A workout curtain call and what it all means

What’s to make of this whole Cole-Aldrich-is-back-for-a-second-workout with the Heroes Of The Hardcourt thing?

Well, not a whole lot, I don’t think.

According to a couple of people I talk to around the Raptors, the big Kansas centre with the wacky jump shot is on the list of possible draft picks, he’s not at the top but he’s on it.

But he will be back today, along with five others, to get in a last workout at the Air Canada Centre before Thursday’s draft.

He’s the only guy of significance they’ve had back in for a second look in Toronto, although they did try to get Texas guard Avery Bradley in last week but missed him to due to an apparent injury.

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know there are myriad possibilities for the Raptors – some guards, some wings, some bigs – and they really are going to have to sit around and see what happens before them as they get ready to make the No. 13 pick.

I do know that they’re working diligently to move up but as of last night there was nothing too serious going on. It is forever thus, though, that conversations are relatively benign on the weekend before the draft and really start to percolate today and tomorrow.

I will say this for the Raptors – they’ve been all over the map with their workout kids and that has to tell you that Bryan’s juggling a whole lot of possibilities.

They don’t currently have a pick after No. 13 but they’ve had more than a dozen kids in who aren’t going to go before the latter part of the first round or even into the second and that includes the five others who’ll join Aldrich in the gym this morning.

I don’t know what’s eventually going to happen over the next 48 hours (we may get a sniff once we’re in the gym today chattering with the masses and The Henchmen) but I do know these folks seem prepared for just about anything.

And you should be, too.

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By mistake, I ended up reading a story about the other draft that’s about to unfold and, I have to say, having a basketball one that’s over in about four hours is exponentially preferable to the Jerry Lewis Telethon Pucks Thing.

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Just in case you have some abiding alumnus reason for caring, here are the other five souls who’ll strut their stuff in Toronto today: Guards Edgar Sosa of Louisville and Harvard’s Jeremy Lin, along with forwards Devin Ebanks of West Virginia, Darington Hobson of New Mexico and Deon Thompson of North Carolina.

The 13th selection in the NBA draft is not among them.

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Okay, so you all knew the Mighty Yankees dream of a perfect season was dashed, well, it was dashed in the season opener.

Now we’re just looking for a win.

Yup, three up and three down after we lost A Lot-A Little on Monday night and if we don’t get some serious coaching, this has got Long Year written all over it.

But the kids are having fun, they’re better players today than they were at the first practice and we’re gonna get there, I’m sure.

Just keeping you informed.

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As for informed, we may as well start the whole mail process, although I have a sneaking suspicion the real questions will come after whatever happens this week happens.

Anyway, click here to send the questions in and since I see a lonely one in there now, let’s do it.

Q: Hi Doug. If you didn't have the job you have, is there any team in the NBA you would buy season's tickets for (assuming you could teleport the team, fans and facility to the GTA.)

Maybe I should phrase the question differently: If you had to buy season seats for one NBA team, which team would you want to watch for a whole season? The Lakers? The Suns? OKC? Our boys, out of habit?

Steve Manale, Toronto

A: Your boys? Nah. Sorry.

I’m thinking right now it’d probably be the Thunder, actually; good young team of athletes that defends and can score in bunches.

But I’d put Portland high on list ‘cause I love the arena and the atmosphere and the team’s pretty good.

You could probably round out a top five with the Suns (fun team, good city), Rockets (good team, nice arena) and Chicago (good team, great city).

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So judging by stuff I read from reporters I respect, it seems that there’s a feeling around that perhaps Chris Paul is in play – although I must admit to being a bit dubious since he’s on the record as loving his new coach and is the face of a franchise that needs to sell tickets.

I imagine when push comes to shove, this would have been the Hornets creating a bit of a buzz with no real intention of making a move.

That said, I would presume – and expect – that B. Colangelo has made a call to see what’s up and I would presume – and expect – that overture would have been rebuffed.

While the Raptors have some varied parts to dangle, they don’t have a ‘big name’ like Paul to offer in a trade. There isn’t a fit, I don’t think.

And hang on a sec. Before you inundate me wit “Chris Bosh for Chris Paul sign-and-trade” stuff think this: If you’re a free agent, do you want to go to New Orleans if the one guy who makes the franchise attractive is gone?

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It kind of bites, as I sit here just after 7 a.m. starting to put the finishing touches on this masterpiece (that’s before Super Dog wants its morning walk in the rain) that there’s no soccer on now.

But, man, the more I read, the wackier it gets and the more I’d like to write about it some day.

You’ve got France, with the guy sent home, the practice boycott and all that inherent kerfuffle.

And now the sartorial splendid Mr. Capello’s at it with John Terry of the English side (check out Cathal’s piece here) and I’m thinking, ‘man, it’s never like this with Jay.’

What a hoot.

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Comments

[Steve G]

any truth to Bryan's little media scrum today? Any idea what it's about? (draft I presume).

Blogger's note: Does it every year, no big deal nor anything out of the norm

[Jacques]

Hey Doug, The raps channel was playing back the 95 & 96 draft and there was Norma Wick. What's up with her these days? Are you considering Q&A on Thursday night before the Draft.

Blogger's note: Doing some teaching, I understand; and we're not sure what we're doing Thursday.

[Dallas]

Hi Doug, isn't BC going to be talking to the media himself today Doug? Will you update us on the BC scrum?

Blogger's note: Yes, as he does every year, he will hold a little availability leading up to the draft; and yes, if there's a story I will write one

[david]

Hi Doug, how much of the players Front Office bring in are smoke and mirrors? Cole Aldrich for a second time worries me slightly... if perhaps cb4 leaves stateside lumbering bigs Bargnani and Cole will make other frontcourts seem ultra fast...

I trust BC is cooking up multiple storms and I am patiently awaiting like last year the onslaught of transactions galore.

Thanks for this great blog.

[Boko]

My shortlist is:
#4 Wesley Johnson
#6 Greg Monroe
#7 Al-Farouq Aminu
#12 Xavier Henry
#15 Avery Bradley (current most likely addition), &
#17 Hassan Whiteside

[Jean-Marie]

The problem - in the British team - is that manager Capello virtually said: you all, guys, are terrified of playing in a world cup. Plain and simple: it's a matter of fear! and they didn't like it (but, believe me, it seems true).
In the French camp, indeed, it's not a matter of coaching, or veterans vs. teens. It's just a matter of power struggle, with racial tribes lobbying vs. each other (as the french journals reluctantly admitted).
And Anelka? The history of football is full of this kind of heroics, wherever he played!

[MC_Brad]

I suggest live blog on thursday night...oh can you imagine the excitement you will have while the young kids names are called out??

[BrianV]

I'm not sure the Chris Paul thing was ever anything more than other GM's stirring things up. The real story is Collison. He is the one most likely in play. Some salarys need to be jettisoned (Okafor, Posey, among them). To get someone to bite, Collison could be your reward. Collison and Okafor would be perfect, depending if all they want is expiring contracts. If BC did not call about Collison, he should look for another line of work.

[Del]

Hi Doug,

Have you heard about the proposed trade between Minnesota and Toronto. Minny sends #16 and Brewer for #13 and Hedo?????

Blogger's note: No

[Pain777PAS]

Doug, is it just me or do you see Bosh resigning with this whole I want to be the man talk? How likely could we ship Hedo, Calderon for Chris Paul and keep Bosh which would make us favorites in the Atlantic?

Blogger's note: I have no idea

[nate]

Any chance we can swap for a late first or second rounder for Ebanks? I met his mom at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo during the Final Four and she was awesome. (Best Wings on the planet by the way).
Which leads me to my real question: What are your top three wing joints? I got:
1. Anchor Bar - Buffalo
2. North Turn - Daytona
3. The Wild Wing in my hometown of Beaverton, ON. If nothing else but for the ambiance

Blogger's note: That's going to take some thinking

[ad]

The Raptors could offer Bargnani, Derozan and the first rounder for Paul and Okafor. I think that is a decent package if the Raps are willing to trade Bargs. Also, NO is desperate to shed salary and the Raps have $10 million worth of expiring contracts in Evans and Banks.

[Mike L]

With changes happening in Phoenix, what are the chances that the Raps land Steve Nash? What would it take to land him. Expiring contracts? Sarver does love saving money...

[Bill]

Hey Doug,

I have no idea how this scouting process works. Seriously, everyone in UK's starting line-up is a potential lottery pick, yet, the champions, Duke, don't even have a 1st round prospect. How do these GMs/Scouts rate players? Shouldn't winning be the most important part in choosing prospects? Even from watching March Madness (WVU vs UK), I'd rather have Devin Ebanks than any player on Kentucky not named John Wall. But you, and everyone else in the 'know', disagree, why?

[The J]

So much going on so I will comment on the most interesting thing I read here: I agree Anchor Bar wings are the best on the planet.
Most local Wild Wings are pretty solid too.

umm, Go Raps Go. Sign Bosh or trade him or something.

[Aditya]

Still, Heisley sounded irritated that Mayo's name was mishandled in a trade report for a second time this year.
--------------------------
Hmm, interesting that an owner is getting bothered by rumours of a player in trade reports...... Can`t he just say that the team doesn`t comment on rumours, speculation etc...

[Mike]

^^^ Duffs > Anchor Bar

[samuel]

Would love to see CP3 and CB4 play together.. whether it be in Toronto or in New Orleans.

Having said that, I cann't imagine the Hornets shipping out Paul, unless he himself asks to be traded. He's the only thing they got going there in that franchise. And whatever happened with that team this past year, Chris Paul is still very much the best point guard in the league.

Is a non-Paul S&T possible with the Hornets regarding Bosh? Doug, if you were BC who would you ask back in return?
Collison+Okafor?
Or perhaps something with West (contract year)?
MoPete and Stojakovic (expiring contracts)?

[The J]

Mike - What and where is Duffs?

[Lorie]

Hi Doug,
The Mighty Yankees need some "serious coaching"? Aren't you a (The?) coach? Are you saying your coaching style needs to be a little lighter in the levity department? Good luck with that. Hope you avoid those mutinous walkouts and generally sulky behaviour by your players that have plagued some World Cup soccer squads lately. A question: Are you travelling to New York to witness the NBA Draft? If not, wish that you were? (Have you ever been to one?)

Blogger's note: Have been to four or five, mind-numbingly boring since all GMs and team officials are in their cities; I'll be dodging G20 crap downtown

[Mike]

http://www.duffsfamouswings.ca/

[Mike]

Duff's Famous Wings. There are 2 in Toronto, 1 in Buffalo. Google it.