The morning after a busy day

A whirlwind day of signings and news conferences and we haven’t even spoken yet to Nathan Jawai or Roko Ukic. It really does never end, it seems.

And judging by the mail I see over in the inbox, the six or seven hours I had planned for loafing before covering the big Canada-Brazil women’s soccer match is out the window.

)Yes, your humble beat grunt is moving over to women’s soccer, and softball, baseball, men’s field hockey, men’s water polo and Lord knows what else as the Beijing gigs. Lucky, lucky readers).

But don’t fret, it seems basketball never takes a break so we’ll stay grounded over here. After all, who’s going to ridicule summer league games if not me?

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Speaking of the Summer League (and it ain’t the Celtics-Lakers of the 80s, that’s for sure), Eric Hughes serves as the Raptors head coach. It’s not unusual for veteran coaches like Sam to pass off the summer league game duties to an assistant, guess they chose Eric ‘cause it’s his turn or something.

The rest of the staff is there (they had some meeting at 7 a.m. in Vegas today to go over stuff) and Sam will coach the practices leading up to the first game.

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How ‘bout them Canadas?

Now, no one actually saw the game in Germany yesterday so most opinion is based on hearsay and reports but a win is a win is a win. And it’s never easy to win an international friendly (oops, falling into football-speak) on the road so there is some significance to the result.

But most important is the fact Sam Dalembert played because, as more than a few people who would know pointed out last week, Canada cannot beat the big boys without some sort of anchor on the defence.

And being big and mobile and quick, Dalembert’s exactly the kind of anchor that’s useful in international games.

I still think it’s going to be uber-difficult for Canadato get one of the three Beijing spots next week in Athens but I’m getting more impressed with each game.

The good thing? There’s a legitimacy to the program now, having the games on TV next week is huge (they’ll be replayed Tuesday and Wednesday night by The Score, too), Canada Basketball is doing small things like setting up post-game conference calls with Leo and a player to make our jobs a wee bit easier and I sense people out there are starting to care more.

Now, if there’s a big-hearted corporation looking to spend some money, I know the folks would love to hear from you.

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You can almost see ‘em hugging, can’t you?

Jose, yesterday, on Garbo:

"He’s my friend, that’s the first thing. I think it was the best thing for him, for everybody. He had a tough year with the injury, no one wants that, it’s bad luck but he’s happy. He’s happy, he’s doing okay. He’s my friend, if he’s happy, I’m happy, too. There’s nothing else.”

Awwwww.

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There’s a whole lot of love out there for Matt Barnes, who is one of the dozens of still-to-be-signed free agents floating around.

First off, I’m not sure where the suggestion comes that the Warriors, who are stumbling and bumbling along the free-agent path looking for a way to ease the pain of Baron Davis’s departure, aren’t going to keep him.

And, second, he made $3 million last year so unless he’s going to cut his salary by more than half, he’s not a fit here.

His game? It’s okay.

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Of course Jermaine O’Neal was asked about the 2004 brawl. Here’s what he said:

"My situation was, I saw a teammate who was having some problems with the fans, a fan was literally on top of him. And at that particular time it wasn’t about basketball, it wasn’t about anything, it was people that were really, really trying to hurt us.

"Now, we’ve got 12, 13 players there. Obviously Detroit has the biggest arena in the NBA and there was like 14,000 people still there. And it was extremely … it was chaos. People were picking up chairs and throwing them.

"At that point, you really don’t have a chance to really evaluate a particular situation, you have to make the best decision for yourself and your teammates. I made my decision, I went to court, won the court case against the NBA, won the civil, won the criminal. I didn’t lose a case. My view was the view of every juror and the proof is in the pudding.

"Being put in that position, if I had to do it all again, and if a teammate was having that … I mean, people have lives. I think that’s something that gets overlooked. I think fans and the general public think because we get paid a certain amount of money we’re not really human, but we go home to our families, we go home to our wives, girlfriends, brothers and sisters and if somebody is killed – and somebody could have got killed in that particular situation, there was no security whatsoever to help us – how do you explain to your teammates family that you could have did something to prevent that person dying.

"I’m hoping that nothing like that ever happens again and I’m damn sure hoping that nothing like that happens with any team I’m on, but if put in that position to protect my teammate, I would definitely do that again to help my teammate.”

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A quick one from the mailbag before I head off to answer mail:

Q: Doug, how can Philly trade the contracts of Carney and Booth to Minny without taking contracts of equal value back?

Barry K, Ridgeway

A: Minnesota was under the cap so they could take on salary and also had what’s known as a “trade exception” which, in the most simple explanation, is the difference in salaries of traded players, an amount that can be used in a transaction for one calendar year.

Comments

[Milette]

After reading what J.O. had to say about the brawl, I'm starting to see the incident in a whole different light.

[Patrick from MTL]

Hi Doug,

I was really happy to hear O'Neal mention that he would be working out a bit with Bargnani while in Vegas. Every little bit helps!

Speaking of Vegas, now that the trade is official, is Jawai already down there with the rest of the summer league team (yes, I know summer league play is abhorrent, but I'll take any kind of basketball fix during the long summer off-season).

Thanks!

Blogger's note: Yes, Jawai is there and will practice today

[Vince]

Go Canada Go!
Can't wait to watch the games on the score, thanks for the update, Doug!

[Brett M]

Go Team Canada Basketball and Women's Soccer. My g/f used to play rep basketball with Kara Lang back in the day. She's an impressive athlete

[Jawad]

I have to say i was quite impressed with how JO handled himself during the press conference; articulate and forthright is always refreshing.

Brand to Philly does make the Atlantic more interesting but i'm not sure i'd be conceding the 'best frontcourt' title so easily.

Doug, what are your thoughts on the match-up of Dalembert/Brand vs Bosh/JO? Which do you feel is the better tandem?

thanks
J

Blogger's note: They're pretty equal, aren't they? It's really going to depend on which of Brand or JO has the better year coming off injury.
All things considered right now, I'd probably give the edge to Toronto

[Jason]

Doug,
Our last roster spot will go to someone with a contract of less than 1 million. For all those folks who think its no big deal to go a couple million over the tax here is the cost added to the player. I've rounded off the figures for ease of explaination.

3 million player puts us 2 million over the tax threshold

3 million for the player
2 million to pay dollar for dollar over the tax
2 million that the team loses by not staying under the cap (we don't recieve our 1/30th share)

Total is a 7 million dollar investment into a 3 million dollar player that is a mop up duty player (11th-13th man on rotation)

[Eric Hustvedt, Broad Cove, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia]

Hi, Doug,
Thanks for the fine blog -- and for the alert re: The Score's broadcasts of the Olympic qualifier.

Can you suggest an appropriate name / email address for thanking the The Score -- and encouraging them to keep on track with (even) more basketball coverage?

Eric in Nova Scotia

Blogger's note: I'm sure if you went to The Score's website, you'd find some way to offer comments and thanks. And a wee plug for this little place in your note would be appreciated :)

[Kevin]

I have to say, I really like O'Neal's response to the Brawl question. 1.) I think he tried to do the right thing in a bad situation. 2.) I like that he actually answered the question instead of giving a "I'm not here to talk about that response."

I see that all too often, and while I'm sure he's sick of answering the question it says a lot of him that he would realize Toronto fans have a lot of questions and concerns and he would like to clear the air for a fresh start.

Nice job Mr. O'Neal. Now if you can help Bargnani I'll nominate you for sainthood.

[dean]

Doug

Just Facebooked some freinds in Australia and they swear that Jawai is the real deal. I think you will see him bump somone out of the rotation by mid year. His size and agression under the net are going to be very welcome in Toronto. Maybe these types of players, Jawai and Jermaine, can get other guys like Jamario to buy into the need to drive and put your body on the line when needed.

Has, or will, any of the Toronto media interview TJ about the deal? Why no thanks yesterday from BC to Rasho for his time here? Seemed a little chilly.

Peace Doug

Blogger's note: Yeah, we'll see TJ, or hear from him, in due course. And, believe me, Bryan's spoken to Rasho and thanked him personally for his work here.

[Andy C]

it's good to know JO will stick up for his teammates, even knuckheads like Artest. Even if JO can't maintain his numbers on offense I thnk what he brings in terms of D and toughness will spread throught the locker room.

[Lazaros O.]

Doug, didn't I tell you that Roger Mason will sign for far more than the minimum? 7.5 mil/2 yrs is what he got from the Spurs.

Blogger's note: Yes, you did. And I guess that means he can be scratched off the list of possibilities that might fall through the cracks of free agency. Which, if you'll recall, was what the list of four was, guys who "might" be looking for work in August. But your prescience is duly noted.

[Amanda]

I got really excited after watching the presser with Jermaine O'Neal. He certainly said all the right things, let's just hope those comments translate onto the court.

[Steve G]

Non-raptors post here,

Doug what do you make of Darius Miles trying to make a comeback?
He's apparently worked out for the Suns and Celtics.

How would that affect the Blazer's Cap, since he had a "career-ending injury"? Are they already completely off the hook for him and he's a free-agent?

[Craig A]

Re: O'Neal and the brawl

Not only did O'Neal land the best punch, it was easily the most justified of the entire night.

[leigh]

Hey Doug....did you see Candace Parker's line from last night ? 40pts, 16rebs, 6dimes and 5 blocks......DUDETTE'S GOT GAME !

[Steve Hallman]

Doug,

I just read andrew bogut is going to sign 5 years 72.5 million
that's an average of 14.5 million a year. Thoughts on that signing? I do not think he's worth that kind of scratch.

Blogger's note: I'm shocked. That's crazy money

[Uncle Zeke]

As Indiana fans can tell you Jermaine O'Neal has been saying the "right things" for years now. However, his on-court demeanour has never really reflected his words. I guess we'll have to wait and see if things change in TO. Just remember with JO "the proof is in the pudding"...

[Kelsie]

Definitely an exciting day yesterday.

Regrading JO, I know the brawl was a bad situation but honestly, we need a little touchness around here and although I don't anticipate he'll be knocking someone flat on their arse, I like knowing there is key player on this team thats not a goon but will mix it up whenever necessary.

Brand to Philly is a good move but overrated. I don't think he is as good as either Bosh or JO and before we make Philly a contender or say they've surpassed the Raps (they are better defensively though), they were barely a .500 team and let me see them do it again. The rest of the league will not be overlooking them this year just like the Raps found out last year after winning the division the prior season.

Finally, maybe it's the old school, respect the veteran attitude in me, but Bargniani, you have to give up that number #7 to the vet coming in no? This guys a six time all star and has been named to all NBA teams. Surely they can come to some kind of financial agreement and give the vet his old number no? What happened to the good old days when the young guy knew he was probably going to have to give up the number but was going to get something in return? C'mon Andrea it's time to get with the program big fella. This guys gonna be beating up on you in practice for the next couple years helping you develop, throw him a bone!

[Doug S]

I don't buy all this nonsense about Brand and Dalembert and the Sixers being great next year. It's the same nonsense we heard last year when NYK brought in Randolph to play alongside Curry - we saw how that turned out. Will Philly make the palyoffs? Yes. Will they be contenders in the East? No. Will they be better than the Raps? Not even close.

[Ken]

Doug, what kind of offer do you think Livingston will be looking for or what he might get from other teams now that he is a free agent?

Blogger's note: That's a tough one, I'm betting he doesn't get $1 million a year on a two-year deal because teams are so afraid of his health. Of course, one GM may prove me wrong but I wouldn't do more than a one-year deal with a one-year team option.

[James]

Hey Doug,

You censored my comment about your last blog. It said nothing offensive or rude. I guess disagreeing with your views is an offense? This feels very undemocratic...

Blogger's note: Just checked, didn't change a word, even left in the childish "you're full of it" comment. I did, quite accurately, point out that your contention that Gerald Wallace is a better shooter than any of the Raptors is absolutely wrong when you look at field goal percentages.
But as for censoring? Nah, just laying out the facts.

[Craig A]

The clips just renounced their rights to Shaun Livingston and Dan Dickau. I doubt Livingston will be within the Rap's budget, but Dickau could be.

[jr]

1)doug, Do you have any idea what T.V station is broadcasting the raptors summer league games and if yes when and what time?

2)what teams are they facing could u please post thier schedule?
thankz doug

Blogger's note: I'm not sure the entire TV schedule has been officially determined but you can check raptors.com for the game's schedule.

[Stan]

Colangelo said something along the lines of "Calderon had his first assist today -- he agreed to restructure his deal so that we fall just under the luxury tax, by about one thousand dollars". If that's true, how can they sign anybody and not go over the tax? Was he including Delfino's 2.7M qualifying offer? If he was, don't we have another 2.7M to spend, then, once Delfino takes another offer (or goes to Europe)?

Blogger's note: The money for other players is already budgeted for and took them right up to the tax

[John]

I guess the heat has got to your readers. Hope the aussie can get on the summer league roster and show what he can do. JO dresses well and says all the right things but he gets paid to play basketball. So we'll know by Christmas.

Enjoy the soccer. Been watching our girls play for years and may have one playing in England after Christmas.

Blogger's note: It was a heckuva game, and very nice to see 13,000-plus in the stands.