Back at it after a day to taking a breath

Miss me?

I figured as much.

Was nice to take a full Sunday and do very little except glance at the comments a couple of times. Some family time, some laying on the couch time, some long-neglected outside work time.

I did try to put together a mailbag but almost every question was ‘Why don’t they get this guy? What do you think of that guy? Hedo is the best/worst thing ever, agree?’ And, frankly, they were statements rather than questions and the ones I could answer I already had.

I know you missed it but …

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REUTERS FILE PHOTO

No, no, no, no, a thousand times no.

Here’s one thing I don’t quite get – and that’s on a long, long list:

The suggestion somehow that getting Hedo Turkoglu means the Raptors are now going to trade Chris Bosh. Or should.

I’m trying to get this straight:

You get a good player so it means you plan to, or should, deal away a very good player?

The logic escapes me.

Isn’t this the way to show Bosh you’re serious about winning? Doesn’t giving him another weapon to play alongside – a weapon who is going to create a lot of space for Bosh to operate – mean you’re trying to put the best team possible on the floor?

Now, you know that I’ve never thought they should trade Bosh, that he’s too good to get anything close to value for, that I think he’s in for a monster year, that I think he could just as easily re-sign here next summer as leave.

But it just doesn’t make any sense at all to strengthen your team by adding a borderline all-star small forward (and go check the dispatches from last February and see how many people thought Turkoglu got jobbed when he was snubbed for the all-star game) and then weaken it by trading away a bonafide all-star.

Now, Chris Bosh may indeed decide a year from now that he wants to go play somewhere else. But you can’t say for certain that he will, just like I can’t say for certain that he won’t.

But I will say with absolute certainty – and I will not listen to arguments to the contrary – that making this kind of move does more to appease Bosh than turn him off.

And you have to trust me on this one last point: There is no one – NO ONE – in the Raptor hierarchy who has any taste for moving Bosh today.

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Oh, oh.

Tough loss for Greg Francis and the teens down in New Zealand overnight, as Tanya details in this dispatch.

Here’s the deal: They need to beat Kazakhstan today and then Argentina tomorrow (or Kazakhstan tomorrow and Argentina the day after, depending on what hemisphere you’re in, I think) to have any shot at the quarter-finals.

Can they do it?

I have no idea, to tell you the truth.

You’d think a win over Kazakhstan would relatively easy to accomplish; beating Argentina might not be the easiest task.

Best o’ luck, kids..

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So, what’s Bryan up to now?

Not entirely sure because the information super highway dried up a bit yesterday when everyone sat back and took a deep breath after the Turkoglu saga.

I know he was working the phones but it was the end of holiday weekend down south and I imagine a few folks decided take the foot off the pedal for a day.

But it’s got to be back to work today.

You’ll see in Brian Schmitz’s story here that there is going to be no sign-and-trade transaction in Orlando so scratch that off your list of possibilities.

It’s not like it’s the only fire Bryan’s got going, though. There are several teams still interested in Anthony Parker – Cleveland seems to be the most aggressive – and now that it’s official that Shawn Marion’s going to be out there, you might here his name mentioned in a city or two.

What, or how, Bryan can turn those assets into remains between him, the bean counters and the agents but the GM’s a rather creative sort so something might be afoot.

And after we’ve all had time to take that deep breath, I imagine rumour, speculation, innuendo and a fact or two might emerge in the next 24 hours.

Should be fun.

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Here’s one for you that might, in some small way, back up my contention that coaching isn’t the be-all and end-all in winning.

When Joe Dumars gets around to hiring a replacement for Mike Curry, he will be Detroit’s sixth coach in 10 years.

And in that time, the Pistons have won an NBA championship, gone to Game 7 of an NBA final and been in, what is it, six straight conference finals?

That’s not bad. Seems the guy calling the plays might not make that huge a difference.

That said, whoever gets the gig now – and it looks like Avery Johnson is the leader in the clubhouse – had better get some kind of long-term guaranteed deal because the chance of him finishing out the contract are pretty slim.

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So I’m sitting in the restaurant/saloon last night, waiting for Super Wife and Stumpy to come calling and it’s one of those places with a zillion televisions, all on sports.

Now, I’m as eager to watch whatever’s on as anyone – hell, I sat and watched that tennis yesterday morning like I knew what was going on – so I’m casting furtive glances as the Sunday evening TV fare.

On this station: A Lennox Lewis fight.

On that station: Leaves vs. Gretzky and the Kings.

On that other station: Lakers vs. San Diego Clippers (and it did the heart proud to see World B. Free chucking it up like no one we’ll ever see again).

And I’m thinking: Yes, there are too many channels.

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I’m going to put this one out here now because I’ve had a lot of queries about it:

Q: Hi Doug. Could you clarify what constitutes a minimum salary player?

Matthew S, Vaughan

A: The minimum salary for any player is dictated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. It varies by years of service and goes from about $450,000 for a rookie to about $1.3 million for a 10-year veteran.

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You know how there’s a moratorium on signings until Wednesday?

Well, there’s now a moratorium here on questions about the mid-level exception.

Here is the definitive statement I got from a very highly placed league source who knows what he is talking about.

The only – ONLY – way Toronto could have possibly retained its mid-level exception was if Orlando wanted to do a sign-and-trade deal for Shawn Marion.

That, as we read earlier today, is not going to happen.

So, ipso facto (or something like that), Toronto can’t get it and I’m done considering it.

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Okay, I’m off.

In between Raptor phone calls and e-mails, I’m Argoboy today (lucky football readers, indeed) and there’s a long and, I presume painful, visit to the chiropractor thrown in for good measure, so if we’re a little tardy on the comments, we’re a little tardy on the comments.

See ya.

Comments

[Grant]

headline typo:

should be...

Back at it after a day to take a breath

or

Back at it after a day taking a breath

[CARLoS M.]

Hey WSG! Can you post a link to a jpg or PDF of those ratty photo-copy of diagramed lay-on-the-floor back-stretches?

[DougG]

Put me in the absolutely ecstatic to get Hedo Turkoglu camp.

Getting him, in addition to Derozan, are the answer to two prayers. Turkoglu is not only one of the premier small forwards in the league, he can play the point, and he has ice in his veins, when there are only 30 seconds left in the game. He also seems to log an enormous number of minutes, which ought to ease the bench issue, an issue which will possibly get solved through creative means shortly.

All in all, this is a joyous time for this raptor fan.

[HSTRIP]

Is there a list of Free Agents anywhere that are expected to ask for the min?

Blogger's note: Only in the minds of GMs; none of the players or their agents think that's their fate

[David]

Doug, one reason fans keep coming up with the idea that we will still have cap space after signing Hedo is that websites like Hoopshype or Shamsport do not show DeMar DeRozan's cap hit (I believe it's $1.9 million) which was added the instant he was drafted. It's not the final number for him - that will depend whether the team later gives him the maximum 20% gross-up most first rounders get. The gross-up amount won't go on the cap until he signs his contract.

Thanks

[BB]

If Bosh does walk at the end of the season I don't think its the end of the world because of all the other superstars available - Yao Ming, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitski...

Doug, Is it true that if Bosh doesn't sign here next year that Toronto will have that "max contract" money that was available for Bosh to try to sign one of these players next year?

Next years FA season should be pretty wild!

[k.e. slickke]

A couple of your points need to be re-iterated Doug.
If CB4 leaves : we have Jose/Bargs/Hedo NOT Jo/Brg/Marion. Attracting a big name with J/B/H would be much easier.
The difference in the bench from 08-09 is JO. There's no way you could count on him for more than 20 minutes. The need for a bench was greater last year.
After witnessing the Celts and Garnet last year, ANY team losing a ket starter is toast. Would you rather have that worry or 'we need a guy from the bench to step it up every night'.

[k.e. slickke]

ket starter = key starter, doh.

[BrianV]

Whether the Hedo deal is successful will depend on the bench. As it stands now (and I realize the season doesnt start for about 4 months), this team will be very soft to play against. They may want to be a run and gun team, but as currently assembled, they will not be that type of team because they cannot rebound. If you cannot rebound the ball, you cannot start a fast-break. I am hopeful they can sign some tough, aggressive backups, as there are such players out there who play the 2 and 3. I just don't know if they will be able to sign any of them with the minimum.

[macs]

Hey Doug, getting Turkoglu doesn't mean that the raps should trade Bosh. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to keep Bosh. But, MLSE doesn't strike me like an organization that is willing to go over the tax threshold. If that's the case, then how good of a team can the raps be when Bosh is making 30-40% of the team's salary? Making a trade LIKE Duhon/Chandler/Lee for Bosh would make the raps instantly better, and would give them more flexibilty to sign FAs in 2010. That's the creativity I'm looking for from BC. A solid lineup from 1 through to 5 (Calderon, Chandler, Turkoglu, Lee, Bargnani), with a good bench (Duhon, DeRozan, FA, Evans, POB/FA(Rasho?)).

[Andre]

I'm looking forward to the summer league... Someone mentioned it in the comments, You think the raps can get Denham Brown in for the summer league? He would be an interesting prospect... Do you know what hes up to and where hes playing ?

Blogger's note: Think he was in the D League last year; the ship has sailed on his NBA hopes
And he wouldn't be an "interesting prospect." What he would be is a token Canadian with no shot to make it being given a spot by nature of his birth and that's silly

[dean]

Surely, Minny would take Hump??? Mr. Minnesota !!!!!

Send em' to Memphis, heck, send Marcus Banks too, the Grizz-dizzles will take anyone....

Am I the only one who is stunned the Grizzlies never changed their name?

Anyhoooo, no more GState trade proposals, until near mid season, I apologize......

Peace

Deaner

[Jeff]

Doug, whether this was Plan A or Plan B, The Raptors had to have been prepared for this scenario. So I ask you (and please ask Mr. Colangelo at his Wednesday press conference), why didnt they spend they buy into the draft? At least buy in for a few 2nd round picks (min salary guys like Jawai) to fill out the roster. Thanks.

Blogger's note: We have asked and perhaps you missed the answer. But here it was: There was no one they wanted at the cost it would have taken to obtain him and the salary they would have had to guarantee him for three years that made it even remotely worth their while to obtain
And if they can't find anybody as a leftover free agent at the minimum who's better than some second round pick I'd be shocked
Pretty simple.

[anthony.mackay]

Doug,
I'm sure you have already answered this question... but where do you see Marion going? You think Mike would want him in New York?

DeRozan has been getting some hype regarding his dunks and transition play but how is his D? If this kid can play against other 2's and 3's and is an above average defender then our starting 5 just got MUCH better.

Blogger's note: No clue about a destination for Shawn

[doug]

I too was baffled by the now we have Hedo we can trade Bosh mentality, it made no sense, it was like Lakers getting Gasol and saying okay now we'll trade Odom, or Celts getting Garnett and saying okay time to dump Pierce....the whole point is to improve your team, yes Bosh is a free-agent in a year, a year is a long time a lot of scenarios can play themselves out ....people don't seem to understand that their is a limited list of true all-star or near all-star calibre players in the league, teams need at least 2-3 of them to compete....plus I am in the minority here but I like Hump, he serves a useful purpose and the raps missed him when he was injured, plus i feel he would be a good fit with this bunch. To trade him to get room to sign Kleiza would be a mistake as Kleiza has grown a life of his own here, he lost his minutes on a good team last year...there had to be a reason and that has to tell you something, people over-value the worth of the Kleiza's, Delfino's, Pops in this world...they are what they are plain and simple..

[Tony]

Delfino over Parker, easily the better choice. He's tougher, rebounds and drives to the hole. All things the Raps need most and all weaknesses of Parker. If they find a way to bring him back he will be huge for us this year with the lack of bench strength.

[derek]

Smush Parker has as much of a chance to make the team as Carl English. Why are we wasting a spot on the Summer league for Carl English? That reeks of Leo.

[Dave]

Doug,

Since the Raps are going to be looking at signing minimum salary guys to round out the roster is there a chance that we see Joey Graham back here backing up Turkoglu?

Regarding rebounding, while Bargnani-Bosh-Turkoglu will start and finish games I would guess that the rest of the time Jay will send out Evans/Humphries along with two of the above. Evans/Humphries role would obviously be grab boards as many boards as possible and to get their offense from putbacks/dunks.

One other question, will we expect to see Turkoglu as the ball handler on the pick-and-roll? (ie Turk-Bargs execute the pick-and-roll while Calderon and DeRozan spot up and Bosh looks for a pass or offensive rebound).

Thanks for keeping us informed.

Blogger's note: There's a chance of anything happening and, yes, you will undoubtedly see Turkoglu running the high screen and roll. It's what he does best

[Andrew]

Great job on the blog Doug, and I certainly agree that now is not the time to consider trading Bosh. Next year's trade deadline might be an interesting time if the Raptors aren't having a good year though.

I think we now have another criteria by which to evaluate the Charlie V. for TJ Ford trade:

Charlie V., 25 years old, 16.2ppg, 6.7rpg at 5 years/$35m vs
H-Turk, 30 years old, 16.8ppg, 5.3rpg at 5 years/$55m

I'm not sure this all is exactly a feather in BC's cap.

[Andrea V]

Hi Doug,

Are we still responsible for Sam Mitchell's contract? If so, and he gets the Minny job are we off the hook? Would this result in some extra money that could be used at a later date or does it have no relevance at all to any potential signings?

Blogger's note: None whatsoever

[Steve]

People keep saying what is wrong with Bosh as a Max contract player. Well here is my $0.02

He is a Max contract player and I think he will get that somewhere -- the problem is where? If we sign him to a Max contract, and we also have Turk and Bargs, and a few others, then basically it becomes impossible to build a whole team without going well into the Tax. So the question is not, do we sign Bosh, but are we willing to pay the price to build a team that includes a Max contract player. So far MLSE has been unclear on this front, and that is the problem.

If they are not willing to go far into the Tax to build a team with Bosh at the Max, then the best thing to do is trade him now when the value you will get in return will be higher (not equal, as you will never get equal for this level of player, but higher).

I think this makes sense if MLSE are not willing to go high into the tax and build an actual contender.

Can you build a contender in other ways? Yes, and I would rather do that then have Bosh, at the max and not enough around him.

My preference would be to sign Bosh and build around him, but I am not sure it is MLSE's preference. Also, there is the question of will Bosh stay, or does he have other plans.

If it is clear he has other plans, or if the bean counters are not willing to spend, then the time for a trade is now.

[jesse]

Looking back to last year at this time, were you as optimistic about the Raptors starting 5 as you are now

Blogger's note: It was far, far more of a gamble last year.

[Terry Day]

Doug,

A few questions:

1. Can't they use the MLE to pick up Marion?
2. Can you explain the tax situation again?
3. Can you give me the names of all the free agents the team has been thinking about?
4. Can't they offer Parker and Delfino some Tick Tacks and a box of Smarties to play for the Raps?

Just kidding

My question is about matchups. Who do you see guarding folks like Kobe or will they use a more team defense approach? With Parker and Moon gone it would seem that they lost the players that did that job. Thanks for all the work.

Terry

Blogger's note: For the two times a year they play Kobe they'll probably use more of a team thing than they have; same when they face LeBron
But, as we all know, those guys can't be guarded by any one guy in the league anyway

[kazbid]

hey doug..i've never second guessed any of BC's previous moves..i really think he has done the best he can with the situations available to him in the past..but this move is ballsy! when is BC's contract up, isn't he up for re-negotiation next summer? which would mean he is putting his future in the hands of hedo.

i don't wanna pull an eric..but worst case scenario we lose BC and bosh next year and we're left with hedo bargs and turgo eating up most of our cap space for the next 4 years after.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I've been traveling much of the time between the start of April and now, so my Raptors information has come intermittently from you and your blog. Many thanks.

So I'm stringing together the snippets and from here (Scotland, by the way), it looks like this:

Hedo was one of the top free agents available and he chose the Raptors. To me that is a big deal. The Raps weren't forced to sift through the dregs to pick up whoever was left over out there. They got the cream of the crop. And there is still a chance BC will turn Parker and Marion into assets. Plus everyone is coming back healthy. Call me a drunken optimist (actually, I'm not drunk. But I am in Scotland and it is coming up on cocktail hour and I hear they make Scotch here...), but things are looking good. Orlando is welcome to VC, Dallas is welcome to Kidd, Boston is welcome to Wallace, the Pistons are welcome to Gordon and the Lakers are welcome to Artest. I think the Turkoglu is the best signing of the off-season.

And how would you like to be a Houston fan right about now?

AG, Edinburgh (until tomorrow)