And Hedo's still making news. And making waves

Yeah, sorry I’m a bit late. Life and all.

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Hmm.

Turk.

As I’m sure many are aware, Hedo Turkoglu went on TV back home in Turkey and said he’d like to get out of Toronto, management did him wrong after the now-infamous “he’s out after a missing a game” incident that landed him a de-facto one-game suspension from the team and he’s entirely unhappy.

Now, I didn’t see the interview but it’s pretty clear there some deep issues there.

So, what’s real? Well, there’s no denying he said it but if it caught you and I unawares, it did the same to the Raptors management and it’s all quiet on the record over there.

At least it was Friday night in some brief conversations I had.

(And, as an aside, can’t a guy get a night off around here? I guess not)

Anyway, since no one I talked to is saying anything for public consumption until they get more information, there’s not a whole lot of hard news.

I will tell you this, though, from some other chats I’ve had over the past little while:

If Hedo wants out, they’ll try to move him.

And it might not be as hard as you think.

I’m sure there are teams out there who are interested in his skill set and if anyone thinks the contract is unmovable, they best think again. A lot worse contracts have been traded over the years and that’s not going to be a huge impediment.

But let’s also consider this: Maybe things get lost in translation a bit, maybe Hedo’s “demand” is more of him venting as he did the day after the season ended, when he offered an apology for the way he handled things during the season but also said it wasn’t entirely his fault.

Here’s part of that transcript:

“I came here with a big contract, free agency and people expect a lot of stuff from you and if you don’t do it, it’s normal to get the blame. I’ll take the blame on my side for what I did bad, you guys (the reporters) have to look for both sides and judge it.

“For my side, I took the blame but, like you said, it wasn’t just me. I won’t show any excuses and I’ll just leave to you guys.”

There was obviously a big disconnect between Turk and his bosses that began when the Raptors coddled him for the pre-season and he responded by playing most of the season like an out-of-shape pooch.

But these are grown men we’re talking about and maybe differences can be put aside.

This latest episode – and it truly did catch a lot of people in the Raptors front office totally by surprise – just adds another thing to Bryan Colangelo’s to-do list for the summer.

Should he try to trade him?

Probably, yes; if there’s a deal to be made it’d be foolish not to try and make it work if it brings back something solid in return.

But, first, they need to sit down and talk face-to-face and see if this is salvageable. It’s one thing to be talking to a reporter back home, maybe the words are different sitting across from one another in a boardroom.

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I was pretty sure, as I sat on a stool next to Stumpy and a couple of other Mighty Yankee coaches last night, that I looked up at the TV and saw Nate Robinson on the court and the Celtics-Magic game was nowhere near garbage time.

And sure enough, reports this morning indicate I wasn’t hallucinating.

Now, as odd as it was that a Kobe Bryant airball decided Game 5 of the Western Conference final, the fact that “Look At Me” Nate played a role in Boston’s Game 6 clincher over Orlando was even more unexpected.

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What now, Magic?

After carving up the league for most of the regular season and laying waste to two far inferior playoff opponents, the Magic bowed relatively weakly to the Celtics, despite those two wins that gave the series an unexpected jolt.

It’s not hard to figure out what Orlando needs: They need another big who can score and take some pressure off Dwight Howard, who was good for parts of the Celtic series but far from great.

Rashard Lewis was MIA for most of the series, Vince Carter was a complete non-factor and you have to know that GM Otis Smith and ownership – which is on the hook for about $12 million in luxury tax payments this year – is going to try to do something significant.

What do they have? Well, they seem to have no need for Brandon Bass since they never played him, you’d think My Favourite Marcin could attract some interest in trades and JJ Redick’s a restricted free agent who could be dangled in a sign-and-trade deal.

There are definitely pieces they can turn into something (and, no, there is no chance they take Hedo back so, please, for the love of all that’s good in the world put that out of your mind) and I fully expect something of substance to happen down there.

The regular season was great, they got to the conference final a year after playing for the championship but the over-riding feeling is that they didn’t have a very good year and the sense I get is that change is afoot down there.

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Okay, you know me and tweets, right?

Silly overshares most of the time and entirely yawn-inducing for the most part.

Except, not always.

Henry Abbott, who does tremendous work over at ESPN.com’s Truehoop blog – it has to be a must-read a couple of times a day for anyone – has unearthed this little gem that kind of puts a new spin on this whole twittering thing for me.

I am an Office fan, not the biggest one but Super Son and I make it destination viewing most night around dinner time and, thanks to Henry, I’m now paying far more attention to Kelly Kapoor. And her alter ego Mindy Kaling.

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Yes, we will be around tonight to dissect and discuss Game 6 of the Lakers-Suns series. See you about 8? Should be fun.

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I’m not going to tell you who said it and I’m not really going to give you much information or context.

But if you want to get excited about what’s coming in the next couple of months for the Raptors, I feel I can share this verbatim quote I got:

“Fasten your belt.”

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All right, folks. A long day of sussing out Hedo news, answering mail, figuring out the Celtics, perhaps stopping by the Hawthorne fun fair and glowering at the growing dandelions on the Back 40 awaits. Wish me luck.

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Comments

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I'm really wondering where Coangelo is going to be able to take it from here. Maybe with all the potential horse trading the league is in for this summer, he can find a way to move pieces and find some other pieces and salvage the team.

But how much longer before his golden shine wears off? Maybe it already has. His Midas touch hasn't really been seen in Toronto. And Steve Kerr dismantled Coangelo's Phoenix creation and it seemed to rise from the ashes even better than before.

If the Turkgolou stuff is legit--if he really wants out--doesn't that make Coangelo vulnerable on two fronts? If Bosh does indeed want to leave as well, aren't the Raptors basically carrion for other teams vultures to come in and carry off the juicy bits?

Doesn't look good to me...

AG, Toronto

[LeeZ]

Doug, I'm not a language snob, really I'm not, but...o.k., maybe I am. This sentence really got me up in arms: "Well, there’s no denying he said it but if it caught you and I unawares...". There's an easy rule for figuring out whether you should use "I" or "me": get rid of the first pronoun (in this case, "you") and say it out loud: if it caught I unawares. Alright, rant over. Now onto the important matter: the source of the "Fasten your belt" quote. That's easy: Betty Davis. But I had no idea she was a Raptors fan.

[Juan]

If there's any truth to Hedo's version, and if I were him, I'd be PO'd too.

[dc]

"Fasten your belt"

My guess is that this a direct quote from the General Manager, Bryan Colangelo.

And I think he is referring to the ultimate surprise off-season moves of Bosh resigning, moving Turkoglu and Calderon, and most brilliantly of all- bringing in LeBron James...

If that were true, Raptors fans would be better advised to bring a change of underpants.

[Cameron]

I'm pretty sure this won't (and probably can't) happen, but I really wish that when highly-paid (and often underperforming) athletes make requests or demands to leave their current employer, they get the same response from their employer that 99.9% of the world would get. "Sure, if you want to leave, we'd be more than happy to void your contract! Good luck finding another position!" Instead, their employer is forced to find another team willing to take them, often at 50 cents on the dollar because the other owners know they want out. Unfortunately I can't see this ever happening (except maybe with the Mavs - has anyone ever done this to Mark Cuban?)

[dribbles]

I'm not sure why the Raps would want to try and work things out with Hedo so he stays. Giving a 30 year-old who was arguably, if not objectively declining, a 5 year contract for that kind of money was pretty questionable to begin with. The fact that he played poorly, never seemed to be in shape, and half-heartedly accepted blame for his own performance, is a pretty bad indictment. It's even worse that it happened in a contract year for the franchise player.

If BC can move his contract as it is and get back something good in return, great. The thing is, if Hedo really wants out, he can make it easier for BC to move him by either agreeing to a reasonable buy out or making his contract less onerous to move. He should put his money where his mouth is.

If BC blows this ship up, I hope he puts a premium on guys who play hard/with pride and can play both sides of the floor. Get some grit on this team, please.

[Jacek]

Send him to Turkey in exchange for a nice donar kabob.

[Matty-Pix]

Great blog ... "Fasten your belt" will help occupy my mind for the day while I wait for my wife to give birth to our first child (currently 5 days overdue) ... I need the distraction!!!

I wish players would learn, if you want to be traded - don't say so publicly, or you make the whole process a lot more difficult for your boss to do it ...

Go Suns!

[Rob.V]

You know, I'm glad the C's won. Because although they are hated (in this corner), they match up better with the Lakers.. and will eventually beat the MORE hated Lakers.

The comedy never stops in the NBA: Is Nate Robinson a hoot or what? Motha F___s, bleep!, bleep again... followed by a few more F bombs... and bleeps!. Then when he's asked what happened out there on the floor, his answer?... "God". All praise goes to God. Seriously!

Dude, are these cat's serious or just INSANE?

Do they not realize they sound like complete fools!!?

That's like the rapper that wins the award for best song... which of course talks to bitches and ho's (maybe gangsterism as well) but then goes up and praises the lord in the acceptance speech.

If you're going to thank the lord at least be honest. The speech should go like this - All the glory to god first and foremost because without him.... I wouldn’t have, um you know... any of this money... and all them bithces n ho's!!!. End of speech.

Now THAT'S an acceptance speech.

Anyway, while we're on this: I recall someone asking Dwight Howard what was difference in their 2 wins and he also said "god"... and... "it aint have anything to do with us"... or something close.

Can someone please let DH know that he's welcome to join the rest of us in reality anytime he's ready please.

I think that's been MY problem. Aside from being a complete "heathin"... I've been relying on players who apparently have no sense of reality to beat Kobe and the Lakers, that I so truly love to hate. I've been purchasing fools gold all along.

Superman, if you're reading. There's a reason Mr. Bryant wins championships!!!... and it "aint" got nothing to do with "god"!!!

[samuel]

One thing great coming off this episode has got to be the dismissal of the long-held belief in Toronto that European players are more likely to stay in this city than Americans ones.

btw.. add Turkogulu to the list of Raptor star with resentment towards the MLSE organisation.

btw as far as Turk is concerned,
Hedo in Orlando
Hedon't in Toronto
and now it seems like He-done in here..

[jimmie]

"fasten your belt"

Was that before or after the Turk revelation?

My thought before hearing that Turk wanted out had always been that Turk would return as the point-forward on this team, with Calderon and Bosh the ones gone for new faces. But if the differences between Hedo and management are irreconcilable, then I think Colangelo really does need to consider the dreaded "rebuild" concept.

I feel like it's inevitable at this point that CB is gone. I'd like it to be otherwise, so will be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong. Toronto will get something in a sign&trade. At this point, if they have to trade Turk as well, I can't see management taking back MORE of what other teams will inevitably try to pawn off on them for Bosh -- long contracts for marginal talent. It's one thing to trade Bosh for Eddy Curry and David Lee. That's bad, but manageable. But to do the same for Turk? The roster would basically be a holding pattern for all of next year, waiting for bad contracts to come off the books, delaying an inevitable rebuild.

Why not start now? Suck it up, and trade Bosh, Turk, and whatever other pieces you can for draft picks and young players who have potential. Fans will understand that they have to wait. Lower the payroll for max flexibility, and start over with a system that fits the players you acquire and/or only acquire players that fit the system.

I can't believe I'm advocating another offseason of massive change, but at least it would be change without unrealistic expectations.

The alternative interpretation of "fasten your belt" is BC going for broke again. And as much as I believe he still is a very good GM, that scares me. It smacks of "splash" moves -- Arenas for Turk and others? Yikes. Similar possible moves would be splashy, but long-term, bad for the franchise IMO.

As it was last year at this time, I just want to see things happen. The waiting is unbearable. Bring on July 1st!

[Rob.V]

A couple of more thoughts this morning:

Stan Van Gundy can be a great quote, and a solid coach however one would think that his time in Orlando is up. I know he was trying to keep his cool this season however when the poop started hitting the fan last night did anyone else notice that he quickly (and efficiently) started reverting to the, um, “chicken with it’s head cut off”.

I mean, is that an ugly look or what? I remember one time out where he was just screaming, no, no, NOOO! to one of the players while they were walking off. If I was that player, I’d want clock him one on my way over to the pine.

My suggestion for Otis Smith would be to fire Van Gudy… and hire that guy called… Van Gundy!!!!

Rajon Rondo is the real deal!! If this cat stays with the C’s it says here that he could go down as one of the all time legends in Boston…. Bird “like” territory.

Dude, would you agree with this?.. or is it simply too early to tell.

I've never been divorced but I now understand what it feels like. Turk is not happy and wants out? Hey guess what, so do we!!!
Where’s our lawyer, and where do we sign on the dotted line.

That was the WORST 6 or 7 months of my life with a Raptor player. Whew! As they say, divorce is worth EVERY penny!

It’s interesting because I’ve had my MLSE rep call me a couple of times over the past week wondering if I was going to re-up my season seats. I did… but it’s making me wonder what the hell is going to happen this off season?

[Ben]

Mindy Kaling aka Kelly Kapoor is also one of the head writers on the Office, Doug! A smart, funny, pretty, basketball fan! Who woulda thunk it?

[Jordan]

Hi Doug,

It seems to be, that if Hedo wants out, all he needs to do is drop his 55 million contract and he's free to go. Seriously...who does the guy think he is? He doesn't perform the whole season and then complains and asks to leave. Ball.

[Marc J]

Unless Doug is fluent in Turkish he needs to give credit to whoever translated this as well as a link back to originator of the story.

[Chris Boyd]

"if anyone thinks the contract is unmovable, they best think again. A lot worse contracts have been traded over the years and that’s not going to be a huge impediment."

Can you please offer a few examples? Sure, guys with 1-year left on their terrible deal get moved all of the time, but I can't think of a guy as overpaid as Hedo, with 4 years left, getting moved. Please Mr. Smith, enlighten your readers with an example to support your point.

Blogger's note: Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, Juwan Howard. That's three off the top my head. Happy?

[Mr. Cook]

Hopefully you are indeed able to figure out some Hedo stuff today. I want to second your caution about the translation bit. In that much less infamous newspaper article last week the translation was butchered into English and removed a negative where there was one. This, I hear, from my brother's Turkish room-mate who has ties to the national program there. I am going to force him to translate the interview from TV for me later today.

[doug]

the one thing that caught me by surprise wth Hedo last season which from watching him from afar i never had a clue to, was this...he is 30ish, has been around the NBA bllock and yet his unprofessionalism at times, his lack of desire, motivation surprised me ...then still to not only place blame but not accept any for that "incident" shows a lack of maturity.....just let it go and move on, but its obvious Hedo is embarassed about last year, the knock his rep took and instead of using it to motivate himself he seems to still be trying to save face...I am not part of the TMZ generation, so cell phone camera shots of player x or y doing this and that are garbage to me, and to the player as well, as truth be told what Hedo did was a minor infraction in terms of what actually goes on out there after hours.....but Hedo needs to take responsibilty for his on-court play, and he should be manning up and doing that here....as he is a quality player that just had a off year, don't run, it shows another character flaw, that of a quitter...

[Adrian]

Another issue that has been brimming under the surface for a long time. We've only heard the devil's advocates tell us why it's not true, why the players' egos are not as fragile as fans think, why the team gets along as well as any other team and even if they don't, why it doesn't matter because the players don't have to be best friends to win games. Kobe and Shaq always get mentioned at this point in the argument.

So we continue to pretend like we can't see what we see and, voila- here we are again, backed into a corner and forced to make a move from a position of weakness. This is becoming a theme.

This management team needs to learn how to be proactive. It's been true for years. It's not good management practice to sweep things under the rug and hope for the best. They'll just come up to bite you when you least expect it and can least afford it. You can blame all the controversy on the players if you want to. Some people will. But that would only be addressing the effect, not the cause. It's the job of management and coaches to prevent these things from spiraling out of control- an area in which the Raptors have been inept for years.

On this point, I think it's important to note that the city of Akron has organized a Lebron Appreciation Day on June 19. As we know, the Heat launched wewantwade.com a few weeks ago. Houston4bosh.com was launched recently after someone in the Houston Chronicle published an article suggesting "the Rockets are prepared to launch a full court press" for Chris Bosh. These teams are working, whether to get their player or keep their player.

The Raptors, to my knowledge, have organized nothing to date. Par for the course. Last ones to the party. Let's sweep it under the rug for as long as possible. Politicians and lawyers unite.

The Raptors must get on their horse soon, whether they want to or not. This is not politics or law, it's basketball. Words mean nothing without actions.

[Rashik]

Doug do you think the warriors would be willing to trade corey maggete for turk and a future 2nd rounder?

[james]

Uggggh, what a mess in Husky land.

[Mike kovacs]

Did you see the blatant triple-dribble at about 9:15 with Nate covering Nelson? He first held the ball for half a second and then dribbled and picked up the ball, pivoted and dribbled again into Nate and Nate got a foul! I hope that Ronnie Nunn picked up on that one!

[Matt M]

So much for letting the core gel together. By my count that will be three that will likely be gone during the offseason, including Bosh, one of the Point Guards, and now Turk. Fasten your seatbelt indeed... although I've rarely had time to take it off since Colangelo has got here. Might be past time to blow this thing up and try again, although hopefully I'm wrong and only tweaks are needed. If Colangelo has a proven record for anything it's getting the most out of many of his trades. Last season is a good example.

[Ryan]

Carter for Turkoglu?

[Boko]

jimmie, how about us losing Bosh, Turkoglu & Calderon, while getting back Whiteside or Cousins), (Aminu or Turner or Anderson), & (Wall or Bradley)? I, for one, would RATHER watch the resulting rotation learn how to play the game together, even if it took years!