If this is Tuesday, it must be hoops

Fore!

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

Raptors working on re-opening the doors for Rasho.

Never mind. It’s basketball today. I can’t keep the sports straight these days.

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Yes, today is Jarrett Jack Day here in the big smoke and we all knew that was coming for about a week.

But I was talking to a couple of Bryan’s Henchmen yesterday trying to get a read on what else is going on and, frankly, it’s about as earth-shattering as the Jack deal.

Negotiations with Delfino and Rasho are continuing but quite aside from the money issue – and there’s always a middle ground on money issues – things like length of contract and number of guaranteed years are factoring into things. Not unexpectedly, either, because we all know that whatever Bryan’s doing, he’s doing with one eye on potential tax troubles a year or two down the road.

Not sure where the snag is and I don’t get the impression the talks are anywhere close to breaking off but it’s a sticking point they have to work through.

Me?

I’d probably draw the line at a three-year deal worth about $15 million total for Delfino but I’m not sure I’d fully guarantee that last year and for Rasho I’d give him two years at the biannual exception.

I will also say this:

If push came to shove and I could only get one, with the roster as it’s presently constructed, I think it’s far more important to get a backup centre than another swingman and I’d get Rasho on board – or someone like him – pretty quickly.

Remember last year? With Will Solomon and Roko Ukic as the only backups to Jose Calderon and how bad that turned out? Well, it’s not exactly the same but starting the season with Reggie Evans and Patrick O’Bryant as your lone backup bigs simply isn’t good enough.

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Here’s one from the mail bag (remember that?), which is pretty darn near empty, by the way:

Q: Hey Doug, today someone was wondering about the Toronto reporters being scooped by an Indiana scribe about a Jarrett Jack press conference on Tuesday. A few weeks ago, another commenter wondered about the value of scoops, which got me to think about the question, too.

I can understand if you break something that would otherwise stay under wraps, but what is the value in being the first to announce something that's going to be announced anyway, be it a press conference, signing, trade or firing? We're all going to hear about it in time, so what good does it do?

Is it just that some readers might eventually just start using you and your paper as the sole source? Is it bragging rights? Personally, it doesn't matter to me one bit who gets it first. In this age of instantaneous news, as soon as one gets it, the other reports on it seconds later.

Thanks.

Guy M, Vancouver

A: It gets to the competitive nature of the reporters a lot of times. We’ve got four newspapers here that cover this team, a gaggle of radio and TV outlets and if you’re first with something newsworthy (and I don’t count the announcement of a long-expected news conference to be all that newsworthy, to tell you the truth) it makes a guy feel good… That’s the “something that would otherwise stay under wraps” stuff you’re talking about.

The one thing that bugs a little bit is when I have to have a story out there under my name crediting some other news organization (like ESPN or Yahoo or M. Grange TM) with information, although I do think I’m pretty good at doing that. I’ll put it out there, sure; but then I start working the phones to get independent confirmation so it’s “our” story as well.

But, and I’m sure I’ve said this before, an old friend who’s been on a beat for years once told me: 90 per cent of the stories are ties, you win five per cent and you lose five per cent and you can’t get too high when you win or too low when you lose.

You’re right, in this age of instant dissemination of information, as soon as something’s out there, everyone gets it and it’s how you react to it, or advance the original information, that makes the good ones stand out.

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Ready for some more early mornings?

Maybe not but if you are, the next installment of Canada Basketball Goes Global begins Thursday in the wee hours.

This time it’s the women’s under-19 world championships from Thailand and if I know the folks at Canada Basketball, they’ll be on top of it like they were the men.

My knowledge of international junior women’s basketball – and this Canadian team in particular – is not what it should be but people whose opinions I respect tell me this is a very good team of very talented young women and should be a top-8 team in the world.

So we’ll start following them. Just a bit of a heads-up for you, it’s an 11-hour time difference or something so here’s the best place to find out how they’re doing.

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Michael Jordan hits a golf ball a very, very long way. And mainly straight. Not sure what he shot yesterday at that Mike Weir Charity Classic out at the Abbey but if I had his swing, my friends’ wallets would be an awful lot lighter.

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We can now, finally, put to rest for a couple of years all the speculation about Steve Nash and Toronto, right?

As Paul Coro tells us here, he’s got the new gig in Phoenix that should keep him there until practically the end of his career.

The angle Paul took is pretty interesting, no?

The draft where Nash was chosen by Phoenix way back in the day – and I remember it pretty vividly, it was when Vancouver was sure Toronto would screw ‘em up and take Shareef Abdur-Rahim rather than Marcus Camby that night in Jersey – included Iverson and Marbury and you would have gotten some long, long, long, long odds if you’d bet Nash would have had a better, more productive career than either of those two.

And seeing how Nash has those two MVPs, is still playing at an incredibly high level on a good team and neither of those other two have a job yet, you cannot tell me he hasn’t had a better career.

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Speaking of MJ and the golf, my man C Young makes reference to it here in today’s missive from the paper but the little byplay between Jordan, Anthony Kim and Fred Couples was pretty much worth the price of admission to the range at the Abbey. (Of course, the price was free so take that for what it’s worth).

But Kim’s a huge Laker fan and byplay was pretty fascinating.

It was like me and you (if me and you were one of the great young golfers of the era and one of the greats of all time) casually hitting balls and picking the mind of an NBA GM/owner/president/icon as we went about our business.

You get that kind of access a few places – around the batting cage and in the dugout before ball games, sitting on the bench a couple of hours before tip off of an NBA game – and it’s very cool.

As Chris says, Jordan’s big on San Antonio, thinks Portland makes a run at Lamar Odom and thinks the West is stacked. Smart man. Of course, Kim did not mention Kwame Brown, Adam Morrison or Leonard Hamilton.

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Spent about 90 minutes with the good folks from Canada Basketball last night at this reception thingy that included players and coaches from the cadet, junior and senior national teams in this kind of team-building social exercise that lets the three groups mingle and get to know one another.

Now, we’ll have more on this in the next couple of days – this is long enough as it is right now – but I’ve been on the fringe of the national team program for a large number of years, like 20 or so and I can honestly say I don’t remember a similar event ever. I don’t know what the ultimate outcome will be but getting the groups together and letting them know it’s one program, not three separate teams, cannot be a bad thing at all.

Comments

[Patrick]

Morning Doug,

I know it's not a priority for the team but, given BC's stated objective to have 3 guards, 6 wings and 6 bigs, I was wondering if the Raptors were actively looking to rid themselves of one or two of their "extra" point guards (i.e. Ukic, Banks and/or Douby)?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: Since they know that Douby and Banks can play a little two in a pinch, as can Jack, I don't think so

[Patrick]

Hi Doug,

Sorry to bother you again but would you happen to know the scheduled time for Jack's press conference?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: About 2:30

[gdr]

Doug,

Any idea what number Jack will wear for the Raps? Thanks and keep up the good work.

Blogger's note: As mentioned, I don't know; nor do I really care

[Jenuwine]

Hi Doug, so come opening day, do you believe our roster will be as follows?:

Calderon/Jack/Ukic/Banks
DeRozan/Delfino(possibly)/Wright/Douby/
Turkoglu/George/Delfino (possibly)
Bosh/Evans
Bargnani/O'Bryant/Nesterovic

Do you believe that the Raptors are a deep team this year (from the bench prospective)?

Thanks Doug!

Blogger's note: That's a better bench than last year on paper, yes.

[s]

i have never heard of adrian wojnarski of yahoo until this year, but the dude was the first to break several stories in the NBA this off-season. He seems to have some great sources. I think he is a perfect example of why a reporter likes to be the first to break a story. Otherwise I and many people probably never would have read/ heard of him

[Jack]

--"If push came to shove and I could only get one, with the roster as it’s presently constructed, I think it’s far more important to get a backup centre than another swingman and I’d get Rasho on board – or someone like him – pretty quickly."--

OK.. you have Rasho. You have O'Bryant and Evans as the other big men to back up Bosh and Bargnani.
Who's going to back up Turkoglu at 3? George?

I would look for a decent 3 to back up Hedo. Say a Kleiza. Or even Delfino, who can also play 2.
I think we're OK with the big men. O'Bryant can spell Bargnani at 5 or Bosh can play 5 while Evans plays the 4, if push comes to shove.

Blogger's note: That's a whole lot of faith in Patrick O'Bryant. Too much, in my opinion

[Craig]

So with Rasho / Dalfino how many would we have under contract? Even with Rasho I think we're a bit bone-thin up front if you know what I mean...Evans & Rasho are the muscle - who else can we get? If not Pops who else is a potential for this role within a reasonable salary?

Blogger's note: They have 13 contracts now. Delfino and Rasho would fill up the roster. Others? Don't know, what's "reasonable?"

[Eric]

Of course, on a day when all our attention should be paid to Jarrett Jack, Dougie spends his time waxing poetic on his friend Rasho! I love it! I hate it!

In general, I think Colangelo has done as creative a job as he could've done to build around the small 3. I think it just proves that it's imposible to build around the small 3. Your actually right, Dougie, the Raptors still need a rebounder and interior D and much much toughness. They also have B&B eating 70 of 96 mpg down low, which leaves 26 mpg for everyone else to come inside and play tough for them. Let's give 10 of those 26 to Evans. That leaves 16. It don't matter who that player is, it could be Rodman, Oakley, Anthony Mason or GSP. Nobody can make this team tough and rugged and playoff caliber with 16 mpg. Players like Rasho and Delfino have already proven that they can't.

The point is, until the big men start playing like big men this team will be small no matter what they do! What's more, coming into the summer this team needed toughness, rebound and def. They've proceeded to trade away arguably the best rebounding and one of the best defending wings in the L, and keep the bigs the same. I don't know about you but it doesn't look like those needs have been addressed!!! Lol.

I think Jack's a step in the right direction (tough defender) but he's a backup guard. It just proves again that this team is stuck as long as it stays with the small 3.. You can only shuffle the deck chairs on the Titanic for so long before you realize the problem is not the deck chairs!

[adam]

whens the press conference scheduled for?

Blogger's note: Think it's around 2:30

[Matt]

Hi Doug,

Do you know what time the JJ press conference is today?

Cheers.

Matt

Blogger's note: Think it's around 2:30

[Ren]

If they do get Rasho, and let go of the pursuit of Delfino, who may be asking too much, how much money, roughly, do they have left? Can Kleiza be had for what they have left?

Blogger's note: Asked and aswered a few times. Veteran minimum contracts only if Delfino doesn't sign

[john fagan]

doug - long time reader, first time writer. Sure missed you last week, I checked every day even though i knew you were having a well-deserved break. Question - could you explain the "larry bird" rule - I gather it applies to Carlos Delfino.

Blogger's note: It allows teams to keep their own free agents without regard for the salary cap

[Dave Haslett]

There's no way Nash has had a better career than Iverson. Nash is coming off an outstanding resurgence and is the best Canadian player ever, but Iverson is right behind Tim Duncan, Shaq and Kobe as defining the post MJ era. It may be a case of agree to disagree, but judging Iverson's career based on his inability to quickly get a contract this summer seems short-sighted, to say the least.

[Eddy Burton]

Hey Doug - apparently Bosh, Jack, and DeRozan had dinner in Toronto last night (according to Derozan's twitter update). a) Why is Bosh in town? Do you expect him to make an appearance at the press conference today? and b) why is DeRozan in town? and c) When is Bosh officially eligible for a contract extension? Thanks and keep up the great work.

Blogger's note: Other business; doubt it; probably finding a place to live and working out; July 14

[Manny]

Doug, with BC having weaved his magic and surrounded Bosh with arguably the best roster he has had in his Raptor career (atleast better than last year); and with Bosh having mentioned before that he considers himself a max contract player, do you think the onus is now squarely on Bosh to show that with a better squad, he can deliver team success and make everyone better around him? that if the team falters again this season, that it reflect more badly on him than the coach/management/roster?

Blogger's note: Pressure's on everyone, no one person more than the next

[Ernie]

where is pops going?

Blogger's note: Don't know; don't very much care at the moment

[Ryan]

Dave, the fact Nash just re-signed with his team and for 11 million per, and Iverson is still searching for a team that will sign him period, I think suggests that Nash really has had the better career. The fact that Nash still has immense value to a team whereas Iverson does not, suggests that Nash is the better player.

I mean, would Phoenix rather have Nash or Iverson? The answer is lopsidedly in favour of Nash. I think the majority of teams out there would rather have Nash than Iverson if they were forced to choose between the two. If they were on the same team, Iverson would either backup Nash or start at the two.

The only thing Iverson has over Nash is a Finals appearance. Honestly, back when Iverson was in the Finals I never would have imagined Nash would have the better career; Iverson was a superstar. He's not anymore.

Iverson still could have the better career, but he's going to either need to prove himself or re-invent himself.

[Terry]

Doug,

Just thought, if you had some time, you could offer up a list of your favorite historical sporting events which you covered and your least favorite. It would seem that this golf thing would offer an opportunity to spend some time with some of the more interesting folks in sport and entertainment. Thanks.

[Hoss]

When is the press conference?

[ashm]

hey Dough
If someone is signed as BA or MLE this year, does their salary counts towards the luxury tax next year?

Blogger's note: yes

[greg max]

i gotta agree witha previous poster. If this team is gonna get tougher and better on the boards, plus improve their defence in the key, its up to barg and bosh to make the difference. They are the Key players on the team, along with Turk and so they get most of the minutes. Both these guys are pretty young and so they have a lot of capacity to improve that aspect of their game, and i know they are working on it, Bargnani for sure.

With Turk in the lineup, we could be seeing Barg play in the low post more often instead of at the top of the key. Might help him to get more rebounds.

Calderon has some work to do on D as well, but with the presence of jack his defence wont look as bad. At 6'5 calderon can be put on some weaker 2 while Jack handles the more aggressive points in the league.

I think colangelo knows this that's why he got an assistant to focus specifically on Defence.

[Paul]

I agree with Manny. As much as this is an attempt to show Bosh what the Raps are willing to do, this coming year is also an analysis of what Bosh can do with a descent supporting cast. If Bosh fails to stand out, be the leader we need, and take us to the next level, do we really want to throw max money at him next year?

What I like about BC is he is not caught up in the "oh, no, we are Toronto and we have to fight to keep Bosh, for our image if nothing..." he will evaluate Bosh's ability to take us to the next level, just as Bosh will be evaluating the head office's ability to take us to the next level.

Pressure's more on Bosh, but then again, he'll get his max, only question is whether it is with the Raps.

[GP]

Doug,

Any idea what number Jack will wear for the Raps? Thanks and keep up the good work.

Blogger's note: As mentioned, I don't know; nor do I really care

Why would you add "nor do I really care"? Are you really that ignorant? I realize that it is a foolish question but I have a funny feeling a lot of your readers are younger. They are also many of the same readers that keep this thing going. I've read this blog for years now and I think it's great. I'm not sure why or how a beat writer developed such a sense of arrogance but it really takes away from what is otherwise a decent daily read. I don't care if you post my comment or not but I really wish you would stop with this nonsense.

[Christian Mijatovic]

if we only have some where around 10-15 mins a game for a back up big to play, someone who can provide toughness, experience, and not needed to score much...how does ben wallace sound? yes i understand he is older, but i think a few mins a game he could be valuable.

Blogger's note: He sounds like an old guy who was, by all reports, considering retirement at the end of last season. Does he fit? Maybe. But not in any signficant role after seeing him struggle after coming back from a broken leg last season.

[Jack]

--"Blogger's note: That's a whole lot of faith in Patrick O'Bryant. Too much, in my opinion"--

And in my opinion, you're putting a lot of faith in Devean George. Turkoglu may suffer from fatigue, if he doesn't have a decent back-up here.