Of all-stars and ex-coaches

Quiet day around these guys yesterday, they didn’t lose.

And that means some of you had a day off, too; much less angst than normal as the day wore on, it was nice not to see dozens of “they suck” comments after I got off the flight from Detroit to Chicago.

But we must soldier on here and soldier on we do:

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So the fans screwed it up. Big whoop.

I have no problem, generally, with letting fans vote for all-star starters but if you let them vote, you have to expect a screw up.

And Allen Iverson starting for the East is a huge screw up.

Everything else is quite understandable and I don’t think you can make an argument with any of them but Iverson?

Seriously, what a waste

Nothing against him personally, I’ve been a huge fan for years, but this season? This season he’s been quite average with gusts below. Both in Denver and Detroit.

Should have been Jameer Nelson, or Devin Harris, not Iverson.

And I can only hope the coaches get it right.

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Speaking of the all-stars, here’s something you may not have known.

When coaches go to vote for the seven reserves, they really don’t have to pay any attention to specific positions. They don’t have to follow the ballot when it comes to centres, guards and forwards and that’s of particular interest in the East.

Because look at that list of other centres on the ballot -- Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Andrew Bogut, Jermaine O’Neal, Al Horford, Brendan Haywood , Ben Wallace, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Emeka Okafor – and find me some all-star worthy. There isn’t one.

But coaches are told they don’t have to pay any attention to the ballot and should pick players who give their conference the best chance to win.

It’s still a couple of weeks before the coaches ballots have to be in and that means we’ve all got some time to think about it but, today (and this is open to revision as the next couple of weeks unfold), I’d take:

Jameer Nelson, Devin Harris, Joe Johnson, Hedo Turkoglu, Danny Granger, Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh.

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And speaking of the all-stars, we’ve got this:

Q: Given the all-star game is being held in Phoenix this year, it would seem only natural that Steve Nash be selected by opposing coaches and GMs as a reserve (if only for sentimental reasons). The problem is that I can count at least three point guards in the west (Deron Williams only not included due to injury) as way more deserving this year: Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Chauncey Billups. Do you think coaches and GMs will give Nash a home town discount and vote him in over any of the above mentioned? Would you?

Blake V, Vancouver

A: As much as I love Nash, I’d be shocked if the coaches voted him to play. I bet he’d like the weekend off from playing, too. He told us last week he’ll be in Phoenix as some sort of unofficial “host” of the weekend and maybe does that punt, pass and kick thing on the Saturday night but I’m betting he’s got the Sunday night off.

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I applaud you for your restraint.

I had only a couple of e-mails overnight suggesting Marc Iavaroni’s firing in Memphis gives him the inside track on the Toronto job.

I’m pretty sure I’ll have to repeat this more than a few times but let’s get started.

Marc Iavaroni will not coach the Raptors.

Bryan Colangelo could have hired him in Phoenix and he didn’t.

Bryan Colangelo could have found a way to hire him Toronto and he didn’t.

Marc Iavaroni, while a nice enough guy and a pretty good assistant, was a washout as a head coach and the last thing this Toronto team needs next year – if, in fact, there’s an opening – a guy who failed as miserably and as quickly as Iavaroni did.

It’s not going to happen.

Please put it out of your mind.

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Check out the reports in Chicago today from the fine grunt K.C. Johnson. Seems things aren't all that sweet around these parts.

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This would have been up earlier but I was sitting at my computer for a long, long time trying to come up with my favourite memory of Alonzo Mourning as a Raptor.

Those were the glory hours, weren’t they?

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Let’s do this one now because I think Jose plays tonight and this may be old by tomorrow:

Q: Hey Doug! Will you be starting a Doug Smith Hotline to provide emotional support for the depressed Raptors fans? I think there's a few people who could use it. Moving on …

I think it's pretty obvious that the Raptors aren't going to get on any sort of roll until Jose comes back. Subbing in Anthony Parker has helped a bit, but not having a true PG at the end of games has in my opinion really hurt their half-court offense and is likely why they lost so many of those close games recently. My question is, as important as having a solid slashing/attacking 2 or 3 is, isn't having a pass-first PG (who can take over offensively when needed to) just as important? Of course my argument is irrelevant if you have LeBron or Kobe on your team. Your thoughts?

Amanda F, Barrie

A: All arguments become irrelevant when you’ve got Kobe or LeBron on your team. But I digress.

It’s not so much a pass-first PG that’s important, it’s a guy everyone’s comfortable with and Bosh hit it on the head yesterday when he said:

“We find ourselves looking at the bench a lot instead of just flowing into the game. Jose pretty much knows all the plays and he know what to run and at what times. He’s a sparkplug for us out there.”

Jose’s leadership abilities – on the court and on the bench – are sometimes forgotten and his calmness on the court at key moments is huge.

I’m not saying he’s the answer and all of sudden they win eight of 10 or something silly like that but there will be a sense of normalcy when he’s back in the lineup that’s important.

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While we’re all sitting around waiting for Pat Riley to make up his mind on the Jermaine O’Neal-Shawn Marion deal, maybe it’s time to look back on the O’Neal-Ford-Nesterovic transaction in the summer.

I know everyone’s slamming it but here’s what it was: A gamble.

And sometimes gambles don’t pay off.

One thing was for certain, the Raptors – rightly or wrongly, and rightly in my opinion – felt they had to deal T.J. Ford because he and Jose Calderon weren’t going to co-exist in the backcourt and, as T.J. himself made clear on his first visit to Toronto, it was apparent T.J. and Sam had some issues that were masked last season.

And with two burning issues – interior defence and athleticism on the wing – and taking into consideration financial flexibility in the next couple of summers, Bryan decided to take what he saw as the best offer. Which was O’Neal.

Everyone knew it was a gamble, trades always are and trades for guys who’ve been hurt are especially so.

But the GM had to do something and he rolled the dice.

Maybe it didn’t work – although there’ve been stretches this season where O’Neal hasn’t look bad at all – but it had to be done.

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Comments

[Leigh]

Doug, I don't know if you ever head over to realgm, but that place is insane. There are proposed trades on that board that make me want to drink (and I am a mormon). Anyway the point I'm getting at here is, is there any way to ban those people from commenting on your blog? Good work kind on here sir.

[GP]

Doug,

Do you think Toronto is better off holidng onto O'Neal for the remainder of this season and see what they can get for him in the off-season or at the beginning of next year? My thinking is that he may be more valuable next year as an expiring contract than he is right now. Toronto will need to build a solid team next year in order to have any chance at having Bosh stay. I'm not sure how well Toronto can do in free agency in 2009 and they may be better off trying to build a contender through trades and draft picks. I'm of the opinion that this season is a wash (Marion or no Marion) and an expiring $22 million contract can get you something significant back heading into the best free agent market in years.

Blogger's note: And I think, if things aren't working with the present team, the early you can substantial cap room to make trades or obtain players, the better

[Jerry]

It will be great to see Jose back tonight. To give credit to BC when he said he was happy with this team it certainly included a healthy Jose.
This leads to a question. What are the wins/losses with Jose in the lineup or not?

[Simon]

Hello Mr. Smith:

If Marion does come here I am confused by what role and position he would play? Starter or off the bench? Love the blog!

Blogger's note: It might take a week but I'm sure he'd be their starting three

[Kevin]

I completely agree with your assessment of the O'Neal trade. I was worried about losing point guard depth, but when we saw all the problems that arose last year around the position that depth seemed to become a detriment. Obviously something had to be done, and while people seemed to want Gerald Wallace, he's had a lot of trouble staying on the court over the past few years as well.

While one could look and say that if BC had any faith in Bargnani he wouldn't have gone for the deal that brings a player to replace him in the starting lineup I think that ignores the contracts of the players involved.

O'Neal's contract, while huge, expires in 2010. Wallace's was just extended for, I believe, 4 years (but my recollection could be wrong). O'Neal's contract takes on even more value than Wallace's due to the year it expires, that is likely the only reason why Riley is even considering taking a flyer on O'Neal.

[Drew]

Hey Doug,

I agree with you on the Marion = Cap Room = Good For the Raps idea, but do you think that dealing away O'Neal for Marion could pay dividends right away, both for the Raps and Marion? I think the biggest barrier to him finding success in Miami is the system -- he plays an impromptu style of basketball that depends on broken plays, rebounding, and a pass-first PG. Miami has two guards (Chalmers and Wade) who score on their own and are hardly the epitome of selfless.

In Phoenix, Marion had Nash finding him, Bell, Hill, and Barbosa tossing up a tonne of shots, and a big man in Amare drawing a lot of defensive attention. In Toronto he would have a poor-man's version of that arrangement: a pass-first (and swifter) Calderon, a cast of shooter (albeit bad shooters, save for Parker and Kapono every other night), and two bigs who will draw away attention. I think this line-up could get Marion back to his pre-Heat stats, which can only benefit the Raps over the rest of the season, and Marion in free agency this summer.

Your thoughts?

Blogger's note: haven't thought much about it and won't, really, until the trade gets done, if it does

[andy c]

"One thing was for certain, the Raptors – rightly or wrongly, and rightly in my opinion – felt they had to deal T.J. Ford because he and Jose Calderon weren’t going to co-exist in the backcourt and, as T.J. himself made clear on his first visit to Toronto, it was apparent T.J. and Sam had some issues that were masked last season."

i think you are purposely trying to stir up the online masses.... good job!

[jhaus]

"Maybe it didn’t work"? are you kidding me?? i hope you are trying to be funny like your alonzo comment above!! how can you qualify a 16 - 24 record with a word like "maybe". this season has been an unmitigated disaster largely, read, almost entirely due to that trade. i dont think the gm will assess things at the end of the season as o'neal "hasn’t look bad at all" in stretches. this was definitely a risky trade and i'm not saying there were a lot, or any other choices out there but to characterize this as anything other than a catastrophe (in sports terms) is looking at the world through rose coloured coke-bottle glasses.

ps: love the blog

[Alex]

Doug do you really think cap space at the end of this season would even do much for the Raptors. I mean the only big name free agent wings are Jamal Crawford and Hedo Turkoglu. I prefer Big Turk but really why would he leave Orlando to come here?? After that there are only 2nd tier players who would be getting a promotion: Marvin Williams, Luther Head, Von Wafer, Trevor Ariza, Rodney Carney. Ariza is my favorite but again who leaves LA to come to Toronto??
I guess they could split up the money between one of the 2nd tier guys and a backup big like Rasho or Chris Anderson. But still...you lock up that money then there's not much left for 2010.
So really what's the advantage?

Blogger's note: As we've been saying for a week, it's not just about free agents; it's about the ability to do sign and trades or straight trades and take back contracts. It is not in any way, shape or form limited to the free agents on the market this summer. That's the point

[Jacob L]

You don't think jose should be at the all-star weekend?

Blogger's note: No

[Mikey G]

To jhaus: Try 16-28

[Peter]

Hi Doug, I am sorry, but I disagree with you on the Ford trade. I understand that the TJ has to be moved, but definitely not for O'Neal. In the offseason, we had 3 trade assets, 1) Ford, 2) Rasho's expiring and 3) First round pick. We used all three of them to trade for O'Neal, who was approaching 30 and hasn't played much in the past 2 years. Basically, we sacrafice our depth and salary flexibility to trade for a huge risk. The move basically ruled out us of re-signing Delfino, who would probably helped this team quite a bit.

Basically, the only way the Raptors can win the trade is to have O'Neal played at a high level and not get hurt; which is not realistic when you look at his problems with injuries and his FG%.

Our wing situation has been bad for 2 years, and nothing has been done about it. Everyone knows that's the biggest weakness on the team, and Colangelo has done NOTHING to correct this. And I don't think our interior D is as bad as people say, yes we got destroyed by Dwight Howard, but most teams do. Plus, Mitchell was starting Bargnani in the playoffs last year and he was struggling. Rasho, while he can't jump, he certainly has the bulk and the smarts to do some heavy lifting.

To me, this is a gamble that doesn't need to be made.

[Michael]

Do you think BC checked out with Utah about AK47? Maybe, send JO for AK and other players. He wanted to be traded before and he's just coming off the bench there now. And it looks like Boozer will be gone after this year too. So JO will be there PF this and next year.

Is his contract amount similar to the matrix? I actually think AK will be a good fit here. He may not be as good a rebounder as matrix but he is still good. He's a better scorer than matrix. Also he is a good defender, steal, block shot and offensively he can get to the free throw line alot and he can pass. This may be the type of slasher we need.

What are the chances and do you think anyone talked to BC about AK? You think this can be a good one?

Blogger's note: No idea, haven't heard a whiff of it from anyone who'd actually know

[Andre]

Everyone knew there was risks to this trade.. if it worked, the raptors would be great team, but if not, the raptors would have an extremely attractive contract they can throw around. And BC better take his time and wisely shop that contract. I also think if we do get marion, we should also go after barbosa... (AP expiring contract could do) that would strengthen our depth at 2 Guard.

[SY]

Hi Doug,

Two quick questions - What is a Qualifying offer and what is an 80% Scale offer?

Thanks a lot,
-SY

Blogger's note: Some time in the blog, not here now.Sorry, lots of comments to post, work to do

[Paul]

jhaus: " this season has been an unmitigated disaster largely, read, almost entirely due to that trade."

That's ludicrous. Do you think TJ would be scoring 30 / game if he was here? Do you think Rasho would be posting routine double doubles? They suck this year because they suck this year. The players in that trade, if it didn't happen, would not have made a material difference.

[James]

Doug, what would you say is Jermaine O'Neal true market value? That is, if you were to sign him to a one-year deal based on his current performance what would that salary be?

Blogger's note: Don't know, would be a negotiation and I don't have to do it.

[luckyone]

Doug, I know you have stated that Marion is likely gone at the end of the year (assuming we finalize this JO/Marion swap) but does it not raise a red flag for you that BC seems willing to accept Banks as part of the deal?
If this move is for cap space purposes wouldn't a JO/Marbury trade make much more sense? MLSE could likely buy out Marbury and horde more of their precious cash so teachers can retire at 40 instead of 42. And for the Knicks they can either use JO, trade him later, or buy him out for more savings than Marbury was willing to give them.
The fact BC is willing to take on Banks has me worried he wants to re-sign Marion to another bad contract like he handed Kapono, leaving us in the same position with no creators on the wing. Your thoughts?

Blogger's note: Why do you think there's Marbury deal even being contemplated?

[Steve Gosse]

Doug,

I agree that Jose does not deserve to be in Phoenix, as he hasn't been able to stay on the court for the Raps (even if he was able to.. probably still wouldn't make it) but what about you?

will you be around Phoenix for the all=star break? Or is it just that for you as well... a break!

Blogger's note: I am going to be soooooo far from Phoenix that weekend, it's not even funny.

[Duncan]

Doug; I agree with your assessment of the JO trade, although I still can't believe BC got talked(swindled) into including the first round pick. My question is regarding the 4 or 5 other deals that were on the table at the time. Besides Wallace, who did you hear was rumored to be available for the raps?

Blogger's note: There was a Phoenix one, Diaw, I believe but I don't know how serious that was; Charlotte broke down over extra picks in a Wallace deal; Portland had something with a bad contract, as I recall.

[Jacques]

If this trade does go through with the heat. What will they do with all the extra point gaurds? will they waive Wil? or can they put a trade together with him and Moon. I just don't see Shawn and Moon on the same team. Your thoughts please.

Blogger's note: I don't have thoughts until a Marion deal gets done, and it hasn't yet. And may not, it's up to Miami

[Darien]

Doug,

I'm surprised that you're hastily shooting down the Iavaroni idea in Toronto? Did BC tell you personally that he won't be hiring him?

Not that I would endorse such a hiring. I agree with you that Iavaroni should be the last option with the current state of the Raps but you never know what BC is thinking.

You mention...

"Marc Iavaroni will not coach the Raptors.
Bryan Colangelo could have hired him in Phoenix and he didn’t.
Bryan Colangelo could have found a way to hire him Toronto and he didn’t."

When would Colangelo have the opportunity to hire him? The best chance was a couple of season's ago but why would he want to risk looking like a jerk for firing a COY? by the time Mitchell was 'axeable' starting from last season; Iavaroni was already hired by the Grizz.

Blogger's note: If he wanted him bad enough in Toronto he could have made it happen; taken a bit of PR hit? Maybe. But he could have made it happen

[Ryan]

Hey Doug, does your snarkness increase because the Raptors lose, or because of us fans when the Raptors lose? I can't imagine you're getting too many positive comments from us right now

Blogger's note: I had some snark in the 47-win season; but maybe not quite as much

[Nick Muth]

Doug I have to respectfully disagree with you about your allstar comments. This game exists b/c of the fans, and if the crazy fans who actually watch the Allstar game want to see AI start then he should start. After all, what basketball purist takes this game seriously anyway.

Also I think you are being a little critical of Iavaroni. Both him and D'Antoni were assistants in Pheonix when D'Antoni was promoted(perhaps due to his prior head coaching experience - which was with the Nuggets and, judging by the record, was pretty uninspired). And even if BC wanted him in Toronto (I'm not saying he did, but there were a lot of rumours) Smitch had a contract thru '06/'07 which is the year he won the COY. So BC had two options fire Smitch in '06(and what are the odds Sarver would have let Iavaroni talk with Toronto) or not extend the COY in '07.

As for Iavaroni's lack of success in Memphis. It is pretty hard to be successful when the franchise is having a clearance sale. I think by not firing him after the '07/'08 season it was kind of a vote of confidence and recognition of his success with developing Gay and Lowry and its showing this year in Mayo. Besides there are more than a few coaches who have had poor first performances. Namingly, D'Antoni and Gregg Popovich(who, if he wasn't the general manager, may have been fired after his first season).

I'm not saying Iavaroni should be the Raps next head coach but throw the man a bone. 'Washout', 'Failed... Miserably', even you have to agree that's a touch harsh.

Blogger's note: "Washout" was too harsh a word in hindsight. I chalked it up to early morning crankiness

[Wilber]

When the All-star weekend includes a free throw shooting contest, then Jose can go.

Alonzo. Wish him health & happiness in retirement, but it was always about him. Alonzo looking out for Alonzo. Buh bye.