Finally, a Raptor trade that goes through

It’s done.

No, seriously. It’s done.

Just got word that the league has signed off on the trade that will send Hedo Turkoglu from Toronto to Phoenix for Leandro Barbosa.

Dwayne Jones, a 6-11 centre who was the leading rebounder in D League last season before joining the Suns as a emergency backup when Robin Lopez was hurt, is also included in the trade.

It’s not big news, that’s for sure, since it’s been kicked around since Sunday night but as we saw with the aborted Toronto-Charlotte transaction, nothing is really done until it’s really done.

Barbosa struggled through a so-so 2009-10 season, missing almost two months with a wrist injury that finally required surgery in January.

He averaged 9.5 points and about 18 minutes a game as a backup. When fully healthy, the 6-2 202-pounter known as The Brazilian Blur because of his speed, has proved to a valuable backup combo guard and the Raptors hope he fits well into what they plan is a high-tempo offence.

Barbosa, a native of Sao Paolo, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Suns. He was the 28th overall pick in the 2003 draft – chosen by San Antonio and shipped to the Suns – and was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2007. He’s averaged 12.6 points per game in 466 regular season games, shooting 47 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from three-point range.

Jones doesn’t seem to fit into any long-term Raptors plans and could well be waived. The 27-year-old, undrafted out of Saint Joseph’s in 2003, has bounced around the NBA, playing 82 games with Boston, Cleveland, Charlotte and Phoenix in five seasons.

Comments

[Chris]

The deal you were saying would happen today was....Turkoglu? I'm pretty certain 99% of the people out there took your words as ANOTHER trade happening.

[dawgjin]

anticlimactic to the max..

Unfortunately, the cancelled chandler trade was the story that had picked us raps fans up off the floor - we got our hopes up - at long last, a true & proven defensive centre. It got us excited and thinking ahead to next season. The Suns deal was the 'other' news of the day.

This deal is blah - because it's a story about removing a wart and covering it with a bandaid

[Paul]

hmm, a starter for a back up?
saving money I guess.
Doug, can you give us the contract details on the new fellows?

Blogger's note: Barbosa, two years, $14.7 million about; Jones minimum non-guaranteed and I don't imagine he ever gets here

[Pipit]

From what perspective Doug, that these trade is good for the Raptors?

Blogger's note: Long-term financial and they're quicker right away

[Andrew]

I read that Sheldon Williams got the veterans minimum. How long do you have to play in the league to be a "veteran"?

Blogger's note: Different minimums for different years of service.

[Dave in BG]

@Chris

Maybe I am the 1%, but when I read the post earlier today, I was sure that Doug's earlier reference WAS to the Turk trade.

Maybe anticlimatic, but as we have learned this week, nothing is ever over until it is over.

[Tyler L]

Doug have you heard anything regarding the rumour of a trade with Calderon for Hibbert in Indiana that apparently has come from M. Grange

[Owen]

For those who say 'blah', let's appreciate the value of getting loose from a bad deal. I fully supported the move to get Hedo a year ago, but I think he's lost his passion for NBA ball. Also, for a guy who talked about what an unselfish player he was, I think he could have done a lot more on the boards and on the defensive side. Good idea... turned into a liability... and now we're free to move forward. I'm pleased.

[cedric]

@Dave
Chris is another one of those pathetic dweebs in the sam e mold as the one who left the board after Bosh left. Like roaches they are.

[Arlene]

Personally, I'm happy the Charlotte trade didn't go through. Consider Diaw - out of shape last year, played hard when he felt like it, sound a bit like Hedo? Versatile player maybe if coaches could motivate him consistently. As for Chandler - great defensive centre but a record of injury. He has been often traded for that reason. I think BC can do better if he is patient. Calderon is a valuable player.

[oro dkoba]

good players trades go through. Toronto sucks! we lost another good player. don't you think Suns will not trade if he is not worth...

[James]

Hi Doug,

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on a potential lockout. Odds of it happening, in your opinion, and your thoughts on the implications short and long term?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5380427

I for one have no problem with professional athletes making whatever they make in the ebb and flow of a supply and demand market, and certainly the men and women who write the cheques should make money too, but if fans were to be deprived of their favourite diversion and a chance to watch their heroes of the hardcourt perform because either side wants to make more money, I would seriously consider finding another diversion.

Never been much of a fan but I hear there's an ice hockey team in town too.

Blogger's note: I think saner heads will prevail

[david]

Has Jose Calderon's trade value plummeted, diminished or no major effect since when it died?

Blogger's note: No effect whatsoever

[Ravi]

Hey Doug,

I may have missed this. Is there a trade exception involved? Thanks.

[AT]

any idea why this one took so long to make official?

[Gerald]

I too thought he was referring to the Tubagoo trade.

As for Dwayne Jones, hey, maybe he is the new Patrick O'Bryant!

[Mark]

So Doug, what's next?

[GM]

Yeah, I understood you, too. If people are disappointed, put yourself back to last week when no word of anything had come out. If you were told that the Huskies had found a trade for Turkoglu, who everyone (almost) thought had an untradeable contract and got back a player three years younger with only two years on his contract, as opposed to Turk's four, you'd be over the moon. Yes, Barbosa had an off-year last year, but the mistake is thinking that he'll never again have a good season. And he was a bench player because that was his role in Phoenix based on the personnel. That doesn't mean he has to be a bench player everywhere he goes. He may have a greater role in Toronto or he may have a lesser role. We won't know until they play. But we know what he's capable of.

[Garrett]

Why is everyone trying to say Chandler is a great defensive Centre now that he was almost a Raptor? What are his block/rebound numbers for career? He's skinnier than Chris Bosh.

[Roy Hibbert Sr.]

Hey Doug,
I'm hearing a lot about a possible trade to get Roy Hibbert back to his rightful home in Toronto?
Any truth to these rumours, or is this trade just one of the millions that could've been?

[Aditya]

uh on the al harrington 5 year deal....its 3 yrs guaranteed with the last 2 years only half-guaranteed.....so is that a good deal now, sir?

[No more Euro Panzies]

dawgjin's comment was right on. Chandler was the main potential piece to make this team better. Now that it didn't turn out, it's nowhere near the same feeling. To finally have a real true legit nba C, one can imagine, guess it was too good to be true.

[J]

@ Chris

Same, I think your 99% is embellishing it way too much. Maybe 20%?

He did say "of course it's something you know about", so not sure how you'd interpret that as some new trade happening.

[ANM]

Anyone notice any coinsidence to the number selection by the "Super friends", 3(Wade), 1(Bosh), 6(LBJ)?
3:16 in that order. There is a King James version of that passage. NOT the King James as in LBJ but the one of the A.D. 1611 Bible.
Wade, as the 'only son' of Miami, and Bosh and LBJ as the believers who will not 'perish', like they were in Cleveland and Toronto. But now will have eternal life (make your own translations)
You have to read the passage for yourself and make your own assumptions.
Has anyone else noticed that?
Somehow I feel like this was planned a while ago. With LBJ wanting to change his number out of respect for MJ but like you said Doug, not worried about respecting greats such as Julius Erving and Bill Russell who dawned the #6.
I guess Bosh just wanted a fresh start, changing his to #1. Its not like Bosh couldn't have just taken #4. I don't think Kenny Hasbrouck would have mined.
Anyway, just over thinking everything I guess......It IS still 3 1/3 months before the start of the season.

[Johnn19]

So the untradable man, with the untradable contract was traded, saving the team $25million and providing cap flexibility ,by the GM who everyone wants to have fired because he is incompetent.

When Colangelo signed the Turk he was a genius, as I recall from all the very knowledgeable fans and media types, who had just signed a player that had been the most improved, and led his team as the top scorer, making game winning shots, to the NBA champioship finals.

A sure fire improvement that was going to lead the Raps to 48/50 wins, the playoffs, and playoff success, with the Turk making the big shots.

So it did not work out the way it was expected, but that was not BC's fault, so he is taking steps to make corrections and will try again, what else would you expect for a franchise that is mandated by ownership and management to build a WINNER. He will do whatever is needed until he succeds with that objective no matter what the EXPERT media and fans want, or suggest he do.

As fans all we should want and expect is a team that competes and wins more than it loses, plays well at home, and continues to improve, and one day well down the road win a championship.
Unfortunatley it is not a simple thing to achieve, as there are each year 14 teams or almost 1/2 of the league who can not make the playoffs. Only 2 each year of 30 who can play for the championship, only 1 winner of 30 and 29 losers, who must try and improve for next year.