Of Deke and Pops and Patrick. And a bunch of other stuff

This whole ‘stay up until 1:30 a.m. watching games and then get up at dawn to finish this’ is going to wear an old grunt down. But it was probably worth it because the Laker-Jazz game turned out not to be bad.

VINCE TALOTTA/TORONTO STAR

Read on to see why Patrick O'Bryant might be back next year.

But this in-game thing, which is turning into some kind of question and answer session as well as breaking down what’s going on in the games has been kind of fun, no? Attendance is a bit down, but I guess that’s to be expected but tell your friends and family we’ll be around just before 8 tonight to see what’s going on.

And who knows, if I get lucky in the several phone calls that’ll be made today, maybe there’ll be a nugget of Raptor news to digest.

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How much does this bite for us schleps beholden to Rogers? The first TSN2 game of the playoffs is tonight’s Game 2 of Philly-Orlando, which might be a good one.

Seems the evil-doers stringing us along just want to keep doing their evil.

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What I get a hoot out of is people talking about the Raptors needing to make “substantial” change over the summer.

Let’s see here

A new starting two-guard (BC made it clear if Parker comes back, it’s off the bench)

A new starting small forward (I fully expect Marion to go in a sign-and-trade).

A new backup point guard (if that wasn’t clear from Monday’s BC event, I don’t know what is)

A top-10 draft pick who will – unless the pick is absolutely blown – be a swingman who’s in the rotation.

A new, or different, backup swingman, other than the rookie, be it a free-agent or someone who comes in a Marion sign-and-trade.

I would think the days of Pops Mensah-Bonsu as the first big off the bench are over so there’ll be another new backup four or five.

So, let’s see how that falls out:

That’s six new players in a nine-man rotation.

That’d be, what, 66.7 per cent turnover of the guys who play a lot?

And let’s even downgrade that one, to say that AP’s one of those guys off the bench. That’s still five guys entirely new in a nine-man rotation and one playing a different role.

Okay, let’s even say by some miracle of modern financial shenanigans, Marion’s back, too. That’s half your rotation (okay, four out of nine) that’s new.

That’s not “substantial” change?

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About Last Night

(And I recall taking a friend to see a movie by that name eons ago) …

- Did you notice a familiar face sitting behind the Portland bench? Dana Sinclair, the noted sports psychologist Bryan hired to be around the Raptors this season also works for the Blazers and there she was. She’ll be a familiar sight around Toronto in the next couple of months, though. A lot of her work will be use in pre-draft assessments of possible selections.

- How much would the Rockets benefit from having a veteran point guard? Watching Aaron Brooks turn the ball over and let teammates take crazy, crazy shots, all the while not getting Yao involved enough when every Portland big had five fouls was the difference in the game.

- How much does Philly miss Kyle Korver?

- How pissed were the Cavs that they couldn’t give LeBron and the other starters most of that fourth quarter off? The whole thing about the playoffs – for teams with legitimate chances at winning, that is – that is, is to lessen the number of games. Getting time off now saves bodies later and the Cavs needed to work far too hard in a game that should have been over. That said, they still win in four.

- I would really like to know what Jerry Sloan said at halftime last night after the Jazz got lit up for 66 points by the Lakers and looked dead in the water.

Make no mistake, they’re eventually going to be dead in the water but the solid comeback and taking the game to the final minute might just give them enough confidence to win one game back home.

Speaking of the Lakers, the night we were out there this year, I had a long chat with a former player still involved with the team who’s got more than a handful of rings to admire.

His biggest concern back then – and they looked like world-beaters at the time – was the collective mental toughness and inability to bury teams. Looks like he might have been right because they should have won that game going away and taken all hope away from the Jazz.

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Pardon the digression

So, Super Son slays ‘em with a sax solo of In The Mood at the school spring recital (and there’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back) and all I can think is, man, if that doesn’t get him the chicks, I don’t know what will.

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Saddest sight last night?

Dikembe Mutombo writhing in pain on the Rose Garden floor.

Quite aside from the fact he doesn’t think he’s ever committed a personal foul in his life, Mutombo was one of the all-time great players and arguably the most significant philanthropist in all of professional sports history.

I don’t think he was ever considering playing again next season so to suggest the injury ended his career is a stretch but if there was ever a guy who deserved a long and loud ovation as he left a court for the last time, it’s Deke.

That he won’t get it saddens me a bit.

And here's a nice piece on it, and him.

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Here’s why the Raptors, right now, look like they could have Patrick O’Bryant on the roster next year and not Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

(I’m not entirely sure I agree with it, I truly believe Pops has more potential than Patrick, but here goes).

They like the fact O’Bryant’s contract is so cheap -- $855,000 for the one season – and may wonder what kind of offers Pops would get as a restricted free agent they might have to match.

I think they see more potential in O’Bryant’s offensive game and, having seen Pops for a little while I guess you can’t argue with them.

There was a time when I thought they’d buy out O’Bryant (and they could still do it because his contract doesn’t become fully guaranteed until July 1) but that seems not to be Bryan’s thinking right now. But, really, aren’t we getting a bit worked up about two guys who’d be so far down the bench they’d be inconsequential on any team that’s any good?

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Remember me ragging on Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro for blowing all his timeouts and not having any left at the end of either Game 1 or 2?

Well, he was defending himself to the writers yesterday.

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Speaking of O’Bryant, they’ve got a deal with him that means he’ll be taking part in the Vegas summer league this year and he’ll be joined by a few irregulars from this season. Nate’s got to play, Quincy Douby’s going to play and Roko will be back from Croatia to take part in the early-July session.

Toss in the first-round pick, who’s sure to play; maybe Pops (if he’s not playing for some other team) and even a second first-round pick or a section second-round selection and the roster is almost set.

And that’s why, sadly for us grunts, there will be no free agent camp here the weekend after the draft like there’s been the last two summers.

Why sadly, you ask?

Well, two years ago we eventually got a good story on the emergence of that Jamario Moon fellow (who we didn’t write about until he signed in July but who made his mark that weekend) and last year, sniffing around there for the weekend got the break on the impending Jermaine O’Neal trade.

On the upside, it might mean a weekend off.

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Comments

[mary]

doug, i can't possibly see the raptors getting a BETTER starting small forward in a sign-and-trade than marion. when was the last time a team got a significant return on a sign-and-trade when the player wasn't a restricted free agent? i don't like our chances of being halfway decent next year, but tell me i'm wrong!

Blogger's note: With absolutely no thought,Detroit lost Grant Hill but got Ben Wallace and won an NBA championship. I'm sure there are others.
And the simple fact is these are difficult economic times and teams with major cap room are not likely to throw it all at Shawn Marion.

[Nick]

About the "substantial" change, do you think it's possible to even make 2 of the above happen? To me, all they can get is a new 2-guard (with Marion money), and a rookie swingman from the draft. They just don't have the pieces to deal around to make someone happy and get those things in return. Kapono and Joey? C'mon, they will get you nothing in return.

Blogger's note: Of course I do, or I wouldn't written that. They will have the mid-level exception to spend on one guy or split among a couple (if they don't renounce Marion and they aren't likely to), they could have a second first-round draft pick, they will have the bi-annual exception and as many veteran minimum exceptions as they want.
So yes, that can happen. Will it? We'll have to wait until October to see

[Tom L]

You likely have addressed this at some point, but what about keeping Pops over Nate - would Pops command *that* much higher salary than Nate's ~750k for next year? [Nate's deal is a team option, no?]

Blogger's note: Nate's deal is fully guaranteed at slightly more than $750,000, I beleive. So if you waive him and pay Pops his mininum, it adds up to about $1.5 million, which is too much for that roster spot and it's giving up on Jawai pretty quickly

[Carl J]

"aren’t we getting a bit worked up about two guys who’d be so far down the bench they’d be inconsequential on any team that’s any good?"

But the thing is, the Raptors aren't good, yet. Although Pops might sit near the end of the bench for 25 or so of the other teams in the league, the Raptors need a player like Pops who brings energy, who can rebound, and who is willing dive for loose balls. These are things that no one else on the team brings night in and night out.

[anthony.mackay]

Indeed very sad to see Deke play his last game like that, but I believe he is at a point in his life where he has more important work to do besides basketball.

If we get the Cavs Lakers final I expected LA to win in 6-7 games because they have the better front line (BIGS) an LBJ and Kobe might cancel each other out. But after watching 2 more stellar games by the King I know think he might actually outplay Kobe and could be the difference maker... who do you like in the final Doug?

Blogger's note: Let's wait to see who's in the final, shall we?

[Dennis]

We need to keep Pops! This franchise has a very poor history of getting rid of fan favorites. Popeye, Mugsey, JYD, Garbo. If they are going to pay someone to practice and sit on the end of the bench and only get garbage time minutes why not let it be someone the fans love?

The fans don't care for O'Bryant but we absolutely LOVE POPS! Neither of these guys are going to help this team to a championship so why not give the job to Pops?

[Matt]

Hi Doug, regarding Pops, how is there not a need for him on this team? He was instant energy off the bench and you could immediately feel the impact he had when grabbing rebounds left and right. Isn't there always a spot for a guy like him on any team? He seemed to bring out a little more 'fight' in the rest of the team.

Blogger's note: There may indeed be room for a guy who's major skill is getting offensive rebounds; unless you count putting offensive rebounds on the floor where they are smacked away by every little man on the floor. I just don't think the Raptors -- right now -- think there is.
I love Pops, love the energy he brings, but if he's playing 20 minutes a night for you, you're a 33-win team

[Takashi]

Hedo Turkoglu will be the Raptors staring SF at the start of next season.

True or False?

Blogger's note: Considering he still hasn't 100 per cent confirmed he'll be a free agent this summer, that's a rather ridiculous, and impossible to answer, question.

[JJSR]

Doug, have your heard any chatter from your sources in the organization regarding Ettore Messina? There has been speculation from other scribes that BC will be meeting with him during the Euro final four at the beginning of next month. Any chance he ends up as Jay's assistant or vice-versa?

Blogger's note: No, I don't see it happening.

[Michel G]

I think with POPS its all about the money they might have to match if a team makes an unrealistic offer. With Odom's 14 million coming off the books next year for the Lakers, I don't think Ariza is going anywhere (especially here, although it would be nice). I'm really enjoying the basketball, but the knowledge that the Finals are pretty much set (Kobe/Lebron, I mean the Lakers/Cavs) takes a bit of the excitement out of it. I know one of the league's strength is advertising their elite players, but I'm getting tired of all the Lebron and Wade commercials. Finally, that was an awesome uncontested dunk last night Lebron made while Varejao was trotting along beside him. But it came to me afterwards that Gretzky would never have scored into an empty net. He would have passed the puck to his teammate. I'm not passing judgement, just a thought and the last of my unsolicited comments.

[Pharaoh]

I'd take Pops over any of our back-up bigs. He may be raw, but he brings energy and passion that few other Raps can match. And I love the way he battles on the boards. Definitely a keeper.

[Conas Allen]

I completely agree with Dennis

[Patrick]

Hi Doug,

It is indeed sad to see Dikembe's career end this way. Favorite Mutombo memory? Mine is Denver's improbable series win over the Sonics and seeing Deke seemingly frozen on the ground after the final buzzer, clutching the basketball with both hands.

[Veronica]

Garnett... Scalabrine... now Leon Powe. Wonder how much the Celtics are regretting that P.O. salary dump now.

[Mike]

So riddle me this, Doug. Once you called him "The Legend", now you put down his game? WT*?

Blogger's note: Did ever once occur to you that The Legend for a guy on a 10-day contract might have been the slightest bit facetious? And I'm not "putting down" his game, I'm pretty much explaining, as I have for about four weeks, that's it's not Hall of Fame worthy

[Peter]

Wow, you sure ticked off the Pops fans! I'm kind of with you. Good energy guy if you could get him cheap, but BC should be focusing on making sure this team is good enough not to have to use a 12th man very often. If BC pulls off what he hopes to over the summer, Pops won't play much, if BC doesn't pull off the moves he hopes for, Pops isn't going to make enough difference to matter. Sure it's great to have a fan favourite on the team, but if the team stinks, I for one am not going to get much satisfaction out of seeing Pops grab 10 boards a night at the expense of a loss.

[fg]

" aren’t we getting a bit worked up about two guys who’d be so far down the bench they’d be inconsequential on any team that’s any good?"

i totally agree, but its a sad fact that the truth is, the depth of the raptors showed that once pops came to the team, he was on the floor during the last few minutes of the 4th quarter of close/tie games. He jumped ahead of so many of teh rotations players to 6th man. I know he wont be taht role, but it was still a low moment to see a 10 day contract have such a role on the team. wow what a lack of depth the raptors have. and to think obryant and jawaii and pops will be at the end of the bench is really really dreaming that the raps get some big names coming and with the amount of space that seems unlikely. just my opinion. i agree to not get to worked up on these guys, but you fail to mention how many spots pops jumped up on a disapointing roster depth.

[Geddy Lee]

'In the Mood' as in "Hey baby it's a quarter to eight"?

Blogger's note: No, as in Benny Goodman, the classic.

[SY]

Hi Doug,

May I know what is your reasoning behind expecting Marion to be signed-and-traded?

Unless Marion demands for a sign-and-trade, I don't see why the Raptors would want to do it -

1. Marion is a 4-time all-star, good at transition, high basketball IQ and still at his prime. The Raptors also needs his rebounding.

2. Financially, if we can sign him to a 7 million per year deal, why should we keep him? If not, why would any other team want his contract in a sign-and-trade deal (not to mention it is most likely a long-term contract we are talking about here)?

-SY

Blogger's note: I think his financial demands compared to his age and his abilities, might be too great for this team. THat may not happen but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[Serge P]

A quick google search will tell you that at the time Gretzky scored his 802nd career goal, he had 46 empty netters. Can we all please agree to stop making these dumb hockey/basketball comparisons where we contrive facts to make basketball players come off as selfish, classless thugs?

[chris]

I fully expect Delfino back, and envision one of Evans/Derozan/Harden drafted to play at the 2 or 3 (though will pull my few hairs out if/when the last of those guys is picked just before us - should have secured the 8th pick)

The thing i can't imagine is where Marion fits. Doug -- what team(s) do you see Marion landing with where there are attractive assets coming the other way? I just don't see it. To me it'd be much better to renounce all of our free agents (yes, including Delfino and Parker) and let Marion walk.

[jim t]

hey doug, are the bball gods finally getting back at boston with all their injuries.im sure thinking theyd love to have obryant back right now just like we coulda used garbo back then...lol
haha-goooooooooooooo cavs.on a more serious note i think with roko and parker as backups to jose is descent but if you had a choice who would you like to see as backup?

[Rob]

One potential problem I see with Marion is that I wouldn't be surprised to see him holding out for a bit. Given he'll be getting a big pay cut I can't imagine him being one of the first players to sign. Might take a little while for him to mentally come to grips with the fact that he's not worth 17 million anymore. I'm sure he's given it some thought but when it comes down to actually putting pen to paper on a 7 million dollar contract I can see him being a bit hesitant? What do you think Doug? Do you think he has fully accepted the new reality yet?

Blogger's note: Holdout? You mean not signing anywhere all summer and beginning the season out of the league and not getting paid a dime? Not gonna happen. May take time for him to sign but once the money starts being spent around the league, he'll sign.

[Liam McGuire]

I have a couple of questions for you Doug (and not as an angry fan or anything but just wondering)

First, is there any chances Jason Kapono will remain a Raptor?

Secondly, do you think that Roko will be a Raptor next year?

and finally Nathan Jawai and Patrick O'Bryant are both young, I understand the sense to get rid of Pops in favor of them, and I don't understand why people are all jumpy about keeping O'Bryant in favor of Pops, O'Bryant had good games with the Raps when he started, and he outproduced Pops, and didn't turn it over every time he touched the ball near his knees, I think that if O'Bryant can put on weight then he could be a legitimate center. That was more of statement I guess.

Thanks for taking the time to read this response, love the blog, read it every day.

Liam McGuire

Blogger's note: I assume they'll try to trade Jason but have no clue whether they'll be successful and no matter how disappointed they may sound like they are in Roko, I can't see them giving up on a promising 24-year-old point guard

[John]

Sorry to dissapoint Doug, but from experience I can confirm that as good as the solo may have been it won't carry much weight with the ladies. Apparantly chicks dig quaterbacks and not first chair saxophonists.