A visitor is coming to town

I know, it’s late but any night that ends with the DJ playing Danny Boy, Maggie May and My Way back-to-back-to-back with the gang in full throat has a way of wreaking havoc with the sleep patterns.

AP FILE PHOTO

There's no need to shout. He's just here as an observer.

Anyway …

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This ought to get the cobwebs out of the early morning heads.

Marc Iavaroni’s coming.

Seriously, he is. To Toronto. Like, tomorrow. And he was with the Raptors last week in Philly but went unnoticed.

The deal is he’s on some “coach and idea sharing” mission or some such; unemployed coaches come and hang around teams for a few days, offer their insight.

This, of course, is the first time the Raptors have ever done anything like this and of all the unemployed coaches to pick in all the world, they had to get Iavaroni, former head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, former long-time assistant in Phoenix – where that Colangelo guy held sway – and the apple of the eye of a lot of Raptors fans.

Now, before any of you get too worked up, he’s here to be an observer, won’t be on the bench or anything this year and is not – I repeat IS NOT – going to be the next head coach of the Raptors.

But when he and Jay Triano break bread some day, and they surely will, I can imagine it’s going to be like some quasi job interview.

Can you envision Jay with Iavaroni as his lead assistant? I can. And I’m pretty sure there are people in the organization who can.

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What was that on Sunday? A win? An easy win? A win over a team with a better record, such that it is.

Weird, eh?

Hands up everyone who thought, at some time during the game, “what if?” What if Jose doesn’t get hurt, what if Andrea’s the starting five all year. What if, indeed.

But here’s a warning: You are what your record says you are and the Raptors are 24-44. If they finish strong, and there’s every possibility they can, no one can forget the flaws that have been displayed this year.

Seven wins, or six wins, or nine wins the rest of the year are as much fool’s gold as anything.

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Action: Pops

Reaction: The legend grows

I’m talking to a guy who has some power in the organization – before the game, mind you – and we agree the best thing the Raptors can do right now is shut Pops Mensa-Bonsu down.

Really, three more losses and he develops a backache, or a headache, or “flu-like symptoms.”

Of course, that’s after he gets a wink and a nod on a two-year deal starting next year.

All the guy’s doing know is costing Toronto money and driving up his value on the open market.

You think other teams aren’t noticing 8 1/2 rebounds a game? You think scouts aren’t talking among themselves? You think there’s going to be some competition for his services on the market?

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Q: In your in-game blog you mentioned a salary quote from Hoopshype was wrong. I was wondering where you get your salary info from and how reliable it is? Thanks as always

Jim T, Toronto

A: My salary information is 100 per cent absolutely correct. It comes from absolutely unimpeachable sources that I won’t divulge. Believe me or not, when I give you a salary, it’s bang on.

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Here’s a very interesting thing about Pops and how Will Solomon and Patrick O’Bryant screwed everything up.

On trade deadline day, about noon, the plan was to get nothing done, waive Will Solomon that afternoon and fill in his roster spot with a big man they’d had in working out the night before.

And since those guys were Pops Mensa-Bonsu and Antoine Walker, surely to the basketball gods they would have done Pops over the old, no-defending, three-point-shooting piece o’ junk Walker, right? But, no, they get involved in that three-way deal to dump Solomon and get O’Bryant and they end up not getting Pops for about two weeks.

Imagine if they hadn’t done that financial deal with the Kings and Celtics.

How much would The Legend have grown already?

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In Indy, they seemed quite dismayed at Sunday’s turn of events.

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Okay, let’s say they are bound and determined to hire Jay back – and I seriously think with a few more wins they will – and they don’t want the perception that Iavaroni would be the “head coach in waiting” and the fan favourite after every four-game losing streak, what do they do?

Well, a wise man or two suggested that maybe they make a call to P.J. Carlisemo.

Great assistant, history of winning, probably done as a head coaching prospect after three shots at it, familiar with Jay from the summer Olympic team gigs, familiar with Bryan from the same thing.

Make sense?

A bit, you have to admit.

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They’ll be wearing O’ The Green again tonight here in Charlotte and if they win again, I bet they try to petition the league to wear them until they lose.

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Speaking of Charlotte, when you wade through a billion words of NCAA basketball stuff, you eventually get to this.

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Go back to the end of the 2005-06 season, the one with 27 wins.

There was no concern about whether you could “build a team” around Chris Bosh but that’s exactly what they did.

They got two wings in Parker and Garbo, a point guard in T.J. and some depth.

There was no question that Bosh, who signed a contract extension that summer, was “the guy.” He was the team’s leading scorer, its best player, top rebounder, main front court presence.

By adding talent they “built” around him and, presto, won 47 games and the division title.

I think it’s fair to say the pieces on this team (Bosh, an emerging Bargnani, a healthy Calderon) are far better than they were on that team and it worked out pretty well.

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And, finally:

Q: Thanks for posting my comments re Patrick O'Bryant during the Indy game. I'm sorry to use incorrect info on his salary (whether it’s $1.62MM or less) however there's still something noteworthy here about BC's lack of due diligence. You would think there would be better evaluation prior to bringing in a player who got released by GSW after only 2 years (and after being drafted #9 overall), someone who had no chance to get off Boston's bench even though Boston is crying for "big" support, and someone whose twin brother and personality is Loren Woods. I know, I know, you're to take your chances sometimes on bigs (like Pops) but you're understated the financial impact of this move by your 300K savings comment. How about stating the amount to be expended off the salary cap?

Michael C, Toronto

A: Okay, this is probably the last time we should discuss that guy at the end of the roster who never plays. It’s not like he’s important or anything.

Look, they took a chance on a young big, no huge deal.

It’ll end up costing them $500,000 next year – that’s the guarantee on his deal and all that’ll count towards the cap or tax – and, honestly, that’s chump change. The financial impact is negligible. Honestly, $500,000 is nothing.

They did due diligence, they thought maybe the guy could play and, frankly, they needed a warm body on the roster to get to the league-mandated minimum of 13. He couldn’t play, they at least got a guy without a huge number to carry forward next year.

Comments

[Uncle Zeke]

yeah Pops is clearly the second coming... That's why the Spurs just let him go- because they have poor talent evaluation and couldn't see the future star waiting to emerge... I think it's more the fact that he's the first guy on TO to actually hustle since maybe Bosh in November. Nice to see a guy out there trying to earn a contract but don't get ahead of yourself Doug.

Haven't seen you hype a guy so much since the great Hassan Adams- what was NJ thinking letting this great talent go!? Hmmm... whatever happened to that guy...

People are talking that Boozer might not get thrown a decent offer this summer because a lack of money in the market- I wouldn't worry too much about a bidding war for Pops Mensa-Bonsu...

Blogger's note: If you'd actually been paying attention for the last two weeks, the Spurs let him go so they could get Drew Gooden, a more experienced player.

[Mauro]

Hello Doug. I was looking at thestar Website this morning and there was an article by AP. Were you late ? I hope so, as it doesn't make sense to spend money for an AP article and not giving them to our beat grunt. Keep working! Good things to come next year!

[Mo]

Hey Doug,

If the Raptors made the playoffs this year, Pops wouldn't be allowed to play?

(And no, they won't actually make the playoffs, no need to start a fight on the blog Monday morning)

Blogger's note: He'd be eligible in that miracle scenario

[TJ]

hey doug.
Do you think Pops can play the 3 on a nightly basis? Not as a starter but a bench player who could spell off the starting 3 and the starting 4?

Blogger's note: I think he can defend threes; I think he'd be an offensive liability playing there for too many minutes

[Ryan]

I read a quote this morning that Pops wants to stay in Toronto as long as Toronto wants him to stay, and I'd imagine that an at least fair market value deal should be enough to keep him.

You really think there will be other teams out there willing to give him a bigger role than possibly sixth man in Toronto?

[SY]

Doug,

Could the Raptors & Pops Mensa-Bonsu agree to some formal deal before July 1?

If not, I'd have to agree to shutting him down. But if the Raptors does shut him down, I wonder how he'd feel...I mean, if I were him, I'd probably react negatively since I know the team is purposely trying to drive down my pay. Must be handle w/ caution!

-SY

Blogger's note: There are tax implications that means they will wait to do anything until the summer

[andy c]

if we got Pops 2 weeks earlier we might be talking playoffs instead of draft positon and his jersey would be hanging in the rafters by now

i like your idea of putting him in a shirt and tie for the rest of this season

[Anthony]

Doug, aside from Hoops for a second, for the average schmoe, it is still hard to see you refer to $500,000 as "chump change"!

[Takashi]

Doug for the love of god Jay is not coming back next year.If Ivaroni is going to be anyones assistent is going to be the to the new Raptors coach next season Ettore Messina.Jay Triano has done nothing to award him a contract.BC is smarter than that he knows his reputation is on the line next season and he is not going to let a no name coach like Jay ruin his career.

I am not even a frigging beat grunt and i can see Messina will be the next coach.Shame on you Doug for not having pair to admit this and i wonder how BC would sell bringing Jay back to the fans when over 90% of us want him gone.

[Dan W]

If they do Bring Jay back next year I hope a full training camp will implement the running game he wants to use. If they continue to play the pace they do now with the running in spurts I really don't think they should bring back Marion unless it's a great price. He really has a horrible offensive game in a half court setting.

[Pharaoh]

Doug, don't they have deadlines in the newspaper industry anymore? :-) Seriously though, my whole morning was thrown out of whack when I didn't see your blog at 9:15AM. It's like going into the kitchen to get your morning fix and discovering there's no coffee in the cupboards.

Here's another idea for a top-5 list - the top 5 ugliest shots in the NBA (past or present). Marion definitely has to be up there. What's the deal with his shot anyway? How does a guy make it so far without some coach somewhere along the way trying to correct his technique? Just wondering...

[Takashi]

Doug how does a few more wins gives Jay the head coaching job?

Blogger's note: Why do you care, you know that Messina's coming.

[SY]

Doug,

Could you share your insight as to why Banks is not even put on court yesterday (in the fourth quarter)? Is he hurt? Or is he really that bad? I mean....he's making 4+ million a year. Sitting on the bench is definitely not going to improve his trade value.

-SY

Blogger's note: Actually, just heard he's got an injury -- a foot problem, I believe -- and they're going to shut him down for the year.

[nigel]

ok three things:

1) Paps had a good game, maybe two. No need to start the parade. Hump, Moon, those type of guys - they come in all the time and raise expectations, but at the end of the day its inconsistency which seperate these guys from others.

2) Doug, "The Legend" is officially the name im gonna use to Paps- i love it! I would make it second to "The Gangster"

3) I figured the Raptors had a mean team of assistants, but to get in Carlissimo and Iavaroni (if possible) will give the Raps an all-star cast (along with English and umm...that other guy). You can interchange any of them and make the argument that they are head coach calibre.

[Chili]

Hey Doug,
The Raptors' free agents this summer are Marion, Parker, Voskhul and Graham. I can safely say that Voskhul is gone. I don't know if they will try to sign Marion because his price is sky high. I hope they sign Graham but I doubt it. They should go after Parker. He's an asset. And the new sensation in town, Pops. If he plays like that all the time and not just 'auditioning' for a big contract, he should be a perfect addition to the roster. They need a hustling guy like him and maybe his attitude will rub off other team members.
The Raptors need to address a glaring need, which is a point forward. A Scottie Pippen type. In the next amateur draft, this should be the top priority. But if Hasheem Thabeet lands on their laps, they should grab him. Find that point forward from the crop of free agents available. Maybe Jamal Crawford or Trevor Ariza or Von Wafer. Someone who will not cost that much. They need a lot of money for the 2010 free agent spending.

[Jason]

Doug,
When the Raps were 10 deep, everyone wanted less depth because guys couldn't get the minutes. The Raps change to 8 deep at the start of this year and everyone complains that the bench is garbage and lacks depth. To me, the biggest difference is Calderon isn't on the bench so theres no stud player on the second unit now. It has nothing to do with numbers or depth. How do the Raps address this and how do they possibly get a guys whos a starting talent but is fine with being the first off the bench? I don't think you can draft a guy because they wouldn't have the experience to play the role.

[David]

After watching Bargnani yesterday I am going dispute one of your hypotheses. You answered a question about why Bargnani has droughts in games by writing that one reason is that he doesn't have much run for him in games and there hasn't been practice time to come up with some plays. Seriously Doug, coaches are drawing up plays in games and running them without so much as a walkthrough. Since January, the team has had more practice time, and I think they could have added one or two more plays designed to work with Bargnani shooting from mid-range.

If the Raptors had done that, we might have had a better distribution of shots between our two bigs so Chris Bosh doesn't have to take 20 shots (or 31 like he did last week).

If Bosh is back next year, redistributing shots between him and AB should be a priority by running some plays for Bargnani should be a priority, with instructions to Jose to feed the hot hand - something Toronto doesn't do especially well.

[joe]

i love how most people here think that unless pops is the next jordan (which he won't be) then he's garbage. have you guys ever heard of valuable role players!? that's what we need and that's what he is. he does the dirty work, hustles and crashes the boards. you can't get to, or go far in the playoffs unless you have a strong bench. that's why we got 47 wins back with garbo Rasho etc, and that's why we aren't getting to the playoffs now.

[CARLoS M.]

LMAO @ "Why do you care, you know that Messina's coming"

[Takashi]

I care because you are giving statements here and i want to know ho can a few more wins gurantee him a head coaching job when his record is horrible.I respect you Doug you are a great beat grunt, but it sounds kind of silly to say a head coach with his record can retain his job by getting a few more wins

And you know Messina is coming so trie to get on his good side before he gets here or he wont buy you any beers!

[sharmn5]

takashi,

You are a prime example of a know it all toronto sports fan.

Why isn't Colangelo calling you up for advice? You SEEM to have all the answers.

Oh wait, because you actually have no idea what your talking about!

By the way, the only way you can defend yourself is if you can prove that you somehow know EXACTLY what is going on inside Bryan Colangelo's mind. Good luck with that buddy...

[Takashi]

Doug i joust got off the phone with Messina and he is not a happy camper.He told me the first thing he wil do the second he becomes head coach is ban super son from watching Raptors games and any other Raptor related content(your blog also counts).

Las thing he said he expects you to ask him some questions other than "how can your coaching translate to the NBA" he told me that one is no good.

Blogger's note: Can you please go take a few hours and read From Deep?

[pete z]

Doug, i'll take your word that the Raps braintrust is heading towards being "bound and determined to hire Jay back" but i have to say, that worries me a bit. What exactly has Jay done to warrant this kind of trust? I am not saying I'm totally opposed to the idea, but i don't see how locking ourselves in early helps the situation.

[Mike P. from Chicago's northside.]

i don't know if i'm pro, but jay is our own, gord herbert and even the cut man. i like the direction we are taking. it will just take time...the only questionable thing jay has done thus far, is substitution patterns and not freeing roko. andrea's development sold me on jay. i feel confident that young players can play for him.

once this hybrid system is instilled into these player's brains, they will be in better shape for it. +45 points in the paint over the last 7 games tells me they are somewhat getting it. i believe with a derozen, henderson, harden, clark type added to the team, the raps will be a 41 win team.

[Takashi]

Does The Star allowed you to promote other blogs dougy? That is like two shows at the same time and you are promoting the other show on your network.You shoud do like they used to do in wrestling in 90's(Give away the competition results) and start giving away Grange's Blog here that way readers dont change websites.

And my last question before i go away for 2 hours to read from deep!

Doug what good things Jay has done in his short time as the head coach? And please dont start with "Why do i care" ofcourse i care Doug is he is part of my team.