Deals are done, deals are undone, deals are in limbo. Fun, isn't it?

And so it goes.

Another day, another snag, another story.

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Yes, there are issues with the Matt Barnes trade/signing, issues that popped up about 15 minutes after the head hit the pillow last night judging by the flurry of e-mails that greeted me this morning.

Issues? Yes. Dead? No.

This is not Tyson Chandler and Michael Jordan, this is salary cap machinations the Raptors and Orlando Magic have to work through.

And they will give it their best shot.

It’s funny how these kinds of stories get going and how it’s impossible to keep entirely on top of them.

When I filed just before 10 or so, it was done; so done that my story got to the office about 20 minutes before Barnes tweeted that he would be playing in Toronto next season.

I’d checked this with a source or two; the word I got was “close” which is why I wrote the story for the paper (which you can read here) the way I did.

A bit softer that saying it was done, done and that’s mostly because I was mindful of (a) the words that the guys I was talking to were using and (b) Tyson Chandler kept running through my mind.

Now, in a perfect world, I would have been up around 1 a.m. when the note came in that there was a snag and I’d have been able to further update the story. But I wasn’t.

And the trouble is, for people who only get a hard copy of the newspaper, that wouldn’t have helped at all anyway; at 1 a.m. we’re closed for night on the paper side of the ledger.

I guess it underscores yet again how our business – and the entire business of disseminating news – is changing. And I don’t know if it’s all that good; I’d love to say I’d be willing to work at updating stuff every second of every day but that’s not going to happen. I just can’t figure out when the cutoff time should be each day.

Anyway …

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As a basketball fit, you have to think Matt Barnes is a pretty good one for Toronto, no?

A defensive-minded swingman who can make a three and is athletic is about what the doctor ordered.

In fact, when I was sitting around yesterday scribbling some notes (you get some of the end product in a bit) one of the things I wrote was: Best still out there: Barnes.

Now, he’s got some flaws, he could shoot it better, he can disappear for stretches of games but on this Toronto team, he’s probably the starting small forward and a good compliment to DeRozan.

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Hey, you saw the news about the Raptors-Suns game Oct. 6 at whatever they call that arena now, right?

We’re headed to Vancouver and while I love the fact some guys played up the whole “Raptors meet Hedo” thing because it’s fresh, getting to see Steve Nash in Vancouver will be very cool.

The full schedule is still being finalized but I imagine we’d be out there for three or four days of practice before the game, kind of a end-of-training-camp excursion after they have three days or so here in Toronto.

But I also don’t think we’re stopping anywhere in Canada on the way home; it’ll be Vancouver as the only stop on the national tour.

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So, Golf Boy returns soon. Got to deal with one more morning of family stuff I think but I’m kind of looking forward to getting out to St. George’s. I haven’t seen a street festival/golf tournament ever and it should be kind of neat.

Plus it gives me a nice break from salary caps and trade exceptions and the like. Until, of course, the Barnes thing comes to a conclusion.

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So, among those free agent recap notes I was jotting down yesterday – figuring out winners and losers around the league -- were these (and there’ll be more sometime the rest of the week)

Oldies but goodies: Among the better contracts, I’ve got Derek Fisher at three years, $10.5 million because it locks leader the Lakers really need; and Ray Allen at two years, $20 million because he’s still got some game and the Celtics need to make one more run.

Oldies but not so goodies: Am entirely unsure that 30-year-old Al Harrington at five years, $34 million on an already-aging Denver roster is money well spent; and Amar’e Stoudemire’s deal, five years, $100 million is a huge gamble on a guy who (a) has been hurt and (b) doesn’t have Steve Nash

Cashing in, big time: Anthony Morrow made about $736,000 last season in Golden State; he’s going to make about $4 million in Jersey. Wish I was him.

Understated, but big: Chicago didn’t get any of the LeBron Nation followers but Kyle Korver is really going to help; that team needed a three-point shooter and got it.

Rub your eyes, shake your head: If someone had told you when the free agency period began that the guy who would have the largest contract at the end of it would be Joe Johnson, what would you have said? “No way!” Well, at six years, $119 million, he’s No. 1 and I’m a tad stunned at the way things panned out.

Cashing in, big time II: Wesley Matthews made slightly more than $450,000 with the Jazz as an unsigned rookie; he got five years, $33 million in Portland and I’m thinking he and Anthony Morrow must be among the happiest men on earth.

Strength in numbers: No, the New Jersey (I Wonder If They’ll Ever Be Brooklyn) Nets win the Most Active Team award. But I wonder how much Morrow, Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar and Johan Petro will really help. That’s not a 12-win team, that’s for sure; but is it 35?

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Okay, same deal as yesterday, folks. Got some stuff to take care of that might keep me away from here for a few hours; please don’t get angry or hurt. I still love ya.

(Well, most of you)

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Comments

[Mark]

@dc Kleiza is 25. He just looks 30.

[FPB]

Hi Doug, who are some of the best C's still out there that will possibly fit the Raps?

[J.R.]

Doug

The deal has to be dead unless (a) Barnes agrees to a contract starting at $1.92 million and its for 3 years (only 1 year needs guarantee); or (b) if the Kleiza deal was rescinded in which case Raps would still have its MLE.

Barnes doesn't have Bird rights so the most is 120% of previous years salary. Orlando and Raps don't have MLE money, and ieven if ORlando did you cannot S&T using the MLE.

People knew of the snag well before 1 am. I wrote this to you last night at 10 p.m., but for some reason you didn't post it in the comments section nor consider it?

[ad]

The Barnes deal would have been a lot better if they hadn't already signed kleiza. Both of them are similiar players and are redundant. That might not matter since the Barnes deal is not a sure thing.

[Kyron]

@dc

You should do some fact checking before hitting that 'Post' button because Linas Kleiza is 25. And Bosh only accounted for 24 ppg. We averaged over 104 ppg as a team. We have no problems scoring the basketball on this squad, we did have a lot of problems stopping other teams from doing the same. These moves and the moves to come are addressing this problem.

[Andre]

Good pickup for the raptors. I was hoping they got him last season, but i guess late is better then never... Now we need a big man. What are some of the veteren big men out there or on the market doug?

[Thane]

dc: Kleiza is 25, and Barnes (although I don't quite understand why we need both of them) is on a short-term deal.

[Evan]

I wouldn't be too scared about scoring. There are more shots to go around, just move the ball around and take good shots, people's FG% should be decent, and you win.

This team will win only if there is no player averaging > 20 ppg, and they can get a good team FG%.

[Uncle Zeke]

wow Doug, I haven't seen that much spin since all the "revision-eering" done after the whole WMD fiasco...

What is your opinion on the current state of journalism?- where it's more important to rush to get a story out first then conduct due diligence and check with actual sources...

I guess it's just a sign of the times. Sad really...

[Tree]

John Hollinger tweeted that the Barnes deal is actually illegal under the CBA. What is going on? For all the moves made (good or bad TBD), this has been one giant debacle of a summer for Colangelo.

The going's on around the ACC highlights the problem with how the NBA operates: Bosh knew years ago he was leaving, and strung along the fan base and franchise; Charlotte agrees to a deal, players informed, deal rescinded b/c of cold feet; Kleiza? Doug, you mentioned that it's official, but there's no release on that and Hollinger has speculated maybe it was mutually rescinded?; now this ... What an embarassing way for a $B industry to operate (the NBA overall, not the Raps).

[TC]

Doug, you say the trade is not dead but on yahoo that are reports that its completly "dead"? You say they still can work it out? Who do we believe I'm lost?

[Young James]

"Matt Barnes is 30, we just blew a whack of dough on Kleiza, who is 30".......CORRECTION: Klieza's 25 born January 3rd 1985. I guess you need to re-anyalize your perspective now! ?!! lol

[Craig A]

What an embarrassing screw up for the Raptors. The Chandler thing wasn't their fault, but they will end up with egg on their face if this deal falls through.

[Marco]

Kleiza is 25, not 30, and the money "thrown at him" pales in comparison to some of the contracts handed out this year (just read today's post by Doug)

[sam]

I just read a report that suggestsd the Barnes deal is dead. Apparently the math doesn't work on either end - The NBA salary cap confuses the heck out of me. I've not looked too deep into the workings of the cap and all it's nuances, preferring to enjoy what I see on the floor game in and game out. It's mind boggling!

[Jay]

Hey Doug,
Who would you rather have--Barnes or Diaw? (or neither, as may turn out to be the case!)

[Ragu]

Any thoughts on that Jeremy Lin kid?

Blogger's note: None. Except he went to Harvard so he's smart

[dz]

DC: Kleiza is not 30

[bobby]

Doug,
Is raps-barnes deal dead because in yahoo it said only one, ONE source said it was dead.is this true because one source isnt gonna be enough to prove us that barnes is not going to toronto. i heard on espn that barnes has to take 3 year 6mil contract if he accept??

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-barnescontract071910

heres the source

[nate]

Hey Doug, do you think adding Barnes and Kleiza takes any pressure off moving Calderon now? Both of these guys need a good distributor to be effective and Calderon has shown long stretches of being a good one when healthy. But would they still rather have a true centre to move Bargnani to the 4 and think that Calderon can fetch them that?

[Kol Nika]

Hey Doug,
If this Barnes deal goes through, we are talking about 5 rotation guys at the 2-3 position. (Barbosa, Kleiza, Barnes, DD, and Weems). I see DD being given the starting role again, and if Barnes is here, he would get the starting 3 spot. I'm ok with a 10 man rotation, I prefer 9, but its a long season. Even with 10, I don't see them finding minutes for all 5 guys, so I would venture to say that Barbosa would play the back up PG? So does the potential Barnes signing or the fact they are still looking for a SF indicate that it is prety much a done deal that one of the PGs gets moved? or is there still a chance they both stay? I'd prefer both to stay, Calderon starting and Jack off the bench, and making it clear from start. Also, can you provide us with any Centers that are available (FAs or via trad)? I think Bargs needs to play the 4 to thrive, and Johnson is too undersized for the 5 to be in the starting line up. I am honestly loving how this team is turning out, long and athletic, going to be very exciting to watch, Bosh was too much of a ball stopper. I think this team will surprise alot of people, and win more games than people expect...or I could be totaly wrong and they lose a lot more than expected...but that makes it more intriguing.

[Orenthal]

Matt's brother plays for Edmonton in the CFL. That's got to be a first - NBA CLF fraternal connection.

[Dan W]

kleiza iS 25 not 30.

[Parminder]

Doug,
Accounting for the Barbosa deal, aren't the Raptors under the cap by an amount in the range of $5 Mil, enough to sign Barnes?

[Angelo]

Talk about overpaying! I hope the deal falls through, don't think Barnes is worth that much and he's a dirty player, at times I think he intentionally defends in ways too dangerous for the other player. I'd rather see Weems get more minutes and develop further as a player.