Of tweets, Turks and tough guys

Looks like another great day outside; so nice, it’ll be hard to spend most of the day in the ACC looking at draft kids and new Raptors. But that seems to be what the day holds.

Until then …

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The list of kidlets in the gym today:

Toney Douglas, G, Florida State; Greg Gamble, G, Buffalo; Gerald Henderson, F, Duke, Jerel McNeal, F, Marquette; B.J. Mullen, C, Ohio State; Aron Baynes, C, Washington State.

Yawn.

Except for Henderson, that is. I liked the 6-4 Dookie all season (mainly because I happened to see a lot of Duke games by some odd circumstance) and I know he’s a person of interest around the Raptors.

But he’d be only one out of that group worth getting worked up about. No clear indication yet whether the DeRozan kid’s going to get here. The Raptors are planning another workout session tomorrow; maybe that’s when his agent will let him grace them with an appearance.

And, no, they have no idea yet who they’re going to draft. Everyone I’ve talked to over the last 48 hours has made the same point I made in this story and have been making since the day after the lottery: It’ll be more a matter of who’s there at No. 9 rather than who they want.

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AP FILE PHOTO

Hedo? It's more likely He-don't.

My man Sheridan set the cat among the pigeons the other day with a suggestion that there’s a possibility that Hedo Turkoglu could be a Raptor as a free agent.

Chris sort of missed the financial point which, as we all know around here, would mean Toronto would have to renounce Marion, Parker, Graham and Pops, not extend a qualifying offer to Delfino and not pick up options on O’Bryant and Douby to get enough cap space to make a run at Hedo that way.

Now, I do know this: Turkoglu has some fans in the Raptors hierarchy – and some friends – but that’s a very, very high price to pay. And while I guess it’s a remote possibility, every indication I’m getting is that it’s too much of a gamble.

It would leave them having to fill out the rest of the roster with minimum value guys and would leave this:

Calderon, a draft pick or Marcus Banks, Hedo, Bosh and Bargnani with Roko, Hump, Reggie Evans off the bench along with some minimum contract backup two-three and Jawai at the end of the bench.

Now, maybe they can do it and get AP back at the veteran’s minimum but I somehow doubt it.

What would I do?

As I’ve said since February, if he won’t take a three-year contract starting at about $7 million, I’d try to explore sign-and-trade options with Marion. Although there are very few teams out there likely to be interested, I bet there’s one if Toronto’s willing to take back a player they want and a questionable contract at the same time.

Of course, I’d call the rebounding-challenged Magic and see if they were interested in a Marion for Turkoglu sign-and-trade but if Orlando’s going to let Turk go, I don’t see them letting him go and still going into the tax level. If they’re going to pay tax, I bet it’s with Turkoglu rather than someone else.

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Tweet time: This from Chris Bosh, thanks to Regular Tom:

@chrisbosh O yea. Forgot to mention. I don't have any friends that told the Miami Herald I'm going to the Heat. The rumors are getting worse. HA

I’m reminding you again: Believe about one per cent of this kind of speculation.

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The story of the day? Has to be this one, no?

If I could only have written:

a 55-year-old man in a chicken suit challenged someone dressed as Barney the Dinosaur to a dance-off.

What a wonderful world we live in.

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Some dude over in the comments section rattled off a gaggle of questions yesterday, I may as well knock ‘em off now:

Q: Am I reading too much into the Kapono deal that the Raps likely dealt him more to save on Cap space in order to offer Bosh the maximum amount possible? More than any other team could offer so that if Bosh did not accept when FA time comes, that it'll look bad on him that he had no intention to stay anyway? In other words, offer him the most money possible, essentially giving him an offer he couldn't refuse.

A: Yes, you are reading too much into it. It’ll be nice to have that million or so bucks in the bank a year from now but it’s not the reason they made the deal. The reason is the reason we’ve been saying all along: It adds some toughness and rids them of a guy who wasn’t really a good fit.

And

Q: Back to the draft, have you spoken to many scouts? What is the consensus opinion of Dell's Son Stephen? Some drafts have this guy going as high as 4, some as low as 10. With his small frame, he's very quick, but when you bulk up to get tougher, it's very hard to maintain that quickness. What do you see as this guy's upside because he's quite intriguing (and considering his dad is a good character guy, he's gotta be too)?

A: Every scout I talk to is intrigued by Stephen and, you’re right, he could go anywhere from 5 to 12. I can’t see him creeping into the top four, though. He can flat out score, I’m told his ball-handling skills are good enough that he could play some point guard in the NBA and teams looking for a combo guard have to look hard at him.

I’m not sure there’s a lot of love for him among the Raptors brass, who’d like someone a bit bigger but that may be a moot point because he could be gone by No. 9.

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Oh yeah, Reggie Evans is in town today for some formalities like a physical and to chat with us. It’ll be nice to see what his take is on his new team.

I know Phil in Philadelphia talked to him briefly last week and Evans understands it’s a business and that trades happen but there wasn’t much Toronto-specific content, that’s what we’ll be looking for.

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Comments

[Beth]

It looks like some in the "legitimate" media are about as reliable in the rumor department as dirty, hippie bloggers.

Blogger's note: I don't think it's ever been suggested otherwise. At least not here. See: Vescey, Peter; Smith, Stephen A.; various others.

[Kelsie]

Hey Doug,

Couple of observations and a question:

Kobe should change his name to 'Tough Shots' Bryant cause there is no player in the league that hits the degree of difficulty shots that he does. I'm not a huge fan of Kobe Bryant the individual but that #24 that plays for the Lakers is phenomenal! Some will take James on their team and say he's the bst player in the league, but I would still take Kobe on my squad any day of the week. He's a coaching mind in an exceptional players body.

Draft time......I've been doing a lot of thinking and I know they have three point guards on the roster currently but what if none of the 2 or 3's in this draft can create and get to the rim? When you analyze the strengths of the wings in this draft none of these swing players has that ability to do it consistently at this point in time. My question is do you think BC would be opposed to drafting a pg like Jennings who can create and is a top five talent (regardless of his maturity or lack thereof)in this draft?

I know it doesn't make sense to have a log-jam at that position but why draft a swing man that can't do what you need and fit into your team? The time's we were most effective as a squad were during the T.J/Calderon rotation years and it's obvious we need someone that can create from the perimeter.

Outside of trading that pick for an established player do you think it's possible that BC might have a few trades available to him and might indeed draft the best player available to him even if it's a 1? My thoughts are if you need a penetrator and someone to create for themselves and their temamates it shouldn't matter at this time what position he plays. I have a feeling that through all that negative publicity that Jennings might turn out to be a steal.

As for Greg Francis from yesterday's column. I went to high school with him at Oakwood for three years and Greg is not only one of the nicest people you'll meet, he's a basketball mind and I'm glad you gave him a shout yesterday.

[charles]

doug everyone keeps saying reggie is related to tyreke? what is the truth?

Blogger's note: Everyone's wrong, I believe

[Brian Sherman]

Doug,

What if the Raps signed Hedo AND traded Bosh for multiple players, leaving Evans to start in his place and just play defence?

[Victor]

The other day you mentioned that Red Auerbach may have had the tougher job than Phil Jackson seeing as his teams did not play in an era watered down by expansion. Could it not be argued that the opposite was true? During Auerbach's era the Nba did not have the global exposure along with the vast number of athletes vying to make it to the league. Even Greats like Bill Russel had to overcome social adversity just to celebrate with his team mates after games. How many worthy athletes weren't even allowed in the opportunity to make it? How do you think a high I.Q. mid level talent guy like a Jason Kapono hold up in that era?

[christian0317]

Doug,

I do like your idea on what you would do if you were the GM, however there is one problem that i see, its the taking back of a "questionable contract". The problem i have is that would make it 2 of these questionable contracts on our roster adding up to about 4.2 million on banks contract and im guessing another 5 million for this player you speak of. so that leaves us with nearly 10 million sitting on our bench that most likely will have no chance of cracking the rotation, much like banks hasnt. seems a little much.

[Vince Lam]

Hey Doug,

I was impressed by the play of Courtney Lee for Orlando during the playoffs. It's amazing that he's a rookie selected with the 22nd overall pick. Given that this is a weaker draft and perhaps the fact that Lee either slipped down the draft order or was under the radar, would the Raptors take a similar type player with the 9th overall pick? Or are they expecting a player that brings more to the table?

[jc]

hey doug, are you saying they might trade up to get the #5 pick from wizards?

Blogger's note: No but anything's possible.

[Andy]

What do you think about the chicken's identity being revealed?

Blogger's note: Been out there for years

[yertu damkule]

re. hedo - before anyone gets excited, remember, dude isn't exactly a lock-down defender. if, to acquire him, the raps would have to pass on re-signing marion, AP & delfino, then who, exactly, defends the oppositions top wing? geez, how bad defensively/rebounding would they be with a lineup featuring jose, hedo & bargs?

[derek]

Hi Raptors nation and Doug Smith, I was having some fun and made a Raptors-Magic trade that includes Hedo Turkoglu. This is the link so Id love to hear what people think, even if its a silly and bad trade!
http://www.thirdquartercollapse.com/2009/6/15/910499/raptors-magic-announce-a-trade

[chris]

TJ + Rasho and a draft pick was fine for JO when he represented oodles of cap space. Its kind of a bad trade now when that cap space is gone.

Unless Marion is willing to sign for 4x7 or 3x8 (doubtful) I would renounce them all and use the cap space to either sign a free agent, or better -- use that cap space to trade for another team's players. With this economy I'm sure there are some good guys available for a big fat trade exception.

[Mike U]

ahhh gotta love hoopshype.com

Josh Smith sign and trade for Marion?
I don't know J-smooths salary by the way so I'm assuming (wishful thinking) that it's manageable for BC

[Mike U]

Nevermind about that Josh Smith trade for Marion. I just re-read it and just noticed the part about the $6mil immediate payment haha.

[Nick]

Hey Doug,
Do you want to clear the air re:Jalen's tweet? I don't understand why he found your blog about him offensive. All you had were nice things to say about him.

[Suazu]

what about getting a guy like von wafer to round out the bench. he'd come cheap (relatively) and is a slasher and scorer.

I'm not his biggest fan but he seems to cover well for tmac's absence.

Keep up the good work super-doug.

[Edward]

I wonder what it is like to live in a city where the owners of the basketball team say they are willing to spend whatever it takes to win, like Orlando, as opposed to here, where we get nothing but excuses for why they won't spend any extra money to do so?

Blogger's note: Orlando, while a more successful franchise as the moment, has never spent over the tax threshold. Don't yet hold them up as beacons of spending.

[Tim W.]

Kelsie: "I know it doesn't make sense to have a log-jam at that position but why draft a swing man that can't do what you need and fit into your team?"

Both DeRozan and Henderson do have what the Raptors need, and play a position that is the biggest need for them. It's very likely that at least one of them will be available at the 9th pick.

And Jennings scares me a bit. I know he's got talent, but the guy isn't smart enough to realize he needs to shut up before the draft. What does that say about him. Talent isn't everything. Guys like Marbury and Francis come to mind, and Jennings isn't as talented as those guys were coming out.

[Tony]

Evans will become an instant cult hero in Toronto because of his toughness. He will love it here guaranteed!

[chris]

This article on espn refers to Tyreke as Reggie Evans' brother. Not sure if its OUR Reggie Evans, but i assume so...

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-28-216/William-Wesley--Tyreke-Evans--John-Calipari--and-Memphis.html

[chris]

though there is probably more than one Reggie Evans in the world...

[GM]

How did you get a bunch of comments yesterday when there was no place to comment in yesterday's blog? And no comments.

I doubt Chris Bosh knows if he has any friends who told the Miami papers something? Do you know everything your friends say about you?

And are you saying Chris Sheridan is like Vecsey and Smith? Or that even responsible writers occasionally delve into the rumour realm? Or maybe there's something to it?

Blogger's note: I'm not saying that at all about Chris; I was answering a comment with a suggestion that, yes, writers are "reputable" organizations, like people who quote unnamed "friends" sometimes take things too far without actually doing any checking.

[Steve]

Hi Doug, I have a trade/cap question for you. I know you hate both so I won't use names. Me and a friend were arguing about this, anyway here it is.

If player A makes 20 mil and he is traded for players B and C but C retires, is his contract still allowed to be traded to make everything work out?

Blogger's note: As long as he hasn't filed official retirement papers at the time of the transaction, yes.

[Rob.V]

This is the link so Id love to hear what people think, even if its a silly and bad trade!

Hey Derek, great work putting all that together.. must have taken weeks. Here's my personal take on your scenario:

It's silly... and a bad trade!!

[oliveira]

Who would you like to see drafted if you were the gm?

Blogger's note: Who went Nos. 1-8?