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.

-

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

[Rolemodel]

I think this is a great deal. Yes, our bench is not nearly as good as it was "supposed" to be. Depth was supposed to be the Raptors' strength last year, and when push came to shove, they just didn't perform. IMHO, I rather have 3 all-stars (CB4, JO, JC), a few very good role players (JKap, Parker, Moon, Bargs) and a weak end-of-the bench, then a gluttony of depth from 1-12.
Doug, what would you rather have?

Blogger's note: I like this deal for a lot of reasons. And I've said since early last season there wasn't enough separation in the rotation.

[Paul]

Raptors fans need to take a step back and look at where we were three years ago. Feschuk can be mad about Bargnani but that has nothing to do with this deal. What BC did was turn Bonner to Nestovic and Villanueva to ford and then turned those two players to Oneal. Would the pacers have taken Bonner, Villanueva and a 17th for Oneal? We're getting better, this is progress.

[ET]

Doug,
Any idea how J.O’Neil feels about this trade? Is he going to be happy to play in Toronto? Any news on that?

Blogger's note: I talked to a guy this morning who talked to O'Neal last night and he's quite fine with the deal and anxious to re-establish himself in the league

[ustation]

Any truth to this?

A source familiar with the situation said Wednesday night that the Heat already has received overtures from the Raptors, Pacers, Clippers and several other teams regarding Shawn Marion, who is seeking the type of lucrative extension Heat President Pat Riley appears reluctant to consider. - South Florida Sentinel

Blogger's note: I'm sure when it became clear Marion was not going to opt out, Bryan called Riley as a matter of course

[Brian]

Doug,

Seeing as this deal won't officially be completed until after the draft, does that mean the Raptors have next year's first rounder to offer in a trade? Do you think Colangelo is done dealing, or could Parker/Kapono/Bargnani/Future 1st still be shopped?

Blogger's note: A future pick can be included but I have no idea if it's in play or even being considered

[Andrew]

Best front court since 2001? You mean Oak/Davis? I'd take Bosh and O'neal any day over Oak and Davis....I'm just excited for teams to try and get in our paint now and get body checked by big bad Jermaine lol *flashbacks of brawl in the Palace*

[Eric]

I still don't know what the Raps have to offer to get into the draft. My confidence in Colangelo is a little weak at the moment, I think he overpaid a bit for an injury-prone star, so maybe he can restore it tonight with some unexpected move. From my vantage point, the only real tradeable assets left are Bargnani, Kapono, Parker, Moon and Humphries. Aside from Kapono and Bargnani, I don't know which of them could fetch a first-rounder this year... unless we're talking about a #25-30 pick (see New Orleans), which wouldn't really count.

Doug, how soon before the team's allowed to talk about the trade? Do we have to wait until July 9 to get some official statements?

Blogger's note: Yep, you gotta wait that long. And so do we

[avi]

As the team stands right now they can probably win 45 games and get the 4th or 5th seed in the playoffs. If BC is able to get another star to play the 2 or 3 then this team will be one of the elite teams in the league. What are the chances they can make another big acquisition through trade or free agency? (sign and trade included). I don't think drafting a rookie or using the mid level on a player is going to put them over the top. I hop BC has another big acquisition in mind.

[pchu]

Doug,

The team is still woefully thin on the wing. Parker is probably gone after this year. Delfino might not be back. You probably need part of your MLE to sign a backup PG. Where are you going to get a SG who can create shots?

[Jimmie]

Great trade for 2 main reasons:

1. Cap space in 2010. Can't be overstated -- that summer will be the biggest free agent frenzy ever. With so many top-quality players coming available, there will be some reasonable deals to be had. We'll have a ton of cash to throw at Bosh (renewal) and another 1-2 big stars.

2. Brings a "win now" mentality to the team. Having a Bosh/O'Neal frontcourt and Calderon manning the point for the next two years, it's clear that BC has made it a priority to make waves in the post-season immediately. No more "building for the future".

The beauty is that they're taking a run at the conference title RIGHT NOW, with the backup plan that if O'Neal doesn't work out, they can refuel in 2010 and keep it going.

Compared to the deals suggested by fans (Maggette, RJ, etc.) this is the best we could have done in exchange for TJ+17. I don't know what else was on the table, but this deal works in so many ways.

[Jeremy]

Jermaine O'neal for Charlie V and Bonner, plus 22 million cap space in 2010. I think we could have done worse. I like it.

[Jason Michaels]

How anyone can compare this team in any way, shape or form to Boston because of this average deal beats me. Raps fans are (mostly) a delusional bunch ...

[Stephen]

Zeke: Darko and Kwame Brown, two players who have shown far less than Bargnani ever has, are still in the NBA years after they were proclaimed busts. Even if the Raptors aren't willing to re-sign Bargnani, there's plenty of teams out there who'd always be willing to take a chance on a big guy with inside-outside potential. Darko's earning $7 million per year, for crying out loud.

The deal works for me, simply because it's essentially only committing them to one year of O'Neal. If he doesn't work out, just do the same thing next year and trade him for a big-salary player with two years left on their contract. A 2010 expiring contract is basically the biggest asset in the NBA right now, and the Knicks, in particular, are going to be desperate enough for that type of space (for the inevitable fight with the Nets over LeBrown and Wade) that they'll be willing to mortgage their team for one.

[Chad Nunn]

I am unsure on this deal.
It reeks of MLSE. (see: giving up a lot for a big name over-priced, one time all-star) His skill set and his numbers are very close to Bosh. I remember when Bosh was blossoming there were a lot of comparisons to J.O'N.
I thought the reason we traded Charlie V. for T..J was because we were clearing space for Bosh. (see: "too many cooks in the kitchen")
We need "toughness, defense, and rebounding" at the centre position and I don't think that J.O'N is the guy. We will still have no one under the basket when Jamario or Bargnani clanks one off the rim.

[Mike]

Hey Doug:

Any idea who'll be wearing #7 next season? Will Il Mago give it up to O'Neal?

Blogger's note: A fine question. Can't answer it at the moment but will endeavour to find out soon

[edgar]

If they did recieve the Pacer's 41st pick there are still alot of solid choices - especially long term and now that the bench will be considerably less competitive they need cheap bodies anyway... hell some might even go undrafted (even better!)

Omer Asik
Joey Dorsey
Gary Forbes
Bill Walker
Sasha Kaun
Malik Hairston
Bryce Taylor
Nikola Pekovic

if the 41st pick is in there i hope they go after a center or another prototype swing (not backup PG's and PF - very common and cheap), Keep Delphino and go after Walter Hermann (Doug's Fav) if they can get him for around 3 Million/year...

[Stephen]

Oh, and one other thing: you don't necessarily have to give up players to get first-round picks in the NBA. Phoenix, in particular, has a history of doing so to avoid the luxury tax, and there's quite a few teams out there who appear to be in similar positions as the Suns were.

And before someone says "oh, those picks aren't going to do anything"... one of those picks (#21 in 2006) just played the majority of the minutes at the point for the NBA champions.

[archie gillespie]

Hey Doug, great reporting thanks. If the Raps do indeed get #41 pick I noticed on Chad Ford's mock drafts first and second round that DeMarcus Nelson and Chase Buddinger aren't in either. Did you happen to see the two workout in TO when they were there and what did you (or Raps) think?

Blogger's note: I can't recall if I saw Nelson or not, to tell you the truth; and Budinger withdrew from the draft and is going back to school

[Nevin]

Hey Doug,

Maybe I missed the answer to this question, but since the trade can't offically be made until July 9, what happens to the 17th pick for the draft? I mean, since the trade isn't official, does that mean we still technically own it? So... do we still pick? Or does Indiana pick for us?

Blogger's note: The Raptors will make the pick but only after Larry Bird tells Bryan who he wants.

[Mike]

This can't be considered a bad trade by BC, in two years he has turned Charlie Villaneuva, Matt Bonner, and Eric Wiliams into Jermaine O'Neal. There are health issues that come with O'Neal but it still makes our team a whole lot stronger.

[John MacDonald]

Deal is totally dependant on if O'neal is healthy and who the raps sign as free agents/draft picks. Two questions Doug:

1. If the report out of ESPN is correct and the raps get the pacers 2nd round pick, do you see them picking someone to keep in europe, or someone who will make the roster this coming year. I would hope they would get someone for the team this year.
2. If Roko comes over from europe (which we expect to happen this year) and becomes one of our backup point guards, how devastating is an injury going to be to Jose. I'm a fan of having good backups for the center and pg position and see this as a big weakness for the raps next year, that was one of their strengths from last year.

Last comment is I'm going to be kinda disappointed in the draft if the raps don't get a legit pick in the first round (the 17th going to pacers doesn't count).

Thanks

[Erich]

Doug,

Been discussing the deal all morning with my friends and we're unanimous in loving the trade. Who would have thought that TJ would net the Raps JO?! The discussion then moved to Feschuck's article concerning the trade: He's consistently overly negative, and to accomplish he leaves far too many holes in his arguments. It's really hard to take him seriously. Does he actually believe what he writes, or is he instructed to play Bad Cop by your editors? You're already quite blunt in your assessments of the Raptors (but we respect your opinion) and there's no need for you to have a foil.

Thanks.

[Geeve]

Hi Doug,

What are the chances we can land Brandon Rush? Also, what would it take to get him?

As a defending SG who may also slip in & play the 3 occasionally, and a player who has 43% accuracy from Swirsky's new back yard in Chicago, I see him as a better draft choice than anyone else after the top 10 in this draft that would fit the Raptors!

Blogger's note: No chance. Sorry.

[SMS]

Doug,

Do you see any possible scenarios in which the Raps obtain Chris Douglas Roberts in the coming weeks? His scoring, toughness and competitiveness seem to fit well with what is missing on the team and with the existing defensive capability at the swing positions. He might enjoy playing near-but-not-too-near to home in the same way Mo-Pete did.

Also name game, what other players in the late first round/early second round (Lee, Greene) would fit this role well and how would you rank them?

Cheers,
SMS

Blogger's note: No, I can't see Douglas-Roberts happening at all and I can't do a list at the moment, a few other things to work on.

[David]

Hi Doug,

Any truth to the rumor that B.C. talked to the Pistons about trading Ford for Hamilton? I know you like this trade, but which trade do you like better from those two?

Blogger's note: Don't know if that rumour was true or not and I don't feel like speculating on a trade that may never have actually been proposed. But at first blush, I like this one for the financial implications.