The Shawn chatter's in the wind, but nothing is imminent

Well, here we go.

I’m not sure how far along this is – and neither does ESPN.com's Marc Stein, I don’t think – but the first very public story about Shawn Marion hit the web a while ago.

As I said earlier, Dallas was a pretty good fit right off the bat with a spendthrift owner and a need for a rebounding athlete.

Whether anything happens or not remains to seen and according to every league source I’ve spoken to, Bryan Colangelo is not – NOT – taking back additional salary cap obligations. I take that to mean if they're going to take on Jerry Stackhouse, as Marc suggests, it's only for a minute till they move him and his small guarantee along.

That means, as Marc pointed out, there’ll have to be a third team involved and that always gets convoluted. And means this is far from done.

It’s always been expected that Bryan would help Shawn get as good a deal as he can; it’s for certain that he’s not going to help if it means taking on cap hits and putting any kind of dent in financial flexibility the Raptors may have.

Comments

[Simon]

as always you are on the ball. I would be happy if we got a late 1st round pick. Do you think that is reasonble expectation Doug? I was at the Track and field Championships and I could not find you. I hope you had fun, it was a cool event.

Blogger's note: A pick or two would be nice; and I covered two hurdles semis, a 400 metre semi, wrote and beat a hasty retreat, that was the end of a rather busy few days as I recall

[jay]

thanks for the update. What a exciting offseason this has been. BC is definitely not boring, im glad to have a gm who is willing to do everything he can to try and improve the team.

[Jeff]

Thanks for the update. I am just getting into reading the comment sections of your blog, though I read your posts every day. Couple of questions about it.

A)Do you post all the comments? if not, what percentage don't get through?

B) Do you normally get 70 to 100 comments on your daily posts or is the time of year bolstering those numbers a bit?

Anyways hopefully something can be done with Marion, so we can fee up some cash to fill in some holes on the roster.

Cheers!

Blogger's note: Yours is comment No. 19,026 since we started this little exercise whenever we did (a couple of years ago, maybe?). I would imagine there have been maybe 100 that haven't been posted either because I've been quickly asked not to by a commenter whose question had quickly been answered or because they are so vile and full of vitroil towards me, I decided to exercise editing perogative and whack them. And the person who sent the most of them has thankfully disappeared

[Alex P]

So would the third team be under the cap and take on the Stackhouse contract?
Probably something like Stackhouse+3million to say.. OKC? (3 million to cover the buyout and sweeten the pot)

If that is the case, what would the Raps receive? A trade exemption or whatever we call it these days?

So at the end of the day, the Raptors would gain 7million in cap space? If I am remotely close, that is HuGE!

I'm just trying to make sense of this all. lol

Your are the man.
Alex.

[J.R]

This is exciting stuff!

[Doug]

Doug, could you give any scenario that makes this a positive for the Raptors without involving Orlando? How do you get cap space if your trading a 7-8 million dollar player?

Blogger's note: Maybe they get a draft pick or two, or a trade exception or some money or goodwill. Or you say, we'll do this for Shawn in Dallas if we can get a third team involved and get them Hump or Banks for a pick. It's creativity time and it's endless

[Raza Shah]

Doug, would this get us the MLE back?

Blogger's note: Nope

[trini man]

which players from dallas do you think will be involved other than stackhouse?......I'm thinking best case we get under the cap by say 2 million and are able to sign parker or delfino?

[Eaton]

Doug -

Would this potentially enable the Raptors then to tender an offer to Delfino as part of the mission to shore up the rest of the roster past the starting 5?

[Justin]

Doug, what happens with the qualifying offer made to Pops Mensa-Bonsu? Is that likely also revoked as part of the cap clearing for Hedo?

Thanks for keeping us all informed

Blogger's note: I'm not sure since it's entirely non-guaranteed. I don't think it matters either way, there is no interest in him here unless they make some move to free up a spot for a big and even then, I imagine the first call they make is to Rasho

[jesse]

Hey Doug,

If they sign and trade Marion (at a $7 mill per year contract) for Stackhouse, then buy him out for $2 mill... does that mean they now have $5 million extra to spend (taking into account turkoglu)?

[mark]

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/15924818

more peeps are talking about it. i really hope that something good can come of this for the raps.
m

[Tim W.]

Can you get a trade exception with a sign-and-trade? I wasn't aware of that. I guess it would make sense. A trade exception would be VERY handy this year, with everyone gutting their payroll for 2010. New York would probably give the Raptors Jared Jeffries for nothing,

Also, I noticed that TIm Duncan's contract is arranged in a way that he gets $22 million this season, $18.7 million the next (2010) and back up to $21.3 million the season after. Ingenious! They've structured it so that the Spurs will have less payroll for the summer of 2010, where the Spurs would be able to make some noise if Ginobili ends up falling apart this season and doesn't end up taking all the cap room. Even with Duncan, Parker and Jefferson all having big contracts extending beyond 2010, they still have cap room next season. Of course, then they'll be in the same position as the Raptors are right now. A great starting five and no depth. Well, if it's good enough for the Spurs...

[talentpun]

Let me get this straight: will sign-and-trading Shawn free up cap space somehow, or help us pass the salary cap by resigning our own player, and give us the opportunity to use the MLE? Or is this one GM doing another GM a solid?

Blogger's note: Think it might be explained in this morning's blog

[Brian]

Good job at keeping us up to date! Regular reader, living in saskatchewan where hurry hard is not a defensive exhortation. There is not a lot of raptors coverage as you may suspect so thanks for your hard work? Question you refer to your super son often, foes he ever get to go to any events with you?

Blogger's note: Not to games when I'm working, no We'll buy tickets to some games in other sports and just go as fans

[Rob]

I am confused haha

[AAAA]

1st rd pick and 7 mill expiring (stack) for Marion and Hump

Deal!

Anyway we get to keep Jerry? He would compliment Turk well off the bench no?

[culver]

Ok I'm getting lost in all this money and terms and arrangements. Doug where do we stand with all the, how many players r signed, how much money is used or available and what r our needs questions for us now? Would this guy not be a good backup for Jose at this point in his career or am I misunderstanding the $2 million guaranteed? Can't we give Marcus three quick written warnings for being overpaid and fire him and why can't we hold onto this guy for awhile to determine if we can move some other things to make it possible to keep him.
culver
P.S. I read a lot of sports and I mean a lot, but I've found that there are very, very very few writers that can write a straight forward, honest article without adding opinionated bias or using hackish sarcasm, etc. etc. Is there any reason for all this crap writing. Are their bosses telling them to write like that to stir the pot constantly or can they just not consistently write well, like you?

Blogger's note: They can't do anything like waive or buyout or cut guys with existing guaranteed contracts that gives any cap relief. And we'll look at the whole roster when this is all said and done in the next day or so

[pete]

So even if they trade Marion to Dallas, they still don't get the MLE do they?

Blogger's note: Nope.

[Jim D]

If something crazy does happen with the possible dallas trade or something else, and the raptors have enough cap space to sign Hedo with extra remaining to sign Delfino, how much extra would we possible need sign him? Even approximately, or even in just your opinion? Something starting at 3mil a year?

Blogger's note: At least, probably closer to $4 million

[Paul - Toronto]

What is the benefit of a "sign & trade" for the other team? i.e. why wouldn't Cleveland just sign Parker and Dallas just sign Marion.

[Greg]

Would the Raptors be looking to get slightly over the cap for next year so they then have the option of offering someone all or part of the mid-level exception? It's my understanding that teams under the cap are not granted use of the MLE, so if they renounce players to sign Hedo and are still slightly under the cap, filling out the roster is going to be that much more difficult.

[David Abela]

Doug, couldn't sleep. Am a huge fan and want the Raps to be the best they could be. Anyway we could get a guard that has proven himself in a three way deal. I love a healthy Jose but if he goes down, Roku still young and Banks? not too impressed although very limited time. You need a floor leader and this does not give me cause for celebration. A proven vet (Anthony Johnson in Orlando was impressive off the bench or free agents still out there that you like? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Blogger's note: Let's get through the start of the signing period before we start wondering about who's still out there

[JJ]

Even better would be if Brian could convince Dallas to take Marcus Banks as part of it. And then make it something like Marion and Banks for Stackhouse and Shawne Williams OR Devean George (I'm sure Dallas would no problem parting with either of them).

Financially either could work if Marion is willing to take a deal in the $6.8 to $7.5 million range. Even with Stackhouse's $2 million buyout, the Raptors would come out financially ahead on both those moves.

[John]

Sorry for what is likely to be a repeated question, but this is unlikely to land them more cap space, or rotation player but is a way aquire an pick or move a contract with Shawn? I'm just trying to make sure I understand the Raptor angle to this scenario.

Blogger's note: Just explained it, I hope, in the regular blog