers once, the game where Kleiza and Calderon were lighting us up, but he didn't see much time out there. Drew was about 2-3 games into the season, and I thought he banged knees with Alabi, and I was about to flip out, lol.

 

So, really, probably two games...maybe three, because I think he was being a bit too aggressive with Dwight down low, picked up like four fouls (might have seen it on NBATV as a highlight).

 

From what I've seen, all he needs to do is get bigger and stronger. If he can put on another 15 pounds (because he gained a little since the draft...he looked like a stick before), I think he could be a decent player down low, at least on the defensive end. Doesn't look like he'd contribute much on offense, but he's so damn tall (a true center), he could contest a lot of shots, and I don't see any reason why Toronto wouldn't give this guy a test run this season.