Three spots and plenty of options

Relatively short and sweet today because it was a night of decompression and a morning filled listening to violent thunderstorms and – at this moment – Super Son committing some kind of musical mayhem on Rock Band.

Heckuva day ahead.

But, there were some questions asked Friday that I said I’d answer Saturday so what the heck.

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Okay, who now?

Three spots, all kinds of money and – most important – playing time at the two, three and backup five.

That’s what Bryan’s got and the one quick dispatch I got from Vegas last night suggest that he’s likely to sit back for a couple of days before getting back into the signing mode. After all, why be in a rush? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of action league-wide except for suggestions Utah’s trying to move Carlos Boozer somewhere so they can match a big offer sheet to Paul Millsap, who, to my everlasting credit, I haven’t called Ronny in months.

Guess it now comes down to prioritizing the names and I’m sure the braintrust is working on a list that they aren’t quite ready to share with me, lest a guy who’s four or five be hurt because he’s not No. 1 or No. 2.

Personally, given circumstances like chemistry, roles, finances and the like (all of which have to figure into this), here’s the list I would make. And I bet it doesn’t surprise.

Carlos Delfino

He knows the team and most of the players, has a great relationship with Jose, respects Jay, can pretty much play three spots in a pinch and isn’t that bad a defender. Sure, the year he was here he had some inconsistencies to his game but he’ll tell you that was because he never really got a defined role from Sam. Might have been a wee factor but that is a troubling history.

Rasho Nesterovic

Another guy who wants to be here and fits perfectly into the locker room. And, I tell you, that’s a big a thing as anything. Think back to the 47-win team. Great chemistry. Think to the 41-win team a year later? Not so great, there was some disconnect between T.J. and Bosh (I’m not entirely sure why, but it was there), Bargnani wasn’t nearly as outgoing as he was in the locker room last year and as he was with Rasho, who’s a good friend and mentor.

And do this math: There are 96 minutes a game to split between the fours and fives. If you’ll have Bosh and Bargnani for, say, 37 a game (and that’s maybe even a bit low), that’s 74 and even my math skills tell me there’s 22 a game left over.

If you can’t get 22 good minutes out of Reggie Evans, who wasn’t obtained so he could sit on the bench, and Rasho, you’re in trouble.

Now, the third spot’s the tough one.

If you get Delfino, does he satisfy the need for a 2 and a 3 and therefore send you looking for a combo guard who can play some 1 and 2?

Or do you like Douby on the court with Turkoglu and Turkoglu running the offence?

Same thing with Roko. Can you play him with Turk and take that penchant for over-dribbling away from him?

What are you going to get out of DeRozan, who now doesn’t have to score?

Does Antoine Wright get a shot at starting and would he be okay as a backup?

And there’s Bryan’s statement that he doesn’t want to give out longer deals to all of these three so he can protect himself against a tax hit a year from now.

A tough call.

Me?

I’d see if I could Jarrett Jack on a one-year deal, although I know that might stunt Roko’s development a bit more and it would take Indy renouncing him and I don’t think that’s going to happen.

If you can’t get him, here’s a name that came up in a comment yesterday and one I have heard around the team, although not for a month or so.

Bostjan Nachbar.

Can do a few different things on the court; I am told he’s one of the all-time good guys so he wouldn’t be a locker room problem and he might take a one-year deal to re-establish his bonafides in the NBA.

I know there will be people in the organization who like him.

Anyway, only after that would I go looking at guy like Kleiza (I’m not a huge fan because I’m not sure what he does well enough to make a difference) and, perhaps, take a quick look at Josh Childress, who Atlanta could very well match on.

One other thing to think about:

To make an offer to a restricted free agent with a full qualifying offer from his current team that deal has to be for at least three years and I honestly don’t see Bryan offering anyone a three-year contract.

That could change for the right guy but that would surprise me.

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Tough times in New Zealand for the Canadian Under-19s, as you can read here.

A two-point loss to Puerto Rico at the buzzer leaves them to play for seventh and eighth.

As we’ve been saying, when they went down there, a top-eight finish was the logical goal with a shot at a medal not out of the question.

I’m sure there’ll be some disappointment but I think they got where they should have and, had they had a better draw in the quarters, we might be talking medal.

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Remember the mail bag?

Well, I’ve been trying to get one together for a while but stuff like free agent signings and news kept getting in the way. Just checked the inbox and there’s a billion questions there but they’ve pretty much all been asked and answered over the course of the last couple of days.

So …

I’ll leave it up to you fine folks to find some others and send ‘em in and we’ll get to one sometime tonight or tomorrow. After all, looks like a miserable day here, the barbecue plans seem to be dashed so Super Son can goof on his Rock Band and I’ll sit and type.

Comments

[doug]

I just leave all the moves up to BC as no one saw the Wright, George thng happening just like I think no one will see his next move coming either...in direct contrast to BC and the Raps who tends to not offend his fellow GM'S whom he has to deal with....the Trailblazers seem intent on alienating anyone and everyone even their own players(Fernandez)...as that offer for Millsap is something else a huge signing bonus etc...by this time next week he will the way the deal is structured have 11 million in his bank account, if Utah doesn't match, as they may structure it differently...not bad for a guy that made less then a mill last year...huge signing bonuses are a common feature in the NFL in the NBA they seem to be less common..I assume Doug that no matter how you structure it, it all counts the same in the NBA in terms of cap space etc....so Millsap's 5.8 mill signing bonus or whatever, is looked at in the same way as if that was just straight salary...??

[BrianV]

Thanks for clarification, Lee.

[Carson]

Hey Doug,

Wondering what your thoughts are on Matt Barnes? I am pretty sure he is the IDEAL backup 3 for us, he is a change of pace from the offensive-minded Turkoglu, he shoots good percentages, plays decent D, rebounds, and doesn't look for his shot. I've seen him play the 4 before as well and he didn't do to poorly. He would probably cost the whole MLE though, hm?

If somehow we could split the MLE between him and say, Jack (or Ronnie Price for a much cheaper investement) then bring in Rasho and Delfino (vets min for Rasho, I think we own Delfinos rights or something, so he wouldn't count against our MLE. I'm just jabbering what I read on forums and stuff, so please correct me if I am wrong), then we would be back to 47 wins again or maybe more. And maybe...we could get out of the first round!

Blogger's note: Matt Barnes? Full mid-level exception? If he gets that, I want his agent working for me. There might be some interest in Toronto but people I talk to in the organization are, at the moment, lukewarm

[Richard]

Doug, BC mentioned in an interview during summer league broadcast that he's ready to move on a 1/2 combo, the broadcast team then let's drop that they've heard whispers that the Raptors are interested in signing Jack soon. Any truth?

Blogger's note: I sort of alluded to him this morning. I think there is some interest there; not sure what Indiana's intentions would be

[aditya]

if jack signs the offer sheet as being reported/hinted, is delfino out of the equation then? just because with calderon and jack being his backup (and also able to play the 2), with derozan and antoine wright and hedo at the 3 with possibly george backing him up.....i don't like too much depth....but what do i know

so does delfino's chances go down of returning if jack signs here

Blogger's note: Don't think one affects the other, actually

[Mike G]

Good call on Jarrett Jack, Doug. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com just broke the news that Raps are signing him to an offer sheet. If Indy doesn't match, do you think Jack would be used primarily as Jose's back-up or could he play some 2 as well? Hope you're enjoying the weekend.

Blogger's note: A bit of both.

[RAJ]

Hey Doug,

Any impressions from the first two Raptor summer league games?

Blogger's note: Haven't seen 'em, don't care what happens.

[junior]

doug the word on the street is that raptors have sign Jarret Jack to an offer sheet any truth to this

Blogger's note: Probably is, am trying to confirm scope at the moment

[Josh]

Hi Doug,

I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate on why you'd "avoid Nate Robinson like the plague".

I'm not a big fan of his either, and I see no role for him here, but those are some pretty hefty words.
Thanks

Blogger's note: Shot-happy under-sized guard who strikes me as a guy all about himself. I don't see him fitting with this group in the least

[joe]

anybody else find bosh and cv's little twitter game annoying yet? i sure do, Doug did the raptors officially offer Jack a contract? any idea what the terms of the deal could be as far as length and $. thanks if they do get him i think its a great pickup.

Blogger's note: Trying at this very moment to confirm contents of offer sheet and whether it's been signed. And trying to make dinner :)

[josh]

Doug

cbs sportsline is reporting that the raptors got jack to an offer sheet. If thats true what are the chances that the pacers will match it? Also by chance do you know the terms of the offer sheet{Years/Amount}? Thanks

Blogger's note: Am trying to find out the details in between making dinner, soon as I do, I'll let you know. And I have no idea what Indy might do

[mb]

Blogger's note: Seeing as they already have 12 guaranteed contracts, four is out of the question

Don't the Raps only have 11 guaranteed contracts: Bosh, Bargnani, Calderon, Turkoglu, DeRozan, Ukic, Banks, Wright, George, Evans, O'Bryant?

Or is Douby guaranteed as well?

Blogger's note: Yeah, it's partially guaranteed and I think that's enough that it would take some strong change of mind to cut him and eat money

[Rob]

Would seeing how Demar handles himself in summer league not be of any interest to you Doug?

I am not questioning the value overall of summer league. It means nothing. I am with you on that, but I have also been checking the box scores for Demar's or Roko's stats regardless. Still nice to see them have nice games (which Demar did today in the Pts cat)

Blogger's note: Really, given the competition and the officiating, it's of marginal interest at most.

[Lawrence]

Lamar Odom is the best free agent remaining. He can play wing, initiate offense or play the post...why not bring him off our bench? At a premium for one year. Then Rasho for the bi-annual exemption and Barnes or whoever at the minimum

Blogger's note: Yes, he can. And no, I don't see a way in the world that he would play in Toronto for the mid-level, which is all they can offer him, and come off the bench, which is what he would do.
I'd seriously put him entirely out of mind

[Mike S.]

Why can't we go after Von Wafer? He's young, athletic, can shoot, and slash! We need someone off the bench who's a spark plug...not a bunch of bench warmers.

[Sam]

Roko's development? that's a concern? I am sure not a single team in the league would take that kid for free.

To put it bluntly, the kid's simply not NBA material. There's nothing we saw in his game last year to prove otherwise. He has a very poor defense, and offensively he's always the weakest link on the floor and as a facilitator he's next to non-existant.

Give me Jarret Jack anyday.

[aditya]

Blogger's note: Don't think one affects the other, actually

yeah i re-considered: jack signing does not affect delfino's signing....

if jack signs, delfino signs, our last signing would be a backup 5 (possibly rasho)....

Blogger's note: I think you could be quite right on that

[MC_Brad]

ok for sake of argument, raps and all teams are scared off by delfinos shoulder injury...he goes and plays in europe for another year...do the raps still have bird rights next year if he decides to come back...assuming again that his contract allows a buy out next year??

Blogger's note: Yes, as long as the tender him another qualifying offer, which I imagine they would.