Time to trade or time to stand pat?

Slow day around these parts what with a lot of travel, a missed practice (and it sure seems like I didn’t miss anything) and just another off-day before another practice before the games start up again.

So, we’ll be all over the map here today.

Have at it:

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Oh, boy.

Here we go.

Last two days before the trade deadline and the chatter – league-wide and Raptors-specific – is going to amp up between now and Thursday afternoon for sure.

But maybe the best thing that happened to this group is to have had a few days off to sit and reflect where they are, which is in a pretty good place.

The recent success is, to me, more reality than mirage, this isn’t a bad team and it’s only going to get better as it grows together.

Yes, there will be tweaks needed, backups at the two and three needed for upgrading, another big maybe, a less expensive third point guard and stuff like that.

But the core?

The core – Calderon, Jack, Turkoglu, Bargnani, DeRozan, with a big question mark around Bosh -- is solid and as we’ve seen with so many teams, letting things grow together always makes more sense than, say, bringing in nine new guys.

One thing that fans need to think about this week more than anything is long-term prospects as opposed to making some wild short-term move that may or may not pay off.

The Raptors are about where a lot of us thought they would be, the fifth best team in the East starting to come together and mesh.

And if you look at this as a two- or even three-year plan, there’s no sense busting it up right now on the off-chance some dramatic move is enough to win even one playoff series.

I know Bryan had far more than this season in mind when he constructed this team; I also hope he realizes going for some fake brass ring right now doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

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Got on the couch just in time to watch some of the Olympics – man, you’ve got them on a lot of channels up here in a country where they matter – and saw the medal ceremony for the Bildodeau bump-skier.

Very emotional, very cool.

One question from an old, square dude: When they play a national anthem, aren’t you supposed to remove headwear?

Just wondering.

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I don’t think this counts as a trade rumour because one of the players involved has actually said it’s going to happen and that makes it far more legit than others.

So news that Marcus Camby is being freed from the Clippers to move to Portland in a deal for Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake and something else makes me pretty happy for the kid.

Marcus is a good kid and still a pretty good player and moving to a Blazers team decimated by frontcourt should be enough to keep Portland in the playoffs out west.

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Oh, no, Hedo didn’t make it back for practice Monday night, he’s still on an excused absence to deal with a family matter, but word I got was that he’s expected back on the court today.

Other than that, though, all were in attendance, which hasn’t always been the case with this franchise on the post-all-star day.

Mo Pete, and I love him dearly, used the always win the Most Tardy Raptor Award, missing at least a couple of day-after workouts because of travel woes or somesuch.

Always cost him a little bit of money and got him in hot water with his coaches and always gave us a little note to write.

I’m sure there’ve been other Raptors who’ve somehow managed to miss either the practice after all-star or the one after Christmas but it’s Mo that I remember being the most frequent violator.

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Shawn Respert for Acie Earl.

In case you were wondering on this Deadline Week, that was the most obscure last-day trade in Raptors history.

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They tell me the boys pucks portion of the Olympics begins tonight; guess that means the Games are officially on.

It’s funny. When you’re at an Olympics, to me at least, the “teams” competition seem oddly detached from the rest of it, at least at the start of the competition.

To me, the Olympics – and I’ve only done one Winter Games against five of the Summer variety so that’s the frame of reference – are always about “moments” and the one-day, one-competition, one-race kind of event, more drama, more surprises, better stories.

Yes, medal rounds in team events are cool and the gold-medals games have all the inherent drama but the preliminary stuff just seems a bit off to me.

And there’s today’s Olympic moment.

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Back to basketball?

Okay, if you insist.

Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that the one big trade we’re all waiting on – the Where Does Amar’e Land Sweepstakes – might not get done until Thursday afternoon.

Seems Phoenix, or Stoudemire’s agents, or someone like that, has played this scenario to perfection.

Make sure something leaks out about one team so that others who may have interest sit up and take notice. It drives the bidding up, may force the first team to sweeten the pot and creates a market all because the first team’s interest hits the papers or the internet in some reputable report.

And that’s how the game is played and I would expect that’s how it’ll be played with Stoudemire over the course of the next 48 hours or so.

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Comments

[Peter]

In regards to the Stoudemire situation. Any chance that leaking that information backfires on the original team or the agent by having the bidding teams back off instead of get into a bidding war?

[chris]

The Miracle on Ice was a pretty big team-based olympic moment.

[Calvin]

Hi Doug,

Hope you had a good time at the ASG and had a safe flight back home. I (like you) feel that they shouldn't make a trade at this point. I've enjoyed seeing this team grow and having success. Sometimes the best move is no move.

What do you think about Bulter and Haywood going to the Mav's? Even with those moves I don't think Dallas has enough talent to beat the Lakers to come out of the West.

[David Morton]

Hi Doug; I agree with you that the Gold Medal ceremony was extremely moving. But I, too, was waiting Bildodeau to remove his toque. Must be my age. Seems like a great young man though. I am in Florida for a couple of weeks and have to watch NBC coverage but they are doing a great job of featuring Canadaian athletes. Go Raps.

[Doug]

Hopefully Turk isn't too out of shape when he plays on Wednesday....seems he hasn't been in the greatest shape this year....

[Perry]

Not sure I was made aware of the fact that the Raptors were in Year 1 of a 2 or 3-year plan. I thought they were already in Year 4, if not Year 15.

I think it's interesting that the 43-11 Cavaliers are reportedly shopping for Stoudemire, Jamison, Maggette and Troy Murphy, while the 29-23 Raptors are reportedly satisfied with the status quo. So what is the goal in Toronto?

I've said it too many times to count but if the Raptors feel they can no longer improve from a trade, it should wave a red flag around the team's foundation. They need to take a look in the mirror and courageously decide whether the core of Bosh and Bargnani will ever take the next step together because I'm afraid it's already been four years- and yet they're still in "Year 1" of a 2 or 3-year plan. :)

Hopefully they don't read the papers because as we know, the bar has been set dangerously low around here. It should not be taken to reflect the energy of Raptor Nation, however, because the community demands and deserves more.

[Dile]

Great blog Doug!
Atmosphere at the gold medal ceremony was electrifying. I think Bilodeau, was just so excited (with 22,000 people cheering their hearts out) and trying to take it all in when he forgot to remove his toque. He did win us the first gold on Canadian soil...so maybe we should let this one slide?

[Steve]

I think that if Miami gets Stoudemire it would essentially eliminate Miami as a destination for Bosh this summer as Miami is not going to give up Beasley and first rounders without expecting Stoudemire to be a long term investment. I also think that would eliminate the only warm weather team with max cap room. I'm rooting for Miami to win the Stoudemire derby for that reason.

[James Online]

DeRozan solid? He has one skill: a flight to the hoop when the path is unobstructed. A shooting guard who can't shoot, doesn't see the floor, can't make plays, and gets lost on defense.

[N]

I think it has more to do with the Raptors not having any movable assets than it is Colangelo feeling satisfied with the team. I think this team is okay to make the playoffs but definitely not to contend, but there aren't any pieces out there that the Raps can get to contend anyways.

When you have Hedo, Bargnani, and Jose tied up to long contracts, there is not much that can be done. Having Amir and Reggie as back up big men is needed for insurance, especially going into the later part of the season where injuries can grow. Maybe Antoine Wright, Marco, and Sonny can be moved, but I don't think they are in high demand. No one is asking for trade this season either, so probably will be a quiet week in Raptorville.

[Zack]

Sounds like Camby doesn't want to leave L.A, according to ESPN. Gotta ask Doug, why would a veteran like Camby want to languish on a bad team when he could move to a playoff contender and potentially go deep in the playoffs? What is Camby's problem?

[Sean]

Re: Perry "They need to take a look in the mirror and courageously decide whether the core of Bosh and Bargnani will ever take the next step together because I'm afraid it's already been four years- and yet they're still in "Year 1" of a 2 or 3-year plan. :)"

Yeah, if Bosh (age 25) and Bargnani (age 24) don't "take the next step" this year, might as well blow the whole thing up. Good thing the '91 Bulls didnt take your approach to team-building.

[Greg]

the Raptor core is young with the exception of Turk. I hear talks about the Raptors trading for Andre Igoudala but really if they tried going for him this season with his mammoth contract, they can surely hurt themselves in the future with signing significant players or resigning Bosh.

Iggy is overpaid for his production right now, not a great offensive player, okay defensively, not good at creating his own shots, he is still young but so is DeRozan and Weems at a much cheaper price. How pedestrian did Iggy look against us last wednesday? Iggy is due 13 million a year over the next 5 years. Wow.

Thats a lot of money for an averaged guard. And what would he offer the team, a better chance , no guarantee at winning one playoff series? Thats all ?

It still remains true that teams that know how to build their existing players are the ones that win consistently, throwing money around guarantees nothing , you can ask the Knicks about that. How did trading for Shaq help the Suns?

There is no trade the Raptors can make this season that will Win it all, unless teams start thowing players out there and if you are not going to win it all why sell the teams future. They should think longer term, and focus on a Championship run in future years, not sell the teams future to win one series. If Bosh is not up to that ( and I think he is) then so be it.

[Matt M]

I agree that this group should be allowed to grow together a bit more. They are playing well right now and some of the players in that core have the potential to improve over the next few years, including Bargnani and especially Derozan. Making a trade to try to make the second round would be a major mistake. That is my major issue with the whole Stoudemire to the Cavs rumors. The Cavs would be pushing the panic button and it might backfire in the end. They can win it all with the core they got, and they can lose just as easily with Stoudemire in their lineup. Now, that all said, if the LA brass suddenly loses their collective mind and offers Kobe for Derozan then you gotta make that trade (hey if SI and ESPN can publish stupid trade scenarios then I can too).

[Greg]

As for DeRozan he is no Kobe but he is a rookie, did you see Kobe's shot selection as a rookie, atrocious. Rookies get better. DeRozan will get better so will Weems. Especially where shooting is concerned.

[pn]

Absolutely agree with you, Doug, about the Olympics and the team events.

Personally, I find it much more inspiring and "Olympic" when some gal or some fella who works a regular 9-5 job has been training most of their lives in some obscure sport and finally reaches glory on the Olympic stage. Those stories are moving: the tales of 4am practices in god forsaken outposts - hard work and dedication with little or no financial compensation - finally being rewarded on the world's biggest stage - and an entire country hoisting that person on its shoulders, celebrating their effort, perseverance and excellence.

Somehow, the image of a bunch of millionaire celebrities taking a couple of weeks off to play a game they play for grossly exaggerated salaries is not quite as inspirational.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be cheering just as loud for team Canada as anyone else, it just doesn't have the "Olympic" feel of, say, a biathlon or bobsleigh run.

[woody]

Good day Doug,

Based on this comment 'However, deals long dormant have a history of popping back up for discussion in the hours before the deadline, and Colangelo has always been active in at least pursuing conversations.'

Is that a little hint to the Matt Carroll deal coming back to life?

Enjoy the day.

[Thane]

Perry, what you don't get is that the Cavs are in a position to push for the Championship right now. We're not.

There's no point sacrificing our future to get into the 2nd round - there would be for a championship, but there's nothing we can do right now to get that far.

It's better to wait for the offseason, and trade then, then to do something now just for the sake of getting a bit further.

[GM]

Usually I love trades. Even trades for trades' sake. But I'm hoping this year the Raps don't make one. I want to see how this team (second best record since December?) goes the rest of the way. And yes, let's not forget that awful Phoenix trade for Shaq. There's an inherent risk in fiddling with team chemistry. It doesn't always work in reality even when it looks good on paper.

As for headwear during national anthems, isn't the opposition to it mostly American? You're a little older, Doug, so maybe you know otherwise. But I remember being in Yankee stadium in 1997 and standing for their anthem with my ball cap on. A tap comes on my shoulder. I turn around and the guy behind me tells me to take off my cap. I had no idea. I was 34 at the time and had been standing for anthems for years in Canada and it never came up before. I had never heard such a thing before. Now I hear copycat announcers at local basketball games tell us to "stand and remove your hats for the singing of the national anthem." Phooey, I say. I'm patriotic, but I don't see how covering my head is disrespectful. Who cares?

[dsl]

Gold medal or not, my Dad and my Grandfather would have given that kid a swift kick in the butt for keeping his hat on. When you're raised to show that type of respect, it's simply impossible to forget something as simple as removing your cap.

While his actions (or lack thereof) don't diminish his accomplishment, they sure made for cringe-worthy viewing. I wanted to enjoy the moment, but kept saying 'Take your hat off. Take your hat off. Come on, it's not too late. Take your damn hat off". Oh well, maybe he's a separatist who refuses to acknowledge our anthem. (I'm kidding, but can you imagine? Now THAT would make an interesting story)

[Max]

Doug, given the contract security of Toronto's core, Bosh aside, which other team projected over the next couple of years will stay as competitive to be in the top four teams of the Eastern Conference?
If Bosh stays in Toronto, can you see the four teams currently ahead of them in the standings definitely maintain that separation beyond this year?
Boston is getting old quickly, Cleveland and Atlanta both could drop precipitously if they lose their big free agents.
And will Orlando suffer from the post the curse de numero15? (Yeah that's where the thoughts went silly).
Also would James resigning in Cleveland make a difference in Bosh's decision? Namely will he seek a team with an upper echelon player to enhance his chances of winning or is it about the most money?
Over thinking this decision leads me to the conclusion that Bosh will remain in Toronto, cause it makes the most sense financially and prospectively for wins. Or am I missing a team which if he joins that will leapfrog automatically into title contention over the length of his next contract?

[RS]

You all need to give Bilodeau a break. I was at the opening ceremony on Friday and BC Place is warm inside. Who wears a toque indoors? I bet the reason he had it on was that before he went out on stage he was told to put on the toque so that everyone watching on TV would want to buy one. You can't hold it against him for forgetting all about it.

[Zombywoof]

Hey GM, would you wear your baseball cap at a funeral?

[J]

LOL, Perry at it again.

1) Cleveland could be one piece from a championship. We are one piece from maybe getting to the 2nd round.

2) If we're in year 15, then Cleveland is in year 40 of not having won the championship. If we're in year 4, then Cleveland is in year 5 since they got a new GM. Yes, they are a lot closer to winning than we are, but that has more to do with them tanking more than we did in 2002-2003, and lucking out with LBJ. If you want to be honest, we're in year 1 since we completely blew up the roster. It will take time for them to bond. Name one team outside of the Celtics and their 3 HoFers that became a serious championship contender after such a roster change. Cleveland, LA, Orlando, Atlanta, etc etc have all had years to grow together.

3) Cleveland's trade targets sure looks impressive compared to our status quo, but that's because they're looking to get one of Jamison, Amare, Murphy, or Magette, not all 4. Unless they move Shaq, they'd have to break up their whole team to get more than 1 of those guys. As you can see though, their team's success revolves around one guy: LBJ. Can't say that about the Raptors. The team's success revolves around Bosh and Bargnani and a good PG and good wings off the bench. Don't forget, how willing you are to make a trade depends not only on how good you think your team is, but what parts are likely to fetch good value. Also, would you prefer a GM to say "we're desperate, we need to make a trade"? Saying you're standing pat will only give you more leverage in trade talks.

4) I found an article that made me laugh, because it quoted someone on the Celtics team saying the key to playing well is rest. Wish I kept the link, but I guess your counter argument would be "the Celtics are no longer championship contenders", right?

5) Get off your high horse. =P

[Steph R]

GM. The removal of ones hat is a symbol of respect, submit ion, as in "I'm at your service". It's against the law as a serviceman to not remove your hat during your national anthem.
Removing ones hat is an act of respect, it’s recognizing the brave people who have in the past fought to provide us with the freedoms we enjoy. The current crop of brave servicemen deserve no less respect. It has nothing to do with being American, and everything to do with appreciating the tremendous luck we have in living in a free country.
Being young is not an excuse for being ignorant. My kids, booth considerably younger then you would never forget to remove their hats.