A little update on a Saturday night

We just had a nice chat with Lon Babby, Hedo’s agent, and there will be no more shenanigans.

Turk’s coming.

“We’ll be available when (Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo) is ready. We’re hopeful it’s Wednesday but if it pushes over to Thursday, so be it.”

Why does he want to come here?

Well, it’s a great city, Turk likes playing in the Eastern Conference and the deal’s for about $3 million more than the offer from Portland. It should come in at about $53 million but there’s no way of knowing for sure until the cap numbers are released next week.

About the love for the city? Said Babby:

"It’s uniquely suited for him. That’s his background. He’s looking forward to joining the Turkish community there."

Oh, and the sign and trade thing?

Well, Lon said he’s comfortable with his deal with Toronto regardless but if there’s something Bryan can work out with Otis Smith down in Orlando that works for both teams, that’s fine with Babby and Turk.

However, I can also tell you that the chance of Orlando taking Shawn are virtually none. Remember when I used 10-90 on something? Well, I am assured by sources around the league that it’s 1-99 that the Magic have no interest in a doing a sign and trade that gets them Marion.

Okay, I’ve got two stories to write off this conference call for tomorrow’s paper but figured I’d let you know what was going on.

Nighty night, kids.

Comments

[jesse]

I am worried about our bench.

[Nadeem Shivji]

Agree or Disagree? When the starting five an any team are playing very high level of basketball, the bench seems to up its game regardless of the players on it. eg Celtics of 2 seasons ago.
So is it a stretch saying that if the starting five in Toronto do a solid job, the bench will feel the pressure to perform...be it POB or Hump or Roko

[papa]

thanks for the update doug. should be interesting to see what the next moves are. but the starting 5 does look pretty good right now, on paper.

[Pharaoh]

Doug, what about all the reports that his wife loves TO? How much of a factor was that, if at all? By the way, I just saw a photo of his wife.... wow, she's smoking hot!

[chris]

Curious, Doug -- is it that Marion as a player is not of interest to them, or a bit of sour grapes because we're taking Turk? Or both?

[Nathan]

Any interest in Delfino on Orlando's side?

Blogger's note: Otis Smith hasn't returned my calls

[Kevin Huang]

Doug you are the best man.
Seriously, to post something like this, what most media people would consider irrelevant, its really something!!
keep it up!
and also, is there NO way that Orlando could S&T Hedo, do we have no assets?, as long as we get over the cap, we can get hedo, and keep the MLE?!? So different combinations might work the might not entail Marion. S&T Parker, Marion, Banks? That would work for a depleted Magic Roster.
Then we can keep the MLE?

[basketball]

i don't get it. turk needs the ball to be effective, and with henry abbott on epsn's synopsis of him http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-41-166/The-Michael-Jordan-of-Turkey--in-Free-Agency.html , he really needs to be involved in the offence to keep focus. with calderon bringing up the ball, and bosh doing his hold the ball until there's 5 seconds left in the post routine, i think the jury's still out. I'm still pretty stoked to see him, but with a really short bench with no scorers, the raps are one huge injury away from repeating this past season. maybe they can figure out a sign and trade with orlando without using marion like the rights to parker, delfino et al and a 2nd round pick. The depth on this team is severely lacking.

[JJ]

Did you get a chance to ask Lon Babby if the 5th year is fully guaranteed? Or is it only a partial (which would bring flexibility down the road)?

Blogger's note: We didn't ask, he didn't offer, I cannot imagine it would be a partial guarantee

[jon]

Thanks for all the updates but most of ll thanks for doing it despite the barrage of idiocy from all the...umm...less eloquent.

[jordan]

nice. this is why i check back as often as i do

[JJ]

Other question -- while Orlando may have no interest in Marion, John Hollinger mentioned the possibility of a 3-team sign-and-trade (Hedo to TO; Marion to the 3rd team, player(s) from the third team or Orlando). Any scuttlebutt on that front? At least it's something to keep an eye on for the future.

[Jerome]

Yes, yes. 53 is the correct number. Thank you Doug.

Blogger's note: I'm gonna quibble because I'm tired and cranky and then I'm done with it. I can give you the verbatim quote from Lon Babby not two hours ago: "Five years and approximately $53 million, the precise number can't be known."
And if we've learned anything over the last day, isn't it that we need to be correct and not make statements that will later come back to bite us 'cause they're wrong?

[Mike]

I don't know if I should be happy or worried. The Raptors may have improved their offense with the signing, but I think they just shot themselves in the foot by renouncing PARKER.
I don't know if his basketball IQ (defensively), can be replaced by Hedo (an aging forward). I can only hope the other part of Brian's master plan involves a defensive small-guard that can defend guys like Prince, Rip, Gordon or J.R.

Blogger's note: Hedo's four years younger than AP, I'm not sure "aging" works, but I see your point. AP would be a tough loss
Either way, at least were making some moves.

Hey Doug, you're going to have to get guys like Granger to slow down when posting information that's tentative. Thank you for being professional and competent.

[bajoje]

Thanks for the update Doug. Hope BC can pull something off to open up the MLE for us too. If not, there should be plenty of talent left for cheap later on. Should be an interesting season. To Hedo: merhaba avi - hos karsilamak TO!

Blogger's note: I really hope you just didn't call me a bad name (I"m joking)

[peter]

Thanks Doug! the dawn of a new era indeed....

[aditya]

did derozan really make 6 three pointers in 1168 minutes at USC?

[Big C]

Thanks for the update, Sir Doug.

[Matt]

Hi Doug,

Do you think that Turk realizes what him signing that contract does to the bench? Do you think he even cares? Also, why would the Raptors offer more than the 5/50 the Blazers were offering if it's clear that he (and the Mrs.) prefer Toronto? It's pretty evident that there were no other suitors and this way, perhaps they would have had a bit more money to cobble a bench together.

[Chris]

I still don't know if I'm happy about this one or not. I was hoping for the Marion sign, Delfino sign, and maybe Kleiza or Ariza, or possibly someone else with a "z" in their last name. And why has no one brought up the big "R" word, rebounding. We're always desperate for more of it, Hedo doesn't really deliver there. This seems like a signing to move forward after Bosh leaves. Does Colangelo know something he's not telling?

[Drizzle]

Doug-
First off, you are the man for getting us Raptor die hards through the day with updates on the regular. Question, how do you feel about the bench if BC were to do nothing more? Or, do you assume that he has something in the works. I remember you saying BC is being very 'creative,' or some word similar. Is it in this situation that the need for creativity is necessary?

Keep up the great work.

Blogger's note: The bench would be thin and weak. But there's no way Bryan doesn't do something, if only waiting to see which NBA regular falls through the cracks of free agency and wants to work cheap for a team where he'll get minutes. The moves are not complete yet so it's rather moot to discuss.

[charles]

stuff like this is why i tell people you are the best when it comes to the raptors, great work Doug Smith. you are like my JYD (junk yard dog) of Raps news!

[Bill]

If BC can get a sign & trade using say Delfino, Parker, Graham or some combination to keep the MLE we will be in great shape. I think Dahntay Jones would be a great pick up to rotate with Derozen at the 2.

[Kevin Huang]

Doug,
it seems if the S&T situation were to come alive,
it would require 3 teams.
I did a little research on the 3rd team that would be in need of Marion's services this coming season (Although I have no idea what they would offer Orlando, but Orlando can accept a variety of players - Carter can play 2 or 3, Lewis can play 3 or 4, and they need backups):

Cleveland,
Milwaukee,
Chicago,
Minnesota,
New Jersey (Would they deal with Orlando AGAIN)
Portland (Although I doubt they would deal even if it were to make sense)

What are your thoughts? Do you think any of these teams could realistically be involved in a 3 team trade? I understand you haven't been contacted be Otis Smith but could you give your thoughts on the possibilities

Blogger's note: It would surprise me on all accounts, mostly because Cleveland's already made its huge splash; Chicago's saving money for next year; Milwaukee and Jersey won't spend and there is no way on Earth that Portland does anything to faciilitate a move for Orlando or Toronto right now.
Minnesota? They've got other issues to deal with.

[Hooman M]

Doug, you have noticeably left out your opinion on this trade. If I recall correctly, you shot down fans' suggestions regarding the possibility of the Raps acquiring Hedo throughout the season (much like you prophesized that Mitchell's job was safe a few hours before he got the axe). Also, judging from your last few blogs, you didn't seem to be keen on gutting our line up just to get a player who, in my opinion, is past his prime. We must obviously hold judgement until we see what tricks BC can pull, but assuming that we get Hedo and as a result can't sign Marion, Delfino, and Kleiza (3 most significant players I think we're missing out on), do you think this is the best move BC could have made?