News, notes and a dogleg par-4 (oops, wrong sport)

Fore!

Oh, wait, that’s for later today and tomorrow’s paper. Never mind. Let’s stay with a little bit of basketball.

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Seems the crack that those free agents might fall through got a little smaller yesterday when Eddie House and Tony Allen both went back to Boston. A bit surprising, given the reports and rumours that were other there, but it does give the Cs a big chunk of their bench back.

So, who’s left?
Hmm, not a lot, actually.

Thanks to the good folks over at the World Wide Leader, here’s a list of available free agents still and it’s really pretty underwhelming from the Raptor point of view (and that point of view does not include Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith or Luol Deng or anyone of that ilk).

The plan still is to sign a minimum-salary combo guard who will sit on the bench and play in emergencies or if foul trouble hits both Jose and Roko in the same game.

I know Juan Dixon’s people have called Toronto – it was a call made right at the start of free agency – and he may be the default position right now.

Or maybe they have to gamble on a guy like Jaycee Carroll or one of the other guards they’ve scouted in various summer leagues (Utah’s on now to wind up the season).

But, again, this is not going to be a signing of significance. In a perfect Raptor world, where Jose’s healthy and Ukic gives ‘em 16-18 minutes a night every night, the 13^th man is only going to get garbage minutes.

And that’s why it’s really not worth getting all worked up a bit.

Oh, and it won’t be Darrick Martin.

But wouldn’t it be cool if it was Sam Cassell? Be the best quote in that room. Of course, the fact that he looked absolutely done at the end of the finals might work against his signing but we’d love it.

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Speaking of golf, I remember it was almost exactly a year ago when I was sitting in the press room, well, press tent, actually, at the Canadian Open early on the Saturday morning up at Angus Glen when the phone rings.

It’s a guy telling me to high-tail it down to the 3-on-3 tourney at the Ex ‘cause there’s a guy there who wants to talk to me.

And there in all his regalia when Our Man Oak, filling my head, and notebook, with tales of his planned comeback and a book planned that was going to be “a real book, not one of those Charles Barkley books.”

Hmm, it’s golf week again, the 3-on-3 thing’s on at the Ex again and I’m wondering if the phone will ring again.

I do know that there are a couple of Raptors due in town, not sure which ones at the moment, so there could actually be some live basketball later this week to write about.

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Mail time:

Q: Got an argument (kind of) to settle. We were discussing team Canada's recent failure at the qualifiers and mentioned that I thought Leo Rautins was a bad coach. but that’s not what were arguing about. My buddy believes that at the end of the day a coach has minimal impact on the outcome of the game.
How about an experts (of sorts) opinion on the matter?

Will L, Toronto

A: Well, here’s a (sort of) expert opinion to settle your (kind of) argument:

I think in the international game, with fewer timeouts, 10-minute quarters, freer-flowing style and the like, in-game coaching may not be as noticeable as in the NBA, where too many guys micro-manage the game by calling every play. But don’t diminish it. A coach still has to see a matchup to exploit, or a matchup to avoid and that’s where a guy earns his keep.

And a lot of coaching in international play is done before the game, finding out what your team’s strengths are and putting in systems to maximize them.

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Boki Nachbar’s going to Russia, there’s talk that Nenad Krstic is headed to Europe, too, and the exodus continues.

Still don’t think it’s a huge problem for the NBA and it’s good that those guys can get big bucks and if it elevates the levels of the other leagues, well, good for fans of those leagues.

But here’s one simple fact to think about when anyone’s worried about the NBA losing it’s best: Not many Euroleague teams generate nearly enough income through TV or ticket sales to give them the kind of cash to throw around outside of to maybe one or two players.

And the numbers you’re hearing are a tad skewed: Carlos did not get $10 million a year, he got about $5, I’m told, but when you factor in the usual tax-free status of salary plus perks like housing and transportation it adds up. But a base salary or actual money he’ll get to put in the bank? $10 million isn’t right.

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Best early basketball game of the Olympics: Day 1, Spain vs. Greece. If I can slide over from softball or water polo or field hockey, that’s got “don’t miss” written all over it.

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They tweaked some things in the upper echelons of the NBA’s officiating structure for the coming season. Here’s the news release from league headquarters.

Not sure what it’ll mean for the on-court product but having more people involved in the supervisory capacity isn’t a bad thing.

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Another shot from the mail:

Q: I was wondering about how it works in regards to the press row at any arena. Does the media outlet you represent (Toronto Star) have to pay for those seats or does the NBA have a policy that certain seats have to be set aside for the media. And if so how do they decide how many and what papers, television stations get them? Plus do they have to be on press row if they are not paid for I can see teams wanting to free up those seats and move you upstairs as in some arenas I see you back from press row. So can you clarify this please.

Doug B, Toronto

A: No, we don’t pay for the media seating in any arena.

League rule stipulate that there has to be seating, with monitors, electrical outlets and table space, for whichever newspapers, radio and TV cover the team on a regular basis.

The rules have changed over the last few years so teams don’t necessarily have to have those seats courtside, they do have to be somewhere in the lower bowl. We’ve been moved “upstairs” so to speak, in a dozen or so arenas; thanks to the efforts of media relations maven Jim LaBumbard and the Raptor brass, we haven’t lost all of our seats courtside at the Air Canada Centre. Some have disappeared with the addition of seats for fans next to the bench and along the front row of the scorers table (the stats crew used to be in the front row, now they’re in the back) but there are generally enough for the four papers and two wire services to have a seat for everyone who’s covering any particular game.

However if, for instance, we send three people to cover a game, we usually get two seats courtside and one up in the auxiliary press seating by section 105 in the arena.

Some this, some that and some news

Hey boys and girls, everyone get all the housework done on that dreary Sunday? Get caught up on reading, hanging out, drinking coffee, doing family stuff? Cool.

It might be a slow week this week, I don’t expect much happening with the local Heroes Of The Hardcourt and with summer league done in Vegas, things my dry up a bit.

Which is okay, actually, since I’m Golf Boy this week out that the Abbey (lucky golf readers, I say) but we’ll still endeavour to get something marginally interesting and informative in here each day (besides, slow or not, you folks still like to fill up the inbox with questions).

On to the good stuff:

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So Carlos Delfino’s going to Russia and there are reports out there this morning that Josh Childress may be headed to Greece. Is the sky falling? Are these other leagues going to raid the NBA and turn it into just another league?

Not quite

No disrespect to Carlos or Childress, but these are hardly NBA ‘stars’ we’re talking about. Neither has ever been as much as a starter in the league and if they can get boatloads of more money playing overseas, good for them.

Maybe it’s simply a fact of NBA GMs coming to their senses and not doling out lucrative long-term contracts to players of not dubious talent, but guys who are just pieces of the puzzle.

I can certainly see more young players going and spending a couple of years making big bucks overseas and I can certainly see players at the end of their contracts heading to Europe for one more big payday and one more life adventure.

But will the NBA miss either Carlos Delfino or Josh Childress? I can’t imagine it will.

The impact on the league: Shorter-term, shorter-money contracts for guys like Childress and Delfino.

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Not sure when they’ll get around to announcing it, but when they do, remember you read it here first:

I’m told CSKA Moscow’s coming to Toronto this fall for an exhibition game against the Raptors.

No dates or anything but I hope for Toronto’s sake it’s near the end of the pre-season because if the Raptors don’t bring their ‘A’ game, they’ll get their heads handed to them.

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A visit to the mail:

Q: Hey Doug, I posed this question to you a couple of weeks back, and surprisingly, you didn't jump at it.  Perhaps it was too rambling so I'll keep it brief; how do you think He Who Shall Not Be Named will react in New Jersey since he's now in essentially the exact same situation he was in with the Raptors five years ago?

Alison B, Mississauga

A: Sorry, must have missed it and, believe me, I’m used to “rambling.”

A lot of what turned Carter south here had to do with management, the fact he didn’t believe in his GM, was playing for his fourth coach in about five years and being simply tired of being in the same situation with no real plan going forward. I don’t imagine he’ll love what’s going on in Jersey, but I think there are some different circumstances that won’t lead him to quit like he did here.

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I digress but …

I’m watching the Argo game with Super Son yesterday (the Little League game was rained out) and I have to say that no head coach of any professional sports team in any professional sports league anywhere in the world should wear shorts.

And I now return you to your regularly-scheduled basketball stuff.

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I see on Canada Basketball's site that Jermaine Anderson parlayed his play at the Olympic qualifier into a gig back in Germany for next year. That can only be good for the national team because the team needs Anderson to really polish his point guard skills before next summer’s qualifier for the 2010 worlds.

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Speaking of worlds, you know I told you last week that Canada’s under-18 men have qualified for next year’s global championship in New Zealand (they ended up winning the bronze at their qualifier on the weekend). Well, this week some attention has to go to the under-18 women. They’re in Buenos Aires for a six-team tournament, fighting for one of four spots in next year’s worlds.

I think what we’re seeing in the laying of a foundation, for both groups, that’ll really help in the future. The NEDA program (a residency-training-educational program for many of the elite teens in Canada) is one of the best things Canada Basketball has ever done and we’re starting to see results on the floor.

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Remember way back in the day, maybe a month or so ago, we had a story in the paper on Masai Ujiri’s annual big man camp back in Nigeria and how it’s got to help youngsters over there develop?

Well, I don’t know how many of you noticed Deji Akindele out in Vegas with the Raptor summer league team but he’s a graduate of that camp. He took part a few years ago, it got him a scholarship in the states and while he blew it by coming out of college too early, his hopes of one day being in the NBA are still alive. He’s been in the D League and France and will play this year it Italy.

He’s exactly the kind of guy Ujiri wants to help.

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A summer league query from the mail:

Q: What do you think CJ Giles chances are of making the big club?

Sean J, Ottawa

A: I would say miniscule with gusts to non-existent.

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AP PHOTO

We got Good Joey at summer league - but that's to be expected.

Speaking of summer league, now that it’s over (a stellar 1-4 record for the locals) what’s to be gleaned? Nothing, really.

The thought around team remains that the 13^th man is going to be someone on a minimum value contract who’s a combo guard with at least a little bit of NBA experience, a guy who some night in the regular season will jump up and do something to win a game for them, and I don’t think that guy was on the team in Vegas.

And with only two games under his belt, nothing can be taken away about the performance of Nathan Jawai other than he didn’t look out of place.

Joey? Joey killed in the summer league but, quite frankly, if he didn’t there was no hope for him whatsoever.

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Greece, Croatia and Germany grab the last three basketball spots in the Beijing Olympics and I can’t say I’m surprised at all.

Guess the only surprising thing was Slovenia losing to Puerto Rico in the quarter-finals, that was the lone upset of those four games.

Guess the other thing of note is that no country from FIBA Americas made it to the Games, other than the USA and Argentina as qualifiers last year, and that doesn’t bode well for the future of the game on this continent.

North, South and Central American teams (aside from those Big Two and I’m not entirely sure how long the aging Argentines can stay near the top of the world) are falling further and further behind Europe in each quadrennial.

It means that while Canada may one day be on par with a lot of the other countries over here, it’s how they stack up against Europe that will really determine where they rank in the world.

A little late but wildly entertaining nonetheless

I know, I know, I know.

Late. Got caught up with Canada stuff a lot of Friday and the mailbag suffered. Sorry. But there’s more than enough here to give you plenty to do over the course of the weekend.

Be back Monday with some summer league wrapup and probably, a few more Canada thoughts.

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Q: Having just returned from a family vacation out west where we stayed in 10 different hotel/motel/B&B over 18 days, I have a travel question for you.
Do you tend to stay and dine at the same places in the same cities to bring some sense routine to the travel or do you like the non-routine of trying different places each time?

Richard Y, Kincardine

A: I’m a creature of habit, and a creature of the excellent Marriott rewards program so I tend to stay in familiar surroundings when I’m on the road. Nothing extravagant, just nice and comfortable and where you’re not likely to be surprised.

Same goes, in a lot of cities, for restaurants on off nights and adult beverage emporiums for the post-game wind-down period.

Hope you had fun on your holiday.

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Q: Speaking of the Braves, remember Ernie D? Floppy socks! Any word as to how he's doin'?

Roy P, Toronto

A: You mean Ernie No D? Oh, yeah, I remember him back in his Providence days. And we still see him every season at games in Boston, he’s like a greeter or something at a casino near there and hosts one of those inane in-game shooting contests at Celtic games.

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Q: I read that the Mavericks are offering Brandon Bass and Jerry Stackhouse for Ron Artest of the Sacramento Kings.  Do you agree with me that the Raptors could put together a better offer for Artest - ie Parker, Moon, and Humphries and/or Kapono - then the Mavs? Artest would look awesome at the SF spot.

Rob R, Hamilton

A: Maybe from this end it looks better but it depends on what the Kings want. And as far as I know, they want nothing Toronto wants to offer and I’m not at all sure the Raptors have any interest in one year of Ron Artest. For all the off-court reasons you can imagine, of course.

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Q: Now that the mighty Leaves have released their sked when can we expect the NBA schedule for next year?

James G, Toronto

A: I thought I’d get more than one question on this. They expect to see a draft schedule in the office maybe within a week and the full schedule should be officially released around the end of the month or maybe the start of August. But not too long from now.

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Q: I was wondering; with the millions of dollars athletes are making in today’s world, is there a specific clause in their contract that states the player must donate a minimum amount of money to charity?... I highly doubt this exists, but I think that the NBA and all major sports leagues should institute a rule that says both the owner and players must donate a certain amount of money to various charities.
Maybe then moron athletes like Michael Vick, and Jamal Tinsley wouldn't be able to afford to fight dogs, or get into shootings at strip clubs on an hourly basis.
Am I dreaming? Or could this/does this exist?

Marc D, Barrie

A: No, there’s no clause about donating money but as part of the basic players’ agreement, each player has to make a specific number of public appearances for the team each year. These can range from the old Stay In School initiative or something like the NBA Cares program or the reading program the league has.

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Q: Quick question regarding Jorge Garbajosa.  Did the Raptors release him because they felt he was not physically capable of competing at the NBA level anymore following his injury or was it merely for salary cap reasons?  At the end of the season, Colangelo, in interviews had frequently stated how much the team was looking forward to his return.  So, what happened?
Joe D, Mississauga

A: There were serious concerns about his long-term health and that played a big role in the decision to negotiate a buyout, as did clearing up a little bit of money and a roster spot. And, actually, the quotes at the end of the season were more in regret for having lost Garbo for last year, not that he’d be a huge contributor going forward. I have a hunch they knew in April that they’d try to work out a summer buyout.

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Q: What do you think about Adam Morrison? He probably won't fit in with the Bobcats under LB and he has a ton of talent. Though he isn't a superior athlete could he possibly bring the wing scoring the Raptors need? Anthony Parker is solid but we could use more out of a starter.

Armstead D, Lawrence

A: I don’t think very much of Adam Morrison, actually. Good shooter who can’t create his own shot and, in his rookie year, couldn’t guard you. And I know there are people in the highest levels of Raptordom who feel precisely the same way. So I’d put him entirely out of mind.

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Q: The Raptors have played three games already in Vegas and no sign of Nathan Jawai? I could swear I read in the blog that you spoke to someone who saw him play? Second, how about CJ Giles? What a stud--the kid really brings it. I've been watching the live streams on nba.com and am impressed (he's the only guy out there worth watching). BC needs to sign him up to a contract before another team scoops him up. I know he’s had some issues in college but we have a pretty solid group of role models that he can learn from in our locker room. Hey, and if it doesn't work out we could always drop him right?

Jesse N, Markham

A: Jawai played one game, sat out Thursday with a strained groin and I’m not sure about Friday.

CJ Giles? Sign him to a contract? Why? So he can fight Hump and Jawai as the fourth, fifth and sixth big man role? Sorry, no way in the world that’s going to happen.

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Q: Will Leo's performance with the National team have any impact with his Raptor color commentary duties?  It seems he is going to come out of this National team fiasco as the villain.

Shawn L, Bowmanville

A: No, no matter what happens at Canada Basketball, and nothing will for months, it won’t have any impact on his TV gig.

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Q: Just a quick question. Why didn't Carlos Delfino get more offers from other teams?  From what I read he only had interest from Detroit.
I'm a little baffled here because I see guys like Roger Mason Jr. and James Posey sign big contracts, then I see guys like Carlos and Keyon Dooling get virtual nothing when they have similar stats.
Is it all in the agents, or am I missing something here?

Chi L, Toronto

A: I can’t speak for all the GMs who didn’t lavish lucrative contracts on a player who’s been up and down his entire NBA career but I’d think most of ‘em liked the guys they have more than Carlos.

Posey? You can’t deny he’s done more in his career than Delfino has and Mason plays an entirely different position and fills a specific need in San Antonio.

Keyon Dooling? Nice backup and if he’d play for the minimum might be a good fit here.

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Q: Darius Miles.

Never thought I'd hear myself saying that, but apparently he's attempting a comeback to the NBA after microfracture surgery. He was working out with the Mavs and by all accounts he had a very solid showing.
He's stated he's willing to accept minimum salary to play for a team.
He'd be a cheap option to fill a hole on the wing position. Versatile, not an amazing shooter, but he'll be motivated this year to prove he can play again at an NBA level.  Not much downside on a minimum deal...
Steven V, Toronto

A: I guess the downside would be that great athlete, not an amazing shooter seems to describe Jamario Moon, no? And I have no reason to think that a surgically-repaired Darius Miles, who hasn’t played in more than a year, gives ‘em any more than they’re already getting. And still doesn’t address the need for a combo guard in that 13^th-man role.

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Q: Greetings oh wise and wondrous sage of all things Basketball and Women's Soccer,
Two quick questions. The first will probably be directed to your web elf/maven/grunt:  why is "by Toronto Star" showing up in Google Reader instead of your name? It the Star becoming a variant of the borg where we don't read you we read your employer? Will your personality start changing soon? Will your hair style become a weird mix of Mary Ormsby, Royson James and Slinger?
Second, if the national team dumps the coach and gets a non-Canadian to stir things up (a la most national footy teams) what are the odds they could pull a rabbit out a hat and get Phil Jackson?

Mike D, Oshawa

A: Hmm, you’re presuming I know what Google Reader is? I’m hoping one of my elf/maven/grunt/bosses reads this and has some clue what you’re talking about because, unfortunately, I don’t.

Odds? Hmmm, if I was a gambling man, I’d say, oh, let’s take stab here at, hmm, okay: A billion to one?

That didn't end too well, did it?

And another Canada season ends. Badly.

Not that anyone thought they had a legitimate chance against Croatia but that was rather dreadful nonetheless.

At no point in the game did anyone, ever, think Canada could pull off an upset and give itself a chance at the Olympics.

(Oh, and about that mailbag thing? I’m a tad under the weather and need the rest of the morning to finish it off; it’ll be up sometime later today, I hope. And there’s lots so come prepared to read)

Some quick observations in the early morning:

Canada now will have missed the 2004 Olympics, the 2006 world championships and the 2008 Beijing Games. I’ve long held that the next significant international competition they’d be in would be the 2010 worlds but now I’m not entirely sure of that.

Promising signs

I really like Olu Famutimi’s game and if he ever figures out how to assert himself consistently, he could be really good.

Levon Kendall and Joel Anthony look built for international play but they are too young to be real good right now.

That’s about it, actually.

Disappointing signs:

Carl English disappeared. Don’t know if he couldn’t handle coming off the bench or if the game’s too quick for him but they needed him and he didn’t produce.

They still don’t have a backup point guard and as much as Tyler Kepkay and Andy Rautins might think they are, they are not good enough against even mid-level international teams at the moment.

Have we seen the last of Rowan Barrett and David Thomas? Probably. I can see no reason why Barrett would play again and Thomas is over 30 and probably has had enough.

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Coaching? That’s an issue. I believe Leo’s contract runs out after the Olympics, or at least comes up for review.

You can argue Xs and Os ‘til you’re blue in the face – I don’t think there was nearly enough creativity in the offence and there’s plenty to discuss about that -- but there are other factors to think about besides plays and substitution patterns.

Like winning. Or being competitive.

No worlds. No Olympics. Nothing better than a fifth in FIBA Americas. That’s not good enough.

And I’m not sure the signal sent by cutting Sam Dalembert in the middle of a tournament is at all good.

Sam may have been the Devil personified (and apparently that’s how the coach painted him in a radio interview Thursday) but if that was the case, shouldn’t something have been done before the qualification tournament was under way? Shouldn’t someone maybe taken him aside when he was allegedly being late to all those meetings and practices and disassociating himself from the team during training camp or the games here? I cannot believe his disruptive behaviour happened only in Germany and Athens. If it did, it should have been dealt with before the Slovenia game, not on the bus to the arena to play Korea.

It was badly handled.

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I’m not sure if some people think Andrea Bargnani’s been lying on the couch snacking on bon-bons all summer (I get a lot of questions asking if he’s “been following the program and working out”) but he hasn’t been.

And they’ll get to check on him as early as tomorrow.

I’m told he’s supposed to be at Impact Basketball, the venerable workout gym in Las Vegas, either tomorrow or Sunday for a week and then he’s sticking around to work at Tim Grgich’s big man camp right after that.

And he won’t be too far from the prying eyes of his bosses. Strength and conditioning guru Keith D’Amelia will be around Impact and Eric Hughes, who’s been coaching the summer league team, is going to be a guest coach at the big man camp.

So, yes, Bargnani is doing stuff.

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There’ll be a big group of Raptors at Impact, too, I’m told.

Jermaine O’Neal’s there almost every day, Hassan Adams is sticking around after the summer league’s over and so is Nathan Jawai.

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How do you think Canada, whoever wants to play, that is, will do against the United States next week in Vegas?

I got the USA minus-50.

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Here’s one mail question I got to:

Q: Having read Leo Rautins' recent article reminiscing about the team mentality of the Canadian national team preparing for the boycotted Moscow Olympics, I wonder if he expects a certain collegial brotherhood on today's national team that realistically can't be expected in today's age. Do you think he has an expectation of what a team should be, i.e. a certain attitude or bonding away from the court, that has alienated some of this country's players?

Tim F, Monterrey

A: I’m not sure what Leo’s expectations are exactly, other than all members of the team are treated equally and should be equally committed to making sure the whole is better than the sum of its parts.

But I agree that expectation may be too much in this day and age. Every player has different factors tugging at him, contracts, background, history with the program and with his teammates. I don’t think on anything like a national basketball team that’s realistic.

I think each case, and each player, has to be handled delicately, and differently. These are professionals giving up a big chunk of their summer for no pay and under sometimes tough circumstances and each has to be taken individually.

It’s a tough balance, though.

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I see Eddie House isn’t going back to Boston – they signed Anthony Roberson instead – and if you’re a Raptor fan, I’d keep his name in mind.

I know he’s on a list over at headquarters of guys who might be available for minimum money later this summer to fill that 13^th spot.

My bad I misread a note from a friend, it's the Knicks who signed Roberson. The note said they took him INSTEAD of Boston's Eddie House and it was early and I just read it wrong.

Oops. Sorry

But House does really remain in Toronto's sights.

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The Raptors are, what?, 0-3 at the Summer League and no one’s written to suggest Eric Hughes be fired? What’s wrong with you people?

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Another one from an old mail delivery before I go get coffee and settle in to listen to the call from Greece and try to figure out what’s next:

Q: Hey Doug, I was just checking my source for all things true, untrue and everything in between (Wikipedia) about the Toronto Raptors. How is it that Anthony Parker is listed as a captain as well as Chris Bosh? Is it like the NHL in the sense that he is an alternate captain if Bosh is injured? Or is Wikipedia once again falling into the middle category?

Shannon M, Brampton

A: No, actually, a lot of NBA teams have two, sometimes three, “captains.” Not sure exactly why, tradition probably more than anything. It’s really not comparable to hockey at all.

Of Sam and Marcus and T.J. talks

Nice. A guy gets up at 7:15 a.m. to finish this off and it feels like sleeping until noon. Gotta love days off in Athens.

But in case you missed it, they’re back as the early game again on Friday, 6 a.m. start in the East, way, stupid early if there are any west coast Canada fans and once again it’s on The Score.

One question: If anyone out there from the network is reading, can you get the play-by-play, colour guy, cheerleader to identify himself once or twice. That way, people out there who write me to rip him will at least have a name to put with the notes.

Anyway, on to stuff.

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L’affaire Dalembert.

Got to preface this by pointing out there are three sides to every story: His side, their side and the truth.

And since none of us were on the bus, or at the bus, that took Canada from the hotel to the gym in Athens to see first-hand what transpired, this is all second-hand information.

I’m sure there was some “eff you” “eff you, too” stuff going on, I’m sure Leo’s back got up and I’m sure the confrontation had the potential to get nasty.

All I know is that enough people told me yesterday they’d “heard” about Sam big-timing the program that there has to be something to it. And here’s an anecdote I saw with my own eyes.

Heading to a Saturday morning walkthrough at the ACC during the training camp portion of the season, I was walking along Lakeshore from the parking garage to the arena about 9:35 a.m. for a 10 a.m. session. The players, who were all staying at the Harbour Castle Westin were wandering into the arena, too, in groups of three or four. A cab pulls up, obviously not from the hotel and out gets Sam, all by his lonesome.

But I also know that after starting a game on a Friday, Juan Mendez disappeared from the program on the Saturday of the Lebanon game here  because he wasn’t “committed” enough and now the team’s starting centre is kicked off, or quits, a few hours before what was then the biggest game of the quadrennial because of his level of commitment to what the coach wants from the team.

I’m not sure there’s a clear cut right or wrong in this situation but a team that needs to rely on the intangibles as much as it does its talent probably doesn’t benefit from the shenanigans that have gone on.

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Perhaps the most telling quote of all of yesterday came from Sam’s agent, Marc Cornstein.

"Good luck ever getting another NBA player to show up again.”

I don’t know if there is another NBA player from Canada on the horizon, it’s likely years away, but when agents starting looking sideways at a program and, believe me, they talk about such things, it can’t be a good thing.

All those Canadians playing in Europe, who’ll be the backbone of the team forever, have agents, too.

I think some schmoozing is in order.

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Okay, so what’s no Dalembert mean where it counts? Like on the court?

Well, it wasn’t as if he was playing at an all-world level lately but you cannot take a 6-11 shot-blocking centre off a team and expect it not to suffer.

I think it’s a huge longshot for Canada to beat Croatia– just like it’s been ever since the schedule was released – but it’s exponentially longer now that they have a front court rotation without Dalembert.

I will say this, Levon Kendall was a beast in the second half against Korea but that has to be tempered by the fact Croatia is wildly better in every facet of the game than the Koreans.

A guy with extensive international basketball experience told me yesterday that anything can happen in one game and Croatia certainly isn’t the United States.

But watching Canada bumble and stumble against Slovenia and Korea (an 18-point comeback is nice, digging an 18-point hole not so much), And unless Carl English (5-for-17 so far) and Olu Famutimi (4-for-12 so far) get going, Canada has precious little chance.

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Oh, T.J. talked yesterday. In Indianapolis that is. Click over there to see how Mike Wells of the Indy Star chronicled it.

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One from the mail bag and, judging by the in-box I’ve got more than a few hours of answering questions in my immediate future. Thanks, folks.

Q: Hey Doug, can you clarify whether or not teams have any special rights to players they invite to their training camp? Like if a player on the Raptors summer league team excels (eg. Jaycee Carroll), do the Raptors have the first rights to sign him? Or can any team offer a contract to any player on any summer league team not already under contract? Thanks.

Ron M, Markham

A: No, the Raptors, or any other team, has no extended rights to any summer league player they haven’t drafted. Guys like Carroll or Ron Benson or this C.J. Giles kid I’m hearing good things about, are free to make whatever deals they can once the summer league seasons are over.

That’s why you see some guys, like Carroll, playing for multiple teams in multiple leagues.

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Right, forgot about the other big news yesterday.

Roko. Roko. ROKO.

He’s coming, three-year deal, the number I heard was $1.25 million in the first year.

It will be interesting to watch him tomorrow morning against Canada. But, remember, this is Canada he’s playing, not the Celtics. Or the Cavs. Or some, you know, good team.

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One more from the mail having to do with the fascination out there with the Marcus Camby trade:

Q: Can you please explain this Trade Exception rule that developed as a part of the Marcus Camby deal to LA Clippers?
I always thought that in order to make a trade you have to receive the same salary in return for cap purposes. The Nuggets gave the Clippers Camby for nothing and now get a trade exception.

DA N, Toronto

A: It’s only in trades between two teams over the salary cap that the numbers have to match, or come close to match. The Clippers have enough room under the cap to assume all of Camby’s salary so they didn’t have to take anything back.

And the Nuggets get a “trade exception” worth the value of Camby’s contract that they can use for one calendar year to take on a player making up to that amount of money. If they don’t use it in a year, it’s gone and because they are shedding money to avoid a huge tax hit, I’d be surprised if they did use it.

Now, for all those who wonder why Toronto didn’t offer a second-round pick to get Camby – a personal fave who would have been a nice fit – please understand that they couldn’t have done the deal like the Clips did because they didn’t have the cap space.

And it’s obvious that Denver didn’t want to take back any salary in a Camby transaction so that cut Toronto – and almost every other team in the league – out of the sweepstakes.

How 'bout that comeback?

Okay, that was far too much drama for before 8 am. I can handle writing buzzer beaters at night, or even on Sunday afternoons, but before the morning trip to Starbucks? Not so much fun.

Helluva game, though, wasn’t it?

Not sure how many of you were watching but that was a rather stirring comeback from 18 down in the third quarter.

And, yes, that’s exactly why they needed Rowan Barrett on this team. Those 22 points and that clutch three-pointer were vintage Rowan.

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So, where’s it rank?

Big win, no doubt, but all it really did was get them right where they were supposed to be, in Friday’s quarter-finals.

I’d rank it third, maybe fourth, of the international games I’ve been at or know about, and I can’t go back to the Olympic medal-winning performance in ’36 because I’m old but not that old.

I’d put the 2002 Sydney win over Yugoslavia first probably, with the 1999 win over Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico that got them to the 2000 Olympics second.

Then, there’d have to be the ’83 win in the World University Games in Edmonton over an American team stacked with the likes of Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Kevin Willis.

After that? Yeah, a big comeback against Korea in a must-win game would be next, maybe. You’ve still got the wins over Australia in Sydney and that final game in 2000, overtime over Russia when they showed some heart after having it ripped out by France to put in the conversation.

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Best move of the game? Without question, it was shortening the rotation.

I know they crow about depth and all that, but in a 40-minute game, I’m not sure you can be shutting nine or 10 players in and out. Eight’s about the right number, maybe even seven if there’s no serious foul trouble and that’s something that helped turn the game in the second half.

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Oh, and Jermaine Anderson is certainly not Steve Nash, never will be even close, but that jumper took some stones.

Good to see the kid make a big shot.

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Moving on, for the moment …

It hasn’t been announced yet – which is why you folks are so darn lucky – but Carlos Delfino, I’m told, is heading to Russia.

I’m guessing he’s getting something in the neighbourhood of $5 million a season over there, which is far more than any legit offer he got from the NBA.

What’s it mean for the Raptors? Nothing, really.

They retain his rights for as long as the qualifying offer (about $2.7 million) is on the table (a year) but it’s not included in the calculation of the NBA’s tax.

I heard Carlos had a couple of offers in the NBA – the most significant coming from Detroit – but that the money wasn’t close to what he wanted.

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One left over from the mail:

Q: What do you think is stunting Joey Graham. Is it the style of coaching or is it all in his head? He seems to have all the tools (decent jump shot, NBA body). I have a feeling the light bulb will go on if he is released or traded.

Andrew A, Mississauga

A: I think, and people in organization concur, is that the game is just a bit too fast for Joey to process sometimes. He’s as athletically gifted as anyone on the team but his decision-making process and court awareness is lacking too often.

Maybe he gets it this year, there are people in the organization who think he will, but I’m skeptical.

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Remember last week when we suggested that Jay Triano would get another gig with the American “select” team that will practice, using international rules, against the American Olympic team next week?

Well, the official announcement comes today that the Raptor assistant will once again work with P.J. Carlisemo on the team that trains against the real team.

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Here’s one that’s very topical

Q: Doug, quick question. How were the Clippers able to acquire Marcus Camby without taking back any salary in return?
Alex H, Oakville

A: The Clips can do it because they’re far enough under the cap to assume Camby’s contract.

And, to answer all those who’ve asked, NO, NO, NO, the Raptors could not have had Camby for such a bargain-basement price.

They didn’t have the money to take on his salary and I know they feel more comfortable with two years of Jermaine O’Neal than they would have with two years of Marcus.

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A lot of concern about Rod Benson out there and why he hasn’t played a minute for Toronto’s summer league team.

He had a bit of a sprained knee that kept him out of the first two games and he might be able to go tomorrow when they play again.

But don’t get too excited. Spies in Vegas tell me the Raptors really aren’t that high on him, even if they were looking to fill their 13^th roster spot with a big, which they aren’t.

He’s a good blogger, though.

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In the wild and wacky world of international basketball, the buyout and contract closure that will allow Roko Ukic to sign with the Raptors had to go through two federations (Italy, where played this year; and Spain, where his rights were actually held) as well as FIBA and then the NBA has to take a look at it.

It might get done today, it might be tomorrow, but it’s going to get done, not to worry.

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Gonna clear up one more piece of mail before I get into the many that are waiting in the queue to be answered:

Q: Knuckleheadism (not sure if that's a word) aside do you think Colangelo would ever consider a Bargnani & filler for Ron Artest deal to give the Raps a legitimate shot at the Eastern conference.  Worst case, he's moved at the deadline or off the books next summer?

Rob V, Waterloo

A: Can’t see that happening in a million years.

Couple of reasons: I fully expect Artest to be traded before the season starts, the knuckleheadism factor is huge and, while you and a thousand others may not see it, I don’t think strengthening the wing spot is a good idea at the expense of weakening the front line and leaving a big man rotation of O’Neal, Bosh, Hump and the unproven rookie Jawai.

Hardly a brilliant debut, was it?

Drubbing?

Yeah, that’s what it was over in Athens today.

Now we find out what kind of mental makeup the national men’s basketball team has because if it wants any shot at qualifying for Beijing, they have to beat Korea on Wednesday morning.

But you have to wonder how shaken their confidence is and if all the talk about being a team will hold up under adversity.

I still see ‘em beating Korea and getting to the quarter-finals but if they don’t play better than they did this morning, it doesn’t matter who they get in that game on Friday.

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A key moment:

If they had a chance, it was to build a lead and when Jermaine Anderson got two fouls in the first quarter, any flow to the offence was lost. Backup point guard was always a problem with this team, we saw today why.

No disrespect to Andy Rautins and Carl English and whoever else had to initiate the offence but that’s not a role any of them play well.

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THANASSIS STAVRAKIS/AP

Canada got burned in the paint.

A key problem:

Halfcourt offence. Non-existent, really.

Another issue that’s been burning for a while, they need to do something more than dump the ball into the post and have four guys standing around waiting for it to come out, or not.

That may work against teams with no inside presence – like Korea, I presume – but not against the, you know, good teams.

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How’d you like the start of the game with no play-by-play? No offence to whoever that guy was that ended up doing it, but just watching the game devoid of commentary was all right.

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Pretty cool to see those little Rasho floaters and up-and-unders again, wasn’t it?

And Slokey looks way more polished than he did when he was here, didn’t he?

And, no, I don’t think they should bring Uros back, as much as we’d like that ‘cause he’s a good guy and all.

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Jaka Lakovic and Sani Becirovic are two prime examples of guys you’ve never heard of who are excellent basketball players.

I would surmise that the overwhelming majority of early-morning viewers were a bit taken aback by the Slovenian guards, who scorched Canada for the first half of the game.

But the world is littered with good players you haven’t heard much about. That’s why the game internationally is so cool, you get solid performances from guys you don’t know and then next year, when they do it again, you go, ‘damn, I forgot about him. He’s good.’

Becirovic’s 27, been with the national team for a decade and played for Panathinaikos last year.

Denver liked him enough to take him in the second round of the 2003 NBA draft but a knee injury really ruined any chance he had of coming over here.

Lakovic?

He’s 30 and might have been the best player on Barcelona last year.

These dudes are no slouches.

And now, when you watch Euroleague games next year, you’ve got two guys to look for.

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The one over is Athens is not the only Canadian men’s team in action this week.

Down in Argentina, the under-18 team is trying to qualify for next year’s world championships and there are a couple of kids you should keep your eye on.

Tristan Thompson had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Mangisto Arop had 17 and 12 on Monday when Canada beat Mexico 78-65 in its first game.

Had a chance to see Canada against some college kids in an exhibition game before the Canada-Lebanon tilt a couple of weeks ago at Ricoh and came away impressed with those two.

Canada gets Uruguay today and Argentina tomorrow. Four of the eight teams in the tournament qualify for the worlds next summer in New Zealand.

And besides the kids getting key international experience, head coach Greg Francis is building a resume that I imagine will some day land him the same gig with the senior national team.

Have been hearing for a couple of years how good a coach he is and watching him work his team that night at Ricoh, I saw why.

Just seems to have a calmness and a presence.

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Here’s one from the mail:

Q: Just wondering if those new uniforms that I heard about earlier in the season are finally going to be unveiled for the 08-09 season. If so, have you seen or heard about what they're going to look like?
Sam C, Kingston

A: Oh yeah, they’ll be out for the start of the season. It’s a third jersey, all black with red trim, and I think I heard that they’ll wear them somewhere around a dozen times in the regular season.

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Early report on Nathan Jawai at the summer league: Smooth, energetic.

Raw. Very raw.

But more promise than disappointment in his first game, according to people who saw it out in Vegas last night.

One thing to remember, though: Jawai is behind two all-stars, a former No. 1 overall draft pick and the Hump as the Raptors head into the summer. Expecting him to get more than garbage minutes is asking a lot.

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Joel Anthony got a nice little gift just before the qualification tournament began.

The Miami Heat picked up the option on his contract for next season, guaranteeing him $711,000 or so next season.

Miami had until July 25 to exercise the option.

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Notice that Roko Ukic was a DNP-CD in Croatia’s first game in Athens yesterday. All I can think of is that his contract status kept him out of the game because I haven’t heard that he’s banged up or all.

Was told the other day there’s no real glitch in the process, it’s just taking time to finalize the buyout, get the FIBA clearance letter (all players need one when they move from Europe over here) and get him signed to his Raptor deal.

That should get done this week, I’m sure his country wants it cleared up so he can play when the Olympic qualification tournament gets serious on the weekend.

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Here’s some more mail:

Q: Just a question for someone reasonably old enough to remember: You and ESPN's Stein seem to remember the Buffalo Braves years with fondness, based on where you guys grew up I suppose.
What was the deal that the team got moved? Was Toronto ever in consideration for picking up that team, or was the city deemed too empty of basketball fans at that time?

Tim F, Monterrey

A: I’m not sure about My Man Stein (who I know has a fondness for all things Canadian) but my age and Niagara Falls roots made the Braves the team to watch.

The team got moved because the owner saw greener pastures out west and Toronto was never in the running.

Of the summer league and Canada

Everybody have a nice weekend? Great weather, lots of time for yard work and tasty veal chops on the barbecue. Sweet. But also lots of time to talk on the phone and gather some wee nuggets some of you might like.

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Everybody ready to get up nice and early tomorrow to watch Canada-Slovenia?

I’ll be here, six bells, with the TV on thanks to The Score and Canada Basketball. Oh, and the coffee on, too.

I really don’t know what Canada’s chances are for the simple reason that no one knows how good the competition is going to be.

I fully expect them to win at least one, and maybe two, of their first round games, which gets them either Croatia or Puerto Rico in the all-important quarter-final on Friday.

Croatia’s an unknown for sure, they’ve got guys you’ve never heard of who I’m sure can play, and Puerto Rico’s got Carlos Arroyo and J.J. Barea and that’s a pretty good backcourt.

I know I always say we’re not supposed to be fans in this gig but a big chunk of me would love to see Canada do well.

The front line of Sam Dalembert and Joel Anthony can matchup with any in the tournament and I’d say Rowan Barrett, Olu Famutimi, Carl English and David Thomas are solid on the wings.

If it comes down to point guard play, Jermaine Anderson’s shown he can handle the gig but I wonder about his backups. Tyler Kepkay has never, ever been in anything like an Olympic qualifier and Canada used Andy Rautins a bit at the spot in the exhibition series. He’s not a true point guard and missed the final game in Germany because, I was told, of a jammed thumb.

Tough task, no question. But at least it gives us a week of Canadian basketball to talk about and that’s not a bad thing.

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You all know what I think about the Summer League so take this anyway you like …

Remember the name Jaycee Carroll.

He’s the kid added late to the Raptor summer league team, combo guard out of Utah State who made a pretty bold statement with 14 points in about four minutes of Saturday’s game.

I have no idea if he can stick in the NBA but the kid killed playing for New Jersey in Orlando and is starting to turn some heads.

Including, according to my man Dave D down in Newark, that of Nets honcho Rod Thorn.

"If he can play some combo guard, at the end of the day – if he can be a 1 for a few minutes a night – I think he is (an NBA player),” Thorn said. “He’s giving up size at the two-guard. But he’s a very competitive kid, and he has a real quick release. He’ll make some shots. But whether he can guard those guys will be the key. If he improves his ball-handling … we played him a lot at the point, and he did a nice job. He got pressed a lot but did a nice job. So that’s the key.  But with his makeup, the way he’s put together, he looks like a player.”

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There’s one guy floating around the free agent market who I’ve been asked about a few times over the last few days.

And I’ll dutifully report that Dan Dickau is absolutely not on the Raptor radar.

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Some mail

Q: Hi Doug, I just learned that Nathan Jawai is an Australian of Aboriginal descent. Given all of the attention given to the cultural diversity of the Raptors' squad, I am surprised that this has received merely a passing mention. There are such strong and tragic historical parallels in the treatment of Australian Aborigines and First Nations in Canada. All the more reason that Toronto should feel proud and blessed to welcome on to their team the first Aboriginal player to be drafted by the NBA. I would like to hear much more about this apparently remarkable story. What do you think? Can you give us some more on him?

Mohamed M, Montreal

A: Here’s the deal on Jawai, as we found out over the weekend.

He’s not considered Aborigini because he was born on a tiny island off the coast of Australia. He is considered indigenous instead.

And I’m sure we’ll all hear the story in great depth when we finally get a chance to sit down and talk with him.

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Speaking of the summer league, scanning the rosters in a moment of weekend boredom and one name leaped off the screen:
The Big Kitchen is back.

John Thomas, one of the all-time good Raptors, is playing for Milwaukee.

He’s an interesting dude. Took a couple of years off to travel and work in a sports agency, caught up with him about three years ago in Minnesota when he was playing that defunct summer league. No idea if he’s still got game but he’s exactly the kind of zany story you find in these summer leagues.

And toss in Pape Sow (Dallas), P.J. Tucker (Memphis) and Jelani McCoy (Denver) and you’ve got four-fifths of an ex-Raptor injured/inactive list team that should be able to kick some summer league butt.

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Once more into the mail for something slightly off-topic:

Q: You said that at some points you're dreading the trip to Beijing?! I was just wondering as to the reasons for any hesitation towards what seems like an extraordinary trip?

Aris D, Toronto

A: I think anyone going to Beijing – or any Olympics for that matter – has the same concerns.

Pollution, infrastructure, security, language, transportation, being away from family and home for more than three weeks, an oppressive government watching you constantly.

Seeing missile silos a couple of hundred yards away from venues in Greece was a tad disconcerting (although the only major security issue of five Olympics I’ve covered already was some nutjob American trying to blow up a park in Atlanta).

I’m sure it’ll be fine and the memories will be all good but there’s trepidation, for sure.

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Reason #12,240 why the summer league’s horrible.

In the Raptor-Sacramento game the other day, a 40-minute game by the way, there were 77 fouls called. SEVENTY-SEVEN! That’s one about every 40 seconds or so.

Joey Graham and Deji Akindele both came within two of equalling Hoffa’s franchise record for personal fouls in a game (10) although I’m told there were some, um, dubious calls.

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This just in:

New Zealand edges Cape Verde 77-50 in Athens. No surprise there. But at least we know that we should get a Canada-Slovenia result tomorrow about the same time and it’s dang early.

More mail for a Saturday

Oh, don’t worry, there’s even more than this to come later this weekend. There are a couple in the in-box that require calls to folks in the organization and they're all in Vegas.

Hey, it’s Opening Day of the Summer League for the Raps? Everybody pumped? I mean really, really excited?

Not sure if you saw it, but they’ve added a second Canadian to the staff. Gord Herbert, a B.C. native who’s been coaching in Europefor years and was the first Canadian to coach a Euroleague team, is the new assistant coach/basketball development. He’ll occupy a seat behind the bench during games.

Anyway, on with the mail:

Q: Hi Doug, Just watching some Summer League games online and noticed that PJ Tucker is getting some burn for Memphis.  Do you think he has a shot at making their roster?  I think he played extremely well this year in Europe (Maccabi Tel Aviv, if I recall correctly).  Would love to see him back in the NBA, even though he is undersized for his position.  What have you heard about PJ lately?
Amy G, LA-Tor

A: It was actually Hapoel Holon (my man Eran over there would never forgive me if I got it wrong) and he did have a great year. Am told by someone who saw him live that he looks really good, albeit against summer league opposition. I think he would have two things going for him that Memphis would like: He’d come cheap and be a hard-nosed defender and rebounder. But, he might make more money back in Europe, one of the rich Russian teams was after him, if I recall, and that might be the determining factor.

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Q: Hey Doug I'm just wondering but what would you do if you were the GM of the LA Clippers, two of your all-satrs walked away from your franchaise now who do you sign? What trades do you try to go through with?

Jermaine M, Toronto

A: Of all the unenviable positions in the NBA right now, Clips GM might be the most unenviable. I’d get on the phone to Josh Smith’s guy right away (he’d probably be a good complement to Chris Kaman) and I’d have to be looking to sign some people because there aren’t a lot of tradeable parts on that roster.

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Q: I see a lot of questions regard JO number 6 jersey. I remember in 2006, when Andrea was selected, he chose (or wanted) number 11, because that was the number he used in Italy. He changed to number 7 when the trade for TJ Ford was declared, because he wanted number 11. Now that TJ is gone, if JO really wanted number 7, I'm sure Andrea would give it up for number 11. You said that JO wouldn't mind putting 7 behind, considering his years in Indiana, but I doubt Andrea would mind either, since he hasn’t exactly excelled. On a side note, I never got an answer on your opinion on Canada’s play on Friday against New Zealand, and whether the pricing was fair considering the level of play?
Nika L, Toronto

A: The cynic in me would suggest O’Neal wears 7 and Bargnani goes back to 11 so they could sell a whole lot more replica jerseys. But I’m thinking they just leave JO with 6 and Andrea with 7.

The Friday New Zealand game was the only one of the four I missed – crucial Little League game and coaches/staff/parents meeting at newfound Mississaugalocal Cooper’s was on the agenda – so I really can’t speak to the way they played.

And the pricing? I don’t think it was maybe a tad high but they drew 1,500-plus for all four games so it wasn’t that bad. Maybe next summer they put bunch of $10 tickets in packages for minor basketball teams or organizations.

Having to buy two games in advance sales was tough but you could still have shown up game night and picked up a single.

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Q: I quote Doug:
"Opening Day!
I got the Jays at 91 wins, in contention until the last couple of weeks before falling to Boston in the division and out of the wild card that’ll come from the Central."
Doug, unofficially half way through the season, do you want to change your prediction about the blue birds??
As for I?  I had them in the playoffs, now I don't even have them on my TV!!

Joe S, Toronto

A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone’s an expert (I keed, I keed). But did you see Halladay on Friday and that Scutaro-McDonald play?

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Q: You're probably get alot of advice about going to Beijing, so here's another one:  don't wear white unless you want it to turn grey in 24-hrs due to the smog, and carry your own chopsticks or utensils.
My question relates to the integrity of GMs and their trades.  You mentioned that a GM would never renege on a trade, as it would destroy the trust amongst his peers.  However, I seem to recall the Minnesota Timberwolves were fined several years ago by the league (I think 5 first round draft picks) for doing such a thing - I could be wrong.  Was Kevin McHale the GM at that time? If the T'wolves did not renege, has there ever been such an incident in the NBA?  Thank you for the excellent blogging.

Ping C, Scarborough

A: Actually, McHale didn’t renege on a deal, he cut an illegal, under-the-table deal with Joe Smith and got caught, that’s why they lost the draft picks. How the dude keeps his job is beyond me.

Thanks for the Beijing advice, I’m either eagerly anticipating the trip or absolutely dreading it, depends on the day it seems.

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Q: I always enjoy reading the blog.  Keep up the great work!

I have a two comments and one question.
1. I've never seen Nathan Jawai play but I'm wishfully thinking that he could be one of the best sleeper picks of the draft.  He seems like a big tough dude who may become a Ben Wallace type player with more offensive potential.  That would be sweet.
2. I have never before purchased or worn any  player jerseys for any sports team ever before.  I recently had a birthday and asked my wife to get me the one Raptor jersey that I feel I can always wear with pride.  I chose a #20 Alvin Williams jersey.  He was my favourite player during his too short career with the Raps and I wish he could still play.  He epitomized effort, toughness, and quiet leadership.  This leads to my question...
I take the purchase/wearing of a player's jersey fairly seriously because I do not want to buy an expensive shirt with the name of a guy on it that epitomizes not caring, (hello Vince) or some other bad attitude.  So, at present, do you own any player jerseys, and if so, which ones, and do you ever wear them?  Can you give us the top 3 current player jerseys that you would feel comfortable wearing and the top 3 former player jerseys?
I can't remember if you answered this question before so forgive me if I'm repeating another's past query.
Pete H, Richmond Hill

A: I’m an overweight, 50-year-old dude, they laugh me out of the replica jersey stores.

Seriously, I have never, ever owned one, not even as a kid if my (feeble) memory serves.

If I had to, I’d break the bank and buy a Bill Russell Celtics jersey, maybe a Wilt Chamberlain Sixers jersey with Phila on the front and a Randy Smith Buffalo Braves jersey.

Of the current players, I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing any of them.

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Q: I get the plan to shorten the bench and have more defined roles for the 8 or 9 who will see consistent minutes. My question is: Who scores the ball when the 2nd unit is playing?

Greg C, Toronto

A: Well, if the plan turns out that one of O’Neal and Bosh are always on the floor, that’d be the guy; I think Bargnani’s scoring will improve playing primarily backups and if Kapono starts, maybe Moon scores more and if Moon starts, maybe the Playoff Kapono takes care of that second-unit offence.

You people ask lots of questions

Far too much here for anyone to get through in one sitting so I’ve save a bunch to put up tomorrow (and I’m sure more will filter into the system today) so not to worry if you’re not here.

Oh, and the women’s football? It’s gonna be a cool gig. Not a bad game (wretched first half, entertaining second) and my new favourite Canadian soccer player in Melissa Tancredi (I’m not really sure I had one before, though). Took a boot to the nose, broke it, blood everywhere and still came out after the game to talk to reporters. Plucky, tough. Neither really does her justice.

Okay, enough of that. Until Beijing, that is.

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Q: Hey Dougie, maybe this Hassan Adams kid will turn into this year's sleeper. Now, I'm not the type to get fooled by a player's highlight reel. Obviously, (a clip I’ve seen) doesn't give a representative picture of the guy's overall game. HOWEVER... this guy isn't afraid to take it to the hole, and knows how to finish! The clip shows about five or six muscular, in-traffic slashes and dunks, which by my count is five or six more times than Moon did it last year. That alone endears the kid to me. But throw in the tenacious D that he is known for and I can see this guy maybe getting starter minutes at some point, probably at the 2 at AP's expense, but maybe even at SF. You agree?

Lee Z, Ottawa

A: I have no idea what Hassan Adams will end up doing here, or who’ll he’ll supplant in the rotation but I do know that my respected friend Dave D’Alessandro in New Jersey says Adams being cut was one of the most egregious personnel errors the Nets have made in years and that the Raptors brass who saw him at the free agent camp here were determined to sign him after about the second practice session.

I fully expect him to challenge Parker for minutes, if not the starting job at some time during the season based on what I’ve been told.

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Q: Hey Doug, how realistic would it be for the Raps to come to the small city of Kingston? We're only about two and a half hours away from the heart of Toronto, and recently there has been a large sports venue built here. Would the organization ever consider them coming to a smaller-scale city in the near future to build on the growing popularity of basketball in Canada?

Sam C, Kingston

A: Sorry, my regularly-writing friend, can’t see it happening. Kingston’s a great city and all but I don’t know if it has the infrastructure – read restaurants, clubs and social amenities – that these guys would want.

What they should do is what old time baseball teams used to do, send a caravan of a couple of players, a coach, a front office type or two, maybe a beat grunt, to places like Kingston and Niagara and London and maybe Peterborough during the month of September to help promote themselves, and the game.

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Q: It's all about the Color Man, Doug. Jack's back?! In a basketball market that sometimes gets talked down to Jack Armstrong is a guy who plays the Jester but also can break down plays and players in a way that basketball heads love. Great rumored move.
For me, Doug Collins is the best Color Man.
Mr. Smith, who is on your Color Man honor roll?
L.J.S., Brampton

A: Of the current group? I’d put Jeff Van Gundy at the top, just a notch above Collins. I think Jeff’s got great chemistry with Mike Breen (best play-by-play guy out there) and a nice sense of humour.

Collins is good, to dry, though, for my tastes most times.

The others? I really don’t see enough local broadcasts often enough to really come up with a list. I’m not a fan of Reggie Miller or Mark Jackson, though.

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Q: I want your job. Anywho, If/once the Knicks buy-out Marbury's contract, will BC think about signing him for the minimum (that's if Marbury considers it) as their back up PG (that's if Marbury accepts it). 

Lotof 'ifs' but how unlikely is it?
Justin S, Sudbury

A: You’ve got a better chance of playing for the Raptors than Stephon Marbury does.

And, you know, on days like Wednesday, with a 6 a.m. wakeup to blog, a soccer story to write, four hours of press conferences to sit through, a conference call from Germany to listen in to and two stories for the web, three main pieces for the paper and a note on the new TV dude to write, you could almost have my job.

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Q: Hey Doug, quick question, don’t mind if you don’t post me but you mind just giving me a quick answer? LOL. Just wondering who you think our next swingman is going to be. At the moment, it is a mystery to me and I would just like to know who is coming of the bench to give Ukic some help at the wing.

Imran K, Toronto

A: I have no idea who it’ll be and you know what? They don’t either. That’s why they’re waiting to see who’s out there later in the month and into August before they decide who’s in the mix with Parker, Kapono, Moon, Graham and Adams.

And Ukic is a point guard, not a wing.

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Q: Got the opportunity to check out the O'Neal press conference and was pretty impressed by the number of media types in attendance. Wondering how the turnout would compare to a major Maple Leaf signing.

Nate W, Toronto

A: Dude, if the Leaves had done something significant like obtain a six-time all-star and re-signed someone like Sundin, they would have had to hold the news conference out in the bowl.

But there were a lot of us there, weren’t there?

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Q: What do you think of the Golden State Warriors signing Corey Maggette?  Personally, I think they should have made a run at Josh Smith since he seems to fit their system perfectly.

Rick T, Toronto

A: I think they probably did make a call to Smith but I also wonder, in a Baron Davis-free Warrior world, if they have a “system” any more. He pretty much made it work.

And I absolutely think Maggette got too much money for his value. At $7 million, he’s all right, at $10 or whatever it is for five years, it eats up too much cap space.

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Q: Hey Doug. Just watched the press conference for JO. Then headed over to the net and noticed Pietrus getting signed by the Magic. Doesn't it look like the Eastern Conference has gotten a lot stronger all of a sudden? Looking at the Raptors I don't see enough depth or improvement to challenge Boston, Orlando, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Am I way off base or is .500 a lofty goal here?

Garth S, Chilliwack, B.C.

A: I think, right now, that .500 is the absolute bottom level this team should be at, or expects to be at.

I’ll give you Philly’s better but Pietrus is a backup in Orlandoand, really, how much better is he for them than Maurice Evans was in his role? And I’m wondering if Joe Dumars will actually do anything in Detroit, if he doesn’t that’s just an old team a year older.

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Q: Hey Doug, I have read a report that the Celtics just recently gave a workout to Darius Miles and he had an "impressive" showing. I know the Raptors don't have any cap room now, but don't you think Miles would've been a cheap and resourceful pickup for the Raptors at the wing position?

Dilpreet S, Brampton

A: There are a lot of issues with Darius Miles, his health, the fact there’s a report out there that he’s facing a 10-game suspension whenever he does play because of a failed drug test and I don’t think these guys would have any serious interest.