So long, Carlos and Roko

PAUL SANCYA/AP

Amir Johnson was a 2nd round pick by the Pistons in 2005.

Just when you thought it was safe to think the Raptors were done, they’re not.

They are on the verge of finalizing a two-for-two deal with Milwaukee that sends swingman Carlos Delfino and point guard Roko Ukic to the Bucks.

Young big man Amir Johnson is headed to Toronto and ESPN reported Monday afternoon the other player is raw swingman Sonny Weems.

It's unclear when the deal will be official but it could be done as early as today or tomorrow.

The financial aspect of the deal will be felt at the end of next season.

If the deal is two-for-two and Weems is not waived, it will fill out Toronto's 15-man roster and spell the end of player movement unless Colagnelo has one more deal up his sleeve.

The Raptors would go into the season with Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack, Quincy Douby, DeMar DeRozan, Marco Belinelli, Antoine Wright, Marcus Banks, Hedo Turkoglu, Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Reggie Evans, Rasho Nesterovic, Patrick O'Bryant, Johnson and Weems.

Johnson has just one year and $3,666,667 left on his contract while Ukic had an option for $1,450,000 in the 2010-11 season. Weems is due to make $736,420 this year with none of his 2010-11 salary ($854,389) guranteed.

And with the expectations that the salary cap and luxury tax thresholds will drop next season, any long-term savings will help keep some kind of financial flexibility for president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.

But giving up on Ukic is a gamble, even for a Toronto team with a surfeit of point guards.

The 24-year-old struggled at times in his rookie season but at 6-foot-5 and with the ability to break down defences, his skillset could see him eventually thrive in the NBA.

STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR

Roki Ukic and all his potential are off to Milwaukee.

However, with Jose Calderon and the recently-acquired Jarrett Jack cemented as the top two point guards on the roster and Quincy Douby seemingly able to handle third string duties if necessary, Ukic did become expendable.

Delfino spent last season with Khimki in the Russian league after a year with Toronto and three with the Detroit Pistons.

The Raptors originally had major interest in bringing him back but the acquisition of free agent Hedo Turkoglu, the drafting of DeMar DeRozan, the acquisition of Marco Belinelli and the arrival of Jack made Delfino redundant.

Johnson? Well, he’s big, 6-9 and 210 pounds; raw and really hasn’t done much in the four years he’s kicked around the league. But with some playing time available on a front court rotation that will be dominated by Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Rasho Nesterovic and Reggie Evans, he might get a chance to contribute – or at least push Patrick O’Bryant for those five-big minutes.

What else does it mean?

Well, with the roster looking full,it's a virtual certainty that Toronto will let Pops Mensah-Bonsu find alternate employment.

Comments

[Sab]

Hey Doug does this mean Amir Johnson a guy who has averaged less than 12 mins a game in his career be the one to backup Turkoglu at the 3 spot? What's your take on such a raw talent taking up such a role?

Blogger's note: No, that does not mean that at all. Johnson's a 4-5

[Mike]

Last October Johnson said he weighed 228 lbs though some Pistons reporters mentioned that he weighed about 240.

He has gotten bigger and stronger since last Oct.

He plays very good defense but he has a huge foul problem that prevents him from staying on the court and probably with teams.

I have been a fan of his since the Pistons signed him, but I would suggest that Raptors fans forget about him contributing unless he can reduce his foul rate.

If he does than great, but I am not going to hold my breadth that he can reduce his career (almost 2,000 minutes) foul rate below the 6.5 per 36 minutes which it is now.

[Pedro]

I would waive Sonny Weems and then re-sign Pops Mensah-Bonsu to finish out the roster.

[Carl C.]

Marc Stein is reporting that the second player is Sonny Weems, that the deal is agreed to in principle, and that Delfino is getting a 3-year deal from Bucks (last year, team option).

Blogger's note: I see that; am trying to confirm but I don't doubt Marc's got it right

[Bob Wesley]

Hey Doug,ESPN says Sonny Weens Yes no maybe?

Blogger's note: I see that; am trying to confirm but I don't doubt Marc's got it right

[Woody]

Yea it looks like the charts have been updated but no Delfino contract numbers, Sonny Weems is the missing piece.

All is good, BC working hard again!! I was hoping they would take on more salary via the outstanding trade exceptions they have, in the hopes of increasing the talent level again.

So Doug do we have a shot at beating Atlanta and Washington to fourth?

Blogger's note: Luckily, we have the entire season to find out

[Caleb]

ESPN is reporting the second player as Sonny Weems. Having seen this, do you believe this is a player worth keeping, or with BC look to waive him? From looking at his profile nothing stands out other than a reputation for working hard as a defensive specialist, but I've never even heard of the guy.

[Sab]

Hmm, if AJ is built to play in the 4-5 position, where we already have Evans/Nesterovich/POB, why would we give up some talent to address a position that is not thin? I mean if you have some chips to play with why not give up some quality to get back some quality for the backup 3 spot which all of us Raptors fan have been questioning ourselves the entire summer?
Although I like this move and as I said it never hurts to add toughness, but I am little bit confused since we have NO true backup to Hidayet.

[Kevin A.]

Give Jack a Hello! For us.

[Mike]

According to Stein at ESPN it will be Weems

[AS]

Good trade for Milwakee. They get a promising young point gaurd and an impact swingman. We get a hard working, young forward and an unproven swingman.

I think we deserve 'future considerations' (ie an exhibition game in Nunavut), or a second rounder. Is there any way something like that could still be added?

Blogger's note: Until the deal's done, anything can change; as we've seen more than a few times this summer already

[Borna]

Doug, Ukic or Douby? Which one would you rather have? Not happy about the trade. Really liked Ukic, and if it is Sonny Weems.... Oh lord. I Like Johnson though.

Blogger's note: Personally? Ukic

[Mike]

Last October he said he weighed 228. From the looks of him in the LVSL he probably now weighs about 240 give or take.

Johnson will be a plus if he ever learns how to lower his high foul rate which is at about 6.5 per 36 minutes for his career.

When he is on the court he plays very good defense and does a better than average job of setting screens on offense.

He doesn't have much of an offense at this point, He scores primarily off of dunks and put backs, though he does have a nice looking right handed hook shot that he can make probably 50% or the time. He also has some limted face up to basket ability and can get to the foul line when he drives to the basket. He is an above average finisher.

However, it is all moot if he can't stay on the court because of foul trouble.

[doug]

Johnson's penchant for fouling is not a issue...as he is looking to fill a role, that role calls for max 10 minutes a game, so this is not a issue in my opinion...as a coach playing against other power forwards Jay now has someone that he can use to preclude a more essential member of the roster, say Evans from getting into foul trouble...Jay has Johnson's fouls to use as a safeguard...he may well develop into a solid contributor, as this is a good situation for him here....

this training camp will be a interesting one from this perspective, this is not a roster with one or two new tweaks this is basically a new team...so the exhibition games will be fun to watch to see how this team jells, fans have to give this team until Christmas to start showing their true colurs, potential....as this a major re-building , not a minor one...with a new coaching system in place to boot, so there will be mis-steps...

[Lawrence]

It seems like Shaq and Howard defence insurance to me,
It Sonny Weems like...

[SY]

Our front court is huge - other than Evans, all our bigs are at least 6'11 and above. I wonder if BC did it on purpose...to counter the likes of Howard, Shaq, Gortat, Rasheed, Garnett - all 6'11 and above.

-SY

[coachd]

You've got to give it to Colangelo.He's not afraid of making changes. Wow. This may be the most amazing off-season I've ever seen any GM have. Aside from Bosh, Bargnani and Calderon is there anyone left from last season's opening day roster? And one has to remember that Colangelo thought he had a pretty good squad last year. I can't remember any other GM more willing to alter his team as much as he has this summer. It's been a blast watching it unfold.

[Keat]

Delfino was alredy signed with the raptors? This trade means he will play for the bucks?

[Chris]

I don't get this deal at all. What we needed was another small forward. If Hedo or Wright go down with injury, who is our backup SF? We should have just signed Delfino. Not only can he play SF, but he is a very good rebounder for a wing.

It's also important to have a third PG in case Jose or Jack go down. Ukic may have struggled his rookie season, but we know he can play third PG if needed. I don't buy that Douby has proven he can be that man. He may have played well in Vegas Summer League, but that really means nothing as far as the NBA regular season goes.

I just don't get this deal at all.

Blogger's note: Did you ever think that Delfino had no interest signing here to fill that third-string role you just painted?

[Tim W.]

Doug Read: "Ukic needs to work on his jump shot and his decision making. If he does, he could be an NBA starter. "

Well, you just described 75% of the PGs in the league, as well as dozens who never made it that far. Isn't decision making one of the main things a PG needs to be good at. It's kind of like saying someone could be an Olympic 100 m sprinter if he could only run faster.

[BrianV]

With the PTBNL being Weems, we have more SG's than can possibly be found court-time for.

Something has gotta give here.

I don't know enough about Weems yet to see wear he fits.

His $442k salary amounts to a rounding error in the NBA.

[John]

Bad idea to let Pops go ... he brings the energy the team desperately needed last year. Parker said, had he been on the team earlier on, the raps would have made the playoff. Now, the raps are over thinking, and to start getting picky with your 3rd string is useless when you have the opportunity to sign a legal shot of steroids (pops).

[DirtNasty]

Hey Doug, You mentioned Johnson is a 4/5 but I found somewhere saying he's a 3/4.... I totally trust you on the 4/5 but do you see him playing the 3 at all? (eg. guarding a big 3 like say Lebron)

Also, any insight on this Weems guy? I know he's a 2nd yr SG but do you know anything about his game? ...like does he have any

Thanks!!!

Blogger's note: No, I don't see him playing three at all. Never has, can't imagine he can, has never made a three-pointer in his NBA career and has attempted only six. He's a big.
Weems? End of bench fodder

[Bender]

From what i have read. Amir will should be backing up Hedo at the 3 position. He is better suited their than the 4, but Tayshaun Prince ate all of the minutes in Detroit

Blogger's note: He's primarily a four; or even a five. Toronto's backup threes will be who they were since the middle of July: Wright, perhaps DeRozan, maybe Bargnani for a minute here and there

[Andy]

Waive POB. He's Loren Woods, Jerome Moiso, Jelani McCoy. A naturally gifted, but unmotivated 7 footer who will never become anything because of his lazy attitude. No need for someone like that on the roster, I'd rather have Pops.