The usual blather on this quite unusual morning

Hello, again.

Here’s a bit more opinion, a little background and, no, I have no idea how the day will unfold with news conferences and official confirmations and the like. I suspect it’s going to be a sit-around-and-wait, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of day.

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THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO

The lane will be clear in case they want Carlos Delfino back.

Yes, this is the single greatest masterstroke achieved by a Raptors general manager in the time I’ve been covering the team, which is as long as the team has been in existence.

Bryan got the free agent he wanted – Turkoglu – at the number he wanted him at.

He got two guys who are if not serviceable – and I don’t know about Wright but I bet he’s got a shot at doing something there – have contracts that expire at the end of this season so they do not interfere with any salary machinations next summer.

There is every chance they will now bring back Carlos Delfino, who may not be an MVP candidate but I think is going to be a very good versatile piece in what is now an improved backcourt.

There is every chance they will now replace Kris Humphries with Rasho Nesterovic and that, for the role that has to be filled, is an upgrade. Rasho will be fine coming off the bench and doing his job, he is not the kind of guy who’ll want to expand his role and he’ll be an excellent fit in the locker room.

There may be money out of the mid-level to spend although I caution this: We cannot know how much until all the numbers are crunched (mainly the addition of Carlos and how much he costs) because they are probably getting a bit close to the tax level. But still, it’s there if they can spend it.

Seriously, if you’re a fan, how good is this?

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I will now issue the obligatory warning: Nothing is done until it’s done.

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I now believe Bryan make it so the Phoenix Coyotes will open the 2009-10 season in some new, 20,000-seat arena in Vaughn where all the tickets are free and there’s valet parking and free concessions for everyone.

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Okay, I’m trying to figure out just how much I can tell you about how yesterday transpired without giving up sources or any other secrets but, and you’ll have to trust me on this, it was one wild and crazy day and night.

About mid-day, this thing was hanging by a thread because there was no third team to be involved as a place to park Stackhouse’s $2 million and Toronto wasn’t going to do it otherwise.

When the Andrea Bargnani news conference was going on (and has anything disappeared from the top of the news as fast at that did?) I got an e-mail from a source suggesting it was close to being done I ran it by a source when Bryan and Andrea were doing their scrums and was told that was a rather optimistic scenario.

By the time the drive home was over, let’s say 7ish, I was told Memphis had agreed to do the deal but there were still details in the works, it certainly wasn’t finalized and it might be wise to hold off a little bit.

Some time between 9 and 10, I guess it was, the three-team deal was done, at least that’s what a bunch of reports said so we credited them, even though people I trust were suggesting “done” was a bit of an over-statement.

So, after filing an original story to the paper with it up in the air and updating it before first edition ended with a three-team deal including Memphis nearly complete, I was ready to call it a night..

Silly, silly me.

It must have been after 10:30 when a guy I trust more than anyone let me know that it was four teams but that details were unavailable so back to the computer I go to re-write – yet again – the story for the paper to say it was four teams. That’s the one you read this morning in the paper.

Of course, minutes after our final deadline as it turns out – sometime after 12:15 a.m. and when I was fast asleep – word comes down that Orlando’s the fourth team and that Hump and Douby are in it. Me? I snored again, I suppose.

And then it was up at 6 to put up that little thing you saw this morning.

That’s how these things unfold and the most difficult thing if you’re a guy like me is to decide, in the era of instant dissemination of news, what to write when. Things are in such flux over days like yesterday that you never know what to put up when.

All I’ve done through this whole process is trust the people I trust, hold back when I felt prudence was the way to go and hopefully when stuff got published it would eventually turn out to be right.

I guess that’s where we are in the age we live in.

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Wonder if Quincy’s out of Vegas yet? No sense in that summer league gig, is there?

And wonder if Smush Parker has a better chance at some minimum value deal?

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Speaking of summer league, after a couple of days of practice, word I get from members of the coaching staff is that no one’s been outstanding, no one’s been horrible.

The first game is tomorrow and thankfully, there’s no network television because I’m not sure we can handle all the breathless analysis that comes out of these leagues, analysis that often have nothing to do with what actually ends up transpiring in the NBA.

Remember last year? Jerryd Bayless and Marco Bellinelli were the names we all heard. How’d that work out for them?

This should be the summer league motto:

You can’t find out who can play, you can only find out who can’t.

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What are you doing tomorrow morning? If you have no life or insomnia or live in some wacky time zone that’s not mine, the Canada-US quarter-final at the world Under-19 championships goes at 5:30 a.m. Eastern, if my time zone math is right.

I have no clue how good the 6-0 Americans are and I’m not sure how well the 3-3 Canadians are playing although it would appear they aren’t shooting the ball particularly well.

But when they went over, I was pretty sure they were a top eight team and that’s what they’ve proven to be.

A win would probably be a surprise but it might be worth checking on the internet to see if there’s a live stream. If you’re awake that is. I don’t plan to be.

But I do plan to have the results here first thing in our morning.

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Comments

[Eric]

If I was able to, I'd have Colangelos kids for this. Absolutely unbelievable. Last night I was arguing with a friend and he FINALLY convinced me that BC was making a mistake with these moves. Well now that (#*$ can apologize! I haven't been this excited about a trade in any sport..... ever! If I saw BC on the street, I'd do one of those flying shoulder bumps. I feel like doing cartwheels. Thats why hes the best. All those people who bailed on him during the year, in the words of Shaq, TELL HIM HOW HIS @$$ TASTES!

[George]

Absolutely brilliant if this thing goes through. How do you rate Devean George. I know that he's not the same player he was when with the Lakers, but isn't he the defensive minded 2/3 that the Raptors want?
p.s. Also happy to have a "Namesake" on the team. Maybe I will buy a jersey this year.

[Joe]

So NBA.com's story, on it how it's a three team deal, is just not up to date? Orlando is for sure in?

Blogger's note: Yes

[Anthony]

Good Work Doug!
And if this happens, it is a great deal for the Raptors! and that is an understatement.

[Andre]

After READING that deal.. im EXTREMELY impressed with BC...to get 2 expiring contracts, filling up the needs of a bench, AND having the midlevel exception??? WHAT THE HECK?? how the hell did he do that??? I said this in other forums, the raps need to get ride of kapono's contract and humphries... and the did.. now they can sign delfino and maybe matt barnes... Bosh, Look what this team did to keep you man.

[Allan]

Hi Doug

I see that Devean George is included here.

I remember a couple years back he nixed a trade at the deadline using his NTC.

Can he do that here or was he under a new contract that didnt have a NTC?

I hate to see a 9th-10th man off the bench be the guy who ruins everything for the Magic, Mavs and Raps.

Anyhow, I liked the suggestion to bring Rasho back. Is that just your idea or is that really something the team is looking at?

Thanks for all the news!

Blogger's note: George is under a new deal

[LeeZ]

Wow. BC gets executive of the millennium for this one! In fact, had he somehow divested himself of Banks in the process, could sainthood have been far off? Doug, thanks a million for all the coverage and for indulging (sometimes with a healthy but welcome dose of snark) all our rantings and ravings. And to all the Erics out there who are going to rip you, slag you and pretty much disembowel you for somehow not envisaging that in all these zany machinations, the Raps somehow -- miraculously -- keep the MLE, please oh please I beg of you: show some class for a change, take the high road, appreciate the effort Doug has gone to, and if you can't say anything nice...well, you know the drill.

[DougG]

I know they haven't played a game yet, but are their any streets around the ACC we can rename to Colangelo Way. I hope someone is working on an extension for him.

[Jenuwine]

Doug,

Your right, he's an absolute genious to pull this off. What a brilliant move. Devean George and Antoine Wright are role players that will fit into our system nicely. This news made my day.

[Mitch]

listen to everyone praise BC now! lol, just remember this move the next time the Raps lose 5 in a row folks! in BC we trust

[JohnnyBravo]

For anyone who questions BC as a GM from this moment forward you should be ashamed of yourself. Brian has taken a situation where he possibly had 4 highly paid starters, a 19 year starting SG and a bench full of minimum players to getting rid of a couple pieces he didnt need while not having to renounce any of the free agents and possibly ending up with Delfino and another vet at the mid level. I am more excited today then when the summer they resigned Vince, AD and brought in the Dream (oops...)! Let's go Raps!
Doug, with Hump now gone does this mean "the legend" is back? I honestly think Pops is the perfect energizer off the bench to pair with Evans.

[Dallas]

It might just be spill over jubilation, but you do good work Doug. To be as prolific as you are and make as few mistakes as you do and as professional as you are is commendable. I know it's been a tough off season so far, i hope things slow down so that you can take a well deserved break and enjoy the summer with your family.

I've reflected and I feel like a bit of a hypocrite for getting on you for the contempt as snark, when often I'm guilty of directing it towards you in the first place. What can I say, it's be a tumultuous off season, for us die hard Raptors fans, and whether we are the bane of your existence or not, no one is there for the hard core Raps fans like you are. Except maybe BC...I starting to think he may have our back as well.

Cheers Doug, it's got to be a better experience for you when things are looking good for the home team.

[dave]

Does this mean there is hope for pops to come back?

Blogger's note: Slim with gusts to non-existent

[charlie]

do you think they will use some of that money to sign a vet backup PG. or does delfino and hedos playmaking abilitiy allow them to stick with what they got. I think a earl watson, ridnour, price, type of player would be nice to have as insurance if Jose gets injured.

Blogger's note: Can't really say at the moment

[Alex]

Amazing job by Colangelo. Wright is serviceable, and combined with DeRozen, should be more than capable to hold down the SG spot. George will provide some depth at the end of the bench. If Delfino and Rasho sign, the Raps suddenly pretty deep. A starting five of Calderon, Wright, Turkoglu, Bosh and Bargnani coupled with a bench of Rasho, Evans, Delfino, DeRozen, Ukic/Banks, George is probably good enough to make a run in the playoffs -- provided the starters stay healthy. There is no way a sane fan can complain about these turn of events.

[Alex]

Amazing job by Colangelo. Wright is serviceable, and combined with DeRozen, should be more than capable to hold down the SG spot. George will provide some depth at the end of the bench. If Delfino and Rasho sign, the Raps suddenly pretty deep. A starting five of Calderon, Wright, Turkoglu, Bosh and Bargnani coupled with a bench of Rasho, Evans, Delfino, DeRozen, Ukic/Banks, George is probably good enough to make a run in the playoffs -- provided the starters stay healthy. There is no way a sane fan can complain about these turn of events.

[Prophet2k]

Wow I still can't believe how well this has worked out for the Raptors. They turned Marion and the 10th and 11th guys on the bench(Hump,Douby) into Hedo, expiring contracts and cap space.

Does BC know anything about Baseball? Because the GM of the Jays dosen't have a clue how to make a trade to improve a team.

Colangelo isn't always right but he sure does know how to get deals done.

[Wiz]

can somebody please spell Genius corretly for once!

[ben]

Hey Doug does BC ever sleep? He must of been pretty sleep deprived since July 1st.

[jeff]

Fantastic day for the Raps. I am so excited for this coming season. BC is a fricken genius!

I was worried about the lack of depth and how he could get the team out of that jam....I knew he would do something, but this!?!?! Wow.

Chris Bosh has to be smilin' from ear to ear right now. I can't wait to see what BC does with the MLE. And if Rasho comes back too, that's great - that guy is a class act.

Thanks for doing this blog Doug. You help quench the thirst for info that all of us Raptor Crazies need!

[rev]

Hey Doug,

thanks for the hard work... I hear that Orlando is likely to get a Trade Exception, how do these things work? What's the Trade Exception "money" for and what do they do? Also are we still able to match offers for our (once?) restricted free agents?

rev

Blogger's note: Exceptions allow you to add players without giving anyone up And yes

[Lee]

The latest trade reports of the 4 team Marion blockbuster have Quincy Douby going to Memphis.

Can we trade Quincy Douby?

According to Larry Coon’s FAQ you have to wait at least 3 months from the date of signing of their contract.

***quote***
In addition, teams cannot trade players under the following circumstances:
For three months or until December 15th of that season (whichever is later) after signing a contract as a free agent.
***/quote***

On April 13,2009 Douby was signed through the end of the 2010 season. Wouldn’t that mean we would have to wait until July 13th to trade him?

Douby was signed a 10 day on Mar. 24 and another 10 day on Apr. 3. Does the 3 months start counting from the original 10 day contract or the signing date of the last contract?

[jeff]

Hey Wiz...only if you spell correctly, correctly!

[Jeff]

Must feel good to break the details of the story Doug. Congrats. Still not updated on NBA.com or Realgm. Tell those guys to wake up and smell the roses! :)

[Noslak]

Assuming we pay Turkoglu $10m this year and DeRozan $3m this year, the Raps will have about $8.6m to spend via the Mid-Level Exception and Bi-Annual Exception without paying Luxury Tax. ($69.9m Luxury Tax - $61.3m Payroll)

Next year, the Salary-Cap and Luxury-Tax Level may go down, but the expiring contracts of Patrick O'Bryant, Bonsu, George and Wright would be relief if we needed it.

That means, if we can use the MLE to pick-up Delfino and/or Kleiza to cover our wing spots and sign Rasho with the Bi-Annual Exception (to backup Bargnani since O'Bryant isn't as reliable), we can still be under the luxury tax while having a filled out roster.

If we were to let our expiring contracts walk next year, we would still have a VERY solid team!!!

This is a GREAT time to be a Raptors fan, BC has covered his bases on MANY levels!!!