Now we find out whether BC's had a good summer

Ready for a big week?

The free agency feeding frenzy begins tomorrow night and while it’s not a bumper crop, it’s not bad.

And around these parts, it’s actually rather significant.

We all know that Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker and Joey Graham are unrestricted free agents, Carlos Delfino is restricted and if the Raptors don’t waive Patrick O’Bryant by Wednesday, he’ll have a guaranteed contract worth $855,189; if they do waive him, they need to write him a cheque for $500,000 to go away.

Marion, of course, is the biggest fish and presents the most significant challenge for Bryan Colangelo.

The GM’s done a good job so far addressing two crying needs in toughness (Reggie Evans for Jason Kapono) and athleticism on the wing (DeMar DeRozan) but he cannot be judged on his off-season activity until we find out what he does with his free agents.

I’m led to believe nothing is going to happen immediately tomorrow night with Marion, one league source said it might take a couple of days for that to shake out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Toronto didn’t get Delfino done quickly.

Parker and Graham? Again, I get no sense that there’ll be any urgency there. They might get offers, but I imagine teams will want to see how other things shake out before dealing with what have to been as second-tier free agents.

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After thinking about it for a little while, you know what else I might do with Shawn, even though I’m virtually sure it’d be rebuffed?

Tell him I’ve got a one-year deal at something around $10 million for him to sign.

It may not make entire sense but if he wants a long-term contract at a rich number, he’s far more likely to get it next year when there could be more than a dozen teams with huge cap space.

It puts a lot of pressure on him – he’d have to perform very well this coming season to earn something the year after but if he’s confident in his abilities, maybe he takes a shot at it.

The big concern, of course, is that a player on a huge one-year deal becomes a tad selfish to boost his numbers and get his name out there but that’d be up to Jay to deal with.

The Raptors? Well, I guess they do it to keep a piece that fits pretty well and they still have all kinds of flexibility next summer to make moves.

Again, I doubt it happens, but if I’m Bryan, I at least broach the subject.

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Hey, summer league’s approaching – Toronto’s first game is like July 10 or something – but here’s a little note that I’m sure will miff more than a few of you.

There are no plans at the moment to have television broadcasts of any of the games. Nothing from NBA-TV, nothing from RaptorsTV, nothing from There Are Too Many Channels In The Universe TV.

That means no breathless discussion of how DeMar DeRozan looked playing against true scrubs, no waiting for the broadcast of some game to see if Roko’s lost that ability to dribble out the shot clock like few other guards in the game.

And I don’t believe there will be an ink-stained wretch from Toronto in attendance – money being the big issue, the time of the games being another – so how in the world are we going to discuss something as mundane as summer league basketball? Maybe we won’t be able to, and that’s not a big shame.

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Of course, you know who controls the flow of information this week, right? Agents.

General managers are forbidden from discussing their discussions, or their signings, in the moratorium period that ends July 7 this year (it was July 8 last year, I guess the accountants are working faster this time around) so it’s up to agents to leak news out.

Just wanted you to know where it’ll be coming from.

Oh, and for those who aren’t sure about this whole moratorium thing.

In this week, accountants from the league are scouring the books of each team to find all the Basketball-Related Income that’s used to set the cap level for the coming season and the official tax threshold for the season just completed.

We’ll know those numbers late on the night of July 6, I imagine.

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I think we’re going to find out a little bit about Anthony Parker this week.

I know there are NBA teams out that covet him – San Antonio, Cleveland and Boston will call again because they’ve been making back-channel inquiries already and all present a more legitimate chance at a title than Toronto does – but I don’t know if chasing a championship is what drives him.

He’s always lauded the Raptors organization and the city, he has a valued place in the locker room as one of the grown up leaders and I’ll be quite interested to see what he eventually does.

I would think a two-year deal at somewhere around $9 or $10 million – the same salary he made last year – with perhaps a third year option would be logical jumping off point.

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Here’s one from the mail, I think we’ll parcel one or two out each day to avoid a backlog:

Q: Hey Doug. Every year foreign players are drafted in the NBA, and are left overseas to develop.

1) I imagine that most of these players hope to go in the second round or undrafted, to ensure they receive appropriate compensation if they choose to enter the NBA. But what about players that are drafted in the first round like Christian Eyenga. Do they have the choice to come to the NBA at any point they want and does this guarantee ever expire?

2) Some teams send their players to the D-league to gain experience? Wouldn't it make more sense to loan players (such as Jawai) to the Euro leagues to face better competition (which can be seen in soccer)?

Mike B, Halifax

A: The rights to players drafted in either round remain with the teams that chose them forever. The rights can be traded, of course, but any drafted player has no real say in where he goes, which is why some agents would prefer their kids not get picked in the second round, which allows them to sign a summer-league contract with any team that wants them..

And the league wants to build the talent level and public profile of the D League, which is why they don’t have any kind of working arrangement for signed players with any European league;

Unsigned players can go over there with a team’s blessing, if they’re under contract, it’s the D League or the NBA, no other options exist.

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Comments

[Matty-Pix]

I remember how fast BC moved the year Kapono was signed. So if the Marion situation takes a few days to unfold, does Colangelo sit back and wait? Or do you gather that there are other names above Matrix on Toronto's wishlist?
thanks

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Morning, Doug. Glad the draft's out of the way, now we can get down to the real business. Would it be a fair guess that the Raps will be involved in just one FA player swap this summer if Shawn Marion stays? But if there's a sign-and-trade there, could we be looking at upwards of 4 or 5 new faces this fall? Regarding the draft: Going in, we heard how weak it was, maybe one or two legitimate NBAers in the entire line-up, yada yada... But now we have a #9 pick that may be the second coming of AirLando?? Where did that humongous leap come from? Just selling tickets here? Or do the Raps brass truly think they've fleeced the field by stealing Double D at 9?

Blogger's note: They thought he had the most potential of anyone they could have realistically drafted. Time will tell

[Bill Braskey]

What was the arrangement that had Bonner initially going overseas? That seemed to work really well.

Blogger's note: He went because he was unsigned

[Andrew R]

I would think this will be Colangelo's defining year. By now, he should be making his mark on the team and we should start seeing the returns; one way or the other. I really want him to succeed but I don't get a good feeling. It's like the show Heroes; I really want it to be better than it is but it's weighed down by the existing cast.

Is anyone untouchable on this team right now? For me, it would have to Bargs and only him. He should have a real break-out year. Other than that, I think we've seen what this team can do and I doubt the additions of Double-D and Reggie Evans are going to significantly change things. What about Turkoglu? I think signing him would be a bad move, his peak was hit last year, he's aging, he's slowing and he's a defensive liability. The only reason he was able to get to the hoop so much with Orlando is because the other team's defence had to stay home because of the Magic's shooting. Toronto does not have that luxury.

[dave]

Thanks for a great and constant read. You answered a question of mine a few days ago about partial gar. contracts but I didn't make myself clear. Patrick OB's and like surely favours the player and is an earned pirk but for a higher quality player the trade value seems great for the team. When a team has a good to very good player getting that in the contract gives a lot of fexability. So, how about Marion on a 1 plus partial 6mil? Or am I way off? Thanks again!

Blogger's note: I'm not entirely sure what you mean but there's no way Shawn Marion signs a partially guaranteed contract. That's simply not going to happen

[joe]

sorry Doug but i still dont understand why they cant sign Hedo ands still use the mid level exception on a couple other players. your answer was becuz they would have to be over the cap to use the mle. wouldnt it be easy to do that why not sign Hedo for the cap space available then go over it by signing Delfino and pow theirs your mid level exception?

Blogger's note: There is no cap space available unless they renounce the rights to everyone, which they are not inclined to do.

[jc]

Hey Doug,
you fans have been eagerly awaiting the monday morning report. A recurrent theme from last week was to not resign marion but sign and trade or just sign a younger version of him. I could not think of anyone who fit that description. You mentioned that you would take the weekend to think about it....did we come up with the same answer?

Blogger's note: We're looking and talking to people who might have some idea of something remotely realistic

[George Carlin]

Here's something I don't care about: athlete's families. This is really the bottom of the sports barrel.

I don't care if an athlete's wife had a baby, Mom and Dad are sick or if his Aunt has VD. It's got nothin' to do with sports. It’s just a weak attempt to make these low-level neanderthals appear human. Leave it out. If your relative is sick, talk it over privately; don't spread it all over television. Have some dignity. And play ball!!

You know what's important? The score. Who won. I can get plenty of sad tales somewhere else in this victim-packed society. Can’t sports exist without all this embarrassing, maudlin, super-sentimental, tear-jerking crap! Keep your personal disasters to yourself, and get in there and score some points.

[LeeZ]

Think Marquis Daniels would be a good swing man fit for the Raps? Indiana has renounced him; he gets to the hoop, finishes well and plays excellent dee. I imagine he could be had for the mid-level.

Blogger's note: I'm sure he's someone they'll at least take a look at

[scott]

Hey Doug,

I've heard that if the Raptors can't keep Marion they may sign and trade him. What would be Shawn's motivation to do a sign and trade rather than just sign with a new team?

Blogger's note: Money.

[Tom L]

Besides AP's experience, ability to back up the 1/2, leadership in the locker room etc., he would likely make an excellent mentor to young DeRozan. DeRozan will several of the same defenders as AP has (and will have to guard the many of the same) and *IF* AP can transfer a bit of that knowledge to someone much more athletic then it would be another key piece in resigning him. I would prefer 2 years - it seems around this age declines can happen quickly.

[Marc (Brampton)]

RE: Marion - Doug, I'm a little skeptical that anyone other than Toronto will offer Shawn more than the mid-level exception. So I'm not sure why we'd offer much more either? I know Shawn to be a sensitive guy and so I think you don't want to lowball him to the point where he is sulking all season, better to not sign him at all in that case. But 8-10 million seems like too much to me. I'd start off at 6.5 and be willing to go to 7.5.
Am I wrong in my thinking?

Blogger's note: That's about the range many have in mind

[Eric]

Doug Smith's love-in with Amy Poehler continues. If AP was so important to this team as a leader, competitor, friend and brother, why did they win 33 games last year? How many would they have won without him? Could theyve fared any worsE? With a capped out roster on the brink of the tax? Is that possible?

And why have wings been lighting im up since he enterred the league? And why does he miss FTs at important points in games like Vernon Wells curls up into a ball with RISP? I bet Vernon and Amy get along real well.

He's a great guy but this is not about great guys. This is about w's- or at least not underachieving. Get him out of town. Or sign him as a coach. But get him out of a uniform..............pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze.

Blogger's note: Classy move, invoking a woman's name. Now I'm virtually sure you're about 11.

[Vince]

Hey Doug,
The Raptors had a short list for the draft...who constitutes their short list for the free agent season? I imagine Shawn is followed by Turk but if they can't sign either, who is next? Ariza? Marvin Williams?

Blogger's note: They don't let that stuff get out too easily

[aditya]

2 comments- marques daniels reminds me of john salmons (who BC tried to sign before he went somewhere else)...so don;t be surprised if daniels ends up in toronto for the mid level...

there is no way anthony parker gets 2 years $9-10 million...at least, i don't think....little bit less than that

[Confused]

I may not know anything about basketball, but why are we trying so hard to get Delfino back and potentially lose Parker? I would take Parker over Delfino in a heartbeat.

[Nick]

Doug,

Please quit posting comments from Erica. Probably just looking to get her name on the web. There are enough interesting posts out there we don't need to hear from her.

Thanks for the blog. I enjoy the forum.

[dave]

sorry I meant a two year with the second partial so that a high value trade down the road could happen. It's not like Marion wont make a lot of money playing bball two years from now.

[Liam]

Roko Ukic.

The Croation Sensation? I think so.

DeMar DeRozan AKA DSquared

Patrick O'Bryant AKA Tall and Frosty.

I'm here all week.

[Tony]

Hey Doug, the summer league games will be available on RaptorsTV, but don't expect them to be live. It may be days later. If it's anything like last year you will be able to watch them "livestream" on the net.

Blogger's note: I was told draft night that NBA-TV, which gave RaptorsTV the games last year, is not doing any this time and if that's the case, there is no way in the world RaptorsTV is sending its own production crew to Vegas to do games.

[Alan C]

Doug, that time lag on setting the cap and tax seems odd to me. First, wouldn't GM's want to have the firm numbers before they set about signing and/or trading? Wouldn't it make more sense to have those numbers in hand before allowing free agent transactions? In addition, teams would be free to immediately talk about what they're doing.

Blogger's note: That's why no one can sign or sign-and-trade anyone until after the numbers are known. They have an idea but not any real, hard facts.

[Tim W.]

jc: "Hey Doug,
you fans have been eagerly awaiting the monday morning report. A recurrent theme from last week was to not resign marion but sign and trade or just sign a younger version of him. I could not think of anyone who fit that description. You mentioned that you would take the weekend to think about it....did we come up with the same answer?"

You may have missed my response to that comment in the last post. Here's a quick recap of a few of the possibilities I came up with on the fly...

Chicago with Luol Deng, Atlanta with Marvin Williams, Dallas with Josh Howard, Portland with Travis Outlaw and another player, Washington with Mike Miller. Obviously those are just wild guesses, but I can see those teams having some interest in him and possibly giving up the players I mentioned. And I'd take any of those players in return as they would all help the team.

[sackman]

hey doug,
i've read about Yao's disenchantment with the rockets, especially Tmac. i can't imagine him having much love for the city or the franchise ... how 'bout Bosh straight up for Yao?

[DougG]

If BC has proven anything over the last few years it is the fact that no one knows what he is going to do. I don't recall any bloggers or news writers who were able to predict any of his moves. If his plan is to bring back the same cast as last year, and a few from two years ago, then I suspect he will end up trading Bosh this year, even though most writers don't think he will now. But who knows? Maybe he is pretending he is bringing back the same team because he is really planning to change things up. During the lead up to the draft I thought he was going to put out a press release claiming the Raps were moving down because they thought they could get DD at 15.

[Tim W.]

Doug, I really like your idea with Shawn Marion. I think it's a win-win situation. It certainly doesn't look like teams are going to be spending much money this summer on free agents, and with the number of teams with cap room next summer, Marion is sure to get better offers since there are more teams with cap room than top tier free agents available. And $10 million is certainly more than he'd make on the market. Any chance of relaying that idea to the Raptors?

Can we take a poll or something about whether you stop posting Eric's comments? He's not even entertaining in the `wow-I-can't-believe-he-said-that' kind of way.