What's it all mean?

They say it’s not a message but it can be seen as one; they contend it’s not a threat, either, but it can be perceived as precisely that; they are steadfast in their opinion that it’s just taking a look at a new guy but you can also see it as taking stock of what’s here as well.

Linton Johnson is in town and it’s like a sword hanging over the other Raptor swingmen, even if it takes reading between the lines to figure it out.

Coach Sam Mitchell said this morning that Johnson’s arrival on a 10-day contract should be seen as nothing more than what it is.

"It’s not a message to anybody, it’s a message that we’re always trying to improve,” he said today.

But then, practically in the next breath, Mitchell adds:

”We’re 36-35. We’re trying to get better. Now, if someone perceives it as a message, c’est la vie. Go home and look in the mirror.”

Just who is in Mitchell’s crosshairs isn’t hard to figure out. Anthony Parker’s been giving Toronto everything it’s asked of late and Mitchell went out of his way to mention that Jason Kapono’s been playing hard, and well, of late.

And because the Raptors think Johnson can guard both forward positions in some situations, it would leave Jamario Moon, Carlos Delfino, Andrea Bargnani and Kris Humphries as guys he might supplant.

"We were looking for defence, rebounding, all those intangible things, getting on the floor, getting loose balls, bringing some grit and toughness to our basketball team,” said the coach. “You can’t keep asking for that. So after a while of asking, it’s Bryan and my job to start trying to find that. We’ve been asking for that but if it’s not in someone’s DNA, you know what? Let’s find someone that it’s in their DNA.

“I tell players all the time, you have to step outside yourself and do what you need to do on any given night to get the job done. The reason: ‘That’s not who I am?’ That’s not good enough, that don’t cut it.”

Johnson, who has been with five teams in five NBA seasons, including a run to a championship in 2005 with San Antonio and two 10-day deals with Phoenix that ran out earlier this month, said he knows not to try and do too much with a new team so late in the season.

"I really appreciate that it is so late, teams have their identity, you just have to come in and try not to grow a new brain, come in and do what the team is already doing,” he said. “Playing basketball all your life, from team to team a couple of words change but it’s pretty much the same thing.”

Comments

[Zack]

Hey Doug, have you guys found out if Johnson will be eligible for the play-offs if he's still around?

Blogger's note: Yes, he is

[Alex]

So is this guy any good, Doug? Is he going to see any PT?

Blogger's note: I haven't seen him play in two seasons, I recall him being okay when he was with the Hornets, though. Not great, but okay. And I presume he'll get some run to find out what he's got.

[GM]

How good could he be if he's been cut by so many teams and wasn't currently on one? He might fit in, but it's not like they signed a prime free agent.

[robin]

"if it’s not in someone’s DNA, you know what? Let’s find someone that it’s in their DNA" : For a second I supposed Sam was talking about his coaching abilities.

[shawn m]

Doug, can you see the Raptors bringing back Rasho once his contract expires after the 2008/09 season, say for the veterans minimum? I believe that even two seasons from now he would be a valuable asset, especially if the Raptors take a big man in the draft and Bargnani continues to fail living up to expectations. Do you know how Rasho feels about his situation in Toronto, and the possible competition the Raptors may face for his services (Spurs)?

Blogger's note: I think Rasho loves it here; whether the Raptors have roster room for him two years from now is unknown; and the possibility exists that they trade him before then anyway

[Remy]

This may be completely irrelevant since if it had happened the Raps may not have some of the other players that came along the way...

but it pains me to think that the exact player that the Raps need right now could have been in a Toronto uniform.

Instead they drafted "Hoffa"

[K-Town]

Quote: “I tell players all the time, you have to step outside yourself and do what you need to do on any given night to get the job done. The reason: ‘That’s not who I am?’ That’s not good enough, that don’t cut it.”

Unless, of course, your name is TJ Ford.

[jk]

Good grief...so much drama over nothing...is it really so shocking that a mediocre team with a lot of mediocre players brings in a journeyman for a 10 day contract?? oooooohh....
The shocking thing was Colangelo saying "We like our team" at the trade deadline (although I'm sure he didn't really mean it and is waiting with bated breath for the summer)
.....just for PRACTICE you need a live body with a little height and strength, so is it really news that a guy like Johnson would be brought in on a 10 day?

[Kevin D.]

To the guy who said Harrington is a 4... I believe he plays the 3 and 4 in G.S., and in Indy he even played the 5. He's a well-rounded player - can shoot 3s, get in the paint, rebound, slash, run... and he's one tough dude (youtube Harrington boxing).

Although he resided chez Antonio Davis for a year when he was a rook in Indy... I hope he has nothing against the metric system. This guy is our best bet this summer.

[Nick]

One side benefit to the Raptors lack of toughness and physicality is that improvements aren't that hard to find. Dead eye 3pt shooting, ballhandling wizards, 7 footers that can hit a jumpshot, those are the kinds of players that take a little planning and luck to acquire. Gritty players that know their role and help generate extra possessions are on winning teams the world over.

Is Linton Johnson going to make or break the Raptor's season? No
However, its a sign that BC isn't blind to the Raptors need for toughness and grit, and he's willing to consider anyone up to the task of providing it.

[Gerald]

"To the guy who said Harrington is a 4... I believe he plays the 3 and 4 in G.S., and in Indy he even played the 5. He's a well-rounded player - can shoot 3s, get in the paint, rebound, slash, run... and he's one tough dude (youtube Harrington boxing)."

I was that guy, and I am afraid you are mistaken. In GS, he plays the 4, and Jackson is the 3. I repeat again: he is 6-9, 250. He cannot and does not guard 3's. As for your suggestion that he is a well-rounded player, he is a 6-9, 250 pounder that averages less than 6 rebounds a game - significantly fewer than Jamario Moon. He has the bulk to play the 5, but he is undersized (height-wise) at that as well. Of course, whether he can play the 5 is not the issue, since the discussion centered around him as a 3 - which he is not.

Harrington is a mediocre power forward who cannot defend well and who has only produced offensively on a horrendous team (the Hawks). What's more, he bellyached his way to a trade from a winning program in Indiana to be the big man on a horrible team in Atlanta. That speaks volumes about his priorities.

No thanks.

[dan p]

A couple of stats for Al Harrington (some of which Gerald mentioned)...

Weight: 250 lbs
Rebounds: 5.5 /game
3 point attempts: 5.3 /game

This guy is a 4, and he is a big man who jacks as many 3's as he gets rebounds. Does this sound like something the Raptors need??? I think they've got the market on perimeter playing 3 point shooting bigs locked up. I know that he has the green light in "the city of Golden State" (as Gilbert Arenas would say), but do you think that a player who has shown some selfish tendencies (see the exit from Indiana mentioned by Gilbert) is just going stop shooting excessively and he happy about it?

No thanks Al, enjoy the west coast.

[Kevin D.]

Gerald, who would you suggest that the Raps go after, then, if not Harrington? (Do NOT say the 6-6, 225 lb. Magette).

Harrington is listed at 245 lbs. Yes, his weight was originally an issue with GS when they acquired him. But he's fit right into their system and gets up and down the floor with the best of them. Also... so he can't guard 3s? Since when? How many GS games do you watch?

Is he defensive player of the year? No. Would he bring toughness and rebounding to our team? Heck yes. Does that mean we get rid of Moon if we get Harrington? No.

Gerald writes: "As for your suggestion that he is a well-rounded player, he is a 6-9, 250 pounder that averages less than 6 rebounds a game - significantly fewer than Jamario Moon."

Jamario Moon: 6.3 rebounds/game in 28.2 min/game
Al Harrington: 5.5 rebounds/game in 27.4 min/game

Is this "significantly fewer" rebounds? Uh, that's less than one rebound per game.

I would suggest you get back to your job as a barber, because you're definitely all about splitting hairs.