Let's nip this in the bud now

As you regulars know, I never do this but this whole Dallas-Toronto thing that's floating around there this morning is creating reaction well beyond proportion.

So ...

The deal is not going to happen, was never going to happen, will never happen and you can all go back to your regularly-scheduled lives, as I will with a visit to Super Son's orthodontist and my doctor, exactly the way I was going to spend an off-day before I got sidetracked with this garbage.

I have no idea why the story was made up or out there in the first place but one guy I talked to around the league used the words "total" and "nonsense" in a conversation.

Think about it: Yes, Howard is good, although many will tell you his skills and impact are declining. Diop has perhaps the worst contract for value in the league with four years and about $25 million to run -- after this year - and a trade kicker that increases the value. This for what? A rebound or two, maybe a point or two a game? Come on, are you serious? Antoine Wright? If he gets another NBA contract after next year I'll be shocked.

For what? The best young big man on Toronto's roster and the most valuable expiring contract? Do you all think Bryan has lost his mind?

I have no idea who the writer is or what hoopsworld is or why this fiction got out there but it did and it's ridiculous. End of rant.

Well, sort of.

This is a prime example of why you should trust and know the sources of your news and speculation. And it's precisely why I don't traffic in fantasy.

See you later for the game.

Comments

[Uncle Zeke]

I love how you give this trade the kiss of death... With your track record of the reverse-hex guarantee I think I might go have a Howard Raptor's jersey made up right now...

Howard might have some non-basketball issues but he's a great young talent who has produced as a key member of a 60 win basketball team. What has the best young big man on the Raptors done but disappoint. If Colangelo was offered this deal and even hesitated for a second he should be fired. Can't see Rick Carlisle wanting a soft non-defensive big-man though- it's not his style...

Diop might have a bad contract but it's a mile away from being the worst in the league... Hmmm... Eddie Curry? Zach Randolph? Heck I'd rather have him than the Kap-gun and their contracts are identical... considering the bad deals BC doled out to Kapono, Richardson, Diaw and Banks- Diop should be a great fit...

But i have to agree, Dallas wouldn't do this and Diop and Howard make wasy more salary than what the Raps are rumoured to be offereing..

Blogger's note: Yeah, Dallas wouldn't want to do this and Toronto would. You're bang on with that one. Thanks for the input. Now go read the hoopsworld retraction story.

[Adil]

looks like you were right:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11152

at least it says BC is making a "small tax-related move". maybe waiving hassan adams?

Blogger's note: Hassan or Jake but I'd bet on the former leaving somehow. Still haven't been able to reach anyone to find out what specifically it is.

[Jordan]

I couldn't agree with you more. When i first saw that, it sounded completely absurd to me. Bargnani is still too young to give up on yet, and Parker is one of the best guard defenders in the league, and is also a threat from the perimeter. Not to mention both these guys are heating up as of now, and if it wasn't for Solomon shooting us out of the game the other night we would've won in Milwaukee and been on a bit of a role.

[Michael]

Doug, this is a quote from realgm.com. a very reliable source for news aroung the NBA. I don't think they would have posted it if there was nothing to it. Let's see what happens in the next few days....

Jan 07, 2009 10:30 AM EST
A deal is reportedly being discussed between the Raptors and Mavericks that involves Josh Howard landing in Toronto for Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker.
Toronto has been looking for a small forward, and the discussed deal could involve other players -- perhaps DeSagana Diop and Antoine Wright -- as well.
HoopsWorld first reported the story

Blogger's note: And HoopsWorld, by it's own admission, was the first to report a dead wrong story.

[Paul]

An update: apparently this is not as close to being done as Dallas would like.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11152

[Chirag]

Hey Doug,
Thanks for giving us the info. Aside from that, I've heard moon's out for today's game as well, leaving us with 3 of our starting line up gone...apparantly either kapono/graham will be starting...your choice?

Thanks

C.B

Blogger's note: Me? Graham. And Moon's gone to be with his wife and newborn

[Richard]

It's too bad the numbers don't work. Josh Howard would be great at SF for the Raps.

[Carlo from San Jose, CA]

Agreed Doug. This is crazy. I love the websites like Real GM and hoopshype, but sometimes they are exactly what they are, all HYPE and not REAL. thanks for closing this rumor.

GO RAPS GO

Carlo
San Jose, CA

[Dan]

You sound like you don't like this deal and I am shocked out of my mind. With Bosh playing Bargnani's natural position, its going to be tough for him to develop into something special. You've overrated Bargs.

[GM]

Bargnani and Nowitzki together? Does that even make sense? I sure hope this isn't true. But you had to ask someone to find out, right? The great unwashed don't have that opportunity so it's not unreasonable for them to assume some truth in reports. Had you asked and got less than an unequivocal "total nonsense", then it'd have merit.

Anyway, I sure hope Colangelo isn't looking to trade Bargnani.

Blogger's note: Actually, my first reaction was that it was ridiculous and called a couple of people to confirm my suspicions.

[Chris]

the numbers just don't add up.

If looking at Dallas, a trade involving J.O. and a pick for Howard/Dampier seems to make much more sense to me.

[Mike]

Not everyone thinks this stinks for the Raps.

http://dimemag.com/2009/01/nba-trade-rumor-josh-howard-for-andrea-bargnani/

Still, I agree that it would be a step backwards for the good guys to trade the Italian Scallion (maybe a bit limp) and AP for a bag full of problems with Howard.

[kyle]

Although the players involved seems a little off, there are similar trades with Dallas that could make some sense for both teams.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2010~615~992~2006~802&teams=6~6~28~28~28&te=&cash=

Toronto trades : O´neal & Kapono
Dallas trades: Howard, Stackhouse & Diop

[Jerome P.]

Mr. Smith,

I highly suggest you actually follow a player with your own eyes before you make a case for his skills declining. I live in Dallas, am a huge Mavs fan, and can tell you that you have no idea what Josh is capable of. I would hate this trade. Just check his line from last week when Dirk was suspended a game and tell me he can't make a significant impact. Watch the damn games. And by the way, this is a prime example of why you should trust and know the sources of your news and speculation. And it's precisely why I am awesome in fantasy! Hope you continue freezing and wishing you knew basketball the way you think you do.

Blogger's note: I hope your fantasy team does very well. And perhaps you'll speak sometime to someone like a GM or a scout or a coach before making an assessment of a player.
But good luck in that fantasy world

[OLM™]

Thanks Doug. This rumour was just so out there that this post needed to be put up.

I pity you and your inbox if the Raps lose tonight.

[ian]

thanks for that Doug. i was thinking along the same lines - where ISthe long-term benefit in that trade????

[Jawad Rathore]

Thanks as always for your commentary, Doug
When I first heard this rumour this morning I came to your blog right away to see your thoughts
This might be my all-time favourite post of yours; thanks for cutting through all the hype and putting the rumour-mill in its place (back in the corner!)

Keep up the great work!

P.S. I hope the new in-game blog can be read on Blackberry

[Kevin Allison]

For the record, none of TSN, ESPN, SI, Fox Sports or The Globe are reporting this... which should tell you the credibility of the source. Sportsnet is, but I consider them like The Toronto Sun of the Sports industry.

For all I know Bill Ingram and Hoopsworld.com is a kid in his basement with access to the ESPN Trade Machine.

Another fun site for you Doug, if you haven't seen it: www.82games.com. Has an insane amount of detailed, broken down team stats.. worth a look.

Blogger's note: I'm quite familiar with 82games.com, good site

[ebm]

For the less frequent readers, maybe you could first describe what "this" rumour is? The twits on Primetime on 590 do this all the time too. Summarize first, then analyze. Not all of us live and breathe basketball (or football or hockey or whatever). Tell us what "it" is first. Thanks.

End of rant.

[chops]

This is total nonsense. Especially with Howard's substance problem. Bryan has done everything to give Toronto a clean image and he's not dumb enough to screw around with team chemistry. Oh and Doug, they are calling you the Matt Bonner of Toronto writers for your comments lol.

[Richard]

Totally agree with you on the fantasy blogs and rumormill websites. To much of it, therefore mostly B.S.

[Alvin Munkchip]

Good comments Doug. I think the readers would appreciate it if you were to comment on any gossip/rumour out there just for whether or not they make sense or not. It's more fun than reading about O'Neal's knee injury or Jawai's progress.

[Ryan]

Hey Doug, I see you talked to Bill at Hoopsworld (by complete fluke honestly). He's saying that the "source" is legit, though not necessarily the deal itself. Not sure how to read into that really.

[GP]

Doug,

Thanks for the insight on the rumour. Do you think there's an interest or even an offer on the table for Howard that doesn't involve Bargs? Do you think BC is willing to take on Diop's contract under any reasonable circumstance?

Blogger's note: I don't know that there's a GM in the NBA who would take Diop's deal right now. I wouldn't

[Ryan]

Good to know then that Bargnani's value is much higher than this trade would lead us to believe. I'm not sure he's really all that tradeable.

My bet is that if any deals do get done involving the Raptors it will involve O'Neal. Bosh more than likely knows what he's talking about when he says the team just needs to come together.