A strange feeling and a workout roster

My Spidey sense is tingling folks, it’s tingling a lot.

I don’t know precisely why – that’s the thing about Spidey Senses – but there’s just a feeling that something’s going to happen over the next 10 days to shake up this basketball team I cover.

Just from conversations I had in Boston and with a couple of other sources throughout the league, the over-riding sense is that Bryan is going to try to do something of significance before the draft and there is precedent for it.

I remember the night two years ago almost to the day – it was the Saturday of what’s become almost the annual free agent camp here – that a guy whispered to me that Jermaine O’Neal was probably going to be a Raptor and that it was all coming down around the draft.

Armed with the 13th pick and a whole bunch of players of varying degree of talent and contractual obligation to dangle, the chatter is that the president and GM of the Heroes Of The Hardcourt has something up his sleeve as one conversationalist put it yesterday:

“It’s too quiet, he’s got to have something going on.”

The thing about Bryan’s job this time around is that he’s got a lot of disparate parts to move in trades, which would make it easier to make a move, wouldn’t it? He’s got Hedo -- bad contract but, trust me, a guy whose reputation around the league is better than it is here)

He’s got Jarrett – good contract, coming off a so-so year.

He’s got Jose – not-so-good contract but, again, trust me, a guy whose reputation around the league is better than it is here.

He’s also got the No. 13 pick, which isn’t particularly coveted but which could definitely be in play in some package.

Now, I could be entirely wrong about this – not that that’s ever happened before – but all signs point to some kind of transaction coming down the pike before the draft.

Guess I’ve got some stuff to do once I get back around the lads for the workouts today and Thursday.

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Speaking of workouts, here’s the lineup for the morning and I’m headed off to google, I guess.

We’ve got littles: Dominique Jones of South Florida (6-4 PG, a late-first or second-round pick) and Lance Stephenson of Cincinnati (6-6 SG, same kind of projection).

But then we’ve got some interesting bigs in Marshall’s Hassan Whiteside and Solomon Alabi of Florida State. Whiteside’s better thought-of but both “people of interest” to the Raptors.

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Nothing says good morning like New Zealand-Slovakia in the World Cup, does it?

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Couple of things left over from a long trip to Boston – and I can fully endorse the Beantown Pub as a place to hang out and Harpoon IPA or Sam Adams Seasonal as a thing to hang out with so the sojourn had some ancillary benefits.

They’re kind of related because they go to things that people say that get blown, a bit, out of proportion.

I understand Phil Jackson took some shot at the Celtics during a fourth quarter timeout, telling the Lakers that the Celtics were known for blowing fourth quarter leads and that they were doing it again.

Even Paul Pierce had a “duh” to that one.

“You know, he’s right … I haven’t really seen too much of that in the playoffs but coaches say things to try to motivate their teams. He’s supposed to give them confidence, he’s supposed to say something like that.”

The second also involved Pierce, who was caught again by the TV cameras in Game 2 saying the Celtics weren’t going back to L.A., and he was asked about it Sunday night.

“I’m not supposed to think my team is going to come back (to Boston for three) and lose a game at home … I wasn’t being cocky about it, I was just confident in my team. I didn’t say anything negative about the Lakers, I was just referring to what I wanted my team to do, that’s all.”

Now, quite aside from the fact Phil’s likely to have a conniption at having the broadcasters use that comment of his – the deal is supposed to be nothing too contentious gets out of those inside-the-huddle things and there’s someone in the truck checking everything out – I have absolutely no problem at all with either his or Pierce’s statement.

Neither was quite earth-shattering or even newsworthy but they did give a glimpse into the true thought process of athletes and coaches and I’m fine with that.

I don’t think there needed to be any big hue and cry about either of them – sometimes we in the media tend to go overboard (and there’s another ‘duh!’ statement if I’ve ever typed one) and that’s too bad because it puts the fear of whatever deity you worship into the players and coaches.

But a little easily explained honesty’s not a bad thing.

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You know me: A bad news, good news kind of guy, right?

Well …

Bad news: The journey home not only included a cost-induced stop in Philly from Boston but also a two-hour delay in the City of Brotherly Love, kind of a fitting end to the NBA travel season that created just a 12-hour travel day.

Good news: Harpoon IPA at lunch, Yuengling at dinner.

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Yes, we’ll be here tonight to hang out during the game so, please, feel free to join, it’s truly a hoot.

And we may as well get this started: Click here to get the early submissions in for the mail bag.

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Oh, that free agent camp that the Raptors are holding this weekend? I’m told they’re shooting for 15 or 20 guys, mostly free agents, D Leaguers and guys who spent time in Europe last season.

Trouble is, we won’t know who the guys are until the last possible minute and that’s an issue every year at this time.

With so many guys trying to get so few jobs with so many different teams, it’s difficult to get hard commitments until the very last minute. If a player goes somewhere and does well, he gets to thinking that maybe he’ll get a job with one team and all those others he told he’d visit can just forget about it.

It’s frustrating as anything for the people trying to put these things together and why we won’t know for sure until Thursday night who will be on the court when things start Friday morning.

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Comments

[scg]

Care to tell us any of the players you are hearing being talked about from other teams? or at least tell me surely you have to have heard a few names toss around right? why are you holding out on us Doug :) ... ?

I get the feeling you have an idea who could be coming in a trade. ( like u say u did w/ o'neal ) and just dont want to say it for a reason I can't think of ?

Blogger's note: I don't know yet. If I find out, I'll write it. And check the O'Neal story if you don't believe me.

[Dave]

Doug,

Do you see any danger in BC's approach where he may be looking to make a big shakeup and therefore take back several bad contracts just for the sake of making a change? I only ask this because I'm worried that since BC's future isn't guaranteed, he may make a move without giving significant thought about the impact 4 years from now.

[Lawrence]

Good post, Doug. Got everybody's attention now.

[Jim]

Hey great reporting Doug..."spidey senses" eh!????
come on!!!!

I mean Hoopsworld, Hoopshype, ESPN to name but three sources have been reporting these moves since Sunday (Your the team reporter and your just breaking it today hahahaha) - These sources also named possiable names....One significant name that has been mentioned is Monta Ellis from G-State. And that the Raps are taking Avery Bradley unless a top ten falls down (if they keep it). Whether the names are true or not the facts were found and reported before you and your self accaliamed "team report insider guy" title....once again, "spidey senses", I guess those other reporters have a stronger sense then you! You say you had a one on one with BC yet others have the information first, report it first...then you come-a-bumblin' along with three day old facts!

[oliveira]

Disappointing bit of journalism..."my spidey senses are tingling." Could you not offer up more than that statement? I really am sure that you didn't take the "comic book hero euphimisms" course as part of your journalism degree.

your blog and articles are my main source of raptors/basketball news, but others are providing more food for thought. Surely you could do more to reveal more interesting information about this team, especially pending trades.

[Pain777PAS]

This team is going to be considerably different next season. I don't think that anybody is safe if they can't resign Bosh. I mean Doug in your opinion even though he is young do you think that Andrea is a number one guy? I do think that he has a knack for the outside shot but beyond that what can he give you that's not going to take years to learn because he seems to be improving but not by leaps and bounds. He would be a defensive nightmare for teams and a great complimentary player.

Blogger's note: Depends on your definition of a No. 1 guy

[scg]

ok fair enough, thanks. & yes you did report the O'neal story. June 23, 2008 "According to league sources, Toronto has had talks with the Indiana Pacers about acquiring 29-year-old Jermaine O’Neal for a package that would include T.J. Ford, Rasho Nestervoic and, perhaps, the 17th pick in this week’s draft. " BUT how could you leave out Maceo Bastion? lol :) j/k

[LeeZ]

This is the part of your job I find fascinating, Doug, and I've touched on it before (as has a poster this week who you asked to send his question to the mail bag). When you do reply to his missive, I'd love it if you could get into the nuts and bolts (using past examples) of whether and/or when you are "allowed" by a source to break the story of an impending trade. Say, for instance, that a well-placed source with the team tells you that New Orleans is about to move Collison to T.O. for three expiring contracts (be still, my beating heart!). Does he tell you to sit on it for x number of hours/days, but does he also tell you that after those hours/days, but before the actual trade is consummated, you can break the story? I imagine you have to respect his wishes, because if you don't, he'll never confide in you again, right? Anyway, this is the sort of stuff I'd love to get your insight into, and I imagine I'm not alone. Hopefully you'll touch on this type of stuff in your mailbag response to that other poster.

[Andrew]

Darren Collison to the Raptors? Is this similar to the Mo Williams rumor? or does this have substance?

[Jim]

hahahaha - I wouldn't post my other comment either - I mean why should you let people the truth - that your not as perfect as YOU think! Can't improve and grow if you cant take the realism, there white hairs! your old, your slow, give it up!

Blogger's note: In a shocking development, I didn't sit at the computer all morning waiting for your cheap rip job. But thanks for the impatience, it's truly a delightful trait. Now, I'll take it this satisfies you? And you're gone? Thanks

[TC]

come on doug...i'm a fan of the blog but at least you could have thrown out a name...anything can happen or not happen in the next 10 days...

Blogger's note: For perhaps the zillionth time, if I hear a name from a legitimate source of mine, I'll mention it; I will not make crap up purely on speculation because it's a disservice to readers. Sorry, if you want that, you can get it somewhere else

[civilguy]

Keep doing your thing Doug,

People can go elsewhere if they don't like your reporting. What I don't get is the lame insults that you endure...I mean it's fair game to criticise but posters don't need to be jerks about it.

Cheers.

[sam]

To all Die-hard fans: Stop accusing Doug for possible knowledge he might have. When the times comes, we will find out more. As a raptors die-hard fan, I am also eager to find out more but I do not think it is fair to send meaningless e-mails to Doug. EVEN IF HE KNOWS SOMETHING (which I doubt and agree with him), MAYBE HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT IT SINCE IT IS NOT A DONE DEAL. Forget USA reporters. They are all Raptors Haters and I dont believe a word they are saying. You all have been patient enough. wait another week or so. That is all I'm saying.

[Peter]

Wow!
You're getting ripped apart for being honest. I've been around long enough to know that whether you are first or not, you're always accurate. Many times you are first with a story but what I love about your reporting is that whenever you share any news that you didn't have first, you always fill in more details than anyone else. I remember the O'Neal trade, you made several posts throughout the day to give us as much information as you had.

Don't take the criticism personally, there are far more readers who understand your position and respect your methods. Call us the silent majority of irregulars who don't often take the time to compliment a job well done, day in and day out.

[Dave]

I thought these comments were moderated? Why don't you block these morons from posting? I'd prefer if the "come on give us a name" posts were not shown. I'm embarrassed that these people are Raptors fans like myself.

How about this. Michael Jordan. There's a name. Discuss...

[Jim]

"In a shocking development, I didn't sit at the computer all morning waiting for your cheap rip job. But thanks for the impatience, it's truly a delightful trait. Now, I'll take it this satisfies you? And you're gone? Thanks"
....hahahaha - true, I could be more patient...BUT nope! not gone! I was in a meeting killing time on my blackberry. I DO agree (stop the world) that yes do not give out any names about trades without confirmation. AND even then always make sure to note to the folks (cause some need the babying) that untill a deal is done, anything can change. I get that it happens in sports (a change after something is reported), you do, but some dont! Covers you, and stops all this "same question" asking.

[doug]

people say Doug report information...where's the raptors news?/...then he gives his opinion on what he thinks is happening and he is ripped for that....give it a rest people, i am not interested in "rumours", if its rumours you want there all over the internet the list is endless...plus to just state rumours, does the team, players involved a disservice....just let me know when a trade goes down, all the rest I don't care about, plus Doug has his integrity as a reporter to deal with...this isn't TMZ or a hoopsworld site or NBA..com where you just get rumours from "anonymous" sources....if i were Doug (oh wait I am Doug), but the other Doug i'd not have any patience for the rude, disparaging comments he gets for just doing his job in a professional way...it gets tiring to me, as there is no reason for it.....its some of these same commentators that have run Hedo out of town, dump on Barg's, Jose etc and wonder why we continually have a revolving door....and to the poster that says wil Bryan make a move that maybe short-changes the Raps down the road as BC is on thin ice....for one thing I am sure BC feels he will be here for many years to come and it won't preclude him from making any moves, or selling the future out for the present...again BC has integrity, something needed here by some posters...

[Sean]

Doug, I can't believe the Star doesnt send you to Boston on Porter. It's got to be the same price as the Pearson carriers, and its more money your time is worth it buddy.

[Jamie S]

To be fair, I remember a tidbit before or when the Finals began, where someone whispered to you "to buckle up" or words to that effect vis a vis the time leading up to the draft and July 1. So I don't quite see how the boat was missed by Mssr. Smith....

[GDS]

contrary to other readers, I do think you already gave us some precise clue: the team is not rebuilding, they are open to trade for veterans rather than looking to acquire draft picks. I think I would go the rebuilding way, but I understand why BC doesn't want to give up just yet on his project. Thanks and keep up the enthusiasm and good work, nevermind the spoilsports.

[Matt madarang]

lol Hey Doug, I feel bad for you. This is a blog and its purpose is to act as a forum for you to post your thoughts and/or musings. So you come out with what amounts to "I have a feeling something is in the works" based on the mood and silence and overal tone around the team which, is a good indicator that something is indeed going to happen based on your past experience. And now people are getting mad at you because you don't have a list of names and scouting reports for the players involved. You guys should chill out.

[Dean]

Does it really matter what happens in the next ten days in regards to next season people???

This team is being re-built again, and yet again that will be the overwhelming excuse for them having a mediocre season. Colangelo could bring in two great free agents or guys via trades, but they won't be A level talent, more like B or C level.

Stop fretting about the next few weeks, just let Bosh leave in peace, and hope we at least get some draft picks or young players to start the rebuilding process.

Realise there is nothing BC can realistically do to improve the Raptors in the offseason. He is just re-stocking the pantry this offseason for hopes it pays off in a couple of seasons.

And to those who are critical of Doug, go count the # of times Adande, Buchler, Simmons, Ford and others are CORRECT with their "inside sources" and you will find its around 10% . Its easy to write what you suspect rather than fact and justify it by saying it is from an inside source.

[Everlovin PJD]

Based on some of these comments, maybe y'all have been enjoying that early morning World Cup hospitality in the pubs today. You need to dilute the vitriol aimed at the Dougster. If there are player moves afoot, you will hear about them soon enough, with ample opportunity thereafter to launch a barrage of observations on how the deal(s)is totally the wrong direction for the team to be heading.

For some amusement, check out the responses to the question posed in the Orlando Sentinel: "Would you welcome Hedo back to the Magic?" The views were mixed, including some who envisioned a planet where the Raptors would take VC back in exchange for Turk - seriously. George Diaz probably sums up the feeling in O-Town with the headline in today's column; "Hedo Turkoglu - No Thanks".

[R]

Doug, you are doing an awesome job. I intend to sit back and hopefully watch the fireworks (e.g, so long Hedo and Bosh). I love the Raps, but have a busy job and don't like to read rumors from "sources" that never come to fruition. When you hear something reliable, let us know.

[Jeff]

Hey Doug,

As far as the free agent camp... it sounds like they are looking for cheap players to round out the lineup rather than a player they expect to play. Just curious, if you think the raps might be interested in a player who is supposed to be drafted in the second round but doesn't get drafted? Could be just a valuable at the end of the bench as a D-leaguer.... or do you think D-leaguers/ European players have more experience? Cheers!

Blogger's note: Kids who don't get drafted at all are generally summer league/Europe fodder and I'd rather have someone who's played pro ball somewhere