Let the busy week begin

Ready for a busy week?

For some reason, I've got a sneaking suspicion that this could be a biggie, lots of rumors and a big deal before the draft. Nothing concrete at the moment but just a feeling.

I'm not sure they've found Mr. Right at No. 17, everyone who'll be left is going to have some flaws and if they can package the choice with, say, T.J. I think they'd do it.

We already know they've kicked the tires on Boris Diaw and I imagine that's just the tip off the iceberg. For every report that gets out there, figure there's half a dozen others that general managers, coaches and agents are able to keep to themselves. It' up to the intrepid grunts to ferret out as many of those other ones as possible.

This week will include a lot of posturing, and some reports that are flat out wrong. But from what I'm told around the league, there's all sorts of serious discussions taking place.

Everyone figures Portland's trading out of No. 13 for the right deal but the word on the street is that there is no fit with Toronto at present. The Blazers aren't all that thrilled with the thought of Ford running their team and they are desperately seeking a point guard.

Hang on, kids, we're in for a bumpy week.

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From the Department of Underwhelming News, the following prospects (suspects) will be in to workout for the lads today:
Guards Ryan Bell of Carleton and Jaycee Carroll of Utah State, forwards J.J. Hickson of North Carolina State, Josh Duncan of Xavier (Ohio) and D.J. White of Indiana and centre Vlad Kuljanin of UNC-Wilmington.

Bell and Kuljanin are good Canadian lads, nice of the Raptors to give 'em a look.

As for possible draft picks? Hickson's the only one with a remote possibility of being a Raptor on Friday morning. And the fact this is his second workout in Toronto may mean everything, it may mean nothing.

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Let's start the weekly mail:

Q: Doug, have you heard about (or do you think it's possible) that the Raptors might get involved in a trade with New York to move up in the draft and maybe get David Lee as well? Our expiring contracts would be attractive to New York. We would probably have to take back one of their terrible contracts in return but is there any scenario you see as working out for both teams?

Steve M, Toronto

A: I haven't heard of any serious discussions between Toronto and New York, I'm sure they've talked in passing but not about anything of any substance. And I'm told Mike D'Antoni is quite all right with Nate Robinson as his point guard so a T.J. deal isn't likely.

So, no, I don't see a scenario that works out, although nothing at this time of year would surprise me.

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Hey, all you cool cats in Ottawa.

See you in late-September.

Am told that training camp's all set for Carleton, starting around Sept. 29 or 30 and winding up with a intrasquad scrimmage at the university on Oct. 5, I believe it is.

Any and all restaurant recommendations welcomed.

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Lots of questions out there about the search to replace the Swirsk. Not a whole lot to report at the moment, I'm told they have talked at least briefly to the The Score's Tim Micallef but not sure how seriously.

The one name I keep hearing in lots of different conversations is Matt Devlin.

No idea when they'll make the decision since they're juggling a couple of other balls in the air, too.

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Did you catch reports over the weekend that Greece's Olympiakos is looking to offer AP something in the neighbourhood of $24 million over three seasons?

They can offer that, the moon and half of Athens if they want, AP's not going anywhere unless the Raptors release him from the final year of his contract and no one I spoke to in Toronto yesterday can imagine that happening.

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Another letter:

Q: What's up with Canada's Gotham Doug? First Cliff Fletcher, now Cito Gaston. If Sam Mitchell is next to walk the plank, is it conceivable the Raptors could also look to the past? Your pick? Do you still have your disco shoes?

Bob W, Winnipeg

A: I'd be all for Butch making a comeback, if only for the entertainment value for us beat guys. He was a classic story-teller.

I'm pretty sure I burned whatever remnants I had of the disco era. Wisely.

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Oh yeah, do me a favour, would you? If you're looking for something to do on the coming weekend, check out the national men's team in its exhibition games with Lebanon and New Zealand.

They don't play here very often, it's been about five years now, and they could use some support.

Go here to get all the details.

A little light reading for you

A heavy, heavy mailbag today, which will give you something to read while I’m hanging around the Air Canada Centre at various camps and workout sessions trying to get my head around the draft.

And then, hopefully, finding an adult beverage or two.

Have fun

Q: What is your opinion on Chris Kaman vs. Rasho Nesterovic. A friend and myself differ on who is a better centre. I say Rasho has the basketball smarts and enough moves to be the better player. While Kaman does put up bigger numbers, he is also a less consistent player, despite his athletic edge. If you were GM of the Raptors and the Clippers offered Kaman straight-up (assuming contracts were equal in price and length) would you pull the trigger? Where does Rasho rank among NBA centres?
And what is his likely fate once his contract expires with the raps?

Ricky D, Toronto

A: Let’s see, Kaman’s six years younger, quicker and an equal for to Nesterovic at both ends. He’s finally coming into his own as a good, young big man so I’d take him over Rasho all the time. And I like Rasho and his game.

If the Clippers ever made that offer, I’d take it in a minute.

I’d put Rasho about middle of the pack among NBA centres and I think when his contract’s done, he might be able to get one more deal for two or three years to play as a backup somewhere and teach the game to a promising youngster.

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Q: Quick question (and not entirely a swipe at Bargnani, because I'm still reserving judgement until this season), but why do GMs "love" 7 footers with range? I understand the shooting and spacing and mismatch potentials, but it seems to me, that I'd just as soon have a dagger tossing 6'7" shooter outside who can slash and defend the players that normally play out there.
I can only think of one successful example (Dirk), and as good as he is, he doesn't look like a total game changer, and he seems to have more driving skills then AB or Darko, etc. Are there other examples, or are 7 footers with range a pipe dream that GMs get hooked on but doesn't generally work out? Interested in your thoughts...

Sasha F, Toronto

A: General managers and scouts are always looking for someone who does something no one else does, or at least something very few others do. A 7-footer with legit three-point shooting range is a pretty unique combination that can cause matchup problems.

I can’t think of a specific 7-footer with those kinds of skills, though.

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Q: I always hear everyone talk about what a good GM Brian Colangelo is. For a while I thought so too. Then one of my friends (who hates the Raptors) asked me, "What has Brian Colangelo done in any organization that was so great?"
Then he got me thinking........he was right! I still can't come up with an answer so maybe you can help me out. What has B.C done in the past that was so outstanding? What he he done to get so much respect around the league?

Mark M, Toronto

A: Well, he turned around Phoenix from a 30-win team to a conference title contender by shrewd moves (Nash, Bell, Stoudemire, Marion); he took a Toronto team that had won 24 games the year previous and made some bold moves (Ford for Villanueva) and key additions (Parker, Garbajosa, Nesterovic for Bonner) and changed the culture around the organization The Raptors missed the playoffs for five years before he got here, they’ve been them in each of the last two.

That enough?

Oh, and he's been the NBA's Executive Of The Year twice. That enough?

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Q: Looks like Canada Basketball is starting to make some decent moves to get the program back to respectability.
My questions: Any Canadians have a shot at being drafted this year? If not (which I realize is likely) are there any in the next couple years that might make it?

Darren K, Kitchener

A: Can’t see a Canadian NBAer on the horizon in the next five years.

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Q: I have been anticipating this off-season (i.e. Bargnani's development, the Ford/Calderon dilemma and the draft) as I believe it is a pivotal one for the long term success of the franchise. I am interested in your thoughts on Chris Duhon. I believe he is an unrestricted free agent and I think he would be an excellent backup to Ford or Calderon. I would also like to know if you think Calderon can become at least a passable defender? If we draft a guard or small forward, we will be hard pressed to find a legit interior presence who can compliment Bosh and provide help when Calderon, assuming he is our PG in October, inevitably allows penetration.

Omari J, Pickering

A: Chris Duhon would be an adequate backup, I guess; but they could do better, I think. If they’re going to go that route, I’d take Roger Mason Jr. over Duhon as a relatively cheap free agent backup.

Yes, Calderon can become a passable defender, it just takes work. He turned himself into a good shooter from a bad one so why couldn’t he do that on the defensive end, too?

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Q: Conventional wisdom suggests that building a solid NBA team (which can contend for a championship) is a long-term strategy i.e. you begin with a solid nucleus, manage the cap well, add good role players -and given time to gain experience and familiarity with each other- you hope that's enough to translate into a winning team.
But every so often, a team is able to make the giant leap from very bad to very good, such as the Celtics this year. My question is, how often do these type of opportunities present themselves?
Under what 'perfect storm' of circumstances would the Raptors find themselves in such a position? It obviously can -and does- happen. I would imagine that of all people, BC (being the guy who engineered the Nash trade back on '04) is more aware of this fact than most other people.

Terence G, Mississauga

A: The perfect storm would be dealing TJ for a swingman who has a breakout year, almost at all-star potential; getting a player with the No. 17 who can crack the front-court rotation behind Bosh and Bargnani and ahead of Rasho and seeing Bargnani develop a low-post game and rediscover his three-point shot.

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Q: I was wondering if you think Marreese Speights would be a good pick for the Raptors in the draft. He is an athletic 6'11 big man with good range who could help us in the front court. I am still curious if his post moves are good. If his post moves did develop well and he played solid post defence he would be a great compliment to Bosh's "outside" game. Also if the Raptors did draft him or another big man project like JaVale McGee would they consider taking the route of getting a former great NBA Big man to train their prospect like L.A. did with Bynum-Kareem and Orlando did with Howard-Ewing.

M J

A: Speights is moving up the draft lists of people I talk to and may be on the Raptors radar. They’ll have him in Saturday to work out, too. And I’ll be able to tell you more after that.

Oh, and I don’t see a change in the coaching staff for the coming season.

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Q: In one of your non-blog things (what'd you call those: "articles"?), you mentioned that John Lucas Jr. was "the son of the former Raptors consultant."  When did senior get fired/not-re-signed? Is this part of TJ being on his way out? Have there, or will there, be any more coaching (I mean assistants...this is not a "Fire Sam" email) changes?  On that front, do the Raptors still have the smallest coaching staff in the league (someone mentioned this a couple of years ago when we had three assistants)?

Paul M, Toronto

A: John’s contract to “consult” expired May 1 and has no bearing on the TJ situation at all. And, no, I don’t think there will be any coaching changes and having three assistants and Eric Hughes on the staff, it’s the same size as the majority of the league.

A little change from the usual

How about a little change of pace today?
There were draft workouts yesterday and some other little tidbits and no draft workouts today and maybe no little tidbits so let’s do the usual pap and drivel this morning and get to your regularly-scheduled mailbag tomorrow morning.

Sound okay? Well, it better ‘cause there’s really nothing you can do about it.

For some reason, we didn’t get in to see any of the workouts yesterday. I don’t think there was anything really clandestine about it, probably just a matter of timing but it did mean we didn’t a chance to watch any of the three-on-three work like we have been.

But Jim Kelly alluded to the two issues of main guys when he was talking to us: There are some concerns about Hibbert’s foot speed and Greene’s defence is lacking.

No big news there and, let's face it, whoever they draft at No. 17 -- if they draft at No. 17 -- is going to have flaws.

But both facts were reiterated – strongly – when I talked to a couple of other people who were in the gym for the entire session.

And the kids themselves know what people are saying:

"I come out and play aggressive defence, it’s something I didn’t show during the season, sitting in that zone a lot so today I tried to come out and play a lot of aggressive D, get up, and show some of my ball-handling skills,” said Greene.

Hibbert’s been one of the yo-yo guys in the draft. But he’s got no regrets about staying in school another year, even if it costs him five or six draft slots:

"I don’t think it’s a disappointment, if I went out last year, I wasn’t mentally and physically ready for what happens in the NBA.

"I was 20 years old, I would have been on the bench .. I’m one year older, a little bit smarter, stronger, and I think I can hold myself when I go out there on the floor and off the floor.”

Of this year’s freshmen, who’ve conspired to push him down a few spots:

"They have a phenomenal class, Beaz (Beasley), OJ, Derrick Rose, they are phenomenal players and they’re going to be great in the NBA but at the same time, I want to show people that, ‘hey, I can go to college and graduate in four years and then go off to the NBA.’

"When you look 10 years from now, you’re not going to be looking at who went first, second, third or one through 30, it’s going to be who’s winning championships, who’s winning games and I want to be that kind of player. The draft isn’t the end for me, it’s just the start.”

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Speaking of the draft:

Q: When can we expect a Doug Smith mock draft and Doug Smith draft board a la Mel Kiper Jr.?

Josh S, Thornhill

A: Because I really enjoy being held up to ridicule, I think I’ll wait until, oh, let’s say Tuesday and maybe again Thursday morning to do one.

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TJ and the pick to Phoenix for Boris Diaw?
It’s out there being talked about. Makes a little bit of sense, doesn’t it?

I like Diaw’s game if he could be consistent, he can guard a bunch of positions and that’s what this team needs.

I’m certain it’s only one of many scenarios being bandied about here but I could sure live with that trade.

But here's something to consider: Robert Sarver's got a lot of petulant in him and I'm not sure he signs off on a deal that involves the Raptors.

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What to make of Batum not working? Probably nothing. He did get to town and have a physical then got sick overnight, they told us. Can’t imagine there’s anything nefarious in that but now it’s going to be tough to get him back for a workout here.

Under draft rules, a kid can only visit a team the first time for 48 hours and Batum got in early, early Tuesday morning so his time’s up.

They’ll try to get him back in next week for a look and he remains very much on their radar.

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Big day Monday for Chris Bosh.

No, he’s not signing a deal with Leno.

That’s when USA Basketball names its Olympic team and Bosh is going to be on it.

And it looks like he’s going to play a pretty good role.

It appears now they’ll only have three, maybe four, traditional bigs and because Dwight Howard is going to live in foul trouble in the international game, Bosh is likely to play a lot.

The other bigs, I’m told, are going to be Boozer and, possibly, Tyson Chandler.

The Americans will use LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony at the four a lot, like they did two years ago at the world championships.

And because Howard’s such a bad free throw shooter, you may see Bosh down the stretch of every tight game the Americans are in.

Maybe Garbo will guard him in the fourth quarter of the gold medal game.

Wouldn't that be cool.

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So, who’s on the list? Jim Kelly said it’s narrowed. Wouldn’t say to how many, of course, but an educated guess – taking into consideration what other teams might do – would think it includes Douglas-Roberts, Batum, Lopez, Hibbert, Ajinka and Greene for sure.

What’s the best thing to do?

Do you get the wing in a trade and a draft a young big? Or draft the wing and try to trade for a big or stick with the 4s and 5s you’ve already got?

My best guess, talking to People Who Know, is that they are now leaning towards drafting a big and letting Bryan work his magic to fill the other hole.

That all could change between now and Thursday, of course.

And the name I keep hearing in conversation is Lopez, despite his offensive liabilities.

That’ll make a few of you happy, won’t it?

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Here’s a quick letter:

Q: Doug, in your last mailbag you lauded a reader for his list of Jewish basketball heroes. "A Mount Rushmore of Jewish contributors to the game and I cannot think of anyone who could replace anyone on there."
I'd have to add Marv Albert (born Marvin Philip Aufrichtig) to that list as well. And while he may be a new kid on the block Thornhill's Dan Shulman has been holding down NBA and NCAA games with the best of them.

Sam T, Toronto

A: Both solid broadcasters but as contributors to the game? They don’t hold a candle to those on Frank’s list.

A remake is coming, and two blasts from the past

Now what?

Oh, right. The draft. Free agent camp. Free agency. Olympic qualifier. Olympics. Mail. Lots. Of. Mail.

When's a guy gonna get some time to socialize?

Remember when we wondered how long this thing could keep going once the season was over? That was silly, wasn’t it?

Can’t promise 1,000 words every morning but can promise to get something up. How interesting it’ll be? I can’t say.

Like today.

All of a sudden, we’re looking at the possibility of huge change on the Raptor roster next season.

Garbo? Gone.

The Gangster? Gone as soon as his contract expires.

Carlos? Could very well be gone if he gets a good free-agency offer.

T.J.? I’d say it’s 80-20 he’s gone in a trade?

And for a team that only had 14 guys on the roster at the end of the season, you’re looking at the possibility of five new faces, a third of the roster changing from one season to the next.

And with the prospects still around for a two-for-one or even three-for-one trade involving a package for Ford and someone making large money, there could be even more turnaround.

A good thing?

Not sure.

The problem last year was that there was little “separation” on the roster. The four swing guys – Moon, Parker, Kapono, Delfino – were at about the same level in talent. Oh, and consistency, too.

That made coaching difficult because not only didn’t Sam know which three were going to be good each night, there were quiet – very quiet – rumblings that the guys who weren’t playing thought they deserved to be playing more and those rumblings were probably right.

What good teams need and usually have is relatively clear separation between the value of guys one through, say, 10, and those occupying the 11^th to 15^th spots on the roster.

Man, even Juan Dixon, who was deep on the bench here, thought he deserved more time and it’s easy to argue he was right.

So I don’t think Bryan needs to hit three or four home runs as he remakes a third of his roster.

He needs to hit one into the upper deck, for sure, and maybe a second. But some of his job this summer will be getting guys to occupy the end of the bench because that’s what their talent dictates.

You can have too many mediocre talents fighting for minutes, what you want is a group of stars and some backups who realize they are backups.

It’s a tough, tough job.

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Over the comments section, the always-insightful Bballer wonders which was the worst draft class in the last decade and holds up 1998 as the gold standard for mediocrity.

The lottery that year:

Michael Olowokandi, Mike Bibby, Raef LaFrentz, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Robert Traylor, Jason Williams, Larry Hughes, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Bonzi Wells, Michael Doleac and Keon Clark.

Very average, for the most part. Traylor was a busy, LaFrentz was always hurt, Wells was okay but not great; Doleac turned into a role player and we all know what happened to our man Keon.

Me?

I’m looking at 2000 and saying, “blech.”

How about:

Kenyon Martin, Stromile Swift, Darius Miles, Marcus Fizer, DerMarr Johnson, Chris Mihm, Jamal Crawford, Joel Przybilla, Keyon Dooling, Jerome MOiso, Eton Thomas and Courtney Alexander.

Ugh.

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A little bit of mail:

Q: There is a distinct way that I watch the NBA playoffs once the Raptors are eliminated. Essentially, I try to see what each team does differently than the Raptors that has allowed them to advance deep into the playoffs.
So my question is this, what is the most distinctive characteristic shared by the Lakers and Celtics that the Raptors currently (and glaringly) lack?
My answer? Above-average perimeter defence.

Chris B, Toronto

A: I would imagine a huge majority of fans feel exactly that way.

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You all excited about this free agent camp thing that starts tomorrow?

Yawn.

I know the Legend Of Jamario Moon and all but, really, that’s a one in a million shot.

Best case scenario: The find someone to keep Maceo Baston and Joey Graham company.

Oh, and they get a dominant summer league team out of it.

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Was chatting with an old friend and a couple of grunts while standing outside at halftime of Game 6 getting some fresh air and the old friend makes a call and hands me his cell phone.

Bad reception I thought, or someone in a very crowded spot who could be barely heard above the din.

After 10 or 12 seconds, it hits me:

It’s Oak!

Yes, the one and only. He was hanging at the Garden in New York, or some restaurant, or some social function or some concert (I couldn’t make that part out). Says he’s doing fine, thinks he’ll be in Toronto sometime in July (“I’m just rolling like always,” he said).

One thing that did come out: “Tell Sam I said hi, tell Bryan to get him some players.”

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Last mail hit:

Q: It's June 17 and the draft is coming up and many teams are holding tryouts. What about the Lakers and Celtics? Are they holding tryouts or must they wait at the end of the final. If they must wait, isn’t it unfair to them since they don’t get as much time to prepare?

Chad J,Mississauga

A: Oh, no, they’re doing all their draft preparations just like everyone else is, the scouts are in town doing workouts, the GMs are paying attention, as well. It just gets lost in the news.

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Because it’s Jalen’s World and we’re just a small part of it, here’s an update.

Turn on the TV yesterday morning, a tad bleary-eyed in Boston, and flip to Mike and Mike In The Morning ‘cause that’s what I do on the road.

And there, in the Golic chair, sits Our Man Jalen, co-hosting the ESPN radio simulcast show and being all Mr. Media.

Do my work, wander down to get coffee and come back after 10. Still on ESPN and it’s the First Take chat show and, sure enough, there’s Jalen again, being the guest panelist.

He might be the hardest working man in showbiz.

Guess in all those years when he was telling us about his budding media career, he wasn’t just blowing smoke.

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Okay, off to see what these kids at the workout look like and talk to Some People Who Know about what’s been going on with these guys the last few days.

A wild night, wasn't it?

Wow. Anyone see that coming?

CHARLES KRUPA/AP

Let's all kiss the 2007-08 season goodbye and get ready for the draft.

What a night, nice and easy (we were writing in the second quarter ‘cause that’s when it was over) and even the riot gear-wearing, baton-wielding cops on the streets right outside the arena didn’t ‘cause too much trouble.

Anyway, a few thoughts, some questions and the odd Raptor thing tossed in for good measure

I need to know:

Can we all shut up about Kobe and Michael Jordan? Sure, if he had single-handedly won his fourth title you might put him in the conversation but I guarantee you Michael Jordan, even if he was playing with me, Stumpy, M. Grange ™ and Bea Arthur on his team would never, ever, ever lose by 39 in an elimination game or spit up a 24-point lead in a pivotal Game 4.

And

Is Vladimir Radmanovic the worst starter on a team in the finals ever? He certainly got to be on a very short list.

And

I think the coolest thing in the world would have been if Doc Rivers had sat on the bench with five minutes to go and lit a cigar.

And

I think the second-coolest thing in the world would have been in Ray Allen had come back out of the locker room in a wheelchair and been driven right to the scorer’s table.

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Bye, bye Garbo

It’ll be official probably today, maybe tomorrow, when the league approves the buyout and then Garbo’s gone.

He won’t be back in the NBA, I’m certain, so who knows when we’ll see him next. I’ll get to see him in Beijing but if you want to watch him play, you’ll have to find some sort of internet Euroleague deal because I’ve got a feeling he’s playing in Madrid or Malaga.

A lot of you abhor the notion of a buyout but here’s why this one makes sense: The Raptors are certain Garbo will not be healthy enough to be a regular contributor this coming season. They will save a little bit of money and create a roster spot with the move. Garbo gets his money and, because he thinks he can play, he’ll sign somewhere in Europe and who knows how he’ll do.

The financial implications are not huge, it’s not like paying Alonzo Mourning $10 million knowing he’ll be in the NBA in a week or two; it’s paying maybe $3-4 million to a guy who’s out of the league.

You may think it sucks, and it’s really sad that this had to happen but it really is the best for all concerned.

Waiting for Garbo to play in the Olympics to see if he was fit wasn’t going to happen because the Raptors weren’t going to let him go to Beijing and maybe get hurt again. Waiting for him to come to camp to find out what he had didn’t make sense because now they know they have a roster spot to fill.

It eases the roster glut at small forward and with perhaps the departure of restricted free agent Carlos Delfino, will give Bryan Colangelo a lot of roster flexibility this summer.

It bites that he’s not here but it’s for the best.

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Here’s a quick one from the mail:

Q: So you posted a question today and part of it asked about a Wilcox/T.J thing, which for whatever reason you seem to have ignored (I blame the time zones, not you.) So I'm back here asking about it again to hopefully hear an answer. I watched him in a couple games this season and he's a player that seemed to have a whole lot of talent and comes across as very under-rated. Would there be any way of getting him with anything we have to offer?

Graham H, Toronto

A: Time zones it was.

I know there are people very high up in the Raptor organization who like Wilcox very much and would love to see him in Toronto. I also know the people in Seattle are quite high on him, too, and it’d probably take a larger deal than simply Ford for Wilcox to get anything done. If he goes, the Sonics really don’t have a four to replace him.

I think he’d be a good fit witht Raptors, actually. And with one year and $6.75 million left on his deal, he’s pretty affordable.

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All you draftniks out there, he’s the assessment of one guy inside the game on a couple of would-be Raptors coming in this week:

Donte Green: “He went to Syracuse so he can’t defend his position, all they do there is play zone.”

Roy Hibbert: “You might be able to beat him in a foot race.”

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Best chant of the night at the Garden last night:

"Seven-teen, seven-teen, seven-teen” as the final minutes ran out.

Second-best chant of the night at the Garden last night:

"Where’s Ko-be, where’s Ko-be, where’s Ko-be” in the fourth quarter.

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Talk about your familiar faces.

Was walking through the dining area before the game (ribs, chicken, roast beef and a too salty chowder) and who’s there but Brigg Harvey.

You don’t know him but he’s the timekeeper at Raptor games and was brought in by the league to do Game 6.

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Last mail for today:

Q: In your June 17 mailbag you noted that there is a rating increase for playoff games between 11 and 12 PM.  In your opinion is this increase a result of viewers preferring to watch basketball in the middle of the night (perhaps due to a lack of programming competition) or is it because the most compelling part of the game, the end, OCCURS DURING THIS HOUR?  Furthermore, since there hasn't been a finals game that started at a reasonable hour in recent memory to compare with, how can the "11th hour ratings upswing" be seriously considered as justification for these late start times?  (I realize that the inclusion of question marks doesn't qualify the above opinions as questions per se, but perhaps you'd care to comment on my poorly-written theory nevertheless.)  As always, thanks for your time Doug!

Dave B, Toronto

A: What I think happens is this. Family has dinner and then all the after-dinner stuff like Little League or homework or boozing or arguing or whatever. Mom and Dad bundle the tykes off to bed – or the surly teens go talk on the computer to their friends – and they settle in for routine night of television.

Then, around 11 after clicking through the game a couple of times to see the score, they turn to it full-time. Hence, the ratings boost at that time.

Make sense?

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Okay, gotta run to the airport and get home so we can figure out the draft – and get to batting practice for the Little Leaguers who are somehow managing to win games without me!

Luckily, there won’t be anything like pesky games or flights to get in the way of some good old Raptor reporting and blogging over the next week.

Should be a hoot, see you at home.

If this is Tuesday, it must be ...

I swear I woke up, looked a clock that said 8:14 and immediately thought, “what’s that make it back home?” Too long on the road, too long from west to east.

But I got a sneaking suspicion we’re in Boston until Friday, which means I’ll be home for Little League batting practice (keep the hands and elbows up, throw your hands at the ball, kids) on Wednesday night.

On to the stuff, such that it is:

A little spy tells me there was special guest at Game 5 in L.A.

One Danilo Gallinari, who was conducting a workout under the auspices of his agents, for a couple of teams.

Am told Memphis was one of them – the Grizzlies have the fifth pick – but no work on whether the Raptors a representative there. I doubt it, since there’s no way Gallinari is there at No. 17.

The workout’s part of the final push to the NBA draft. Teams are starting to get even more serious, things are starting to shape up at the top of the draft and everyone wants to get one last look, or another look, at possible picks.

The Raptors only have the one session schedule at home on Thursday, but if I know Bryan and his merry band of talent evaluators, they’re out somewhere catching up with more possible picks.

They have to be, don’t they?

The only guys they’ve had in so far who could conceivably be drafted No. 17 were Douglas-Roberts, Rush and Lopez and that’s not nearly enough.

I know Thursday will provide a look at two or three more – Batum for sure, we don’t have a full list yet – but what we’ve got to figure out is who’s where seeing who.

I remember Year 1, walking into the SkyDome for the draft and being told the Raptors had worked out Stoudamire that afternoon – his second workout – that made us realize he was the pick.

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Best chant of the series, as least the three games I’ve seen?

LA fans screaming “wheel-chair, wheel-chair, wheel-chair” whenever Paul Pierce was on the foul line.

For Laker fans, who tend to be far more sedate that almost any group of fans in the game, that’s genius.

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Here’s one from the long-neglected mail (guess I should probably get at it this afternoon)

Q: Given the whole 'all refs are evil and fix playoff games' story that's sloshing around, I realized one simple fact:  refs NEVER give interviews. Ever. So I was wondering: Are NBA refs bound to not talk to the media at all?
Do you think refs answering for their calls after games is a good idea? Have you ever interviewed any of them? Are YOU bound to not print any of their quotes? And because of this are YOU indirectly involved in the KINGS/LAKERS conspiracy of 2002? Feel free to consult your lawyer before answering.
Also ... Why is no one discussing Seattle's Chris Wilcox for T.J. Ford?

Estaban D, Uxbridge

A: Refs can talk, actually, and have.
Here’s how it works:

If there’s a call in the game that is directly a rules interpretation, reporters can ask a team official to ask the crew chief if they’ll answer a question for a “pool reporter” (a beat grunt who will then provide the answer to the question to everyone else). The referees can say yes or no, although I know the league would like them to answer more often.

In fact, Steve Javie was asked to provide an explanation of the clock malfunction call in the Pistons-Orlando series this year but he declined.

So, I’m not part of that conspiracy. Although I remember flying out to Sacramento for Game 7 of that series and because of the Game 6 result I got to work a couple of extra days rather than relax in California.

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Okay, you probably don’t want to hear this and I’ll take your slings and arrows ‘cause it’s very cool.

Part of the gig at things like this is that the teams and league fed the hungry horde of writers and broadcasters before the game. (They sell us food in the regular season most places, at the final or all-star it’s comped).

Well, we show up at halftime of Game 5 looking for coffee or a soft drink (something to stay away ‘cause it’s so damn late) and what do they have in the dining area:

THREE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAINS

Yes, liquid chocolate alongside various Rice Krispie things, cookies, marshmallows and strawberries.

That, my friends, didn’t suck.

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Had more than a couple questions like this so I’ll use this one as representative of them all:

Q: Outstanding web log thing. Just wondering (at risk of this sounding like amateur hour) why was Game 5 of the Finals held in LA? I thought that usually the fifth game was held on the team with the best record's court. Thanks.

Zac T, Bracebridge

A: I think you and the other writers are far too pucks-oriented.

The NBA went to a 2-3-3 2-3-2 finals schedule (two at home for the team with the record, three at home for the other, two at home for the team with the best record) back in the ‘80s.

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Who wins tonight?
If Kevin Garnett shows up, the Celtics do.

I can’t imagine him having the same kind of bad game he did on Sunday, both offensively and with the foul trouble that then allowed Gasol and Odom to get off.

Of course, I’ve been wrong before (as I’m often reminded) so use that prediction for entertainment purposes only.

I'll be home soon

The dastardly time zones got me, on a couple hours sleep, am flying back East and won't be able to entertain you all here until this evening.

Some bonus mail for you

A little bonus for you all, since there’s been some quiet time around L.A. lately and the inbox was getting full.

More around and they’ll get answered later

Q: Just a comment. I wanted to thank you Doug for talking about the WNBA in your blog (Thursday) morning. It is great basketball and I know everyone thinks that male basketball is the best but I have seen some WNBA games when I lived in New York to say those games are just as entertaining as the male games.

Marcia K, Toronto

A: You’re quite welcome. I know the WNBA gets absolutely no ink back home (I’m not even we run standings) and I think that’s wrong. Standings, boxes, maybe roundups might serve a portion of our readership something they get nowhere else in Canada.

It is a good game, it’s a different game than many Canadian basketball fans are used to seeing but that doesn’t make it worse. It just makes it different.

Young women who play ball in the area need role models and I think WNBA players fill that roll.

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Q: I have major bone to pick, which is especially prevalent given last night's come-back. Of course I missed the best darn comeback in NBA finals history because the game started so stupidly late?
Bill Simmons made a great point the other day. There aren't any MLB fans under the age of 20 because the playoff games the last 10 years have started so late.  Why is Stern taking a page out of the playbook of the second worst commissioner in professional sports history?  With the extended time-outs during the playoffs for longer TV commercials (including the spooky one with Magic and LB), the second half starts well past most peoples' bedtimes.
Why not start the games at 8 or 8:15 and let them finish at a decent time?
A K, Richmond Hill

A: They don’t because the TV people will tell you ratings spike the later games go, usually at their highest between 11 p.m. and midnight. It bites, especially for guys like me on deadline (it’s always all about me, if you hadn’t noticed) and I’m pretty sure it’ll never change.

Funny thing is, I can sort of understand it. The kids who aren’t actually watching games are becoming fans in ways we can’t imagine, like on the internet, or youtube or somesuch.

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Q: Another list. In consultation with my fellow fanatics, Charles N., a regular contributor to your blog, and Mike K., a noted coach and aficionado, a list of the top 10 Jewish contributors to basketball:

1. Red Auerbach 2. David Stern 3. Dolph Schayes. 4. Eddie Gottlieb 5. Nat Holman 6. Red Holtzman 7. Maurice Podoloff 8. Nancy Lieberman 9. Mendy Rudolph 10. Abe Saperstein
Honorable Mentions:  the South Philadelphia Hebrew Academy (SPHAs), Art Heyman, Lennie Rosenbluth, David Blatt
Inspired by Red on Youtube.
Doug, your comments are appreciated.
Love the blog and your analysis.
Frank Bialystok, Toronto

A: Dude, or dudette because I’m pretty certain you’re not really Frank Bialystock, that’s the definitive list. A Mount Rushmore of Jewish contributors to the game and I cannot think of anyone who could replace anyone on there.

And I’m very impressed with the inclusion of Nancy Lieberman and Ape Saperstein.

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Q: I feel like you keep trying to defend the drafting of Bargnani instead of someone else, and you keep saying he is a young big man, so be patient. He is the same age as Darko Milicic! Is Darko not a bust? Both are skilled 7 footers. Darko is a better shot blocker and rebounder, Bargnani the better shooter, both show enough potential to drive a coach crazy, but I don't think either has the drive to be great. And Bargnani is close to the basket on defence (or supposed to be), and most rebounds are defensive, so I can't buy the constant defence (not by you) of him by many as a 3 point shooter so that is why he does not get rebounds. How does a 7 footer get fewer rebounds than TJ? So the question is, if you were the GM and could do the draft over again, would you really pick Bargnani over Roy, Aldridge or Gay? Or would you still pick the Italian kid with the "deer in the headlights" look on his face? I know they can't trade him for anything of value now, but can't you just say Colangelo made a mistake? Or are you not allowed to?

Marv V, Brampton

A: This was pretty much same old, same old and I was going to leave it be until that last sentence. Allowed to? I’m allowed to do anything I want. You think I have to get someone’s approval to form an opinion? Come on.

And if you’ve been reading here for the past, oh, I dunno, maybe the past year, you would know I’m simply not ready to label a 22-year-old 7-footer with jump shooting skills a bust. Sorry if that doesn’t match your opinion on the matter but I’ve been pretty consistent and you’re not going to change my mind. I would have made the same pick.

Maybe, at the end of the career, I’m wrong.

Maybe, at the end of the career, you’re wrong.

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Q: I have a question about you, and specifically with other reporters... outside of the ones here in Toronto, which reporters are you friends with? You always mention Dave D'Alessandro in NJ and you always talk about your glowing respect for Michael Wilbon.
Thanks Doug!

Vanlang N, Orleans

A: If you work in the same business (NBA beat gruntdom in my case) for more than a decade, you make lots of friends. There are people I read all the time and guys I have dinner with on nights off at things like the finals or the all-star game. I read the web guys at SI and ESPN, hang with my boy Phil of Philadelphia a lot; the wire service dudes are cool, this is generally a beat full of very good guys and gals.

A few views from elsewhere, and some of mine own

Took a break yesterday, figured most of you were doing the same thing, so now there’s a couple of days worth of stuff to catch up on from here and there.

Stuff like …

Sometimes you go to independent observers to get the information you need and when I saw a buddy from L’Equipe around practice, I knew I had to have a chat.

Here’s a take on Nicolas Batum from someone entirely disassociated with the Raptors, or him (and I paraphraise)

"Great athlete, long, good shooting range, needs to grow into his body because he’s still not strong enough. Good kid, very high basketball IQ, was a leader of a French team that won the European junior championship. He’ll be primarily a three in the NBA but could guard twos if he had to. Mature of his age but still some questions about his mental toughness on the court but all indications are he’ll get it.”

You’re welcome.

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Then I run into another colleague who wonders whether Sacramento’s a possible trading partner in a T.J. Ford deal.

When I asked what kind of guy the Kings might want to divest themselves of, the first name mentioned was John Salmons.

And seeing how he believes divine intervention kept him from signing with the Raptors when he had promised to two years ago, I think that’s a non-starter. Unless, of course, God had a change of mind.

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Line of the series, so far

Paul Pierce is on the podium and he’s asked a good question about similarities between himself before this season and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, good players on good teams who were always getting better before bursting on to this kind of stage.

Here’s how it went down:

Q: I want to ask you about a fellow All‑Star forward Carmelo Anthony. When you look at your career before this season, are there similarities with you then and Carmelo now?

A: "I've never gotten a DUI.”

The place breaks up

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There are all kinds of people floating T.J. for Shawn Marion:

Q: Doug, you said in Friday's mailbag that you "would be surprised" if Marion ended up a raptor.  Here is why I think you'd better get ready to be surprised and why I feel that TJ and Rasho for Marion might just happen:
1.  If Miami drafts Beasly (a significantly cheaper version of Marion) they may want to move the bigger contract.
2.  Trading Rasho FORCES Sam Mitchell to start Bargnani (something you would have to think BC wants).
3.  Marion is the rebounding and defensive addition sorely needed by the Raps.
4.  Marion is a name... and a name will keep the fans happy.
5.  The history between BC and Marion makes Marion a known commodity with consistent numbers (not a TJ waiting to happen).
I've gone through other versions of trade possibilities at SF (M.Miller, Turkoglu, Melo, Josh Smith, etc.) , but keep coming back to this one as it seems to fit both teams needs quite well.
Any chance you can expand on why you would be "surprised" if it happened?  I'm all ears.

Ian M, Pickering

A: I’d be surprised because I don’t think Toronto would “rent” Marion for a year and that’s what it would be because he’s going to want a new contract for five years and something north of $90 million. No way Toronto pays that.

Your rationalization is good, but it doesn’t take into consideration the financial implications.

Also, I’m not sure Marion creates his own shot, or shoots well enough, to thrive in an offence generally predicated on the high screen-and-roll.

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I’m sure you’ve all read, or are about to read, the Kobe Bryant story in this morning’s paper, right?

He was the hit of the session yesterday as everyone tried to draw him into talking about his mood, his teammates mood and how in the world the Lakers could possibly rebound from that spit up job of Thursday night.

"I borrowed Phil's peace pipe. We had a big Kumbaya meeting. No, everybody's fine.  Everybody is in the same mood that I am.  Everybody's ready to go. We're excited about the opportunity.”

And then, because some people have no sense of humour and these are truly too politically correct times, he probably recalled that there were critics of his (joking) comment that he was going to drink some wine, beer and about 20 shots to forget about the Game 4 collapse.

"I was joking about the peace pipe thing, too, seriously”

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A spy tells me that workout the Raptors held Friday for six guys you’ve never heard of and may never hear of again was far from, um, good. Even if they buy a second round pick, it won’t be used on anyone who was there.

But Thursday’s shaping up to be a huge day. Plans are to get Batum in for a look, maybe Roy Hibbert and Mareese SPeights, among others.

And that’ll probably be the last big one before draft day. In the week in between, it’s more likely they’ll go see kids rather than have them in.

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Once more into the mail

Q: Doug, I have never understood (well, I understand them, but think they are stupid for the most part) buy-outs of contracts. Eg. Alonzo Mourning: we know he wouldn't have played and I know it would look bad to other players, but I'd have paid him his full salary and made him live here instead of buying him out at $0.80-0.90 on the dollar! (Ridiculous! If he really doesn't want to be here, take $0.50 or $0.25 on the dollar you overpaid, whiny son of a ... )
So, rant over. My question is why wouldn't the Raptors wait with Garbajosa (to see if he can come back) before buying him out? I know things could get messy and become a distraction, but to save maybe $1mm by buying him out seems foolish seeing as $1mm in NBA dollars is like the change you get back from buying a Snickers bar with a $5! Why not see if he can come back and be the player he was before making a rash decision that won't make much of a difference to the team?

Bill LToronto

A: Timing. And a desire not to worry about things getting messy and a distraction have made this happen now. They obviously think now is the right time to have these discussions, probably because they want to have it resolved one way or the other before the draft and free agency so they have some certainty on the issue.

Better late than never, I guess

Okay, finally, got this done (although in my defence, it’s not yet 10 a.m. out here so it’s really not that late). Lots here and lots left over that I’ll get to over the course of the weekend as I try to not blatantly cheer for the Celtics so I can get home a couple of days earlier. I’d like nothing more than a compelling, thrilling seven-game series to cover but since this one looks like it’s over, why not do the honourable thing and end it Sunday instead of making us all traipse back to Boston for the formality of getting the series over. Anyway, on to the good stuff:

Q: Hey, Doug, tell us again about the Garbo buyout and the financial implications. Thanks. Oh, and I love the blog, am a regular reader and think you’re a peach of guy.

Luv, everyone, everywhere

A: Ah, thanks, you flatter me. Anyway, the money thing with Garbo. Here’s the dope on buyouts. The savings come in the form of a lower “cap number” on the player being bought out. Not tax vs. cap or money in the coffers but cap technicalities.
Here’s how it was explained to me by Someone Who Knows. Let’s say Player A is owed $10 million over two years on a contract that’s bought out. Let’s say the contract is for $5 million each year and the buyout is for $8 million. Instead of being on the books for $5 million in each of the two years, the player goes on the books at $4 million each year. It just lessens the cap number for that player for the length of his contract. In the Garbo case, if his deal is for $4.25 million next year and they buy him out for $3.5 million (and I have no idea if that’s even in the ball park), that’s what he’ll be on the books for. It’s not nearly enough to get Toronto under the cap or change what they can spend on free agents but it does give them a bit more wiggle room as they approach the tax level.

Q: I just read about BC being added to the Board of Directors for Canada Basketball. I have to say, I like what BC has been doing since he got here; not only with the Raptors, but trying help develop basketball within Canada. It seems like doing things such as trying to get a D-League team here, or joining Canada Basketball may be going above and beyond what is expected of him. My question is, are these normal things for a GM/President to be doing within his team's community (or country in this example)?

Amanda ., Barrie

A: I think it’s rather unique to Canada, given the franchise’s place in the community and the country. I think it’s an excellent move for Canada Basketball, which is really, really trying to do the right things now, and an excellent move by Colangelo. Glen Grunwald did the same thing and it’s nice to see the leaders of the country’s only franchise take an honest interest in helping the game thrive. Other general managers and presidents do important work in their communities, it’s only here you see a guy like Bryan trying to help the most he can the sport across the country.

Q: Doug what do you do if you are the Wizards GM with Agent Nothing (I mean Zero)? Of course they have to sign him but with his rash of injuries I think he is a HUGE gamble and they might be better off by trying to sign and trade him to someone else who is willing to gamble.

Michael K., London

A: I don’t think they have to sign him at all. I think they will but I’m sure they’ll look long and hard at the financial terms. If I was the Wizards, I’d re-sign Jamison first and then explore sign-and-trade possibilities with Arenas.

Q: Hi Doug, I have a list question for you. I have seen a lot of historic footage of games with the Celtics lately and knowing that you were a childhood fan, I was wondering if you could compile an all-time  starting five of the Celtics (any player who has played for the Celtics past and present are eligible)? Can you also tell us why?

Louis F., Woodstock

A: Wow, that’s a tough one. Let’s go with: Bob Cousy (no one ran the fast-break better). Sam Jones (you don’t remember him, but man could he play). Larry Bird (duh!) Kevin McHale (see Bird, Larry) Bill Russell (only the greatest “winner” in the history of professional sports) And, of course, Havlicek comes off the bench.

Q: I was wondering why Rudy Tomjanovich's name never comes up in rumours for all the various coaching vacancies. Is it his choice not to coach any more? Is it because of his health problems? I think he's one of the best coaches in NBA history.

Rob W., Scarborough

A: I talked to some friends of Rudy’s around the finals and he’s doing well but has no desire whatsoever to get back into coaching right now. But you’re right, he was one of the all-time greats.