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

[Bernad]

Hi Doug,

Can you name any good free agent signings that Collangelo has made that have worked out well for Toronto? or how about any Raptors GM from the past? I only remember Jose Calderon from Rob Babcock.

Also looking towards 2010 it seems like there is so much hype about the superstars available that a lot of good players will be available through trade or signings. If you were the GM of the Raptors would try to sign a $20+ million dollar player along with Bosh or would you rather get(through trade or signing) two or three $7-$10 million dollar players?

Blogger's note: I'm not going through 'em all but I'd say Parker and Garbajosa were pretty good signings by Colangelo; and convincing some restricted and unrestricted free agents like Oak to stick around were pretty good, too. Sure, there were some questionable ones, too, like Olajuwon but every signing is a gamble

[Damian]

Doug, I remember the Toronto basketball press have said that the G. Wallace trade was a very real possibility at the time but Brian felt that O'Neal gave Toronto more of what was needed...

But seeing how the wings are such a mess today, I'm thinking a starting lineup of Calderon, Parker, Wallace, Bosh, and Nesterovic would have had less deficiencies than the lineup as constructed now.

Grange has gone on record saying he would've taken the Wallace trade in retrospect. Any comments?

Blogger's note: You remember wrong, Charlotte killed any Wallace talks over extra draft picks involved.

[Anthony]

Doug,
If a trade needs to happen I still think we should be talking with the bulls, they have alot of SF and SG that are not happy with their minutes and are in need of a big.
Tyrus Thomas has always been very inconstant but he is still young with a lot of potential upside, we could slide him in at the 3 and give him starters minutes; his blocks and rebounds would help. Also if it was a multiplayer trade we should also try to get Ben Gordan, you mentioned he has the "Larry Bird exception" but I believe that can be traded along with him to the new team.
Would you want those 2 guys if it meant giving up any 3 of the following: JO, Moon, Parker, Kapono..?

[JJ]

I think it's worth pointing out that it's not like Indiana is lighting the world on fire this year after the trade. And what did the Raptors really give up in that trade? A back-up big man in Rasho who plays 20 minutesa night. And a PG in Ford who's only played so-so this year. Oh plus Roy Hibbert who gets about 10 minutes a night. Not exactly superstars.

The problem at the wing remains the major problem for this year's TO time. And it's not like either Rasho or TJ would help that. Although perhaps they could have brought something more in a trade, but I find it hard to believe somebody would give up a great 2/3 for Ford and Nesterovic (and Gerald Wallace is not a great player). Jermaine O'Neal at least gives the Raptors a trading chip with his expiring contract in 2010.

Doug, as far as clearing cap space, if that's the goal, doesn't it make more sense to push for Stephon Marbury and then immediately waive him? (I'm not suggesting for a minute, I would want Marbury to play ont this team.)

But if a Marion trade means Marcus Banks has to be included; then it also means $4.5 million less of cap space for the next two years (the approximate value of Marcus Banks' contract).

A Marbury-O'Neal trade would mean more cap space (it would be similar to when the Raps turned Jalen Rose into Antonio Davis before Bryan got here). Although, it would be waiving the white towel in some ways for this year. But has there been any talks between New York and Toronto on this?

Would New York have any interest in Jermaine O'Neal? Donnie Walsh is apparently still holding out hope that (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3853627) Marbury can be turned into an asset of some sort.

So the Raptors would probably have to include somebody/thing else (Jamario Moon? Joey Graham? Anthony Parker? A draft pick?) to sweeten the deal, but if it brings more cap space and sooner, they'd have to consider it right?

[ugly_fish]

Im sorry but how do you omit Vince Carter from the list of All-Star Reserves??? Especially in favour of Devin Harris, Hedo Turkoglu and Danny Granger??? If it's his team record then you can't have Harris or Granger or you're precious "CB4". If it's based on talent...well quite honestly Carter is as good as anyone on that list and more clutch than anyone on that list. I don't know if your stray from "objectivity" in omitting VC because your scared of infuriating Raptor fans (if any are left) or if its because of your own personal bias against Carter that has led to this myopia.

[Bernad]

"Can you name any good free agent signings that Collangelo has made that have worked out well for Toronto? or how about any Raptors GM from the past? I only remember Jose Calderon from Rob Babcock.

Blogger's note: I'm not going through 'em all but I'd say Parker and Garbajosa were pretty good signings by Colangelo;"

Seems like we've had our best luck overseas lately. I guess it's the Gheradini influence. Too bad about John Salmons going back on his word with Collangelo - he would have been a good one.

[Danny]

With respect to Iavaroni, I'd agree that the head coach thing is not going to happen. Actually, the first thing I thought of when I saw he was fired was that Toronto has an assistant opening after the promotion of Triano. Since Iavaroni is such a 'washout' as a head coach, I would imagine assistant-ing is in his future. If Colangelo loves this guy so much - and he was a good assistant - why not bring him into the assistant hole? ('Hole' being relative, since clearly there is no NEED to have another assistant; the Raptors did, however, feel that having one more than they do presently seemed to be a good idea.) Thoughts?

Blogger's note: Makes entire sense.

[Alan Crook]

Take that Bulls article, change the names and uniforms, and Presto!, you have the Raps...

[Rahil]

No blogging the allstar game or dunk contest? :)

Blogger's note: Not from Phoenix, that's for sure

[AP]

I'm not convinced the JO trade didn't work out, as I believe JO may have influenced Andrea this year, especially on the defensive end, but also on the offensive end. On offense, we now see Andrea barrel into the lane just like JO. When JO was going strong, instead of doing his fadeaway leaner, he would just go right at his defender and curl around for a lay-in. I see this in Andrea now.

[Bball]

Doug, following up on Damian's comment, you're right that the rumours as I recall were that Toronto wanted Charlotte to give a 2nd round pick back in a trade of TJ for Wallace. The Wallace trade would have addressed their wing needs and left them with a 1st round pick and they still would have had Rasho as a backup centre to trade this year as an expiring contract. Assuming that Toronto and Charlotte would have agreed on a straight up TJ for Wallace trade, in hindsight, Doug would you agree that the Wallace trade would have been a better trade than the trade for O'Neal? Thanks.

[Bball]

While I certainly like and favour the rumoured Marion and Banks trade for Jermaine O'Neal, if you analyze this trade and the original O'Neal trade it would end up that the Raptors traded TJ, Rasho and a 1st round pick for Shawn Marion and Banks - that is not a good trade and that's why the O'Neal trade does not look very favorable.

[Jojo]

The thing about the O'Neal gamble was that BC mitigated the risk. O'Neal's expiring contract is still an asset, so BC didn't gamble the team's long-term fortunes. That gamble unfortunately affected the team's depth in a bad way, and with injuries the Raps can't win a lot of games.

How many draft picks did Charlotte want from us? We gave our first pick to the Pacers anyway, so I'm not sure if BC made a smart move there. Of course, Wallace would have been a gamble too given his medical history, and his contract is longer.

We'll have money to upgrade our wing position signficantly next year. I'm worried about the prospect of a Bosh-Bargs finesse frontcourt going ahead. Not sure that will work from an interior D and rebounding perspective.

You have any thoughts on that Doug? Who is a 3 that would complement that front line? A sane Ron Artest type?

[heckler]

Jeez Doug, you reply to about 10 comments and every reply is, to paraphrase, "don't know, don't care". Why bother?

[Jonathan]

Guys, Marbury makes no sense at all. The 2009 free agent class is already nowhere as good (in terms of players who would realistically come to Toronto) as the 2010 crop. If we're going for cap relief this offseason, then at least we have the option of a sign and trade with Marion. Marbury? Uh, yeah, straight salary dump -- who's going to sign and trade for him for 17-20 mil a year? If we can't sign and trade Marion for something good, then keeping O'Neal until 2010 would be a much better option than trading for Marbury this season.

BTW, while a good swingman has always been in the list of Toronto's top priorities, you all forget that so has a center who can keep Bosh from playing the 5 and getting himself hurt/worn out. Have you guys all forgotten how Bosh would be abused by opposing centers like Brendan Haywood (and not because of their talent). Given the way Orlando manhandled Toronto last year because of Dwight, having someone who could combat Howard in the post and keep Bosh out of foul trouble was a lot more important. If we traded for Wallace and ended up in the playoffs against Orlando again, how would that change anything? Dwight would still dominate, and that's what B.C. wanted to change. No one knew Bargnani would step up so much this year. Especially not the fans.

[AP]

Bball, you can't plan the next trade by looking at the past trade. Pat Riley isn't going to give us more than Marion and Banks because of what we gave up for JO. Just look at the today.

[T i]

O Neal better look better than last game tonight if there's any chance of Miami accepting the deal.. yeah he's rusty so we'll see but if I was Riley I wouldn't do the deal.

[George]

Hey Doug,

Isn't the all star break a popularity contest? It is who the fans see as being the stars in the league. Iverson is not close to the player he once was, but the fans still buy his jersey and would rather watch him than Devin Harris or Jameer Nelson. At least the fans didn't vote in Yi over Garnett...

[Roll With Tha Clan]

Honestly, i was glad just to see TJ leave. i would have took anything in return to see him go. so when i heard injury proned for injury proned and 40 mil to play with (assuming cb4 opts) in 2010 i thought it was good enough.

TJ is great in turning backup pg's to starters no doubt. mo williams, jose calderon and now jarret jack. he did make that big shot in overtime a couple games ago in overtime, but he also had the crucial turnover in the final seconds against new orleans that costed them the game.

chris bosh absolutely loves jose as he showed in the espania special on nba tv. so what could BC do. it seems no one in the entire league wants a contract passed 2010.

if this season becomes a wash, we got a top 10 pick, and alot of money in the near future. this season sucks though and that acc intro has to change. wow.

[GM]

Bball, if we go back a year and the deal is TJ Ford, Rasho and a middling first rounder for Marion and Banks, I'd do that deal in a second.

[Jack]

Calderon is quicker than Nash. The big difference is that Nash looks for the open man. Calderon looks for Bosh.
I pity whoever is playing with Calderon (or any other PG) and Bosh. They just run around and around and even if they are open, they won't get a pass.
This team needs a shake-up. Fast.
And I think it's a foregone conclusion that Bosh will leave this team in 2010, it's better for Colangelo to trade him while he still has a high value. I'm sure a lot of teams are inquiring about him.

[Marc M]

Marc Iavaroni? Iavaroni?
A fan suggested we take Marc Iavaroni? The coach who was fired from arguably the worst team in the league. Wow.

Iavaroni? (I'm starting to sound like that Coors Light commercial.)

Question: From a GM pov, who are some up 'n coming coaches in the league? (can be current assistants.) I would not have ever thought of Spoelstra...

[Brad]

Ahhhhh sweet RapsTV is playing the Raps-Bulls game from 1996 when they beat Jordan during his 72-10 year at 6m tonight.
Doug, biggest (and best) game in Raptors history right?

Blogger's note: It was a pretty good flukey win by an expansion team, lots of fun on the day.

[michael wang]

hey doug would it be possible that the bench is getting weaker if marion comes in because then JO or adrea used to be the bench leader. do u think that JK or Apollo 33 can step up on the bench.?????

[Eric]

I will be dismayed if this JO deal goes through. It may be one of the few times where I agree with no one here- not the media, not the fans. I hate this trade with a passion for both short-term and L-T and I can only hope it doesn't go through!!! Seeing Hump go down to injury only reinforces my point of view. If nothing else, Chris Bosh and the team will intimate that they have "no depth inside again" and will have a readymade excuse for the next 1.5 yrs. "Chris Bosh has no help inside... Andrea Bargnani is not a pro centre... this team is so small and plays even smaller....all they have is a bunch of pushovers in the paint..... you can't just go out and get a big man because every team wants one..... etceteraetcetera!" It's so predictable- why can't anyone else see it!?!

I wish I had more confidence in the leadership of this team to handle a possible trade like this...... but I don't!!! They want the excuse badly and Colangelo's about to give it to them on a silver platter! I need to calm down.