Wasn't that some kind of day

Is he done?

Not by a longshot.

Even as we were digesting Jermaine O’Neal, there was a flurry of activity in the Raptor offices until late, late last night and there’s every chance Bryan Colangelo’s got a few things up his sleeve.

Not a lot of downtime time today, it seems.

Word was he’s working on getting another pick – maybe two – in tonight’s draft to find people to groom for the future.

There are no details, of course, but it’s obvious around the league (see New Orleans, Denver) that picks are for sale and available.

What they’d like to do, I surmise (and surmise is all we’re going to get until tonight, I fear) is find a way to draft a young big man, maybe stash him in Europe for a year or two and hope he’s ready when O’Neal’s contract expires.

Not sure what he’s got to offer player-wise (I don’t imagine they’re clamouring for the other of Maceo Baston and Joey Graham) but I could see Hump being in discussions and maybe there’s another GM out there sniffing, too.

-

Okay, the deal. (And, again, I preface all of this by saying it’s not done until it’s done, even if I cannot fathom a way it falls apart).

As you all know, I’m quite okay with this transaction.

Two years of Jermaine O’Neal is far, far better than a year of Rasho and a year of uncertainty, I don’t think there’s a doubt about that.

If he’s 100 per cent, this will be the best front court since 2001; if he plays 40 games a year over the next two years, he’ll still give ‘em something they haven’t had in years.

And I really, really, really like the $20 million or so they’ll have to spend in 2010.

Just check back a couple of days here to see the reasoning for liking the deal.

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The one thing Bryan talked about yesterday that got lost was infatuation in Europe with AP.

Here’s what the GM had to say:

"I think there’s some truth to the notion there was some interest on Europe’s part, or a couple of foreign team’s part, to try to lure a player like an Anthony, who obviously had a huge impact in Europe and would be considered a star returning.

"There may have even been some interest on his part … because the dollars that may have been available may have been ridiculous or silly. I think the notion was expressed back to us that he would really like to stay in the NBA and that would be his first choice.

...

"We have the player under contract, he’s a great, great young man and a very good player for us. He a very good player for and our starting two guard. It’s hard for us to find a scenario where that would be acceptable at this point to allow something like that to happen."

...

"We’ll continue to monitor what interest there might be but our intention is to have Anthony play for us this year.”

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A bit of old mail, and I haven’t even looked this morning to see how full the mailbag is today

Q: You said in (last week's) mailbag that you don't see a Canadian NBAer in the next five years. Are you including Bol Kong in this? Do you just not see him in the NBA anytime soon or is it that his visa issues are getting that out of hand? Any updates on his story?

Jake K, Toronto

A: The kid’s a Vancouver teenage high-schooler, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. A very interesting story, has visa problems as a Sudanese trying to get into the United States, and he may very well turn into the next great Canadian but with the visa situation and his age, you’re looking very, very, very long into the future.

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Oh yeah, we walked out to the bowl after Bryan’s thing yesterday to see this new scoreboard.

It’s gonna be freaking HUGE.

The shell’s there, looks like it’s got eight screens for video that are monstrous and about eight more for ads and stats and scores and stuff.

Appears quite impressive.

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Okay, off to see what they’ve got in store for us today. Oh, and to post about a zillion comments. I tell ya, you people are great. Can’t believe the interweb didn’t break under the weight of everything sent this way.

Comments

[Mingo-Jones]

Who do you think the player yet to be named will be and who would you try to include (reasons). The main players involved is BIG news but give us fans some more tidbits so we can visualize better what the bench will look like next season.

Blogger's note: It's Baston, as I'm reading.

[nigel]

i think the J-O trade will work IF BC keeps working. Now the Raptors need to find a way to get one of the mid-round to late round picks in the draft, and either get a no-fear swingman there or via free agency.

but please, BC...dont stop!!!

[Andrew Gregg]

I agree with you Doug--this is a good move. At the end of the season, after Ford publicly complained about not starting, he looked like an injury prone dead weight. Back then I thought the Raps would be lucky to trade him for a bag of balls. Now we get a six-time all star. There are issues about attitude and injuries, but the Raps already had those with Ford. Now there is a large man in the middle with something to prove. O'Neal will be the best beefy front court player we've had since Antonio Davis (who also came from the Pacers). And the potential cap space in '10 gives Coangelo a fall-back if O'Neal doesn't work out. But he will.

AG

[Simon]

Hey Doug:

Not sure about the trade, would have preferred. A Webster Frye deal, because of the youth. However, your point about money coming off the cap in two years is a bonus. In addition, how can anyone be washed up at 29/30. I am sure we can squeak out 2 year from the guy!

[Dan]

Hey Doug, ESPN is reporting the the Raptors will recieve the 41st pick and also Baston. Baston would have been hard to move and maybe with 41st pick they can still find a player for the future. Or a back up for Calderon.

[voislav]

O'Neill deal is probably the best deal Raptors could get out there. I see Dave Feschuk is not happy about it, I think word desperate was mentioned. People forget that for all the Raptors struggles and rebuilding they made playoffs two seasons in the row. That first season under BC really raised expectations to unrealistic levels, his Phoenix team took years to build and that included shipping out some significant pieces (Joe Johnson comes to mind). So if this is failure it makes me wonder what would be considered success.

[Andy]

Hey Doug,
Can you see O'Neal having a change in attitude given this change of scenery? By this, I mean, is he willing to give up touches on offence for the betterment of the team? He's turning 30 with no rings on his hands. I think all of Toronto would like to see a change in him a la Kobe/Garnett. Will he still be, as Mr. Feschuk mentioned "Jer-mine" in Toronto?

Blogger's note: I wasn't around him enough to know what his "old" attitude was, and I haven't been around him enough to know what a "new" attitude would be, either. But sometimes players do change with a change of scenery

[RS]

Hey Doug,

Any truth to the rumour that the final pieces to the JO-TJ deal are Baston to Indiana and the 41st pick in this year's draft to Toronto?

Blogger's note: That's what I'm reading but haven't spoken to anyone around the Raptors who can confirm it. Makes entire sense, though

[Nick]

Like it for many reasons: Here are a few
1) Shows that Colangelo is not afraid to do something. Anything. As long as it has the potential to make us better. I bet CB4 loves having a GM that is willing to do that
2) Free money in 2010 is HUGE! Lots to shop with.
3) CB4 is a free agent in 2010 (I believe) as well as many quality others which means if it doesn't work, or even if it does, we can go get someone to help him out as well as sign him
4) Something to talk about over the summer

[David]

I know you like this deal. I read also B.C. was in talks with Detroit with a T.J. for Rip deal on the table. Any truth to this? And which trade then do you like better?

Blogger's note: I don't know that there was any truth to that.

[Peter Z]

Hey Doug, any idea on who the "player to be named later" could be? how about a list of possibilities?

Blogger's note: As I'm sure you've read, it appears to be Baston.

[Duncan]

Doug, congratulations on your coverage of this deal, I believe that you were the local writer who broke the story originally, and I have seen numerous links to this fine blog all over the interweb. So, hopefully the powers-to-be read these comments, 'cause I think that you are doing a bang-up job keeping local BBall fans connected.

[Rick King]

Doug, 1) now that we have 2 all stars eating up all the money, what's left to be done? We have a depleted bench now, no money, and nothing to really offer another team in a trade. Are we done as far as trades go or can another big trade occur?

2) Is B.C. trying to copy the Celtics with 3 all stars and a bunch of fillers? If so, is he going after the fillers now if he considers Calderon the 3rd All Star? Seems to me like we're missing a pure SG scorer on this team.

Thanks!

[doug]

this is a huge deal - the raps' front court is going to be massive - how do you defend both bosh and o'neal? this will be a nightmare for opposition coaches and defenses!

my question is - how much money will the raps have to spend on the remaining 7 roster spots? assuming the returnees are calderon, ap, bosh, bargs, moon, o'neal, kapono and the hump. and where are they going to get these bodies?

Blogger's note: Whey they re-sign Jose they'll have nine guys under contract, the likelihood is that Ukic will be here, they'll have to make a decision on Delfino and that leaves a few spots to fill at the end of the bench. And they'll have a few million (depending on Jose's number) to spend.

[Marc in Burlington]

Doug,

A couple of questions for you, when you have a minute.

This deal gets the Raptors in a perfect cap space place that many teams are also trying to get to for that huge free agent bonanza year, won't it? And the twenty million the Raptors will have to spend in 2010 is cap space that won't be needed for Bosh as he'll be offered a maximum deal under the "Larry Bird" rule right?

Thanks for all the great work this year, and this week in particular. Congratulations on breaking this story at the beginning of the week.

Cheers dude

Blogger's note: Right on all counts.
And thanks

[Dan]

The Raptors still have the Mid level exception. They could always sign and trade Delfino or Brezic. They have the draft rights to Roko and the guy from last year. They still have Humphries and Graham and future picks to trade with. They are not short on options. All they need is to find one solid wing player and the rest of the team is just filler. They had depth last year and it worked against them because there was never a solid rotation.

Blogger's note: I'm sure they will renounce the rights to Brezec and he'll be gone

[Alex]

Lookin' good, Ford's no loss at all and Rasho, as great as he is, is not / was not being used as a starter.

HOWEVER, inside presence wasn't the team's most glaring problem, perimeter defense was and still is. Here's hoping BC can pull another rabbit out of his hat.

[Alex]

Oh yea, and a big benefactor of this move is Andrea. With the pressure off and a true-blue post player to watch everyday, I can see this being a big year for Andrea in terms of personal development.

[dean]

So if this deal cannot go through until July 9th, does that make the 41st pick unavailable in a trade scenario tonight?

Essentially, Bird will pick at 41 for the Raps as it stands now. So, is it a tradeable or untradeable asset at the moment?

Thanks Doug

Blogger's note: Not a tradeable asset for Toronto until the Ford deal is finalized and official

[Dallas]

Hi Doug,

what's your assemtn on how this affect andrea, and how the last year affect the brass's opionion of him. also if that opinion, has gone south, in your opinion, was it more due to his lack of production, or attitude?

Tanks and great stuff the last couple weeks. You're really proving to be the class of the Toronto Beat writers with the way you keep the material coming.

Blogger's note: I think the brass was utterly disappointed with Bargnani's play last year. I also think they expect him to improve now that he's going to be in a backup role from the start of the season.

[Louis L.]

I have never been a huge fan of JO - having said that, I think this trade makes a lot of sense for the Raptors. A healthy JO for 50-60 games gives us one of the best front courts in the East. It shores up our interior defense and should really help our rebounding. The thing I like the most is the cap flexibility for 2010. Of course there are some draw backs and there is a bit of risk here but no risk no gain.

[Beninato]

Doug, apparently the new scoreboard is made by the company who did Chicagos new one. The thing has four MASSIVE high definition screens and two large ribbon screens at the top and bottom. You can see the picture here

http://www.onfrozenblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/united_center.jpg

[Calvin]

Doug,

Is it entirely possible that they could flip O'Neal to another team for say a slashing/scoring SF and pick up a big that plays D and rebounds?

CL

Blogger's note: No, not going to happen

[Kevin]

I have to admit, last night I wasn't too thrilled with the trade. Somehow getting rid of a player that wouldn't be happy in his situation here next year (TJ) and a new young project player (draft pick) and a 7' security blanket (Rasho) for a 6 time all star didn't seem like a good deal to me.

Fortunately I've calmed down a bit and realized that I was just really hoping that we'd be drafting someone this year, it's been a while since I've seen the Raps on the clock. I'm also concerned about O'Neal's health and attitude but I suspect that will change once he's out of Indiana....he hasn't seemed too happy there for a while. I hope he enjoys playing in Toronto and I hope Bargnani can get his game back while coming off the bench.

[Uncle Zeke]

Couple things I see from this move:

1)BC realizing that as it stood this team was most likely out of the playoffs next year.

2)BC has given up on the Bargnani project. I predict Bargnani will be back playing in Europe in 2 years.

3)BC is desparate to win now because if they don't then there is a good chance that Bosh is gone as multiple teams are freeing up money to make a run at LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh.

4)BC's big intial acquisitions upon becoming GM of the Raptors were Ford, Garbo, Bargnani and Parker. 2 are gone, his golden child is now relegated to the bench and Parker might be out the door too. Kapono and Delfino are also now looking like mistakes. If J'Oneal doesn't pan out then BC's term in TO should be seen as a failure. Sure he's got the team into the playoffs but he hasn't built a solid, sustainable core that can grow into a winner. If J'Oneal bombs out then BC might be following him out the door.