What's that? Vacation, you say? Don't mind if I do

I know tens of you will be crushed to hear this but this is going to be such a slow week that yours truly is going to try to get – gasp! – a week of vacation in.

There’s a deck that’s calling, a golf game that needs some work, a baseball team that needs some love and attention, I’m pretty sure I could be convinced to while away a few hours on a patio daily if need be and some rest and relaxation that’s long overdue.

Of course, if something happens we’ll be back here (and I’m pretty sure I just jinxed the whole vacation idea by talking about it) and I’ll probably get on here once or twice a day to see if there are any comments but this whole get-up-at-six-in-the-morning-to-feed-the-beast thing is going on hiatus.

Those who know how to reach me know how to reach me and it’ll be nice to hear from you.

Other than that, though, it’s a week of taking calls and e-mails, not making them.

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So, where are we?

Not much different from where were on Friday, except for that whole offer-sheet-to-Jarrett-Jack thingy that happened Saturday night.

Regardless of that offer, the Raptors still have a great interest in Carlos Delfino – the Jack deal should have no impact on that, according to one of my higher placed Toronto sources – and I would imagine the phone lines between Toronto (or Vegas) and Ljubljana, Slovenia, will be crackling even more this week.

I’m sure there are fallbacks in all three cases (I know Kleiza would be Plan B if the Jack thing unexpectedly falls apart) but, in their perfect world, they do Delfino, Rasho and the work is done for now.

Remember: They have 12 guaranteed contracts right at the moment and Jack, Carlos and Rasho bring ‘em to 15 and then they’re done. And I’ll say this right now: Training camp will be about teaching the guys they’ve got what they want them to do; there will not be any competition for roster spots it appears at the moment.

That should make those five days on the lovely campus at Carleton very stress-free. Just as we like it.

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Okay, let’s say they get the three guys they want and the roster is as we expect.

How’s the depth chart?

Well, going on the assumption that they play 10 regularly (and it could very well end up being nine), my 10 would be:

Jose, DeRozan, Turkoglu, Bosh, Bargnani, Jack, Delfino, Evans, Nesterovic and the only place there’s competition is to see who plays some backup three. Could be that Wright sneaks in there and Delfino’s a three two. Or Douby gets some time at the two and Delfino’s a three for parts of games.

That would leave Roko, George, O’Bryant, Douby or Wright, and Banks as the odd guys out of the regular rotation.

The starting two-guard’s the only question mark of note in this scenario and it will depend on how the kid develops.

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Hey, they’re 0-2 at Summer League and no one has suggested today’s a “must win.”

Good job, people.

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We know there are probably two things left for Toronto to do, right?

Make the final call on Delfino and Rasho or some reasonable facsimile.

So, when?

Well, to inconvenience me – and it’s all about me – it would be this week but there’s another reason to think these things might get wrapped up in the next little while.

Surely to goodness, Bryan Colangelo has to get some vacation, right? The dude’s been working harder than I have in the last five weeks, he needs some R and R.

And, if you recall over the course of time, the NBA generally shuts down for almost all of August, with the exception of maybe some minor signings. That’s when everyone seems to sit back and take much-needed deep breaths.

Them and me.

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Oh yeah, they finished it all at the Under-19 worlds in Auckland and the Americans ended up winning the gold meal, which will be greeted by some as ho-hum, expected news.

Except, that is, when you consider the last time they won it was in 1991.

Canada? Well, they beat France to finish seventh, which is far from a bad result.

Next up: The Under-19 women’s worlds start July 23 in Thailand. We’ll stay on top of that one, too.

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Looks like we’re going to have to wait a wee bit to meet up with Antoine Wright and Devean George.

The usual thing to do would have had them come to Toronto to get their physicals and they could have had a nice dog-and-pony show for the media.

Well, I’ve heard the physicals portion of the trade requirements was waived and if the two do anything, it’ll be to jet out to Vegas this week sometime to meet up with the Raptors coaches and get summer marching orders from them.

First time we might see them here will be in September when the players start dropping back in for those well-scheduled “informal workouts” that precede training camp.

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Okay, told you it’d be short and sweet. I’m off to let the chiropractor work her magic and check out the first part of the long to-do list around the house.

Talk to you when I talk to you.

Comments

[Eric]

I like the Jack signing. I've always liked that kid. I like Roko too, but Jack would be a decent fit. He's tough, a good defender and plays with an edge.

Don't get me wrong, I hate that they're signing him at least partly to please Chris Bosh. I HATE THAT. But he's still a good player who could do good things for the Raptors.

I've been partying non-stop since I heard Poehler was gone to Cleveland. Best move of the offseason! Only partly joking! :)

Blogger's note: Again, using a female nickname is utterly classless. Are you like 11?

[Mitch]

They're 0-2 at Summer League!??? Off with Colangelo's head!

[Roxanne G]

Enjoy your break Doug. You certainly deserve some R & R! Thanks for a great job keeping us informed during all this excitement.

[sb]

I, too, am looking forward to a quiet week...I've got to get some work done!

No one (save perhaps BC, as you mention) deserves a break more than you Doug - I hope it's a good one for you.

Enjoy the patio.

[Nigel]

Dougie enjoy your vacation, you need it! But I cant help but think that you really enjoy this part of your gig...

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

That is the first time I have ever heard "lovely campus" and "Carleton" in the same sentence. And I am an alumnus.

AG, Toronto

[John P]

Methinks you're underestimating Antoine Wright. He's no all-star but he's a damn fine player who I think will undoubtedly be in regular rotation.

[Wayne]

Hey Doug

Enjoy the holiday your daily entries will be missed by us all.

[Michael]

Have a good week off, Doug... well deserved, if you ask me.

Make sure to knock a few back for Raptor Nation, will ya?

All the best, hear from you next week!

[Ken]

Enjoy the vacation Doug, you've earned it.
But you have to realize you've jinxed yourself. Something big will go down as soon as you start to relax.

[ade]

you deserve it Doug

[John]

Doug why woud thye want Delfino, if they are able to sign Jack. That becomes a litte crowded and takes away minutes from DeRozan, Jack and Wright. Personally I like Wright better than Delfino, as he is a better perimeter defender and he doesnt force his offence. I would prefer they sign Jack and Rasho, go with a 9 man rotation and forget about Delfino altogether, what are your thoughts?

Blogger's note: My thoughts are pretty consistent, get good players. As many as you can

[Chris]

Great job Doug! Enjoy the time off.

[Tim M]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for all the great work. Enjoy your well-deserved vacation.

[jim t]

happy holidays,enjoy :)

[Mark]

Hi Doug,

I can highly recommend the vacation thing. I've been at it for a week now -- very nice. On the Raptors front, I read an article yesterday that was an interview with Delfino. It indicated that his shoulder was injured. Have you heard about this? Is it serious enough to send the Raptors in a different direction for a backup 2/3?

Mark

Blogger's note: The Raptors are aware of his health and are still very interested. That should tell you something

[GM]

A little light reading for your break, Doug: http://www.ukskeptics.com/article.php?dir=articles&article=chiropractic.php

[Rav]

Have a great break Doug...you deserve it.

[Jerome]

"I’m off to let the chiropractor work her magic and check out the first part of the long to-do list around the house."

I thought you said you're going on a vacation?

?

I got a little excited for a second - I thought I would log on in a few days and hear about all sort of exotic creatures and plants from other continents. Jaguars, warthogs, medusa, siphonophores (yes, look it up), etc.

But no. What are you going to do -- let me look again....uh ah. You're going to mow the lawn, take super son to school, do the laundary, and maybe eat that hat you were talking about before. Did your wife list "blogging" as a chore? I sure hope so.

Doug, do you have any pets? Why don't you ever tell us anything interesting about yourself.

[Jeff Steele]

Hey Doug,

Hope you enjoy your vacation, you deserve it.

I'm very excited by the possibility that Jarret Jack could be in Toronto next season. I was just checking out his player profile on Yahoo and I came across some very interesting numbers. If you look at his post all-star stats, he averaged 17.3 ppg, 4.9 apg, and shot a blazing 48% from the field! These are outstanding numbers in my opinion, and are very similar to Jameer Nelson's before his injury when he was considered to be playing at an all star level. Do you think Jack, at the age of 25, is on the verge of reaching his prime and could continue to put these kind of numbers up throughout next season? I hope so, and I really hope it's as the starting shooting guard for our Raps. If Bird signed Dahntay Jones with the intention of TJ starting with Travis Diener playing as his back up I'm guessing Jarret's spot at PG/SG is expendable. But who knows they might just match the offer if they feel Jack is worth paying those double tax dollars for.

No offense to Demar, who is killing it in Summer League right now, but the thought of Jack and Calderon in the back court sharing ball handling responsibilities while knocking down almost every open shot they get seems pretty sweet to me...I'm going to be counting down to next Saturday evening waiting for the news from Indiana that the offer has not been matched, as it will cap off probably the best offseason in Raps history to this point (at least IMO).

Cheers to patios and cold ones for the upcoming week!

[JJ]

Well-earned, Doug, well-earned. Enjoy the week

[Stephen]

Why is it that we always seem to beat France in basketball except for the one time it mattered - Sydney 2000?

(Yes, I know we finished with the second-best record or whatever, but that loss STILL smarts all these years later. It's Basketball Canada's version of Bill Simmons' "I can't believe this is happening" level of losing.)

[Al]

Does waiving the physicals for George and Wright suggest that they are not going to get many minutes here? Or am I reading too much into that?

Blogger's note: Read nothing into it; it's a matter of convenience

[Kevin]

You and Grange have co-ordinated this so that both of you don't go on vacation at the same time I hope?

[Tim H.]

Re: Jarrett Jack - does everyone have to wiat the full seven days before anything can be done? In other words, can Indiana say today that they are not going to match, and then Jack becomes a Raptor?
Thanks!

Blogger's note: They can say that, but he can't sign for seven days