The Pops issue has been resolved, he's on waivers

It’s as we thought with Pops Mensah-Bonsu as it turns out.

Just got word from a team source that the Raptors are going to waive the seldom-used forward today but will see if they can bring him back on a 10-day contract if he clears waivers.

I’m told there are European clubs dangling contracts in front of him that may prove to be lucrative and there is a chance other NBA teams might have some interest.

Mensah-Bonsu’s one-year contract would have been fully guaranteed had he remained on the roster past today. The savings amount to somewhere in the range of $400,000 and general manager Bryan Colangelo has also created an opening on the roster if he’s got other moves planned in the future.

A 10-day contract is worth somewhere around $50,000 and the Raptors can sign Mensah-Bonsu to two of them, if they wish, before having to either cut him loose or sign him for the rest of the season.

It’s not as if he’d had a huge impact on the court, either. Used primarily in games where Toronto needed a last-gasp jolt of energy, his play was spotty and, truth be told, his absence won't be a huge issue.

Comments

[Joe T.]

Doug, don't you mean "his presence won't really be missed?"...

It's true that Pops didn't seem to supply the same spark as he did at the end of last season. Still, it's hard to believe that there isn't some NBA team who could use a guy like him. In related news, I can't remember the last time I saw Patrick O'Bryant on the court, Is he injured?...

Oh, and do you have any comment on the TJ Ford situation in Indiana? Although certainly different from the Pops situation, he's another guy who must be able to help some PG-challenged team. Is it his ball-dominance, shooting or contract that make him unappealing?...

Blogger's note: I meant his absence won't be a huge issue and just restored wrongly deleted phrase; O'Bryant's on the inactive list and TJ hasn't been shooting well nor running the team very well, I'm told

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

With Evans getting closer each day to returning to the floor, Pops' playing time was about to be decreased any way. Is there a European deadline for him to sign with a team there? The best scenario for the Raptors would be to sign him for two, 10 day-ers, keeping him around until Reggie is ready for full time minutes, and then letting him go to Europe, or if another team has a need for a 10th man on a average club, he'd be available.

Cheers,

marc in panama

[Mike]

Hey Doug,
I made mention of this before, but it must have been missed. Whenever your Raptor's Blog appears under the "features" section of the sports page, it links through to the Nov 21st entry, not the most current one. It should be fixed.

Mike

[Duncan Mackay]

Raptors fans might be interested in this story:

Mensah-Bonsu linked with move to Moscow after Madrid snub http://ow.ly/SBzu

[Peter]

So Pops is gone, and Jose is back! Poor Doug, you're going to have to deal with a double dose of angst now!

[T I]

people who don't think Jose will be a starter are out to lunch. he is the starter.. maybe they play him backup to ease him in a couple of games but him and jack both know it is jose's team and jack hasn't exactly stole the position from jose. Look the reason they've won some games here in Jose's absense is because it was the easiest stretch of the schedule so far for them and they've been playing marginally better on defense. Simple as that... the Raps need Jose bad if this is going to be a "good" team. Jack and Jose.

[Tiger]

Maybe it was because the Raps were so ultra-lousy last year that let Pops stand out, and/or maybe this year's team was at the point where missed assignments show up more, but Pops never did seem to progress. Even though it must be really difficult to develop from the bottom of the roster, the Raps' coaching staff seems to have come to the conclusion that Pops is Pops and likely will never be much more.
In a much-noticed but less-irrationally-loved way, Amir is giving the Raps what Pops gave last year, plus much more (and much less in the way of bizarre passes).
Too bad... still have to love the guy's on-court effort, but much like JYD, looks like it's time to move on for both parties.

[Pipit]

Good move to waive Pops. The Raps can get a better player than him. We already have 2 "bigs" who are not playing right now and its better that any scrappy minutes will be given to Rasho who is still a quality player given the opportunity to play. Pops as I like the guy is still not a good NBA material. No jumpshot range whatsoever and even if he looks like a strong player inside, once somebody bumps him or put a body on him, he always lose his balance and throws the ball without control. Still needs a lot to work on his game before being seriously considered as an NBA player. Do you agree, Doug?

[Aaron D]

Are they going to bring someone in to miss dunks and layups in Pops' absence?

[The J]

Pops will always go down as being a bright spot in a horrible season that was last year. When us fans were getting frustrated with the lack of effort, especially in rebounding, here came a guy who played with the energy we were craving. He probably never was as good as we made him out to be, but his energy and effort made him shine. Maybe he'll get the minutes on a garbage team, or maybe he can develope over seas. Either way it will probably be better for him, and he will always be appreciated here in T.O.

[Alex]

I understand the roadblocks to bringing Ukic back (we've already got three point guards, a full roster otherwise, Ukic wasn't game ready before, etc) but if Colangelo is so enamoured with him isn't it possible they'll bring him back and take the time to develop his game? Or would they rather just think about signing him further down the road?

Blogger's note: Roko asked for his release so he could go somewhere that he'd play, not on the off chance he could go back to a team that didn't use him before and sit on the bench

[Bob Wesley]

Hey Doug,would the Raptors consider picking up recently released Roko Ukic from the Milwaukee Bucks?Your travel trouble's can be your resemblence to gun packing Elmer Fudd.

Blogger's note: No, Roko asked for a release so he could go play somewhere; not so he could go be the third or fourth point guard with a team that traded him once

[Mark L]

Doug, looks like Roko and Mikki Moore were also sent to waivers. Do you see any interest in them from other teams?

Blogger's note: Roko's going to Europe, Mikki Moore's at the very best a journeyman so I don't know

[Logan]

Marcus Banks' value is probably as high as it will get this season with Calderon coming back. Do you feel BC will be able to trade him, or is his expiring contract more valuable?

[Raps fan]

Say what you want about POPS' playing ability but methinks it is no coincidence the RAPS starting winning right after POPS was reaquired. His energy provides a boost in a long season and he must be well liked in the dressing room. BAD MOVE to save $400,000 !

[Nilanka]

LOLOLOLOL at "Raps fan's" comment suggesting that POPS was directly responsible for the Raptors' recent success. He's barely played during the past 7 games. It makes just as much sense as saying that my dog finally realizing that the rug is NOT a toilet has led to the Raptors' recent wins. Some people should be licensed before allowing to post comments :P

[Ren]

I asked this before, but I am unsure if it was posted. Doug, when Evans returns, who do you believe will have the significant minutes off the bench? Evans or the highly improved Amir Johnson? Is this a relevant question to think about?

Blogger's note: Not for a month or so, no. I'm sure they'll find room for four bigs.

[PJ]

Just as the claiming of Pops was a reflection of the severity of Evans' injury, I'm going to take the releasing of Pops as a reflection of Evans being on the road to eventual recovery (as opposed to being on the road to "season ending" something-or-other).

[Nick]

Doug,
Any chance raptors sign miki moore?

Blogger's note: Less than zero. They just waived one unusable big, you want one who's arguably worse?

[Kevin A.]

To Nick - I believe Moore is done for the year (or at least most of it) due to injury.

[Aditya]

Doug,
Any chance raptors sign miki moore?

Blogger's note: Less than zero. They just waived one unusable big, you want one who's arguably worse?
----

and who's injured and out till march/april

[vg]

Hey Doug, this may be an interesting tidbit, Croatian papers are reporting Ukic signed with Fenerbahce Ülker, Turkish champions in 2009. Ukic is replacing Will Solomon (a former teammate with the Raptors) who was released at the end of 2009.