The time has come for something to happen

Happy Draft Day everyone.

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One of my big mantras is that I don’t think teams should ever make moves simply to make moves and shuffle the deck chairs. Doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense, does it? Well, maybe today’s different around this neck of the woods.

Maybe today Bryan Colangelo has to do something – anything – to show that he’s being proactive in trying to make improvements to his roster and set the stage for what I feel is the inevitable departure of both Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu.

Maybe he has to deal one of his point guards, maybe he has to get another first-round pick somehow, maybe he needs to package his pick with some contracts and make some kind of big splash.

There is no question that the next month or so will be the defining period of Colangelo’s tenure as the Raptors general manager. He’s got a star to make something of in a sign-and-trade transaction, he’s got Turkoglu who still has value around the league whether you believe it or not. He’s got bits and pieces and a team that was not successful at all and the fans, and even some people in the organization, think he has to start making moves right away.

We’ve heard for weeks about the willingness to buy a pick or make a move or acquire some piece for the future.

The talk is cheap, it’s time for action. I’m not proposing some significant giveaway of talent but if this day ends with Toronto simply making the 13th pick in a so-so draft, people will feel it’s been a failure.

Me included.

I know, from talking to all kinds of people here and there, that the Raptors are working hard to get something done so there is no question that the effort is there.

But it needs to be turned in concrete action or we wake up tomorrow thinking, here we go again.

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Here’s one of the things about rumours and leaks and stuff that gets out in the day or two leading up to the draft.

Most of it’s true – but only at some level. There was one making the rounds last night about the No. 13 pick to Portland for No. 22 and Rudy Fernandez. Got wind of the report too late to check with the people I check with to find out its truthfulness.

But here’s the thing. In about five minutes this morning, I was able to deduce from sources that No. 22 and Rudy are being shopped all over the league – Portland wants to move up – and, yes, Toronto is one of a handful of teams the Blazers have checked with.

It’s not Raptors-specific, it’s not just Houston and them, which is also out there on the internets. It’s a handful of teams being asked about the possibility and it doesn’t mean anything’s close to being done.

Now if last night’s story had said: The Blazers are pushing their pick and Rudy Fernandez to anyone with a higher pick who’ll listen, it wouldn’t have caused nearly as much a stir but it would have been far more accurate.

And that’s the trouble with this time of year, and it’s going to be the trouble with the free agency period: Just because one snippet of information gets out doesn’t mean that’s all there is to a story.

Frustrating at this end? No doubt.

Fun for you? I hope so.

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An earthquake? How about that?

And then a tornado touches down up in Midland north of here?

I blame G20 for what has to be the wildest weather day in some time.

Casa Doug was unaffected by either but, as I was prone on the couch getting ready to watch the beloved Black Stars, something did stir me.

It wasn’t until Super Son called from the bowling alley (yeah, Grade 8 kids sure have it tough at the end of the school year) to report the quake did I know what was going on.

Yeah, I’m the alert type.

Only other really minor quake I’ve ever felt was at the Nagano Olympics and I recall that one being way more cool.

There you have it, today’s meteorological update.

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Remember last week when it was mentioned that perhaps Dwyane Wade was driving the whole free agent thing because he could actually recruit a guy to join him rather than, say, convince someone to go somewhere in tandem, like LeBron would have to do?

Well, Wade got a spiffy new car yesterday it seems and now he’s really driving.

The Heat swapping Daequan Cook at the No. 18 pick to Oklahoma City for No. 32 clears up something in the neighbourhood of $3 million more in cap space for Miami.

It should give them enough to sign a player to a maximum-value contract and still have something like $10 million left and the presence of Wade.

The Heat are now officially the biggest players. Forget the Knicks, who are a crappy team, and the Bulls, who aren’t bad but not as wealthy as the Heat. Miami’s in charge.

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I have a feeling the in-box will be full of “why did they draft that guy?” and “how could they have not made a trade?” queries in the morning but if you’ve got something you want to get off your chest now, just click here and send it along.

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I don’t want to say it’s the greatest lede to a sports story ever written but it might be the most memorable.

And as soon as I heard it would be Germany-England in the round of 16 at the World Cup it came racing back to mind.

So apropos of nothing, this is how British journalist Frank McGhee set up the 1966 World Cup final between the sides.

“If, on the morrow, the Germans beat us at our national game, we’d do well to remember that, twice this century, we have beaten that at theirs.”

Cold.

But memorable and certainly not something you could write with seriousness today.

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There were a couple of questions Wednesday about what Thursday would be like for a guy who covers a team and who tries to at least keep tabs on what else is going on around the league.

Well, it’s pretty much the same, only longer.

You put out the calls and e-mails and texts to the people you talk to on a regular basis, trying to figure what’s up. Some will return them, some will ignore them, some will dutifully report that there are “things” happening but nothing too serious or nothing firm enough that would warrant reporting.

And you wait. Maybe you put in another e-mail or phone call just to check but, believe me, there isn’t a lot of information – true information – being offered. Seldom is.

At least on a day like today, you can find a comfortable spot for coffee, a bagel and the Azzurri. And it’s got wireless, too. Just in case.

But here’s the real pain for us: Because there is so much stuff going on, we’re not likely to get a media session with Bryan until the entire draft is over, which is change because in the past he’s come out after the first round to give us some time.

So it’s going to be a long, long night.

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Comments

[Peter]

@marc in Panama:

You're right, but the quote Doug put up was from 1966!

[Dan W]

I wouldn't mind the Raptors making the Trade with the Blazers. Not sure who they would give up though. Maybe Marco. Bradley or Bledsoe could still fall into the twenties where they would have less pressure on them. Or they could take a chance on a projcet centre like Whiteside or Orton if they drop.

[aditya]

i agree with other readers mentioning you're wrong when you say that if the raps just draft with the 13th pick, it will be a failure... its like basically saying, trade someone just to do something (even if its a bad trade)...... i thought you were more in favor of continuity of the roster. i still think that hedo will be back with the raptors come training camp....time does have a way of healing things....

[kelsey]

The love affair with Bargnani I hope is over. This is no player to build around and I think is also causing large issues on Raptors being a basketball "TEAM"...Please Colangelo make something work or alot of the team will loose alot of fairweather fans. Rudy Fernandez good player, but lets be serious the whole European flavour hasnt worked. Raptors need better Scouting, cant even trust Raptors to find a Gem...JIM KELLY MUST BE FIRED if Raptors dont hit.. Jim has been aroung to long..W

Bosh is gone, wait till you see this team with Bargnani is the Franchise leader this will be sick. Then we will see all you Bosh haters, what a mistake it was to let him go and not build around him.

[Pipit]

After so many years, it's evident that Toronto can't attract huge superstar players to play for the city. Doug, you've been here since day one. Can you enumerate to us the top reasons why the city is not that appealing for these kind of players?

Blogger's note: They've never had money to attract a big name free agent and the two best players in franchise history actually signed second contracts in Toronto when they could have left

[Jason]

BrianV, if you haven't heard anyone else call this a so-so draft, you haven't been reading enough other sources. From the Chad Ford-Bill Simmons chat yesterday on ESPN:

sportsguy33: If you needed further proof that this draft sucks, there you go.
sportsguy33: But at No. 14 in a lousy draft...
Chad Ford, ESPN Insider: I really feel like the draft takes a pretty big dip after the Top 5 ... maybe talk 6 with Greg Monore
[Comment From MIKE: ] Is this the worst draft class in 10 years? 20?
sportsguy33: Mike: I thought that in 2008 and it turned out to be pretty good and pretty deep. Never know with this stuff. But man, it's pretty bleak.
Chad Ford, ESPN Insider: It's all about expectations. After the 5th pick just repeat Rotation, Rotation over and over and you'll be OK.

[Adrian]

With all due respect, Doug, something needs to be done AFTER Chris Bosh decides to leave? Is that not the problem right there? Is now really the time to get started? As many fans have been saying, this is at least five or six months late. Personally, I don't care what deck chairs are moved if Bosh leaves because what's the point in moving them anymore? Does it really matter if this 31-win team makes a few moves to become a 35-win team? What is the goal here? Where is the urgency coming from?

Colangelo's only priority at this point should be to sign the only major UFA he possibly can, his own, and make all the moves to ensure that it gets done. Even if Bosh has made a choice to leave, Colangelo's only priority at this point should be to change his mind. I can't stand watching his interviews anymore, and the smirks that imply he knows he's getting away with murder. He's burning bridges to the future like this. He might be fired next year and the new guy will certainly come in and wonder, "Why didn't Colangelo do more to keep the only star he had rights to? What was this obsession with a player (Bargnani) who hadn't proven anything? That was pretty selfish management." People don't want to hear those complaints later. Now is the time to prevent them from happening.

And I guess you're right: it all begins tonight. But that doesn't mean he's not late to the party. It should have begun a long time ago, as many people were saying and not enough were listening. Instead, here we are trying to mount a 20-pt comeback in the fourth quarter. This is hardly the time to call your first timeout or send your first sub to the scorer's desk.

[joe jameson]

i really hope avery bradley is our pick. he would be a perfect off-the-bench point guard/scoring threat we'd have to move one of jj/jose but thats inevitable... hes a great defender and, if we kept turk, they would fit sooo well together on the floor... you think i'm the only person who wants to keep turk???

[nate]

Gun to your head question for anyone:
If you had to put a month's pay in the next 5 minutes down on one team to win the title next year other than the Lakers, who would it be? So much could happen, it's almost impossible to tell.
For me, Miami would probably be one, but the safest picks might actually be Orlando or even Denver.

[Adrian]

Next GM of the Raptors: "It'd be a lot easier to build if Bosh was still here. Why didn't someone stop Colangelo?"

I won't be watching but I'm sure those remarks will be made at some point in the press conference- or at least off the record to you, Doug. Write it down. :) But I'm sure you know because other GM's could very well be telling you already.

[james]

Ok, get rid of calderone, Bosh, Turk, keep Antoine and Amir.

[Sam]

Adrian is making a lot of assumptions.
We don't know what BC is doing to keep Bosh in the fold. I'm certain the full court press is on. Remember, Bosh has earned the right for free agency and even though I'd like him to remain a Raptor - Its Still his decision to make -

It might be a little naive to suggest a public outpouring can alter Bosh's decisions - To suggest that a Sports business executive needs to prove to the fan base he's doing something is expecting a lot. I would suggest we let it all play out - We will know soon enough what fortunes hold for The Raptors and CB4 and the number 13 pick for that matter

[james]

If I was Bryan right now, I would be totally perplexed as to what I should do. This team has just been a revolving door of players the last several years. It's getting to the point where you either put up or shut up. Get some players in here who want to play here and will accept the roles that you set out for them. Is that so hard? Bryan you are the headhunter who needs to pick the right heads, coaches are'nt an acceptable scapegoat any more...you have to be better at selecting your personnel.

[Jacques]

Doug, what do you think of Turk for Troy Murphy? what else would we need to give up?

Blogger's note: Can't say for sure, don't think Indy's going to trade him

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Happy D-Day, Doug!
How do things typically work for you when a trade goes down? Do you get the call from a Raps staffer to give you a chance to scoop your "own" team's news story? Or do you have to be constantly pestering all the usual suspects to get them to spill the beans? Or do you just have to keep your ear to the ground, your eye on the Internets and your spidey sense forever sharply tuned?
Good luck, go Raps, and happy scooping! Cheers.

Blogger's note: I'll pester until I get a call

[Boko]

nate, I'd rather bet on the Thunder or the Blazers.

[Andrew]

Any thoughts of doing a live blog during the draft?

Blogger's note: No, too many other things to juggle.

[Mike D.]

Doug, it's already past noon. Surely something must have happened by now?

Blogger's note: Italy lost. That enough?

[Jerry]

Enough already with the Colangelo should do everything he can to keep Bosh. What do people want him to do. Bosh has been waiting for this since the day he signed the last contract. Does anyone think that it is a coincidence that he has an opt out provision for this year. On ESPN radio this morning he said "This is something we've kind of been talking about for four years now".

[james]

Honestly, if you look at projected picks from 6-20, I think Hassan Whiteside would be the best replacement for Bosh. If that's what you're aiming to do...he would be available probably. As for the plethora of forwards, If I could draft up a few spots to get one of the bangers like Monroe or Davis that would address the need for some muscle...but we do have Reggie...Gordon Hayward looks enticing and might be available but does he address the needs and is he available at 13? Xavier Henry is the only half decent guard at 13 pick the way I see it. I don't think you pick a guard in this draft though.

Doug, I agree with you that no one really stands out, especially if you're picking at 13, Whiteside looks like he could be a diamond in the rough. Who do you have as your top 3 picks if you can't move up from 13?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Blogger's note: Wall, Turner, Favors; or do you mean for Toronto? George, Udoh, Bradley

[The J]

So what I'm hearing is we should either: make big splash moves to convince our only star to stay, or give up on half the team and make trades to bring in more picks and a young roster to build around. A large extreme in opinions. But maybe, just maybe, there is a third option that none of us have thought of. An option that was so obvious that it was staring us right in the face, and we still never noticed it. Wait, I think I got it!! Oh no, actually the more I think of it, that would never work. So I guess we're screwed...

Maybe I'll start cheering for the Leafs instead. Well on a day like this, it's good to laugh.

[Jeff]

The person above (Kelsie) who said the Raptors are in worse shape now, than when BC arrived -- has ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT HE/SHE IS TALKING ABOUT.

Cheers.

[dee from sauga]

With the rumour mill swriling and now reports on yahoo and espn sites stating cp3 could be available...how great would he look in a raptors jersey? Do we have contracts that match up with his salary for a possible trade? Turk? Jose? Jack? I'm quivering in that possibility!

Blogger's note: Can't see it and saw statement from Hornets owner unequivocally saying Paul was not available

[Evan]

It annoys me when people say that player in the draft is a defensive stopper: Defense is a team effort! In the history of the draft, players marked as defensive stoppers have turned out about as good as players touted as poor defenders.

Statistically, the only real thing that matters is possessions. Rebounds, steals, low turnovers, high fg%. These stats in college actually translate over into the NBA.

Toronto needs to start pulling a Billie Bean and do scouting in front a score sheet, and not watching a guy play.

Look into Wins Produced/48 and you will see why we should get rid of Bargniani, Turkoglu and Wright, and keep Jose, Jack and Amir.

[Dave]

Doug, that IS a fine lead to a sports story. But it doesn't hold a candle to the finest opening sentence in the history of reportage. (I swear that I'm not making this up.)

"A gay man tried to poison his lesbian neighbours by putting slug pellets into their curry after he was accused of kidnapping their three-legged cat"

Here's the link, if you're interested. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218880/One-gay-man-lesbians-legged-cat-poisoned-curry-plot.html#ixzz0rnAYIAEV