The moves just keep on coming

Am sure you've all seen it: Linton Johnson will be here, likely by this afternoon.

Who? He's 6-8, bounced around a bunch of teams, good defender, long, athletic, never stuck anywhere for a variety of reasons like "fit" and finances.

So, why him? Why now?

Well, how about a shot across the bow at the guys here, maybe a guy like Moon, or Deflino or Kapono. Let 'em know that there are hungrier, young guys out there that this organization might want to take a look at.

I don't expect Johnson to play much right off that bat, or possibly at all, but if I know Sam and Bryan, they're going to let him loose in practice and if starts playing better than anyone that's here now, Johnson will find himself in games.

The other side of the coin, of course, is the departure of Darrick, who'll be waived to make room for Johnson. Martin will stay with the organization in some capacity (basketball development consultant sounds like a pretty good title).

I know there are some of you out there who aren't high on DMart but take it from someone who's around the team a lot, he is a valuable, valuable person in that locker room. He talks to everybody, keeps everybody loose and on their toes; I'd say he's got the second-best basketball IQ on the squad after Rasho and he's really an off-the-court leader.

Comments

[Doug S]

Hypothetically would Johnson be paly-off eligible?

Blogger's note: We're checking on that, will update story as soon as we know

[Damian]

I'm not sure what this move really accomplishes. If Toronto needed a stop at the swing positions, they could always have gone with Parker and Delfino. Or... if we're talking about the 3 and 4, Delfino and Bosh (he doesn't have glaring defensive deficiencies). And I can't really see Johnson starting anytime soon or even taking away minutes from the guys we already have unless Moon is moved to the bench. It seems like the Raps are just adding to the logjam at the 3 without any forseeable results...

[leigh]

The Raptors inconsistent play of late has atleast been good for business for you Doug.... almost cracked the century yesterday with the TJ/Jose change !

[jk]

Should have picked up Ruben Patterson..who cares if he isn't a boyscout...we have too many boyscouts.....and it's not like we would be committed to keeping him...meh...

[LL]

first things first, long-time reader, first-time 'poster/commenter/writer/whatever'. you've got a great thing going here with this blog. i love it.

onto the topic at hand:
wooooooooow. i never thought they'd let D-Mart go. i'm sorry that he has to leave, though. very surprised to see the Raps make this move....but whatever helps.

i'm very proud of the way the Raps witheld that Detroit run in the late 4th quarter, only to respond with one of their own. hope is not lost. hopefully this is the momentum starter we've been waiting on.

[sara]

Few things I've noted :

- TJ : All-smile starting PG

- Jose : Un-happy backup PG ( the idea he voluntarily surrended his starting job is hilarous. This is the NBA , not Alice in Wonderland )

- Rasho : 42 min a game ? Hope he will survive for the playoff

- Bargnani : He will be lucky if he still play 10 min. a game (Kapono docet ). Starting to believe we should move him this summer . Maybe a new team, new city , a different coach could be positive for him. A lost talent.

- Bosh : Was this a playoff performance ? 2 FT ?

[tino]

Moon played less minutes than usual last night,maybe Jose's offer had a trickle down effect on Sam view of Jamario real value to the team.Rasho grabbed JM's share of rebounds vs. Detroit,making the rookie lack of offense a sticking point.If L. Johnson is a better perimeter defender,Jamario's minutes should diminish,maybe giving Kapono more opportunities.BC should make Jose' assistent gm,he seems to have solved Sam's problems with TJ and AB.Next year he should be given the "C",even over CB4.

[jk]

People, for god's sake..TJ has one good game and all of a sudden the problems are over???
TJ has had plenty of good games...he wasn't brilliant, he was just much better..so what?? Does no one remember all the crap starts we had LAST year when the bench became one of the best in the league because it outplayed the starters?? Bosh and TJ are not a powerful combination...they are just okay...
Anyone doubting Calderon's unselfishness and the fact that HE suggested the move, is probably one of the cretins who boos when the fans don't get free pizza...

[dan p]

Doug,
This is more of a question, but I was wondering, if Linton Johnson does get a chance to play (which is possible with our inconsisten wing play) and ends up settling for/clanging 3 pointer after 3 pointer, do you think that there's a possibility that Sam's head might actually explode right there on the bench, ruining a perfectly good suit?

Blogger's note: Entirely possible. I hope not, though, especially if it's one of the games where I've got a front-row seat

[Jason Ohashi]

RAPS NBA CHAMPS! LINTON JOHNSON MVP! Just kidding.
But in theory, it is what the Raptors need. I agree with jk, the Raptors should have gone for Ruben Patterson if you wanted to fill the wing position and not really caring about where the player fits in the long term. oh well.

[Zack]

To sara's comment, there was no sign of Jose being unhappy with his role last night. He still got his minutes and the team won because of the decision made. And according to Jose himself, it took some convincing for Sam and BC to take his advice so I don't think the team is lying when they say this was Jose's idea.

[Robert]

The move to put TJ in the starting lineup was the wrong decision. I have no doubt that it may have the short term impact of improving the team's play but I don't like this move for a number of reasons:

1. TJ is rewarded for his unhappiness as a backup. If he's a team player then he should put forward his best effort regardless of what role he has.
2. Calderon has outplayed TJ and earned the starter's job. Putting aside the issue of who starts, it makes no sense that Calderon who was playing better is now going to be playing fewer minutes than TJ who wasn't playing well. If TJ had played well he could have earned the job back.
3. The starting lineup previously consisted of 3 three point shooters and now has just 1 (Parker) while the 2nd unit has 4 three point shooters (Bargnani, Kapono, Calderon and Delfino) which is an imbalance.
4. The move may very well spark TJ's play but I think the current starting unit may not have enough scorers. The offensive strategy is centred around Bosh getting the ball and either scoring or when Bosh gets double teamed he sets up the team's shooters for some open shots. Before, Bosh was able to get good looks for Bargnani and Calderon. With the current lineup the only true shooter is Parker (TJ can score but he's not a spot up shooter). In fact there was a sequence in the Detroit game where Bosh got double-teamed and passed it to TJ who missed a long shot.
5. Bosh and Calderon had developed great chemistry in the starting lineup and play the pick and roll well.
6. The team's recent losing streak related more to the loss of Bosh and their horrendous defense, not their offense. While this move may improve their offense, it doesn't address the team's defensive issues.
7. When teams need a shakeup, they remove players who struggle not a player (Calderon) who was playing well.

I know that the Calderon suggested this move but the team's management should have said no. There seems to be a lack of leadership or direction from the coach (who only last week said Calderon should remain the starter because of his good play and for continuity in the starting lineup) and management on this issue.

[leigh]

Re: Sara's comment, you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. None.

[Jacob L]

Linton and Rasho together again! nice to have another championship winner on board.

[Ellie]

Sara, Calderon is no fool.

If you're Colangelo and Calderon's contract is coming up, giving you the option to resign him and make a trade with your other guard, who do you want to keep?

The dude who busts his ass to involve his teammates and sells his stock to the pine to try and get the team a win?

Or the dude who couldn't capitalize on opportunities as they presented themselves to him because of the lack of glory/ego-stroke that went with it?

It was totally his idea and he'll get an even better contract out of this. Watch and see.

[Tyler S.]

Uh Robert, Calderon was actually struggling the past two weeks. Good looks for bargnani? bargnani always gets good looks just that he's inconsistent.

[Jacques]

who cares who's happy or sad...the point is, they won against a very good team.

[Eric]

I wonder if this was D-Mart's move like last night's was Jose's. I don't know. But there are a few things to consider aside from whether Johnson would be playoff-eligible:

1) What if Martin is claimed on waivers by another team? This move could 'backfire,' if that's the right word for it.

2) What if the team decides to let Johnson go after (max) two 10-days? They'd have an open roster spot again. Would they be able to then put Martin back in uniform?

This move is a lesson in CBA 101. I have to look this up. Very interesting.

[Leo R.]

Wow linton johnson im shocked knowing Nikolaz Tschkivilli is available.

[Dan]

Even if Ruben Patterson wasn't considerd a bad locker room guy. He is still a veteran player who most likely would not like the idea of possibly being the third or fourth wing off the bench. Plus he would be wanting the veterans minimum which would be more the what Johnson will get. He already showed with the clippers this year he could not handle a smaller role. If he were brought here to start and played like he did for the bucks then he would be a great fit. If he signs on with anyone I would bet it will be a contender. Johnson will at least have a better shot here. Delfino and Moon are not in the same class as Hill and Marion.

[Ryan]

Don't get too hyped. Toronto beat a Detroit team that just came off an overtime win against Phoenix the previous night I believe. But nice to see TJ back in the starting lineup. I would guess that this could be the solution for the rest of the year and possibly the playoffs.

[tim]

this is a slapp to face for primo man
hahahahahahah

[bballer]

man, not only am i missing sleep, i'm writing on my laptop in my car. calderon has played poorly the last 5 games and was struggling. the team often played poorly in the first quarter or does everyone conveniently miss that point. regardless, tj ford will be gone next year, so who will people complain about.

as for bargnani. if rasho is playing better than bargns, why should bargns get more minutes. why does the thought pertain in favour for calderon but not for rasho. meaning, if rasho is playing better than bargns, why should bargnani get more minutes to figure it out but people have a shorter leash for tj ford? nevertheless, i do believe that bargnani should be the starter for the team next year. is he an nba centre, no. he is a role player. he should only be a starter if a younger version of rasho who can also block shots, but has a more limited offense like diop was bargnani's backup.

on the fan590, everyone wants maggette. raptor fans, what would you do when maggette continuously stops the passing flow and takes the ball to the hoop relentlessly. i love the guy and want him with the raps but i feel if things go poorly for 5 games he will be a lightning rod of complaints for this fickle crowd.

i love my raps, but if this is how raptor fans are as an nba free agent, i would never come to this team. they are booing a pg who led the team to 47 wins, people are questioning the abilities of a perennial allstar in bosh and they are bashing the reigning coach of the year. they boo stoudemire, vc and mcgrady who has left the team years ago but they applaud a marginal player like matt bonner. i guess cheering for the mediocre leafs is leading raptor fans to desire a mediocre equivalence with the raptors. weird, they hate the euros on the leafs like sundin and antropov, but love the euros on the raptors.

[Mary]

So is there a chance we'll still see DMart on the bench or in the locker room?

Blogger's note: Oh yeah, he's not going anywhere at the moment.

[Zack]

JK, your second comment is just plain wrong. The Raptors didn't win because of their bench last year. Who on the bench was scoring? Mo Pete? Kris Humphries? Other than Andrea and Jose, our bench was just mediocore, a bunch of inconsistent guys who occasionally had a good game. Kinda like this year!

To say Bosh and TJ "are just ok" just shows how little you know about this team and probably basketball in general. No one is suggesting Jose's unselfishness should be doubted (other than sara), we are all applauding him for putting the team first which it seems a lot of over zealous Jose fans in Raptorland aren't able to do.