Mighty Mouse Redux? (And other gems, of course)

The Raptors remain very much alive in the hunt to obtain Damon Stoudamire.

Someone Who Knows confirms that Toronto joins Boston and Phoenix are the likely locations for Mighty Mouse if he engineers a buyout of his contract from the Memphis Grizzlies.

TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

The uniform has changed but Damon Stoudamire could be back in Toronto colours.

Now, before you begin searching the remainder bins for Airborne, be advised that Boston’s still the preferred destination, I’m told.

But Toronto’s right in there.

Stoudamire, behind Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry in the Memphis backcourt, is likely holding out for a buyout so he can become a free agent this summer and get one more deal. He’s got this year and next left on his current deal.

Does he fit here? I’d say like a glove. Loves the city, can still play, would be willing to backup Jose Calderon and would be great insurance if T.J. Ford doesn’t come back at all this season.

But he also fits in Boston and it’s probably going to come down to whether the Celtics want to give him the same, or better, deal than the Raptors can.

When does it all happen? Well, I don’t imagine Bryan Colangelo’s going to let things drag too long so I’d say sooner rather than later.

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Hoo! Boy!

They’re gonna let fans with texting capabilities and internet access vote for the dunk contest winner?

You may as well cut that cheque for Jamario right now. I presume they have the internet in Minnesota, Memphis and Orlando but I guaran-dam-tee you they don’t have the numbers that there are in this area.

If the kid gets his dunks in the basket, he’s going to win.

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Did you know that Jose Calderon hasn’t missed a free throw in 2008? Eighteen straight.

Did you know that he’s not even close to the franchise record? Chauncey Billups made 51 in a row in the three weeks or so he was here in 1998. I knew Chauncey shot a lot when he was here, but wow!

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List time, courtesy of Troy K. from Toronto

Seeing as the Hump, Humpster, or as I like to call him “Would You Believe We Get This Guy in Exchange for Araujo?!” is doing a fine job as a substitute big, that begs the question: is this the biggest “something for nothing” trade that the Raptors have ever made?  Or has there been a better pick-up than this in the past?

What are your 5 all-time best “something for nothing” trades that did the Raps some good?  No need to take it the other way and think of what we got for giving away He Who Shall Not Be Named.

Here we go

Doug Christie from the Knicks for Willie Anderson and Victor Alexander, neither of whom did squat in New York.

Popeye Jones in a three-way with Minnesota and Dallas that cost Jimmy King, who never had a career.

Antonio Davis from Indiana for perpetually injured Jonathan Bender

Hump for Araujo and,

Carlos Delfino from Detroit for two second-round picks.

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Here’s one for you:
Alex English may be the greatest basketball player ever produced by the University of South Carolina.

Dave Odom has announced plans to retire as the Gamecocks coach at the end of this season.

Could Alex head back to his alma mater?

I don’t know, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

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We’ll hit the mailbag one more time:

Q: My question is with Jamario being picked for the dunk competition and most likely for the Rookie-Sophomore game, will he be the only Raptor playing that game. In other words with Andrea struggling badly do you think he'll get the invite for the Sophomores or will his confidence be further battered by being passed over??

Steven T, Winnipeg

A: The assistant coaches, who select the participants in the Rookie Challenge, have their ballots right now. And since those teams are only eight or nine guys, I cannot imagine Bargnani getting enough support to make it.

Confidence further battered? I can’t imagine how it would be further battered, it looks at an all-time low right now. I think it’d be better for him to get entirely away from basketball that weekend instead of going to New Orleans.

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Speaking of the mailbag, it’s getting a tad empty. Do the usual, goof off from work, click here and send off a missive.

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Caught a lot of the Celtics-Knicks yesterday afternoon. Something of a dog of a game (at no point did anyone ever think the Knicks could win) but the extra-curricular activity was pretty entertaining.

Always thought the Cs were a, um, talkative bunch, seems coach Doc Rivers is not impressed, at least according to today’s Boston Globe.

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This dude does snark well.

While everyone's throwing out one of those Bargnani vs. Roy comments, thought I might as well jump on the bandwagon. I just wanna say I couldn't agree with you more on your comment that they shouldn't compare Bargnani to Roy so soon, especially given that Barney was on a pretty good team that went to the playoffs while Roy didn't. After all, who's this Roy guy anyways? He just averages 17 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per contest, led his team to win 13 in a row and will most likely be voted in as an all-star, all while Bargnani should be praised for his aggressiveness when he goes 3-for-13 and grabs 6 boards.

Oh by the way, someone suggested to me that the Raptors should look at a deal involving Bosh for Bonner. After all, Bonner has a ring while Bosh never seems to go far in the playoffs. I said no, but told him to give you a call.

Aaron N, Portland

A: Well played. I guess they teach sarcasm in between rainstorms out there.

Comments

[Jim K]

I have to agree Boston's trash talking is all world right now - especially Eddie House. That almost 50 point thrashing of the Knicks, he was shooting 3s early in the shot clock late in the 4th (while up greater then 40), and running back on D to break up easy Knick layups. No class.

[Emily]

Been hanging on to my tattered copy of Airborne for years, hoping for an autograph.

Blogger's note: You've got to get better reading habits. But thank you.

[Zack]

Paul Pierce needs to remember what the Celtics were like before Allen and Garnett showed up...

[leigh]

Jose is having a good start to '08 from the line but Caron Butler is a perfect 49-49 ! He is exactly the type of player the Raps need, a tough, hard guy who can shoot and take it to the basket, he can also defend and rebound. I don't see how we could grab him though.

[Carlos Rivera]

I have never really been a fan of Bargnani (What has happened to this guy?). He can't keep his hands to himself. Correct me if I'm wrong, but last game the Raptors had, he had 3 fouls in the first quarter. He has no concept of what playing with your feet is. I think the Raptors should give this guy till the rest of the season to become a professional NBA player. After that, if has not improved trade him for someone who can average at least more than 3 or so points per game. A Gasol trade I feel would work great for the Raptors. It would be interesting to see Bosh and Gasol playing side by side. I think it would work. I mean look at the Spurs. David Robinson and Tim Duncan (two big men). And we all know how well San Antonio played with the two of them together. What do you think Doug? And apparently from what I see on tv. it seems that Calderon and Gasol have a good friendship as well. I'm sure it would work here in Toronto? Your thoughts please.

Blogger's note: This is probably more mailbag-ish but what the heck. Gasol and Bosh could absolutely work well together, I believe, but it's not going to happen. There's no way Toronto gives up on Bargnani now, sorry. Oh, and he's actually averaging, despite the prolonged slump, 8.7 points per game, which is sixth best on the team.

Carlos Rivera, Toronto Ontario

[kmason]

I'm not sure how i feel about the possibility of revisiting the mighty mouse era, to be honest. Or any days past, for that matter.
I want this team to look forward - onward and upward, right!? Is it possible to go forward, while still going back? Nobody can argue that during his time here, Stoudamire played hard and left it on the floor each night. So perhaps it is. Or maybe the bigger question is, does he really want to revisit those Toronto memories?
All i know is that this is the team that gave Oliver Miller way too many chances. Like 3.

[Andy C]

good job Doug. if Calderon misses a free throw tomorrow against boston we have you to thank.

[GM]

I don't think the Not-So-Mighty Mouse route is the best one to take. Hasn't anyone seen him play in the last three or four years? He can still shoot on occassion but he won't exactly fit into the team concept the Raps have developed. Plus he's, well, mouse-like on defence. He might be marginally better as a backup than who they have now, but that's it. I don't see the team improving much, if at all, with that deal.

[Dan]

I would like to see Damon come back. He was the teams first star. As long as he doesn't pull a Doug Gilmore and fall backwards over nobody and have to retire after playing only one shift.

Blogger's note: Again, with the pucks! Arggghh!
(I keed, I keed)

[voislav]

If Stoudamire comes to Toronto, it opens up a whole new can of worms.The Raptors seem to be looking for some serious PG insurance so I would venture to say that it looks more and more like Ford might be done, even if he is not done, is he's never going to be as good, because reckless driving to the basket is where he makes stuff happen. So what does Toronto do if Ford retires? It's not like premium PGs grow on trees. It would also (eventually, a couple of years down the line) open up some seriuos cap space as well and with Bargnani looking less like a max type of guy, they could make a run at an athletic scorer to complement Bosh.

[Big Mac]

Loved the question about Colangelo's 3 biggest blunders, but was surprised to not see picking Bargnani#1 included.

With LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay all providing elite level play in areas the Raps need help, players who have already proven they not only belong but are likely future all-stars, it's time to own up to the fact that Bargnani was not a good pick. Bargnani does not have the all important NBA temperment (I'd like to smack that constant sour look off his face just one time!) to go along with a lack of skill anywhere near the basket, he's a younger Raef LaFrentz, and 3 point shooting is clearly not a weakness for the Raps, I predict he'll be in the Euroleague and forgotten by Toronto/NBA fans within 5 years.

Great example against Washington with Andray Blatche, a 2nd round pick as a C/PF, offering quality minutes on D and Offense, while Bargnani sat on the bench with a faraway look, likely wishing he'd become a soccer goalie instead

Colangelo has made some good moves but in the most important decision he's had to make so far we should acknowledge he deserves a resounding F!

Blogger's note: You see LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay as future all-stars? Hmm, okay.
We'll talk in 18 months about the No. 1 pick, as I've mentioned many times before. I'm not ready to say Bargnani's a bust yet. And I imagine you really didn't think that last year, either.