No Charlie V return to Toronto

You wanted something to happen and it did

I just heard from a league source that Charlie Villanueva, who the Raptors were trying to repatriate, has decided to sign with the Detroit Pistons, as has Ben Gordon.

According to The Detroit News, Charlie's getting five years and about $35 million -- more money than Toronto could have offered the former Milwaukee Buck.

Gordon hit the motherlode and will get five years and more than $50 million is what we're hearing.

That would seem to suggest Toronto will now turn its attention back to Denver's Linas Kleiza, who they contacted early in the free agent process last night.

Charlie might have been a good fit here but Toronto couldn't match the money and the Raptors had no chance -- and not much interest -- in Gordon.

Anyway, back to watching the Argos, working the phones and seeing what I can come up with for the paper.

Comments

[Raptorfan]

Doug, give us the scoop with the new Turk story.. we offered him 5year/60mil? now we've reportedly dropped out of the running.. any conforimation that we've dropped out?.. appreciate it

Blogger's note: They never made the offer, read the original story all the way through, it says what we've been saying here for days, the price in players was too great.

[jon]

I hear you on the price tag but is this an indication that Marion has declined our offer?

Blogger's note: No, not at all.

[Joe]

Doug,

What's happening with Marion? Have the Raptors offered him anything or has BC decided to look elsewhere. Hopefully, it's not in Turkglou's direction. I like Hedo and think he'd be very good with Bargnani and Bosh but paying him $10-12 million would be ridiculous and hamper our chances of getting a good bench.

Blogger's note: Nothing definitive has happened with Marion, and nothing might for a few days 'til we see how things shake out league-wide.

[jon]

I cant say I'm jealous that Det bought Gordon for $15MM(!) and CV3 for $7MM per(!!)....yikes! 5 years of that is too much. Soo, can we get Rip & Tayshaun for CB4?

[katie]

Doug after reading all the Turk stories it sounds to me more like a player agent planting numbers in an attempt to boost Portland's offer from the sub-$50-million area. thoughts?

Blogger's note: I have no idea where that number came from but a starting salary of $10 million a year is certainly not out of the question for a guy who made $7.3 million lsat year.

[Mike G]

Hey Doug, any thoughts on Detroit signing Gordon? Doesn't that give them a logjam at the 2 with Rip Hamilton? What do you think will play out there?

Blogger's note: Not sure and won't be until we see who coaches them and what he thinks

[brass monk]

I wish good ole Chuck Newhouse all the best in Detroit but I really didn't think he would be a great fit back in T.O. so I'm glad to hear they're going after Kleiza now instead - could be a real steal in this free agent class.

Doug, any thoughts on what the Ben Gordon signing means for Rip Hamilton? Are the Pistons going to try to make that crowded backcourt work together (the way it did with AI...ha) or are they looking to deal? I don't really understand what they're doing...

Blogger's note: Accumulating assets and maybe they think they can play Gordon with Hamilton a bit

[Jerry]

Did the Raptors not want to compete on price for Charlie V or did he just prefer the Detroit situation?

Blogger's note: Very, very, very simple. They could not match that price.

[jon]

Oh the angst!!!...I must be a Torontonian!

[Jerry]

Too quick on the keyboard trigger. I see you already answered my question.

Blogger's note: No problem at all.

[Rob]

This is just for the sake of conversation....

Turk vs. Marion...I respect the opinion that having the better offensive player is the way to go, which is certainly Turk....but a Bosh/Bargs starting front court is going to need much assistance with the rebounding, which can be better provided with Marion then Turk. As well as defense I would take Marion over Turk on this point, as Marion has proven to provide solid one on one defense as well as help defense (superior stls & blks).

And add in my opinion that except for the last 5 minutes of games, Turk is even a slightly overrated offensive player as well. Let's not forget that he was a 3 point specialist until he had a very good season 2 years ago, and he had a decent year last season. Yes...having him for the last 5 minutes of games would be very nice...but we have Jose who can fill that same roll. I just wouldn't want to sacrifice the boards and defense for an offense that is overrated IMO to begin with.

Just throwing this out there for the fun of it.

Blogger's note: All very valid points

[jon]

Read earlier someone mentioned to you that BC is getting creative...3-way? sign & trade? any more news?

Blogger's note: If there's news, I'll report it; I'm not sitting back here holding out

[Keenan]

Any chance the Raps take a run at Brandon Bass? He's had flashes of brililance and his ceiling seems high.

Blogger's note: Another guy I've never heard mentioned. And where does he fit here?

[jon]

Watched the draft form the Raps locker room at the ACC and that was fun but MAN would I love to be in BC's war room right now...

[Joseph Moriarty]

Gordon and Hamilton both play SG and I'm pretty sure neither have the skills to switch to PG or SF so that part of the trade doesnt make any sense for Detroit unless maybe a trade is brewing including Rip. Charlie V signing is a good move, especialy if Sheed decides to leave Mo-town but they still need a centre.

either way, glad neither of these players will be joining the Raps. Re-sign Marion, Parker, Delfino, Douby, O'Bryant and Rasho, round it off with a role playing veteran point guard to back-up Jose in big games and teach Ukic and the Raps don't look half bad.

Starters: Jose, Delfino, Marion, Bosh, Bargs

Off the bench: Roko, Parker, Derozan, Hump/Evans, Rasho

Keeping the bench warm: O'Bryant, Douby, Big Nate, veteran PG

Thanks for the good work Doug, keep it up and don't listen to the haters!!

[jon]

The whole Rip/Gordon situation kinda stinks, doesn't it? Wasn't the whole fiasco last year about Rip not wanting to be a sub for AI? Not to mention the same for Tayshaun? I am assuming Dumars is not done dealing.

[chris]

Doug -- is Ariza not one of those young up and coming marion types (albeit a slighter version)?? I mean, wouldn't it make more sense to try to acquire him for the MLE than to pay Marion 7-10 as a degrading asset who will come here only as a last resort?

I know LA would likely match, but they do have to pay Kobe/Pau/Bynum/Odom. Unless they think Bynum's coming off the bench forever Ariza doesn't really have a starting spot. Or odom doesn't.

Blogger's note: Perhaps I've mentioned that it would utterly ridiculous to think that the starting small forward on the NBA champions would accept a mid-level offer and just as ridiculous to think the Lakers would let him go for that.

[chris]

Or even Childress????

Blogger's note: Never heard his name mentioned even in casual chats

[Mark M]

ding ding ding to rob

[jon]

yawn...
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60266/20090701/grizzlies_trade_q_rich_for_z_bo/

[brent]

Doug,
If I'm a Pistons fan I've got to be somewhat ticked off. All that room under the cap and all they get is Charlie V and Gordon? Not that they're bad players, but with the money the Pistons had you think they could have at least traded with a team over the cap (or luxury tax threshold) to get a much better player or players already under contract.

[doug]

people need to put themselves in BC shoes ..he needs to plan for all scenarios,plan A,B,C...if Marion decides to not re-sign then Hedo needs to be a consideration, so yes he has weaknesses as do all players but BC needs to cover his butt. Also to me Toronto preparing a offer for Hedo to consider leads me believe that the overtures or feelings they are getting from Marion are not positive ones...if BC loses both Marion and Hedo its a big drop-off...also a sign and trade concerning Marion is not a given, there needs to be another interested party...so no Hedo or Marion leads to plan C, which is what it is plan C...

plus i wonder will the Tiger-Cats ever field a competitive team again?? they have to have the most loyal fans in the world..

[Kevin]

So...what are the chances that we can convince Portland to give up Fernandez (considering the recent reports of his unhappiness in Portland) for someone like Hump?

I'm not quite sure how the salaries line up as I believe that Portland is over the cap (and all the renouncing/cap hold stuff with the Raps confuses me) so I imagine there'd have to be some balancing.

Wishful thinking, I know, but I'd love nothing more than to see Rudy on the Raps.

[mark]

What do you think about Marvin Williams if the Raptors can't come to terms with Marion?

Blogger's note: I think he's okay, far from great but a fallback, I guess

[chris]

Doug -- is it "utterly ridiculous" that the lakers have 5 starters for 4 positions, and assuming they sign Odom will will have $60-65mm+ committed to the other 4 starters. Can they pay an additional Ariza $6mm+ to sit on the bench?

Its LA, so maybe they will, but i'd sure rather do that then Marion or Linas Kleiza.

Blogger's note: What makes you think they'd demote Ariza? But, I will say this again, if Trevor Ariza wants to leave the world champions for a mid-level deal with a 33-win team in the Eastern Conference it will be a shock to everyone's system.
Think for a minute: If you're Ariza's agent and you have decided to leave a spot as the starting small forward on the NBA champions, or you're told you're not coming back don't you phone some other, um, good teams with the mid-level exception to offer your services?
But people can dream.