All Marco all the time

I swear, I don’t know if this off-season is ever going to end.

How’s a guy supposed to spend some quality deck and patio time when zany GMs keep making trades and doing things? Can we please get some down time?

But, I digress, as usual.

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AP FILE PHOTO

On the radar for a while, Marco finally lands in Toronto.

Short answer to several question: Yes, this is a good trade at almost every level. Young guy for old guy and a multi-faceted player for a one-dimensional one. Money’s not a big issue so what’s not to like?

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It really should come as no surprise that Bryan finally found a way to get Marco Belinelli here, he’s been a fan for a year or so and tried a couple of times last season to swing a trade for him. We’ve been writing his name as a guy the Raptors have coveted almost since the start of last season, we just were never sure what it would take to get him out of Golden State.

The cost now was negligible; Devean George is nearing the end of his run, I’m not sure how much he would have played anyway (although the backup three spot’s still a bit of a concern) and the money’s no big deal.

Belinelli makes $1,547,640 this season and there’s a team option at $2,372,542 for next season. I haven’t gotten any indication on whether the Raptors are planning to pick up that option but I have a feeling we’ll know pretty soon. I imagine with vacation looming for pretty much everyone in the front office – not really a vacation since everyone works all the time but you know what I mean – I bet they’d like to get all the loose ends tied up.

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So, what’s it mean for the lineup?

Well, Belinelli’s a two-guard with some point guard abilities so I think he’ll see a lot of his time at the two. But, I can also see him on the court at the same time as Jack, giving Jay a couple of ball-handlers to run the offence through.

The word from a respected Italian journalist, the official chronicler of Belinelli, Gallinari and Bargnani, as a matter of fact, is that Belinelli’s a mentally tough kid, quite confident in his abilities, needs to work on his defence (who doesn’t?) and has spent a lot of this off-season working to strengthen an ankle he hurt last year. He can shoot from range and can come off screens and get his shot off.

Looked good against Canada last week, I’m told.

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Another layer: Whither Carlos?

Good question.

I think there’s still a little bit of interest in getting Delfino under contract on a one-year deal but the Belinelli move will make it a bit easier to take if those Delfino talks fall apart.

No word on when we’ll get resolution one way or the other but, again, I’m guessing soon.

Personally, while I like Delfino’s game and his ability to play a couple of positions well, I’m not sure there’s room now for him.

The big argument against is that with Delfino, you’ll have a glut of swingmen all about the same and it could cause some havoc with minutes and rotations and the like.

That has to be a bit of a concern but you also have to realize that having players on one-year deals, like Antoine Wright and Delfino if that’s what they do and Belinelli if they don’t pick up that option, tends to make players conform a wee bit lest they not get another deal.

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Oh, right, the small forward spot, what’s up with that?

Good question, Doug.

The suggestion I got from the head coach in a conversation this week is that they’ve been told by friends in Dallas that Antoine Wright has the ability to guard some threes, in fact he can guard a lot of them, they think.

I presume on the rare occasion – very rare, if you ask me – they could slide Bargnani to the three and perhaps – just perhaps – they could get some minutes of out DeRozan there.

Right now, though, it’s the one issue that remains on the roster.

Is it a fatal flaw? No. Is it something that should be addressed? Sure. Right now? Not necessarily; I think September will yield more than a few unemployed NBAers willing to take one-year deals.

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Oh yeah, some of the exhibition schedules are being released -- the Suns in Vancouver might sell a few tickets, just wish we were going out there – but I’m not sure when Toronto’s is coming out officially.

Unofficially, there are some nuggets previously reported that we may as well repeat.

There are only two neutral site games – in London against Philadelphia (yay) and in Sioux Falls, Idaho South Dakota against Minnesota (nay) – and three or four games at the Air Canada Centre.

There is not, for the first time in years, a game against a touring European club team. Just boring old NBA squads.

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Speaking of Jay, how long do you think it’s going to take him to run out an all-Euro lineup of

Calderon

Belinelli

Turkoglu

Bargnani

Nesterovic

That’s got to sell a lot of t-shirts on the continent.

I also smell some marketing possibilities.

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Hey, back to the schedule for a minute.

I hear there’s a draft of the regular season schedule floating around, it’s unofficial and no one’s sure when the official one gets out but the one nugget I’ve got is:

Let’s just say the home opener will give you a chance to show your appreciation for AP and Jamario.

That’s about all I’ve got on the schedule right now.

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All right, I see there are about a kabillion comments I need to post. Better get to them before, you know, a day off turns into work.

Comments

[Migs]

Wow, Raptor fans sure are a finicky bunch. I'm sure a lot of you were thrilled at Joey G for Belinelli trade rumours last year, and now that we've acquired him for basically nothing, you're finding more things to bitch about.

I love the passion of the Raps fan, but why can't we be content that we got a younger, better player, and that our team has improved drastically over the past year! Face it, Devean George was not gonna play, had nothing to offer the team, and BC managed to flip him for someone who can contribute.

On a side note, forget the Phoenix Suns comparisons. This team is shaping up to look like an early 2000 Sacramento Kings team.

[Striker77]

Hey Doug,

Thanks again for you work, man.. Awesome reading... Wondering if you agree that the blog comments are always heavily critical on the Raps' defence (or lack thereof)and people are not giving any thought to a defensive system, which is implemented from coaching. I am sure that on paper, you look at most of these players and they are not known for their tough, gritty defensive play, but shouldn't we have more faith in Triano's influence? He is going to have a full training camp and preseason to bestow his defense that the players as a team might be able to prosper with. All this talk about Calderon not being a good defender, or Bargs for that matter, weather one agrees with it or not, should not be the be all and end all of team defense... ITS A TEAM GAME, right?

[Dave]

After this trade, I don't think it's too important for the Raptors to add another player who can play the 2 or the 3 (ie Delfino). Small forward actually seems quite solid with Turkoglu, DeRozan and Wright. Wright started there for the Mavs a few times last year, so surely he's good enough to be third on the Raptors depth chart.

I'm for more concerned about adding another big man. In the last 4 years, Bosh has missed an average of more than 10 games per year. The Raps need to be prepared for Bosh to miss about the same number of games again this year. It's not realistic to expect Bargnani, Evans and Rasho to share all of the big man minutes when Bosh is out. Jay's options would be to have Turk play some PF (which would leave the Raps deficient in rebounding), or give meaningful minutes to Patrick O'Bryant (which would leave the Raps short one NBA-caliber player). I'd like to see the Raps grab a big man who is just happy to have a job, will accept some DNP-CD's, but be able to contribute when needed.

[Marc Iturriaga]

Doug,

I agree with your comments, and wonder if there have ever been an-all European starting five before? I don't quite understand the anger towards a European starting five:

1) For this to happen Bosh would have to be out of the mix, and you don't sit your best player for a promo. It means it happens because Bosh is hurt

2) The starting 5 are not always your 5 best, and it's who finsihes the game that matter.

With this trade, you have lots of weapons to go to at the end of the game, and all this nonsense about toughness and rebounding is just silly. I will take quality guys, with good chemistry, who can score over a toughminded doughhead anyday. And Defense isn't only one player - you could have a defensive monster on your squad, but there are still 4 other players on the court. Team defense is what is needed and I think these guys have a good BBall IQ to learn it.

I'm starting to believe that BC CAN trade Banks and his contract for a SF.

[Frank Hankinson]

Hey Doug, wondering how you feel about the article Perkins wrote (I think it was Perkins) years back about the "White Jays"? The Star took a hit on that article, accusing Riccardi of moving out black players and moving in white ones. Colangelo has done the same - clearly without reference to skin colour and he's by all accounts made great moves - but nonetheless the Raps have become much whiter under his tenure (from the coach to the roster). Where is Perkins on this one? Where are you? Will The Star make the same accusation of Colangelo that it made of Riccardi?

Blogger's note: It wasn't Perkins, let's get that straight right from the start. I'm nowhere because it's not an issue, it means nothing, it's absolutely ridiculous to even spend a millisecond thinking about.

[Tom L]

Pardon me if you've answered this (I didn't see it), but when is the deadline on picking up (or not) the "team option" for Belinelli?

Blogger's note: I don't believe it's until the end of next season; they could very well do it any time or wait. Got no indication from my sources which way they were leaning.

[Lawrence]

They don't have Bird rights for guys like Graham? Derrick Martin? I know, I know, Derrick Martin, but don't they?

Blogger's note: No

[todd vaughan]

hey doug,

any talks of james singleton being brought in...he can play the 3/4 and is definetly better then the legend. speaking of the legend, i think these raptors truthers need to see that the raps are probably better off with a bag of spaldings rather then the guy who had the most missed dunks in the league in a limited role
thanx doug

Blogger's note: Haven't heard the name.

[Mr. Cook]

To the many fans posting about a soft European line-up, does anyone have any examples to point to?

The most Euro-filled line up I can come up with was the San Antonio Spurs championship teams and late-into-the-playoff subsequent teams. I, like a few others here, hate the pucks and can't help but think that the Toronto "Europeans are soft" attitude is a product of the NHL, not the NBA. There have been European players who have been extremely successful and need not be named and there have been European players who have not been successful and need not be named either. Same goes for the American players.

To be fair, there is something to be said about a lack of a true defensive stopper on this team, but if you're a true fan of the NBA and basketball generally you'd know that defense in the NBA is all about the defensive system that is put in place and the ability of the players to execute that system properly. Would it help if we had a couple true bangers down low, or a quick-footed, over-sized three that could eat LeBron James? Sure. Chances of that happening? Virtually none.

BC has brought in Reggie Evans for rebounds and toughness, I believe some of you are forgetting that Bosh is a 23-10 guy, Bargs flourished in the later part of the season in relative terms in rebounding and defense once he had a set position and Mr. Jack is one of the grittiest young defenders at the 1 - 2 in the NBA and will hopefully develop into one of the grittiest defenders period.

We're not the Boston Celtics, where Rasheed and KG will likely commit a felony offense against opposing bigs when they bring it inside, but will you never be satisfied Toronto fans? Look at this year's roster and look at last year's roster, or even the Atlantic division winning roster. We are not worse this time around than those teams.

[Mich G.]

Doug could you please describe Belinelli's game for me, I am not familiar with him? Does he slash and drive or is he an outside shooter?

Thanks.

Blogger's note: Shooter, good ball-handler, pretty creative, could be a better defender, intense competitor

[Pedro]

quick question..what does all this trade means for roko? they say you can trade him now. In fact you can(obviusly) mas wasn't the point of not getting a backup pg last year to get him some experience?(read it somewhere, have no idea where). I like the jack signing and marco trade, but is roko on his way out? then last year was a mistake to wear down calderon and get him no assistance,no?
You think roko is going to be traded or stay for the future?

Blogger's note: I don't think it means a thing to Roko

[Mahdi]

Are you kidding me?? we play the Cavs first?! that is just lame, I know we all want to know how good this team really is but to quite possible have our first test against Lebron and Shaq?? hopefully that rumour is not true...

Blogger's note: It's true. And isn't better to get a good team before they have a chance to really get rolling? And a team finishing a back-to-back because I presume the Cavs will open on the 27th? Anyway, they have to play 'em sometime

[Andrew]

Doug, who do you like at SF for the minimum?

Blogger's note: You mean as a backup to Turkoglu and a guy who'll likely give some minutes up to Wright? Haven't really checked

[matt]

"There is not, for the first time in years, a game against a touring European club team. Just boring old NBA squads. "

No need, we already are one.

I agree theres no rush on getting that 3. A name to think of for that spot, whos the perfect example of a guy that is only going to get a shot on a minimum contract this summer, is Ime Udoka. From a good spurs team, wont demand shots on offence, solid defender. No he wont rebound overly well, and isnt a worldbeater but as a 10 minute a night defender at the 3 I think they should give him a call.

[coachd]

I'm surprised at the angst among some people about the amount europeans on the team. Your passport doesn't really give much of an indication as to how good you are or can be as a player or coach or vice-president of basketball operations for that matter. By the way, wasn't it a canadian who figured out how to make the 4 team that brought Turk to the raps while freeing up the mid-level and bi-annual exception? Just a thought.

[Jack]

This trade and all the player moves by Colangelo made the team a little better that last year's, although I will reserve judgment until they actually play. The Raptors may have acquired the players that may be needed to succeed but until they gel and play like a team, it will be fruitless. So don't get overly excited. Cautious optimism. That's what you should have.
Remember, the team still has Bosh, Calderon and Bargnani as the main ingredients. The coaches have to make sure that the new players acquired blend well with these three.
So until the season starts, we'll see.

[JM]

Blogger's note: All good points. But for the all-Euro, just check the San Antonio roster from a couple of championship seasons

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Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen weren't "Euro". I'd wager those two contributed more than a little bit to the success of the SA championship teams.

[Gerald]

Hey Doug, I was hearing out of Golden State that Bellineli is actually a pretty good defender, particularly perimeter defense. He was the one they had playing the Kobe's and such. I get a little worried that like Andre up there choking on a Junior Mint, that we just naturally assume Euro=Bad Defense.

According to some of the blogs,(reliable? Who knows.) that there's going to be hell to pay in GS because he was a huge fan favorite.

[Jeff]

Doug,

Have you heard anything about Joey Graham?

Signing Marco Bellineli would seem Graham would be a better fit then Delfino.

Or are you hearing the Raps have no interest in Joey.

Blogger's note: As I've mentioned a few times, there is at this moment absolutely no interest. Been there, done that.

[fabio]

doug would joey g be a perfect option at the backup 3?? cheap good rebounder and defender and could finish at the rim sound perfect to me...

[Jason]

do you know if the BC actually intends to keep Wright? I know both George and Wright didn't get any formal introduction to the Raptors (i know it's because of summer league) but now that George got shipped out, it seems like it's a sign they have no real intentions to keep them. (now only him)

Blogger's note: No, you're wrong, I'm afraid. And, again, the reason they didn't have anything formal with Wright is that the day after the trade, everyone headed to Vegas for the summer league. Wright, and George, went there to meet the staff, there was nothng nefarious about it

[Andrew]

This is the first time I've considered this but: Joey Graham would look good in a Raps jeresy now.

Any chance we could pull a sign and trade with Denver to acquire Kleiza as our back-up 3? What about Danilo Gallinari? 3 Italians would be a hoot!

[Alex]

whens the press conference? Is there even one?

Blogger's note: Nope

[greg max]

i believe this is a good trade. If the raptors are to improve significantly defencively or on the boards I believe that the improvements has to come mainly from the starting 5, especially with Andrea , Bosh and Calderon. Andrea and Bosh is expected to be on the court for most of the time anyway.

Its gonna be pretty tough sell to any really good front court player to come play backup to these 2 guys because they know they wont be getting much more than 10 -15 minutes a game.

I feel that there will be some more moves made, probably with Ukic (since nobody wants Banks) to get a backup 3. They maybe throw douby in that mix too.

[RonT]

Doug,
With the all-Euro lineup of Calderon, Belinelli,Turkoglu,Bargnani and Nesterovic one could argue Toronto is the touring Euro team this year.