Alex Radojevic and Oliver Miller and a summer of work

No news of note yesterday, that’s for sure; and I don’t imagine there’ll be much today.

The braintrust gathered, the braintrust talked and braintrust continues to hammer out different scenarios. It was that way yesterday, it’ll be that way today and I imagine it’ll be that way tomorrow and Thursday, too.

Wish there was more to offer, and I’m trying to find more, but the cone of silence is descending

Luckily, you have some wildly entertaining speculation to read here.

-

The proverbial elephant in the corner as we head in the final couple of days before the draft is not what the Raptors are going to do at No. 9 and certainly not if they’re going to buy themselves a second pick.

The big question, the one that will determine whether this summer is a success or not is this:

What are they going to do with Shawn Marion?

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

There's one major issue lurking in the background right now.

The draft will yield a player no doubt, perhaps even a starter and certainly someone who can be in the rotation but the 31-year-old Marion is the guy on whom so much hinges. It’s not that he’s irreplaceable, it’s that he plays a position of weakness on the roster and he can’t just get away.

We all know the issue with Marion is going to be money. I think he was okay playing in Toronto, the season ended with some promise, but if the Raptors aren’t going to pony up enough cash to keep him happy, they have to find someone who will.

And that’s where Bryan’s summer gets exponentially more difficult.

I haven’t spoken to too many people to find out just what’s out there on the market in a possible sign-and-trade; I do know their favourite free-agent-to-be is Hedo Turkoglu but I don’t see a scenario in which they can get him.

At the very, very least, if they can’t get a deal done with Shawn (and my first offer is a three-year deal with a team option on a fourth that starts at about $7 or $7.5 million) they have to turn him into someone who can start in that small forward position.

So no matter what transpires on Thursday night, the real work of the summer is ahead.

-

All right, before there are more questions and concerns about Anthony Parker and the fact Olympiakos of the Greek league is supposedly interested in signing him to a deal.

That is not news. It is not even mildly surprising.

Parker’s still got game – as an NBA backup but as a EuroLeague stalwart, I believe – and the fact a top European team will come asking shouldn’t be at all eyebrow raising.

It might even be true.

But the Raptors knew that possibility was going to arise, they knew it before last season when there was some interest expressed in AP and they have to sit back and see how things develop.

They want him back, no question about that, but they are not about to get into a bidding war with a deep-pocketed European team.

It’ll be entirely up to Parker if the lifestyle in Europe is something he and his family wants to experience again.

I never thought Parker to be money-hungry and a guy who simply chased the biggest offer so I don’t think that’s going to be the determining factor.

But the offers will come, no doubt.

-

Big day at the Air Canada Centre today.

Bryan’s doing his Last Availability Before The Draft thingy this afternoon when we all get to hear what we’ve all been reporting for the past few days.

But at least we’ll get to hear him say that they’ve got their list narrowed to four or five or six, they aren’t entirely sure what’s going to go on ahead of them and, yes, they’ll be looking to acquire a second selection.

It’ll be up to us to find out some juicy news ahead of time to ask him about or some juicy news after that’ll make the stories a bit better than they might be.

-

Someone was asking me the other day about workouts and whether there were any really good Raptor workout stories and I have to tell you, searching the dark recesses of my mind, I really can’t come up with any spectacular ones.

Or even really good ones.

Aside from Sam Young impaling himself on the machine that measures vertical jumps this year – and that one might go down as the best ever – 1999 provided one glimpse at why individual workouts are, um, useless sometimes.

Armed with two picks – No. 5 and No. 12 – they knew they were going to trade the top pick for Antonio Davis but they were in a quandary at No. 12.

So they worked out a kid who killed a kid in the session and looked so good doing it they had to take a flier on him.

Yes, in a lot of ways just because Alexander Radojevic beat up Zeljko Rebraca in one of those pre-draft workouts did Toronto entirely wasted a late-lottery pick on a guy who had more surgeries than baskets in a short and non-illustrious NBA career.

Workouts? Sometimes they just don’t work out.

-

Oh you lucky, lucky readers.

Remember last summer, Beijing, the whole Olympics Doug Covers Other Silly Sports thing? Well, the Benevolent Bosses have asked me to spend at least part of the weekend chronicling the Canadian Track and Field championships at the U of T and, trust me, you don’t want to miss that.

And I’m thinking, I need to get over the fact I used to think the only thing more boring than track was field.

-

Oh.

My.

God.

Please, tell me this story, kindly pointed out by Reader Jim yesterday, is a spoof?

Please tell me that.

-

Can I just say this about the draft on Thursday night since we’re all focusing on who they take and why.

I would consider it a failure if all they came away with at the No. 9 spot was a backup point guard.

Yes, this is a draft deep in them and there are some good ones. But the holes on this roster are many and they are at the two and three and using the top pick they’ve currently got on someone they know has no chance at starting seems, to me, to be a bad decision.

Of course, Bryan doesn’t usually ask my advice or seek my counsel but what the heck, I better offer it anyway.

-

Comments

[christian0317]

can the Raps really afford to draft a very athletic 18 year old DeRozan, and then have to wait what i would assume is nearly 4 years for him to truely be a starter?

Blogger's note: Four years? No, they cannot wait four years. But if they wait for years for a No. 9 pick to start, they've blown the draft entirely.

[Kelsie]

Hey Doug,

I'm wondering about your comment that if they got a back-up 1 it would be a failure of a draft for the Raps.

I agree that there are greater problems at the 2/3 position however if you re-sign Marion then he will start and the problem is at the 2. Who in this draft is a two guard that can start and make you better now? DeRozan? Not much of an upgrade and can't create. Henderson? Picking him at 9 is a reach and he still can't create very well yet.

Our issues last year were positional one's however we had a general lack of penetration from the wing and being able to break defences down. I know the Jose fans believe he's the guy for it but he's not, he's a pick and roll guy.

I also believe that most of the braintrust close to the team believes that if Jose had not have went down the year might have gone differently. Why? Because there was no suitable back-up on the roster and the team didn't function well when Solomon or Ukic was running the show.

If there is a two or three in this draft that could start right away I would readily agree with you but even Harden who is the top ranked two has question marks when it comes to being a slasher and defending the position.

If the best players available to you are pg's that can slash create for their teammates and push tempo, why not take one ala Flynn, Jennings, Rubio, or Teague? It's BC's job to find a suitable answer at the two and three and I don't think it's wise to rely on a rookie to come in and start for you at that position. I'd prefer a veteran in those positions anyway.

Bosh and Barg's are going to take the majority of shots this year so we need to be able to defend the wing spots better (if we can't get a slasher at this position), and have better athletes playing those positions but adding a 1 who can get in the lane and could push the ball in transition for Marion, Bosh, Bargs could make a huge difference.

Doug, which two or three would you take with the 9th pick that you think could start next year? I don't see anyone that makes us that much better immediately or improves our style of play.

Blogger's note: I can see DeRozan maybe starting; and don't sleep on the Johnson kid from Wake. It's very murky because it depends on how they fill that Marion hole.

[pete]

Just wondering, will there be a live-blog thingy for the lottery part of the nba draft?

Blogger's note: We're still trying to figure that out, balancing the need to write for the website and the paper along with how much value we, or you, would get out of a live blog. Stay tuned, is all I can say, we honestly don't know at the moment.

[Patrick]

Morning Doug,

Regarding your belief that drafting a PG with the 9th pick would be a failure, while I agree that the SG/SF position is the most glaring problem on the roster, it comes down to the drafting philosophy no? Do you take the BPA or do you draft for need?

What if all of the swingmen that the Raptors covet are gone by the 9th pick (i.e. Harden and Evans, obviously, but also DeRozan). If they feel that one of the available PGs is the BPA at that point, should they not take him and instead "reach" to take a SG/SF that's projected to go later in the draft (and yes, projections probably don't mean much, especially this year)? As a lottery team (i.e. not a very good team), is it not better to just amass as much talent as possible? If said PG eventually ends up being a starting-caliber guard, that's just another asset.

Obviously, I'm just a random diehard fan without any expertise but, that being said, I just kind of figured that as long as at least one of the team's weaknesses (SG/SF, back-up point, bench, toughness) is (partially) addressed during this draft, I'll be happy given that the staff can attempt to "fix" the remaining flaws through free agency and trades.

Anyway, sorry about the stream of consciousness.

Have a good one!

Blogger's note: I've mentioned this before, if there is a HUGE difference in the talents of a PG and a SG-SF at No. 9, I'd be okay with taking the PG; but there isn't, at least not in the opinion of anyone I've ever talked to and given the parity in the talents, I'd fill the gaping hole.

[Ben F]

Reports out of the Chicago Tribune have the Bulls looking to package their two first rounders (16th and 26th) to move up with an eye towards Henderson. With so much balance amongst the mid-lottery picks and the Raps' desire to add a first, there appears to be a fit there, no?

Blogger's note: No, for the simple fact Bryan has never even hinted, nor has anyone I've ever talked to, about moving out of nine. And two guys late in a so-so draft is not the best idea, you're giving guarnateed contracts to what might be marginal players

[John Bastedo]

Doug,
Sounds like if Jrue is there, they're taking him, which goes against your "if that's all they get" closing statement - but if they see him as a starter over Calderon by 2011, then I'm cool with that pick. And there could be a good swing still there at 18 if that's the pick they end up buying.

Speaking of which any chance of getting some mini-bio's along with your thoughts on some of the guys who might be there/be interesting at 18ish? Terrence Williams seems like he might be fun to have around. I know there are a lot of variables there, but take a shot for us if you can. Thanks.

Blogger's note: As soon as I can find out who they might be interested in later, yeah; but it's an exercise in futility to try and guess. They won't simply buy a pick just to take another guy, it'll have to be one of a very specific group of players and I haven't been able to unearth that list yet.

[LeeZ]

You know what? Good for the Big O. The guy had the softest hands of any big man I've ever seen, and sublime passing skills. His weight made him a joke, but to his credit, he sees that the bell tolls for him if he doesn't slim down. If he truly has had a change of heart and has learned from all his mistakes, it'd be great to see him playing in the league again -- ANY league -- or, failing that, at least live a long and healthy life.

[kazbid]

hey doug, what's the downside in letting marion walk?

With the current economic environment, plus 2010 FA coming up, I don't see how Marion commands more than 8-10 mil but I'm sure he expects it. If he doesn't reduce his price, wouldn't the $ be better spent on other free agents, there's some bargain shopping going on this off season.

Or is there something I'm forgetting? I mean besides the glaring hole at the 3 if he leaves.

Blogger's note: Downside is having less money to spend on free agents. If they sign-and-trade him, or sign him, they can give him, or his replacement, a higher salary than simply part of the mid-level exception

[N]

Based on what you know with the Raptors braintrust, how does Colangelo see Jrue Holiday? Will he be used as a back up PG to Jose or like a 6th man off the bench to play the 2 guard? I have heard of comparisons to Barbosa, but I am sure Jrue needs to work on his shot more.

[Kelsie]

Blogger's note: I can see DeRozan maybe starting; and don't sleep on the Johnson kid from Wake. It's very murky because it depends on how they fill that Marion hole.

I do agree with you on Johnson and if the Raptors draft him he will be a good player in our system. He likes physical play and has a good range of skills, so I have to conceed that point and I do agree Johnson could start, but then what happens with Marion, right? If BC can turn Marion into a starting 2 that can do some of the things we need (penetrate, defend) I would be happy with that situation casue we would have gotten better.

I have issues with DeRozan starting though only because he's still finding his game and I don't think you'll get the slashing from him immediately and can he defend his position?

Doug, do you think we have enough money to do something with Marion or a replacement for him, re-sign AP (as back-up 2), bring back Delfino, and try and get Nesto back here? If BC can do these things my uneasiness will be put on the back burner for now.

This is going to be a very interesting week in Raptor land!

Blogger's note: Very interesting couple of weeks, indeed. Yeah, they have the money to either do Marion or sign-and-trade him, get AP back at a cheap number, do Delfino and, lastly, sign Rasho.

[Jim]

Douglas, you of all people should know that you shouldn't draft based on need. For a team like the Raptors, which has many holes - including back up point guard - you take what you feel is the best player available. If that player is Johnny Flynn, then so be it. Calderon hasn't exactly proven to be a rock solid starting point guard in this league anyway, so the overall point guard position looks to be a pretty big red flag.

Blogger's note: Compared to the twos and threes, of which there are precisely NONE under contract after July 1, point guard's pretty full. And I, unlike many, am not giving up on Ukic as a solid backup PG

[Marc (Brampton)]

"Luckily, you have some wildly entertaining speculation to read here."

I spent a couple of minutes looking for the link...not sure if the joke's on you or me. Ha ha.

Keep up the great work.

[anthony.mackay]

Doug,
Everyone keeps saying Bosh is going to the Cavs and how well he would fit in with that style, finally giving them a low post scorer and some extra shot blocking and rebounding etc.

Well I have a much better plan, we trade Hump straight up for LeBron James. We don't sign Marion and finally get the SF we need, see being a GM is simple.

Seriously I think the Raps franchise is in trouble again, its 50/50 right now if Bosh stays or leaves and if he leaves then the roster we are currently building is for nothing because the center piece is gone. I guess we then try to build around a soft 7-foot 3-point shooter..? I agree Bargs has made progress and should continue to get better but I don't see him ever being a "franchise player making max money" type of guy. He thrives in the "team game" or as a #2 or #3 option (See Lamar Odom in LA).

Hardcore Raps fan that see's some frustrating times in the near future.

[gdr]

Doug,

Any idea what teams may be interested in Marion if/when he hits the open market?

Thanks. And keep up the good work!

Blogger's note: No idea, that's for next week

[chris]

Doug -- the only 9-worthy picks if Derozan/Harden/Evans are off the board (and Hill doesn't drop) are PGs...so be prepared to hate our pick.

If we do pick a PG, i sure hope its Flynn. Holiday is basically a rawer version of Ukic, with less ability to penetrate.

Regarding Marion - is he going to have a lot of suitors??? I can't imagine anyone but the raptors giving him more than the MLE.

If he does walk, if the only thing between us having 8-10mm in cap space is losing Joey Graham (see ya!), Parker (who may be gone anyway) and Delfino (painful, but not a huge deal) ....the cost isn't really that significant, is it!?

That cap space can be used in a trade (as an exception). We're not limited to the free agent pool. Plus, if we use the MLE this year we're goignj to have less wiggle room in 2010 if Bosh walks.

[CC]

mackay: if the Dallas Mavs was able to reach the NBA Finals with the "soft" 3pt shooting 7 footer (MVP) why not the Raps right? Im not saying Bargs is the next Dirk but look at the positive side. If Bosh leaves the raps have tons of money to spend on a free agent (maybe better than bosh) who is willing to play in Toronto.

[Dan W]

The only thing that worries me about Derozan is that he could turn into another Joey Graham. If They do get Delfino back though I think he would be an upgrade over Parker at this stage of his career. Delfino was a passable defender too.

[chris]

Doug - are there any teams with whom you think a sign and trade makes sense? Any possibilities????

I just can't see us working a S&T and getting a player back who was worth TJ Ford (or Charlie V)

Blogger's note: You mean a backup who didn't get along with half of his teammates and his head coach? Or a guy who was duplicated the second they made the No. 1 selection in the draft?

[Sean]

Hey Doug, do contract buyouts to foreign teams (i.e. Rucky Rubio's upcoming buyout) count against the cap/tax?

Blogger's note: No.

[Jim Rootham]

Hey Doug, watch the snarking about Track and Field. My niece (Michele Krech) is competing in the Heptathlon at that meet.

[Jeff Steele]

Anthony Parker is a solid glue guy who defends well and plays unselfishly so I think he should still be the starting shooting guard if he comes back next year. If Marion sticks around the starting five will be experienced enough to get the Raps out of the lottery and potentially back in the playoffs if everyone stays healthy.

If we go back to a youth movement with DeRozan starting it could lead to another year or two of mediocrity as he is still too young and inexperienced to be guarding guys like Kobe, Ray Allen and Michael Redd type players who will eat him alive in his rookie season.

I may be wrong and DeRozan could end up being the next Igoudala but I'm more concerned about winning next season as opposed to building the best team over the long haul. If DeRozan turns into an all-star in 5 years he could just bolt to the States kind of like T-Mac did right as he started reaching his potential...

I'm hoping BC drafts a stud PG like Ty Lawson with the 9th pick and a decent swing like Chase Budinger with the acquired pick in the late teens/early twenties. We could plug guys like that directly into the backup unit for 15-20 minutes a game in their rookie seasons and they wouldn't hurt us nearly as much while their games are still developing. But I'm sure BC will make the right decision based on his track record with 9th overall picks in the past, we'll just have to wait and see what he does....

[chris]

Yes....a starting caliber point guard who was fantastic before he started playing for his starter job. Easy to poo-poo him now, but he was a great asset.

I'll ask again - any teams with whom you see a S&T making sense?

Blogger's note: No, I don't see any teams at the moment; let's let the draft unfold.
And that starting point guard? Now a backup again in Indy; after being let go over Mo Williams, since traded, in Milwaukee. Sense a trend?
With his head on straight, he was an okay asset as a backup point guard, yes

[Andre]

Doug, Track and Field is a great sport. Fun to watch and do. Back to basketball. Why isn't Earl Clark considered at 9 as well? That kid is really good, 6"10 SF with handles, can play multiple position. The line up would be so long. (Me dreaming) but with all honesty, if we lose marion, he can play. Also, have you heard anything of the raptors getting close to buying a Pick yet? or is that something that would have to happen on draft day?

Blogger's note: It's something that would happen draft day. Earl Clark? Tends to disappear in games, a first round pick but not No. 9.

[DSS90]

Spurs have just traded Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto, and Kurt Thomas to Milwaukee Bucks for Richard Jefferson. Wow, Spurs have a BIG 4 now. Championship next year?

[LeeZ]

Doug, bear with me because you may have already answered this question before, but with reference to your statement: "You mean a backup who didn't get along with half of his teammates and his head coach?" I know it has come out after the fact that TJ didn't get along with half the team and Smitch, but did you see or hear rumblings of this DURING his time with the Raps (and I don't just mean at the very tail end), and if so, why didn't you report it? I don't mean that in a snarky way, I'm just curious as to the factors that go into a journalist's decision whether or not to run with something that he may not have hard, first-hand evidence of. And, just for the sake of argument, say you HAD heard some off-the-record grumblings from a bunch of teammates about Ford. Would you have felt comfortable running a story that said that TJ was having troubles with his teammates while at the same time guarding the confidentiality of your sources? Colour me curious (and bored with nothing else to do on a Tuesday).

Blogger's note: No, the discontent among teammates was not readily apparent to any of us around the team; on further review, maybe there were signs but no one saw them. If we did, we could have delicately reported it.