Boring off-day so early mail and more to come Sunday

Okay, here’s the deal: I’ve got nothing, really. Had a very quiet day for the first time in a while so ….

Aside from the teen girls beating Turkey to open the world under-17 championships, the Raptors winning another one at the summer league and a day ahead that includes sitting in the office making sure nothing blows up, there’s nada.

So take this as an early mailbag and rest assured there’ll be a more complete one in the morning.

Have a good day folks, you know where I’ll be. And if you'd like to get something in, do the usual and click right here.

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Q: Hi Doug. Your blurb about the league's claim of financial hardship made me wonder - do you have any idea how the Raptors have been doing? Not that anyone should be remotely concerned about MLSE as a whole, but have the Raptors on their own been turning a profit on a yearly basis?

Thanks.

Errol T, Toronto

A: Along with where the keep the secret pictures that allow them to get civic leaders to bend over to make things easy for them to develop anciliary properties, the financial figures of MLSEL are a closely-guarded secret.

But take into consideration they play to more than 90 per cent capacity, reap the benefits of a national US television deal that gives them close to $40 million a year ad don’t pay a luxury tax and I would assume – even with my rudimentary knowledge of high finance – that the picture is petty rosy.

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Q: Since the woeful Grizzlies left Vancouver we have but one NBA team that could become Canada's team if the Raptors would just do some marketing in the west. We could have some exhibition games/home games in the west not to mention Raptor memorabilia. Do you think this might happen?

Linda S, Westbank, BC

A: Well, they’ve been west but I guess not far enough. But don’t fear, the details are still being finalized and I don’t have a firm date but if you were to think about a pre-season game at GM Place this October, you’d be thinking ahead of everyone.

And once I get an idea of when, you’ll be the first to know.

As for memorabilia, I can’t imagine they’ve left all the store shelves empty? Someone’s falling down on the job in the merchandising department.

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Q: Hi Doug. Losing Chris in free agency is a blow to the team, no doubt. However, I would like to believe that this gives Bryan to truly develop this roster into his own vision of what appears to be a team that is long, athletic, and fast. Do you think that the loss of Chris gives Colangelo the ability to truly build his "own" roster rather than attempting to build around a player that he had no part in bringing to TO? Thanks!

Mike R, Calgary

A: Well, I would except for one fact: Chris was a guy Bryan re-signed to a maximum-value contract in 2006 and a guy he tried to placate with any number of different teammates in the intervening years. But there is indeed a chance now to build a “team” rather than “a bunch of players surrounding The Man” and it’ll be interesting to see how the whole situation plays out.

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Q: Hi Doug. Great to see the blog going strong through the off-season.

My question is: How much influence does Jay Triano (and his staff) have in player acquisitions/transactions? For instance, when Bryan Colangelo deals for younger, more athletic players to play what he calls a more up-tempo style, is Triano bound simply by what Colangelo gives him or has Triano requested players that would suit an up-tempo style, because that's what the coach feels will be successful in the NBA?

Alan W, Toronto

A: Very little influence, actually. They are apprised of moves the general manager is thinking about, or trying to, make but they do not “suggest” any particular addition. It’s up to the staff to figure out how best to use the pieces the GM has put together. And it’s commonplace throughout the league.

That’s not to say there’s absolutely no interaction between the front office and the head coach during deliberations but Bryan tends to keep things close to his vest.

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Q: Hi Doug! Big fan of your blog. I have a question I think only you can answer: Where can I buy a Raptors summer league jersey? I'd love to have one. Just to be different. Thanks!

Andrew D, Toronto

A: They’re like shooting shirts with names on the back, you sure you want one? I have no idea if they make them or if you can buy them if they do. Tell you what: Let’s say they cost $50. Why not save that money since the product doesn’t exist and send it along to the Jim Proudfoot Corner of the Star’s Santa Fund this winter. It'd be greatly appreciated by all.

Comments

[Thomas]

your last response kinda just ends abruptly, and the whole mailbag seems shorter than usual. Did you forget to post something?

Blogger's note: Somehow missed a line of copy moving it from one system to the other, it's there now. And there'll be lots more mail in the morning; was kind of an overwhelming mailbag and I had little else to put up here today.

[Jeff]

Doug, Salary Question:

Could a team resign and trade it's own free agent (think: Antoine Wright), to a non-guaranteed contract, like a 1year $10mm deal with a $1mm guarantee if waived before August 15. Trade said player to team B for a player with a $10mm salary, and team B then waives Wright and pays him $1mm.

Team B is 'dumping' $9mm in salary, and Antoine makes $1mm for helping out.

Is the type of transaction allowed?

[James Online]

Here's something for yout to put up:

Italy edged FYR Macedonia in Florence - Jul 16, 2010 (by Eurobasket News)
Italy- FYR Macedonia 83:60

Italy edged FYR Macedonia in Florence in the start of the International Tournament with 4 teams participating. The hosts enjoyed 83:60 win in Game 2 of the day.
Both teams started well and stayed close to each other in the opening quarter. Italy grabbed 20-17 in the end of the first period and increased the lead later in the half. They were too good in the second frame and reached 47:31 halftime advantage. The lead continued to grow as Italy dominated the court and the teams finished three quarters with 66:46 for the hosts. Another 17 points in the last period brought Italians 83:60 total win.
Marco Belinelli (196-G-86) paced all the winners with 14 points. Stefano Mancinelli (203-F-83) and Andrea Bargnani (209-F/C-85) nailed 13 points each, while Marco Mordente (191-G-79) added 10. Pero Antic (210-F-82, agency: Interperformances) answered with 11 points in the losing effort. Stefanov notched 10, while Sokolov added 8.
In another game of the day Bulgaria National Team won the opener of the Mandela Forum Tournament in Italy as they overcame Poland 68:62. Florence enjoyed the battle of two teams, while due to the first half Bulgaria managed to win the game.
In Day 2 Bulgaria will face FYR Macedonia, while Italy will take on Poland.

Italy: Marco Belinelli 14, Stefano Mancinelli 13, Andrea Bargnani 13, Marco Mordente 10
FYR Macedonia: Pero Antic 11, Stefanov 10, Sokolov 8

[jhr]

Hey Doug. I'm unable to load the blog in firefox these days. Might be unique to me, or might be something worth checking out with the tech guys. Keep up the good work!

[Jerry]

I am not usually one to be picky about spelling but it is re-sign not resign. I wonder how many times it has been misspelled during this free agency. I am trying to remember if I have seen it spelled correctly at all.

resign - To give up one's office or position.

re-sign - to sign again.

[dougaroo]

haha doug check out the raptor republic SL game recap; a good 5 or 6 comments are devoted to bashing your blog; maybe you should take it as....positive feedback

Blogger's note: Heck, there are 5 or 6 comments here every day bashing, I still manage to sleep at night.

[GM]

Yes, someone is definitely falling down on the merchandising side. I can't tell you the number of sports stores in Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria and surroundings where I've inquired about a Raptors hat or t-shirt. Nada. (I'd never be seen wearing a jersey.) I had to finally get a friend in Toronto to send me a t-shirt. And yet today you still see people walking around with Vancouver Grizzlies gear.

[JJ]

For all the Joey Dorsey lovers, this from Kevin Arnowitz of Truehoop "Aside from hitting the glass and the occasionally effective defensive stand one-on-one in the post, it's hard to find a sphere of the game where Joey Dorsey helps his team win basketball games. He's more likely to trap himself too far beneath the backboard than he is to get off a quality shot at close range." (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/18259/day-eight-las-vegas-summer-league-roundup)

Can he still keep the legend nickname?

[GM]

Have you heard? GM Place has been renamed. Now it's the Roger's something-or-other. So it goes from being The Garage to The Phone Booth (or Call Centre).