Some pre-Canada Day Canada stuff

It being close to Canada Day, let’s sprinkle in some Canada stuff today.

Not too many people over here have ever seen Nathan Jawai in person, let alone seen him play basketball.

So we turn to someone who’s actually been on the same court as the Aussie Shaq to offer this assessment:

"He’s a beast, man. He’s a monster.”

That comes for Canadian national team veteran David Thomas, who’s played about a decade Down Under and is uniquely familiar with Toronto’s second-round draft pick.

"He’s dunking everything in the paint in our league.”

I’m sure we’ll all learn a lot more about young Jawai when training camp opens (we need good stories to fill oft-boring days) so here’s one angle we’ll have to pursue, courtesy Thomas.

"The story was, they found him off the coast of Australia playing basketball barefoot … that’s what we had heard in Australia… He comes from an area that’s not well off.

"Great kid, humble, good head on his shoulders.”

Really, where else can you get information like that except here?

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Now, while all of you are off barbecuing and watching fireworks and doing all the fun Canada Day stuff that everyone likes to do, the NBA will be buzzing.

Tomorrow’s Free Agent Negotiating Day, as we all know, the start of the interminable week of rumour and speculation before anyone can sign anything.

Thankfully, it’s going to be uber-boring around these parts.

No money, too many roster spots to fill, nothing much to do except sign the players they have to sign. It’s shaping up to be a nice quiet week of watching Canada play and relaxing.

Here’s the priority list:

Re-sign Jose

Sign Ukic

Listen to sign-and-trade offers for Delfino, turn them all down.

Get ready for summer league.

As I’ve mentioned about a billion times, there isn’t the money – nor the desire -- to do anything big. Or, really, anything at all. They like the nine- or 10-man rotation they’ve created with the Ford trade and they don’t want to cloud the issue.

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TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO

2005 draft: what's your favourite memory?

Quickly to some mail:

Q: Can you dedicate some time in your blog to discussing Roko? There seems to be a lot of hype around him and I was wondering if you could fill us in on what he is all about.

Bill K, Toronto

A: Sure, why not, this is information mostly obtained from people who’ve seen him since the last time I laid eyes on him was last year in the pre-season game in Rome.

He’s 6-5, a point guard who needs to work on his shot. I’m told he’s a bit of a gym rat, loves to compete and just play and has pretty good court vision when he’s running a team. He’s never really taken the Euroleague by storm but he’s been okay and his Italian league team made it to the final this year.

Seems like a good kid and there are those in the organization who think he, at 24 years old, is at about the same place, maybe a wee bit ahead, that Jose was when he came over.

He’s not going to take the NBA by storm but he could certainly develop into an 14- to 16-minute-a-night backup.

He handles the ball well but there have been concerns that he carries it a bit too much and for the NBA he’s going to have to work on that aspect of his game.

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Off to the Canada-Lebonon Canada-Lebanon game tonight (nothing stirs the sporting fires better than that intense international rivalry) and really don’t know what to expect from the local lads.

But one thing I do know is that these guys think they can do something spectacular – like qualify for Beijing and there’s a lot to be said for confidence.

Of course, confidence needs to be backed up by talent but glancing up and down the roster, this is a very athletic team with a good mix of young and old.

I still think it’ll be a major upset for them to make it to the Olympics but stranger things have happened.

I remember in 1999, the team went down to Puerto Rico, beat Puerto Rico in the final game for the final Olympic spot when few had given them any chance.

Can that happen again? I don’t know for sure and I suspect not. But it’ll be fun to watch. From afar.

Speaking of fun to watch, go watch them. Tickets are cheap, there are lots available at McMaster tonight and tomorrow and at the Ricoh Centre on Friday and Saturday and they could use the support.

After all, it’s not every year we get to see the best basketball players Canada has around these parts.

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Let’s do this one last time, okay?

Q: If you are BC (besides the obvious differences in fashion and paycheck), would you have done the Gerald Wallace deal for TJ Ford without demanding a second round pick and thus keeping the 17th pick or the Jermaine O'Neal deal?

Nick O, North York

A: No, I would have done exactly the deal that they did.

And here’s why, again:

There were two glaring needs after last season: Toughness and rebounding and athleticism on the wing.

I think O’Neal addresses the former better than Wallace would have addressed the latter.

This trade defines the role of Bargnani, which may give him some confidence and a comfort zone. There is no question now about who starts at centre and power forward and who comes off the bench; there were questions last year about whether Rasho should start or Bargnani and what role each would play. Clearing that up was as important a factor as any.

And the 17^th pick was not going to contribute for a couple of years, at best.

There are a couple of other reasons I like the trade:
You’ve got to something bold sometime and this was bold. If it fails, it fails, but I’d rather have a franchise fail trying something than fail sitting on its collective butt.

Believe it or not, there are members of the coaching staff here who aren’t really in love with Wallace’s game.

Comments

[Uncle Zeke]

"There were two glaring needs after last season: Toughness and rebounding and athleticism on the wing.

I think O’Neal addresses the former better than Wallace would have addressed the latter."

I assume you haven't seen O'Neal play much (maybe because he hasn't played much lately!?), because Wallace clearly provides more "toughness" than O'Neal. The only thing O'Neal has been tough with lately are Pistons fans...

[JBo]

Is Lebonon near Lebanon?

Blogger's note: Right next door, smartypants (I'm joking)

[Zack]

I came back fro mliving in Australia last year and I got to see Nathan Jawai play on t.v. and once in person...I was very happy to see the Raps land him in the draft. He is a BEAST!...he has a Bg Baby Davis body type, but is more agile and abuses the rim when he is in the paint. He eats up rebounds and not too many people in the NBL could stop him. .Some knocks on him are that he is foul prone...he took too many dumb ones and seemed lost sometimes on offence....

[jason]

hey uncle zeke re: Jermaine O'Neal and the fight at the Palace....seriously...let it go man. We all know what happened and O'Neal was punished for it, you and anyone else who keeps talking about it make out as if Jermaine regulary jumps into the stands at attacks fans, you gotta move on at some stage.

[Andy C]

your still getting wallace inquries? TJ is one knockdown away from retirement. if JO's knees dont hold up he'll also retire and wallace? dude has had concussions before. one wrong knock on the head and he'll also be sitting on the sidelines. pick you posion, i'd rather have JO because if a player blows by one of our wings (and it will happen) at least we have a decent front court to try and cover up.

[Mikey]

I like the kid's game, but Gerald Wallace does have a tendency to disapear during big games and while he has put up some good numbers over the past two seasons, he's done it on a pretty bad team. Plus, theoretically speaking, Jermaine O'Neal is due for a big, injury free season right?

[Serge Papineau]

Doug,

I was curious to know whether you had any insight to Bargnani's reaction to the JO trade. Will we have to wait until July 9th for the trade to be official before the players are allowed to speak about it? If my memory serves correctly, Bosh and JO have already commented in the media.

Thanks

Blogger's note: No word from Bargnani but, if history is anything to go by, any quotes wouldn't have been earth-shattering.

[Nick]

Any idea what happened to Denham Brown?

Blogger's note: Nope, and neither does anyone involved with Canada Basketball

[Justin]

Ok, we've heard your take on the Jermaine O'neal trade like what, 5 times already? How about some comments on the Bosh to Miami in 2010 talks, or maybe some thoughts on who the Raps can find to fill the 3rd PG position. Lastly, Jawai will NOT be "dunking everything in the paint" in the NBA unless they have equivalent players to the Howard's and Duncan's of the world playing in Australia.

[Jeremy]

Hi Doug, great job on the O'Neal story. I found it humourous how ESPN announced the deal dead after you scooped them only to see it confirmed the next day. A couple of questions. If the Bucks really want to get rid of CharlieV, any chance the crowd favourite comes back to TO? More existentially, can you describe the challenges of surviving as a beat reporter by balancing the need to provide objective reporting with the need to keep the sources happy and the information flowing? Thanks.

Blogger's note: There is no chance in the world of Charlie coming back, none. Zip. Nada

[Marc]

Hey Doug,
I'm wondering what was all the talk by Colangelo at the end of season talking about adressing several needs; not just the interior rebounding and toughness but also the glaring weaknesses at the wing position. Now, do your sources indicate that Colangelo is pretty much done for the offseason aside from re-signing Jose & picking up a few bodies? Is there still a chance another trade/sign & trade gets done this month for a much needed DEFENSIVE wing?
Thanks in advance.

[Shawn]

Doug...why is it that these games are getting absolutely no pub on the major "sport" shows in Canada (Sportscentre, Sportsnet Connected) -- I say Sport because really, it's Hockey for 45 minutes and 15 minutes of filler highlights -- shouldn't Bskball Canada approach these networks to try and get as much exposure for the team as possible (ie. by doing interviews/spotlights on the players for the team)? You know if this was the WJH championships, we'd know everything about those players, their eating habits, what they do in their spare time, etc. It's sad that basketball doesn't get promoted more up here.

Secondly, any idea how many people they're expecting for the games in Hamilton and Toronto? Are they going to be on TV? (I doubt it, but one can hope)...

Blogger's note: No clue on a crowd size but these games will be mostly attended by walkup audiences, I bet. And no, no TV

[Kevin D]

Why is there no chance that Charlie V can be brought back?

Blogger's note: They traded him away for various reasons having to do with work ethic, what his upside was and how limited it might be; they don't have the inclination to revisit those situations. It's time to move on.

[nemesio]

Hi Doug: From what I understand Ukic is NBA-ready and should be ready for backup role, I also understand that Ukic being a big guard at 6-5 can play the 1 or the 2; The plan now is to get a really cheap PG to keep him as a reserve? That would still not leave enough money to re-sing Delfino or go after Pietrus? how about Hermann, I know he is restricted but it would not hurt to make him an offer. He is not expensive. and finally how about R.Mason, not very expensive either, he can play the 2 as well. He could backup Parker and be the 3rd PG.

[Zack]

Last I heard Denham Brown signed with Tisettanta Cantu in the Serie A Italian league...
Doug do you know if that is true?

[Poppa Vlazo]

BC should bring back Pape Sow and Uros Slokar. Kidding!!!

[doug]

with all the wholes in the raptors roster is it time they sign a few young canadian guys? carl english wouldn't be a terrible depth guy. perhaps juan mendez?

[Kyle D.]

Could Tsn or sportsnet maybe just announce that canada has a basketball team? Would a half hour special instead of fishing by the lake hurt? Ah prays and wait for the day when Espn is available instead of hockey loving sports network when the season has been done for weeks now

[Jesse]

I know there will be no major splash from the Raptors in free-agency, but don't you think Josh Childress would be a fantastic mid-level exception player and a great fit for the team. He would create a bit of a glut in the guard rotation, I guess, but would be a great long term answer at the 2 guard spot as a compliment to Jose and Kapono in the backcourt after Parker's deal expires next year.

[lukasz skrzeczkowski]

Is it me or does bosh look huge in this picture? It looks like lebron, kobe, howard and kidd are all looking astonished at how big BOsh`s arms and chest are. Do you think he may be trying to get bigger for the season
http://www.nba.com/gallery/usa_nyc/20080630_1.html

[Jason]

Any chance of Uros coming back to fill out a roster spot?

Blogger's note: Nope

[DH]

Hey Doug,

While O'Neal may bring length and rebounding. He's more finese than power. Besides the Raptors gave up too much to get him. Regardless of what people think you need to build through the draft. Why is it San Antonio have been competitive for so long? Their 3 best players were drafted and groomed, sure the talent helps. But we haven't had a draft pick pan out since Charlie V. As of now Bargnani is a marginal NBA player.

As for Ukic, Raptors are better off picking up someone over here. Finally what offers for Delfino? Colangelo has already shown he's got little use for 2nd round picks. Honestly, what offers are out there for a guy who thinks he's better than he is. He's a 10th/11th man on an NBA roster with an 8 man rotation. Detroit traded him for 2 second round picks to Toronto. They used that to pick up Rodney Stockey. Looks like JD came out ahead.

[Jason H]

Doug,
I was going to take in a Canadian Nationals game until I saw the price of the ducats. I'm 30-40 mins away and by the time I buy to 2 tickets and pay for gas,parking and a couple pints I'd be into a couple hundred bucks. Might not seem like much to you fatcats in T-dot but its alot to us regular folks.
Why do the people running this event turn this into a corporate only event especially in a working class city? It just an exibition anyways so I don't see the point of making the pricing out of reach for us working folk.

[zaddups]

As per a couple commentors(Marc and Doug) above with regards to the absolute abysmal TV/Radio/Media coverage of basketball in this country! It's a disgrace...but things will change...trust me on that!

[Dave]

Let's face it. A lot of the Raptors future success hinges upon the development of Bargnani. Should Raptor fans still have hope in him, that maybe one day he'll pan out to be a Mehmet Okur type? Based on what you have seen what does he need to do to become an impact player in the NBA and what are your expectations?

Blogger's note: He has to improve in every single facet of the game, physically and mentally. My expectations? That he'll be a good player for a long time