Now the off-season's really here

Okay, now what?

No trade speculation, legit or otherwise. No free agent chatter, legit or otherwise. No nothing. What’s a guy to do? And what’s a group of rather faithful readers to do?

Guess we’ll just figure something out and go plodding along. After all, I’m sure you’ve got questions, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got answers and looking at the comments I haven’t had a chance to publish yet (they’ll be up right after this) you’ve got opinions.

And, of course, I’ve got all of Beijing to worry about and I hope you all noticed my women’s football team stomped the Singapores in their final pre-Olympic friendly (you did notice, right?).

So I’m guessing there’ll be enough to sustain us until September, when it’s going to get really, really slow.

On with today’s stuff …

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Will Solomon?

I have to admit, the signing caught me a bit by surprise (kudos to Israel’s Eran, usual chronicler of all things P.J. Tucker, for tipping me off) but when you sit back and look at it, it makes a bit of sense.

There was really no one over here who was overwhelming, a couple of guys might have fit but that’s about it. And getting a 30-year-old who’s probably happy to be back in North America doesn’t hurt. Sure worked out okay with AP, not that Solomon is going to have nearly the same responsibility but it’s something to take into account.

What’s his role?

Well, he’s going to be given a chance to compete with Roko for that backup point guard position but right now, it’s Ukic’s to lose. And I don’t presume he will, from what people tell me about his game.

I know Solomon does come with the Sam Stamp Of Approval, having met with the coach last week just to make sure they were on the same page and could co-exist.

That’s a key because one of the knocks on Solomon over in Europe was that he had a tendency to get a bit out of control, trying to do too much. I’m pretty sure Sam would have laid it out in pretty plain terms – you’re here to be a part of the team, not the dominant member of it.

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How’d they find him?

Bryan was at a game in Turkey, watching Omer Asik (a second round Portland pick) when Solomon killed Tau Ceramica in the same game. Bryan kept Solomon’s name in mind and when it came time to find that combo guard, the memory of that game came flooding back.

Goes to show you, you make all these long goofy scouting trips and who knows what might come up. The guy you want, you can’t get; the guy you need falls into your lap.

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Here’s one from the mail:

Q: Hey Doug, I have a bone with the Raptors and I'm just sending it to you because. The Raptors are constantly trying to tell us they are Canada's team and yet, you can't even pick them up on the radio as far away as Waterloo? It just seems a ridiculous way to engage the region.

Kim A, Toronto

A: That is a tad ridiculous, I think it’s time they tried harder to expand their radio network. I don’t know if they can but for the people over at Maple Leaf Sports who are reading this (and you know who you are, with the daily clips on your desks), see what you can do to help Kim out, would you?

Thanks

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Oh, if you were wondering why they didn’t give John Lucas a look at camp, here’s the assessment from a guy I trust who saw all five summer league games:

“He’s T.J. without the talent.”

Which means small, fast, can’t make a shot or a play.

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A couple of cranky-pants over in the comments section seemed to think I was taking some veiled shot at Nathan Jawai yesterday by busting on him for calling in sick for the Dance Pak (oops, Irish Spring Dance Pak) auditions.

It was a joke, people. Chill.

Nothing nefarious behind it. A wee shot at the new kid for calling in sick. That’s it.

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Kwame Brown to Detroit? Good luck, Mike Curry.

Of all the under-achieving draft stiffs of the last few years, he’d be right near the top of the list. Maybe being with a bunch of old heads like McDyess and Rasheed (if he doesn’t get traded) will teach Brown a few things but I’m skeptical.

Been a pretty underwhelming summer for the Pistons, no? Joe Dumars, who would be in the discussion of best GMs in the league, sounded like he was bent on blowing things up after they bowed to the Celtics. So far? Nada.

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Here’s one that touches on a couple of different subjects:

Q: Doug I was wondering if you can shed some light on whether we might see more of the Raptors on any of the national broadcasts this upcoming season. I would think that with the addition of O'Neil and the continued rise in popularity of Blaine Harrington (aka Chris Bosh) that the NBA might want to feature our beloved heroes of the hardcourt a little more now than in past seasons.

Have you heard any rumblings about this? What are your thoughts? Do you think the Raptors as currently constructed could be a draw for viewers in prime time ABC Sunday matchups...perhaps against a newly constructed Sixers team?

Steve H, Mississauga

A: I presume you mean American national broadcasts, right?

The schedule should come out next week (they were tweaking it late ‘cause of the Seattle-Oklahoma City move) and I really haven’t heard anything about it.

I would imagine, though, that these guys will get at least a sniff of a Thursday TNT game and I’m sure they’ll get a Friday night ESPN date but I don’t know about Sunday afternoons. I’d presume it’d be like last year, they’d have a chance to get moved to a Sunday afternoon date late in the season (like they did for the game in Detroit last March, I believe it was).

But I do know people in the broadcast group down in the Ivory Tower in New York know about the Raptors and see it as a team with some potential and some interest.

Comments

[Steve G]

When I think of the Raps being televised nationally in the US all I can think of is the time back when He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named lit up the Suns for 51 points. That was a first time national viewing for the Raps in the states was it not?

Blogger's note: It was the first over-the-air network game, they had been on Turner before. But that was the first big-time NBA Sunday afternoon game.

[John]

Personally think the Aussie is in for some good old fashion ribbing. I'm sure he's up to the challenge and it might be fun to follow his trials during training camp.

[Anthony R]

Watching Solomon on youtube...reminds me a bit of TJ without the lightning speed.

[b]

I would have loved to have Dixon back as I have always been a big fan of his. He can flat out score and for his size he is a decent defender (although he has a very tough time against 2's because of his size). But I think if he went to Europe, he could make a lot of money and tear it up. What you think Doug?

Blogger's note: Yeah, Juan could probably put up some big numbers over there, in pay and in play. And he may wind up going if he doesn't get an NBA deal.

[Shawn]

I knew someone would take that Jawai comment too literally....AHAHAHA...too funny Doug.

Have fun in Beijing....are they going to let you smoke there, or is that banned too?

Blogger's note: Nah, I think the smoking thing is among the non-banned activities.

[Felix]

not a raps comment, but that okafor signing makes me sick. i mean he is a solid player, and everyone wants to 'get paid', but that franchise is heading nowhere quickly. how do you lock up someone for that much, when i don't think there is another team out there willing to pay him that amount?! MJ, you were a great player, but you're horrible in the front office!
thoughts, doug?

Blogger's note: Let me think about until the morning; at first blush, it does look like a lot of money.

[Robert S]

Hi Doug, with all of these NBA to Euro signings this summer, is it safe to assume that Solomon left a few million on the table to come to the Raptors and play in the NBA?

Blogger's note: Not sure if it was a "few million" but he did leave a bunch of money over there, that's for sure.

[James Borbath]

As lead person of the crank pants people from yesterday. I admit I went off a bit. I am a bit invested in him by having researched his story and talked with folks in Australia about him. I understood you were just being funny. I just thought given some people know very little about Nathan at this point it was something people may take the wrong way. Raptor fans tend to do that I am told.

Anyway I am sure you have very thick skin and can understand things from my point of view. Even you have to get an emotional connection to a story or person once in awhile right? After all at the end of the day we are all only human.

Anyway as I also said 99% of the time I have 0 issue you with your fine work. So hope you understand.

[Stoeten]

I'm pretty sure the Raptors don't generally get on "national" broadcasts in the US because Toronto isn't an American TV market. For one thing, that means there will always be a Canadian network broadcasting the game simultaneously, which siphons off a huge number of viewers. Plus, I'm not even sure if Canadian households watching on ABC or TNT get included in the overall US ratings for those broadcasts. Ratings ultimately factor into the advertising rates the networks can charge, and the networks are putting themselves at a disadvantage whenever they choose to broadcast a game featuring a team from a market full of viewers who can't contribute to them.

[Sean]

As far as US television goes, I doubt the Raptors ever get more than a token game here and there. The networks really depend on the ratings "bump" they get from the two cities taking part in the game to provide an overall good number for the entire country, and since Toronto doesnt count in the Nielsons, ESPN, TNT and ABC would be leaving too many rating points on the table if they featured the Raps regularly. The only time showing the Raps makes sense is if there is no other competeting or compelling match-up to show, hence the ABC game added late last year.

[Jamieson]

I have a question about Jawai. I read his profile and it says he plays for the Australian national team, but i was looking at their '08 Olympic roster and i noticed he isnt on it. Is he on the team, and if not, is it due to how young he is, or some other factor?

Blogger's note: He's not on the team in Beijing and as far as I can determine, he's never played a game for the senior national team.

[Bram]

American NIELSEN ratings wont contain Canadian viewers, correct BUT people will tune in to watch teams other than the home team if the match up or players are interesting don't you think?

BOSH and O'NEIL will hopefully prove to be an electrifying due.. Americans wont tune in to watch the Raptors, they'll tune in to watch Bosh and O'Neil the same way you tune in to watch LeBron even when it's not vs the Raps

[chris]

Looking at your article I couldn't help but wince at the list of 5 swingmen. I'm a huge AP fan, and who doesn't have a soft spot for Jamario? Still, that has to be the weakest group of 2s and 3s in the league. Cause for concern?

[Kalson]

To "Kim A". I believe you wanted to say you had a "Bone to pick" with the Raptors. Having a "bone" means something else.

[DMan]

Just a quick note about the radio broadcasts - I'm also in Waterloo, and being a broke student, I can't afford cable. :( But NBA.com lets you stream the radio broadcast for either team. You might have to sign up for one of their League Passes, but the free option still gets you the broadcasts.

So, come basketball season, you get to choose between Devlin or Swirsky when the Raptors & Bulls face off!

[Uncle Zeke]

Emeka's contract is in line with what a young true starting center makes in this league (see Andrew Bogut). If he didn't have the injury problems he would have probably been looking closer to a $15m/yr average.

Kwame has definitely been a bust considering his #1 overall status but a backup center who plays 15 min. a night and can give you defence and rebounding is definitely worth 4 mil a yr. He'll provide the Pistons with a big body and a Kendrick Perkins type of impact. As long as people lower their expectations with this guy then he can contribute. Heck for all Phil Jackson complained about him he started him at center for a year+. Lakers also were looking to pick him back up and missed his size against Boston because Pau Gasol is super soft...

[Milette]

I disagree that the Jawai comment you made is not a big deal and that people should "chill." You are implying that he's not heterosexual, and that there's something suspicious or wrong with this.

I see a pattern here with you and your friend Mr. Grange, who once wrote in his blog that Chris Quinn's jersey is the lowest selling one in the league, second only to Rudy Gay, and how this must make Chris Quinn feel bad.

Mr. Smith, you should be ashamed.

P.S. You call yourself a Trudeau-following Liberal? Yeah right. You arrogant bigot.

Blogger's note: Wow, someone's cranky today. And, I believe, waaaaaaaaay off the mark. But thanks, as always, for reading.

[Jim T]

Hi Doug,is it safe to say that the gangster is now the mobster and do you know how many euros hes getting also do you see Papaloukas coming to the nba?

Blogger's note: I think if Papaloukas was coming to the NBA, he'd be here by now.

[Bruno]

wow...Milette, you need to chill out....a lot! I don`t think doug was implying anything . Some people don`t know how to take a joke, I guess.

[sherry]

Wow Milette - you really need to chill out! Anyone who read Doug's comments about Jawai and didn't think it was funny needs to give their head a shake. You must have a big chip on your shoulder to have inferred what you did about his statement.
cheers

[Rogfed]

Hey Milette. If homosexuality is fine and perfectly acceptable, then it wouldn't really be an offense for Doug to suggest that Jawai's not heterosexual, joking or not, no?

[Eric]

Most people seem to feel that Jason Kapono will join Bosh, JO, Jose and AP in the starting lineup.
Barring unforseen events, doesn't it make more sense to leave Moon as the starting SF?
You have two top-echelon big men, CB and JO, who will demand their touches. You have Jose and AP who are very good outside shooters.
Moon, with his superior defense, rebounding and shotblocking would better compliment the other four starters. Part of the reason he started last year was he didn't demand (nor should he take) a lot of shots. Same this year.
Jason Kapono would join Bargnani as the 'shooters' on the second unit and as secondary options behind either Chris or JO, whichever one remains on the floor.It would be a much better fit.