More fun and games as The Summer of Change (again) rolls on

Well, that was a day, wasn’t it?

And it’s not over. It’s never over. Ever.

Gotta love it, eh?

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So, what’s new?

Well, as of this writing, am sure some of you heard that Yahoo reported overnight that maybe Michael Jordan’s having cold feet on the Chandler part of the deal.

Word I got from Raptor and league types last night was that there were issues but no major snags and things are in negotiation and, as we know, nothing is done until it’s done.

I will say this, though: Tyson Chandler told my good friend Marc Spears at Yahoo that he’d been traded to Toronto, my own sources said he was coming and Reggie Evans apparently tweeted or twitted his own good-bye message to the folks up here.

Jose? I presume he was still celebrating Spain’s soccer victory and tending to the little fella and I couldn’t reach him yesterday.

So what’s going to happen?

I presume the phone lines will be burned up again today and something will get finalized sooner rather than later and if it isn’t in precisely the same form as we expected Monday afternoon … well, that’s what negotiations are all about.

And what’s it mean for the Raptors? Well, it means they’ll be quicker with the arrival of Barbosa, a little bit bigger with the arrival of Diaw - and I’ll say Chandler, too, because I think that will eventually get done - and it’ll be a vastly different team that takes the floor in October.

I know Jay will want them to run a lot more because they have no offensive anchor to build much halfcourt stuff around and that might make them more entertaining to watch.

The negatives of the guys coming in are this: Barbosa’s play dropped off sharply last year thanks to injuries and off-court issues that sent him back to Brazil for a bit; Diaw has some conditioning issues and Chandler’s constantly hurt.

But even with that, this is a good deal.

Turk had to go, no question. Yes, he could have made his peace with Jay and Bryan and the staff, I’m sure; but he is such a lightning rod of discontent among the fans and wouldn't that have always been in the way of any progress he could have made?

Jose? That’s the tough one. You know how I feel, he’s far better than many fans think and he runs an offence smoothly and efficiently. No, he’s not the greatest on-the-ball defender in the league as we all know but the guy can play and he will be missed. Trust me on that.

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So, is this Bryan panicking or fixing mistakes or what?

You know what it is?

It’s a GM doing what a GM is supposed to do, try to make his team better.

As we’ve mentioned several times, building a pro sports team is an inexact science, you take your shot and if it doesn’t work, you try something else.

The Turkoglu experiment failed, no question, for the one year and who knows what might have happened this time around. Bosh is gone through no wrongdoing of anyone here and that’s a fact that has to be dealt with.

We knew at the end of the season that Bosh would be gone, we figured one of the point guards would get moved and we knew when Turk made those statements back home that he was likely to be moved.

Well, they’re gone and no one should be surprised.

The buzzword around the Raps the last few days has been “evolve” and that’s exactly what’s happening.

Whether it evolves for good or for bad is the unknown and that’s the fun part of the business of being a fan, isn’t it?

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Hey, remember when the guy told me and I told you that it was almost time to “fasten the belts?” Guess he know what he was talking about, eh?

Who knows what else is coming, and who knows what ultimately happens with this big trade that I expect to be finished sometime today, but you’ve got to admit: This franchise continues to be a better story than a team most times, doesn’t it?

Makes for long days over here but it’s fun just the same.

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My man Steve Russell, shutterbug extraordinaire, has done it again.

Remember the very cool Bosh photo thingy? Here’s one dedicated to Jose. Click here to check it out.

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While we’re on the topic of plugs, don’t forget about the concert that Matt Bonner’s hooked up with on Friday night featuring, what I’m told, are two very good bands, The Hold Steady and The Whigs.

I think if you click here you should find the details you need to make some money for a pretty worthy cause.

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Okay, so David Stern’s miffed at Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert for that rather over-the-top rant the other day in the post-LeBronathon hours and hits Gilbert with a $100,000 fine.

Good for him.

It was way over the top and rather unseemly; yes, it summed up the feelings of some fans but I don’t think it’s the way a team owner should act.

Yes, James’s TV thing was ill-advised and rather stupid and a narcissistic endeavour meant only to further his own agenda and “brand,” but Gilbert maybe topped him.

After all, I didn’t hear Gilbert complaining when he was counting the hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars James put in his pocket or when he was looking out over 20,000 people a night for seven straight seasons in his arena.

Sure, James handled himself horribly with that hour-long, stage-managed, puke-inducing “Decision,” but Gilbert was almost as a bad with that ill-advised screed.

Luckily, James made him enough money that the $100,000 won’t be too hard to find.

This whole episode stunk from high heaven and if we never, ever have to go through it again, it’ll be too soon.

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It's all one deal and it's bye bye Turk and Jose

Bryan Colangelo is at it again.

In a complex transaction that’s still not finalized, the Raptors are shipping out Hedo Turkoglu, Jose Calderon and one other piece not yet confirmed and getting back Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns, Boris Diaw and possibly Tyson Chandler from the Charlotte Bobcats.

(It's been confirmed Chandler is coming and while no one's told me officially from the Raptors, looks like Reggie Evans is going; but the deal is not official and won't likely be until Tuesday)

League sources could not confirm the final pieces Monday morning but the Raptors will not have to touch the $14.5 million trade exception acquired last week in the Chris Bosh sign-and-trade transaction.

Colangelo originally drafted Barbosa with the Suns and has long been a fan of Diaw, a multi-purpose forward who can play a couple of positions. Chandler, who is in the last year of his contract, gives the Raptors another long athletic big man.

Turkoglu is destined for Phoenix, Calderon is headed to Charlotte and the league sources were unsure who the third piece leaving Toronto is and where he’s going.

The financial gains are significant.

Barbosa has two years and $14.7 million left on his current contract; Diaw has two years and $18 million remaining and Chandler will be paid $13.1 million this coming season.

Turkoglu still had four years and about $40 million left on his deal and Calderon has three years and almost $30 million left to go.

We'll get more as the day progresses.

Something "complicated" is cooking around the Raptors

Unreal.

A guy takes a night off to go to a thing where great fun was had by all and all heck breaks loose at the end of the night.

Figures.

Anyway …

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The e-mail I got overnight said simply that the Turkoglu to Phoenix thing you can read about here in Paul’s piece is “a lot more complicated” that you’re seeing.

Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, just that it hasn’t and there are all kinds of moving parts.

And considering it’s almost a year to the day since Bryan pulled off the four-team double sign-and-trade transaction that landed Hedo here in the first place “complicated” is something he does quite well.

But what’s it all mean?

Well, if would mean the end of a failed experiment with Turkoglu that would have to go down as one of the darker moments of the Colangelo era but it also would free the team from the final two years of an albatross-like contact. And that’s never a bad thing.

But it would also mean a diminished talent pool seeing how Leandro Barbosa – in my opinion – is a lesser player than Hedo right now and Boris Diaw hasn’t missed too many buffets since moving on from the Suns to the Bobcats.

How either of them, if they get here, ends up fitting will be interesting to see, too, and the mere fact their names are being bandied about may suggest Bryan’s got some other things in play out there, too.

If he gets Barbosa, who can be a 1, does it mean the imminent departure of one of the point guards?

How would Diaw fit on a team with Kleiza and all the other bigs?

Are there more moves afoot?

I would absolutely think so and I’m guessing the next two or three weeks will give us all kinds of stuff to talk about.

I got no indication last night when any Turkoglu transaction would be complete but if it’s getting to the point where it’s being leaked and talked about openly, I’d say it’s sooner rather than later.

And once it’s all done, we can dissect it more.

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How about those teens, eh?

Not a bad showing at all, the bronze medal at the first age-group world championships (you can get some of the details by clicking here) and after talking to a couple of kids on the telephone Sunday morning, I’m thinking there should be a new catch-phrase for the good folks at Canada Basketball.

Hey world! We don’t suck.

That’s a bit of a joke but as Maurizio Gherardini put it to me in an e-mail after the game “No more doubts: Canada is also a ‘basketball nation’ and the world basketball community has found out.”

Now, this doesn’t mean they should or will win medals at any other competition but the foundation truly has been laid by these teens. They have established a level of expectation that other teams will have to try to live up to.

For the longest time now, there was a perception that Canada was one of the true weaklings of the international game, we hadn’t really had any big successes and it was always, always going to be a long road back. Kevin Pangos, one of the co-captains of the team and a kid whose name you should remember, said something on that conference call that really hit home.

He was talking about the after-effects of this medal and how he hoped it would translate into support for all the programs Canada Basketball runs.

And it got me to thinking:

Wouldn’t it be a wise idea for some company or person to attach his or her name to Canada Basketball right now and ride things out for the next six or eight years as all the programs grow? There is a feeling of unbridled optimism around the group these days – the boys did well, the juniors are really good and they are the next wave of talent – and I think some forward thinking company should leap on board now.

Anyone out there interested?

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Next up?

Teen girls, who start their world tournament in France at the end of this week.

And, yes, the plan is to cover them as much as we covered the boys.

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Okay, I think it is merely a coincidence that after a day where I was nominally in charge of the sports department (and by that I mean I had to go into answer phones and accept e-mails) that the power was out all night at our Vaughn print shop and there seem to be no hard copies of today’s paper to be had.

Really, it wasn’t me.

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Next world power in basketball? Korea.

Has to be.

Instead of playing a game in the Summer League (and I’m making a big X with my two fingers as I type “Summer League) the Raptors scrimmaged against the Korean national team Sunday morning.

Toronto wins, 100-77, but that’s not the big story.

In attendance, one of my guys tells me, was the legendary Lenny Wilkens, who’s acting as a consultant to the Korean program.

Like I said, next world power.

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Spain! Yes!

To a football neophyte, the World Cup was as much about the passion as the game and that means that the clunker of a final really didn’t bother me all that much.

But you have to love an extra time goal and be entirely overjoyed that such a big game didn’t end on penalties.

Can’t wait for 2014 and Brazil.

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All right. One more day in the big chair and then a couple to sit around and chill on the deck trying to figure out what Bryan’s got up his sleeve.

Going to be a nice week, methinks.

Bronze for Canada at under-17 championships

Canada finished the first under-17 boys world basketball championships in dramatic _ and successful _ fashion.

Olivier Hanlan made a key three-pointer and two clutch free throws and Dyshawn Pierre made a foul shot with four seconds left as Canada rallied in the final half minute to beat Lithuania 83-81 and win the bronze medal at the world championships in Hamburg, Germany on Sunday.

We'lll get more once we get to talk to the coach and players later Sunday but the stunning rally capped an outstanding tournament for the Canadian teens.

Down four with 44 seconds left, Hanlan hit a three-pointer to pull Canada within one and after getting stop on Lithuania's subsequent possession, Hanlan was fouled with 13 seconds left and made two free throws to put Canada up by one.

After other Lithuania miss, Pierre was fouled with four seconds left, making the second of his two shots for the final margin of victory.

Playing with key forward Anthony Bennett, who sat out with an injury, Canada got production of several players Hanlan had 15 points, Junior Lomomba had 14, Negus Webster-Chan and Kevin Pangos both had 13 and Anthony Wiggins and Pierre each had 12.

The questions, the answers, the usual Sunday fare

Okay, before I go once more into the assignment breach, here are some questions and answers to get you through the day.

Had a nice, well-deserved couch night Saturday – did you see the dude almost throw the perfect game at Halladay and the Phillies? – so there are some leftover I’ll get to through the week.

Have fun.

Oh, and go Spain!

I’m figuring 2-1.

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Q: Not sure if you've already put in your two cents worth on this, but what is your general take on the behaviour of the media throughout this whole free agency process? We've all certainly heard the word "sources" enough by now, and it's hard to believe anyone anymore. I know that you pretty much shy away from ANY speculative writing, even though readers might wish to see a few more sensational things here and there. But I totally respect your approach to journalism, and I'm interested to hear what you think of some of your brethren through all of this.

Dave M, Toronto

A: I think that some of my brethren were bamboozled by trusting people who didn’t know anything for real and I don’t think it was the greatest period in the history of basketball writing.

With a story of that magnitude, I really think you have to resist the urge to go with one-source items and some people – not all, mind you – did to the detriment of the very people they are trying to serve: The readers.

The one thing that kind of bothers me is that there seems to be a lack of context to some of the reporter.

Yes, it’s all well and good to say that “Team X has talked to Team Y or Player Z” because that could very well be true; but I also think in fairness, again, to the readers, a reporter either has to do more work finding out which other teams Team X may have talked to or at least explain in the resulting story that, yes, “Team X has talked to Team Y or Player Z but there are other discussions going on in the routine run of NBA business.”

Not as sexy. But more correct.

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Q: Doug, in your opinion, what do you think BC'S goal this year should and will be: to rebuild for the long term future, or to build for an 8th seed playoff birth?

If you read the comments throughout the different media and fan sites, it is clear that the fans do not mind to have a good young team with long term potential.

It just seems that with what is available out there right now (which you mentioned could very quickly change), it is not enough to make this team competitive. So why not build a fun young team that is enjoyable to watch. I would rather see 82 enjoyable games than 86 games with all kinds of wishful thinking coming from the player, coaches and management. I say if the player is over 26, then move on.

A T, Niagara Falls

A: The goal should always be to put the best product you can on the floor and try to win every game possible because of you don’t, you’re cheating yourselves, the fans, the players and – most important – the game.

This is a young team, by the way, and it remains to be seen whether it’s fun to watch.

And, sure it’s easy to say get rid of everybody who’s over 26; in reality it’s a bit more difficult.

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Q: After all that has transpired this past week do you think the landscape and treatment of free agents has been scared and tainted for good? The level of self promotion is unbridled but the sane part of me wants to think this was truly a one off event.

Jamil B, Sydney, Australia

Also how many hits are you up to these days. Ice got all my bball friends down here following your blog now too.

A: I think this was an aberration, for sure. People – teams and possibly players – had been pointing to this summer for years and years, I don’t see another one set up for this perfect storm of high-value free agents and teams with salary cap room coming for quite some time.

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Q Mr Smith, I'm still a bit surprised by the development of the new "Dream Team" in Miami. I am wondering about the 'tampering' rules and why they only apply to ownership/management and not also to players? This trio will have an impact on many aspects of the NBA and the bottom line (finances) for years to come, I think, especially for smaller market teams. Is a new tampering rule something you might see as necessary for future free agency periods or is this situation simply a one-time occurrence and no changes necessary?

Thanks

Michelle PB, Toronto

A: I am dead certain the issue of player collusion will come up sometime in the collective bargaining process that’s already begun. There simply weren’t any rules or penalties or even a process to think about them this time around.

But, again, this might have been a one-time thing and I wonder if we’ll ever have to go through something like it again.

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Q: With Bosh now gone, is there any pressure on Bargnani to step up and try to become "the man?” I'm probably one of the few fans who likes Bargs as a player and would love to see him flourish. Unfortunately though, there's been debates as to whether Bargs has been a "bust" as the number 1 pick. Would this season determine whether or not he is a "bust"?

Dave R, Markham

A: Not sure if it’s “pressure” but there will be more responsibility put on Bargnani to carry a heavier offensive load without Bosh in the lineup. Can he? I think he might actually be able to if he continues to work on a post game to go with his shooting abilities.

As for his “bust” status, I think a lot of people have – wrongly – already made up their minds and this year will hold little sway in their opinions.

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Q: So far it seems like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh all took less money than the max contracts available to them to play on the same team (ie. they took 5 year $90 Million dollar deals). I know playing on a potential dynasty with two other all-stars means a lot to each person, but does it mean more than another guaranteed year and $30 Million dollars?

What I am wondering is, can a team provide other potential income streams to these players that wont show up on the contracts/cap numbers? Can Miami say to all three players: "Don’t sign with your current team for max contract, don’t do a sign and trade deal with your current team, but sign with us outright for 5 years, and we will give you say: 5% of all concessions or 2% ownership in the team, or 3% from all the season ticket sales etc."

Sam S, Toronto

A: As it turns out, the financial hit was more along the lines of $15 million rather than $30 million (yeah, I know, waaaaay easier to take, right?) but, no, there cannot be any side deals as you describe.

They are clear circumventions of the salary cap and the league takes things like that very, very seriously. The last team to try something and get caught was Minnesota in the Joe Smith fiasco and it cost them the player, four first-round draft picks and a big old fine.

Teams are scared of Uncle David and his beancounters, trust me on that.

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Q: I have been paying limited attention to this crazy free agent season and have a question for you about rumours.

Every day there seems to be a new "scoop" or story to spin, which may or may not turn out to what actually comes to pass. I know that you don't put much stock in rumours as such, but I wonder if in your experience you find most of them to be complete fabrications. Or are many of them actual possibilities that have been tossed around or considered by the people with the power to make the decisions?

I wonder if it is probably the former option, since if a Coach or General Manager's casual conversations or brainstorming routinely showed up on the internet, we would hear alot more about staff close to the GM/Coach being fired....

So if that is the case, at what point in tracking down a story are you satisfied of its veracity? Do you always confirm with the top guy (or in the case of a trade - at least the player(s) involved)?

Brenda C, Sault Ste. Marie

A: I probably answered a bit of this in the very first question but the last paragraph of your question kind of caught my eye.

I’m never satisfied until I have multiple sources with direct knowledge of whatever situation I’m writing about. I know enough of the inner workings of some organizations, though, that it might not actually be the top guy or the specific player, but people who I know are fully aware of what’s completely going on.

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Q: Glad that you're maintaining a cool head in this crazy free agent shuffle. It’s refreshing because I truly believe that the Raps have some solid young guys, and with the extra shots to go around someone like DeMar DeRozan will have the opportunity to be at time a second option on offense. Agree? Disagree? Will there be opportunities this season for DeMar to be in an iso situation where he can create is own shot, or is he even there yet as a wing player?

With a few more pieces could you see the Raps surprising some people and being something like Houston Rockets of the East?

Love the blog. Any chance of coming back doing those video web headlines? My opinion is that the written word can often be misinterpreted, ever for the greats of wordsmiths - Call me crazy, but I think it somehow made for less venom and hate mail.

Mike E, Toronto

A: If DeMar works on his ball-handling abilities to the point where he can beat his man off the dribble and extends his shooting range a little bit, I do think he can thrive. But he also has to pay attention to the other end, not lose his man going around screens, to be a better help defender, to rebound the ball more consistently before he’ll be an integral part of even a so-so team.

As for the video stuff? We need to figure out a better way to make more use of it and, perhaps, get to those 30-hour days before we can do much more.

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Q: Hey Doug, already sent something in, but I've got to ask how you're enjoying this new gig of yours? What does an "assignment editor" do, as in, do you HAVE to provide coverage of pucks for the next few days if your opinion is that the Star readership has had quite enough of that hockey stuff now??? And what sort of boss are you? Hovering? Hands-off? Or a just-carry-on-guys-and-don't-wake-me-unless-the-joint's-on-fire kind of boss? Now that you've had a taste of life in the corner office, will you ever give it up? Can they make you? And why do you think you were "awarded" this gig? Your respected reputation for fairness, wisdom and good judgement, or did the incessant whining finally break them? (And was it nap or party - and I've discovered that as one reaches at certain stage in life, it's possible to do both at once!) Thanks!

Lorie P, London

A: It was pretty much a situation of me drawing the short straw for the past few days, actually. Staffing levels are so low and vacations pile up that someone has to do it.

And it’s as much caretaking as anything, just making sure all the stories of the day are assigned and if something breaks in the world, knowing who to get on the story right away.

We’re a pretty senior, self-sufficient staff of pros, there are days the ship pretty much runs itself for the most part and even an assignment guy like me can’t screw it up.

It’s tough to nap, though, with the calls coming in, the wires humming and mundane chores to finish, as I’ve found out.

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Q: I could really get excited about the Raptors' next season and era of young blood, but the Hedo situation feels like such a downer. I think people could get over the Bosh departure more easily if Turk would either regain focus and commitment here or leave. Any sense of when we might hear about his future?

Jenny F, Toronto

A: I can see how it’d be a downer without question, it was a rather terrible season. There is no timetable, really. Bryan will listen to offers and probably seek some out but, and I’m getting this from everyone in the organization, if there’s no “blow us out of the water” deals, they are quite fine with Turk coming back and think he will return with more focus and commitment.

We, as they say, shall see.

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Q: I was curious about the Raptors re-acquiring their first round pick in 2011. Since it's their own first round selection, does that mean where they pick will be determined by their record rather than by Miami's?

Matt C, Fort Lauderdale

A: Exactly. It’s as if the Jermaine O’Neal trade never happened and the pick never left town. Oh, and they get Miami’s pick next year, too. That one will be determined on where Miami finishes – except if they finish out of the playoffs (yeah, right!) when they get to keep it.

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Q: I will avoid entertaining or derisive comments and re-state my question(s):

You've said it before; teams need to grow together over time to be good. The Raps have used the opposite strategy. Is it's because GM's have always been fearful of losing the"Superstar" who wants instant glory? If so, now that Toronto's in a rebuilding phase yet again, do you think BC will abandon the scatter-gun approach to team-building?

And since Matt The Red Rocket Bonner is on the market what do you think the chances of getting him back in a Raptors uniform might be?

TC W, North York

A: Our old friend Matt just signed a brand, spanking new four-year contract you’re just a day or two late.

But I will take this chance to pump the benefit concert he’s part of this Friday at the Phoenix with The Hold Steady and The Whigs and this, as the man once said, is a Dontcha Dare Miss It kind of event, I’m told.

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Q:I realize that it isn't an official team expression, but if the "Young Gunz" moniker catches on, how long until David Stern pooh-poohs it? I kind of like it for the group we have (young guys with something to prove), but I can see the league wanting to avoid such terminology given the history of gun-related problems.

Darren A, Scarborough

A: Yes, these are politically-correct times in which we live so I’m sure there are those who don’t think it’s quite appropriate. Not sure the team will use it too much in its promotional material. But also don’t think the league would get too involved in that kind of thing, except for maybe one gentle reminder.

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Q: Mr. Smith, I'm concerned that we won't see the "young guns" play as much as I hope this coming season. With the signing of Kleiza and the possibility of keeping Turk, it again puts the Raptors in a four man wing rotation like last year, with Derozan and Weems. Will the young guys again have to split time and will Belinelli again be the odd man out? Could this lead to a regression in their play?

Thank you, and go Spain!

Jamie M, Winnipeg

A: I fear for young Marco for precisely the reasons you point out. However, I do think there will be times you’ll see both Turk (if he’s here) and Kleiza playing a little four. And those might be the minutes that let Marco push someone ahead of him in the battle for time.

But, and this is the big but, I don’t think Bryan’s done dealing so who knows who’s actually on the roster when camp opens.

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Q: I'm just curious your thought on this hypothetical scenario:

Do you think if Bryan did not fire Sam, and they made it to the playoffs that year and/or last year, do you think Bosh would have left? Also considering their relationship and that Sam helped him developed over the years.

Thanks

Cindy J, Toronto

A: You’re right, I don’t do a lot of hypotheticals but this one’s kind of fun.

Sam and Chris did have a unique relationship. Sam challenged him in a much different way than Jay did, much more caustic and public because that was Sam’s manner. But whether Chris would have ultimately tired of it and run screaming from the franchise like his hair was on fire, I don’t know.

Would certainly have made for interesting tmes.

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Q: Hey Doug, I'm curious as to whether or not BC is still thinking about trading Jose or JJ and which PG is most likely to leave. JJ has expressed his desire to stay but nothing has been said from Jose. Could they coexist?

Jessica H, Toronto

A: I’m sure it was just a minor oversight on your part to have missed this epic story on Jose that appeared in this space a couple of weeks ago.

(I keed, I keed).

Anyway, I think they can co-exist, as long as there’s a clear delineation of who the starter is. Trouble is, I’m not sure that’s going to happen so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Bryan didn’t move one.

And whomever he moves is likely to be unimpressed.

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Q: Hey Doug, if one were interested in going to one of the two friendly matches the Canadian Senior Men's Basketball team is playing in Toronto (Aug. 12 & Aug. 13), which night would you recommend? Will Leo be resting his starters on the second night, or will it likely be the same lineups for both teams on both nights?

David H, Toronto

A: Well, those are the last two games in Canada before they head to warm-up tournaments in Greece and Turkey so I presume there will be some end-of-the-roster spots to be won and therefore lots of guys will play.

My initial reaction would be to see the first one before the teams get used to each other, the second games of these kinds of things tend to disintegrate into sloppiness.

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Q: Hi Doug. Started reading the blog this past season and really enjoy your calmness and wisdom addressing the many issues that arose throughout.

My question concerns the signing of Kleiza. On the surface it looks like he can stretch the floor and rebound a bit, I was wondering if he plays any defence and what’s your take on the guy's all-round game? Also, do you know if BC and co were looking at slightly, imo, more attractive wing options like Reddick or Korver?

Cheers and thank goodness the madness is over.

Mark E, Dubai

A: Obviously I haven’t seen a lot him since he left Denver but a few people I spoke to who follow European basketball say he’s got a nice level of toughness in him. But we’ll have to see whether that translates back into the NBA.

As for Redick and Korver? They might have made calls but they didn’t have the money to get either of them even if those calls were returned. And they’ve had their eyes on Kleiza for a year.

Don't let the money burn a hole in your pocket

Wow, it was nice to wake up, grab the paper off the porch and see the sports section actually filled with words instead of blank white space.

Thanks to the good graces of the pros I work with, that assignment gig worked out all right.

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Anyway, how about that transaction, eh? Couple of first-rounders and some money in the bank.

I was going to go through the comments and e-mails decrying the lack of assets obtained for Bosh but figured I’d have another coffee instead.

Now, the picks are okay I guess – get their own back, when Heat finish their 82-0 season their first-rounder won’t be so good – but the trade exception is huge.

And puts a lot of pressure on Bryan.

What it does is allow him to obtain a player or players without giving anyone up in return, if he wants.

It’s like having a salary cap credit of $14.5 million and that’s not a bad thing to have in the pocket.

I presume he’ll go looking for a team with tax issues that might want to dump a good player with a big deal and see what he can work out.

He could also be the king-making in a multi-team deal since he can help one capped out team get the guy it wants – and pick up an asset or two in the process – by being the middle man in some deal.

But here’s the big question:

When?

Do you do it now or wait until the season unfolds and see what’s going on around the league? Do you try to make a little move now and save some of exception for later on?

Do you make a big splash this summer?

Me?

I wait a little bit.

Maybe, just maybe, if I can find a free agent out there now who might be amenable to coming in some kind of sign-and-trade transaction I would make a tiny summer deal but I’d hang on to the biggest chunk of it – and I’m talking $9 million at least, probably $10 million – until the season unfolds and things start to really shake out.

And not only shake out with the Raptors but shake out around the league; teams may be quite willing to sacrifice salary once they realizing the year’s going down the toilet and there may be relative bargains to be had.

There is no sense charging willy-nilly around the league now just to spend the currency like a drunken sailor. I think it’s more prudent to sit back a bit and see how other things unfold.

Trust me, there are other chats going on between Bryan and his GM confreres right now that could result in even more additions and subtractions to the roster as it exists right now.

I say wait and see what comes of those talks before wandering around trying to spend the entire exception in one fell swoop.

It’s not the sexy thing to do. It’s the most prudent, though.

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How ‘bout them kids, eh?

Beating China to get into the semis at the world under-17s is a huge accomplishment; if they come back from Germany with a medal it’ll be something they can truly crow about.

It’ll be an upset of biblical proportions should they manage to knock off the Americans today but bronze would certainly be a significant result if they go lose-win over the weekend.

I’m not sure how this all plays out in the long run for the senior team – there’s an awful lot of growing and developing to do before suggesting many of these teens will wear Canada jerseys at the highest level – but the thing that Wayne Parrish and Maurizio Gherardini and Roy Rana and Leo Rautins and Greg Francis are doing is making the program relevant to kids who play the game.

That’s the big win here.

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Big, big, big news.

I mean big.

Mighty Yankees win!

Yep, got the first W of the season Friday night, hit the crap out of the ball, fielded it like a group of 12-, 13-, and 14-year-old Johnny Macs and pitched like a gaggle of tiny Sandy Koufaxes.

No stopping us now.

(Well, maybe there is, but we like to think big in Yankeeland).

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I am quite disappointed in some of you.

I make a tiny gaffe and none of you catches it? Not one e-mail chastising me for being a boneheaded doofus (hey, I should run for office); only one gentle reminder from an old friend?

Shame, shame.

I’ll get it fixed up when I get in the office and find out who does the fixing up around there but the Miracle on Hardwood that I referenced in the under-17 story was actually in 1983, not 1984.

Oops.

Sorry.

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I’m going to get into this a bit more at the start of the week when we go through all the free agent signings and see who’s actually done what but consider this:

After seeing the money being thrown around -- $19 million to JJ Redick, $34 million to Amir Johnson, $40 million to Tyrus Thomas, $75 million or so Carlos Boozer, $35 million to Travis Outlaw – the guy I want to be is the dude from the union who starts the CBA negotiations for real. He’s going to sit across from David Stern and say,

“You say you’re losing how much? Yeah. Right.”

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Vamos Uruguay!

Yes, I know I’ve picked against them a couple of games and have been chided oh, so gently by a friend who’s tried to show me the error of my ways but today I’m thinking Forlan does something magical and they get a win.

I’m pretty much against these kinds of third place games in tournaments like this – it’s a total letdown for the players and their fans – but if they’re going to play it, may as well pick a winner, right?

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Last call for mail. Send the cards and letters by clicking here, please and thanks.

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All right, off to steer the ship one more day and since there won’t be another soul in the joint until 4 or so, I’m trying to decide between nap and party.

Whaddya think?

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Big win for the Canadian teens

Heck of a day for Canadian basketball.

In between making sure TFC and the Argos are covered off today, to say nothing of being around to put out any fires I cause in Day 1 as a big shot, needed to get this up quickly.

With a 102-96 victory over China in Germany on Friday morning, Canada’s under-17 boys team has advanced to the semifinals of the first world cadet basketball championships and now has two games to play for a medal.

Canada gets the winner of the United States-Australia in Saturday’s semifinals; it’s probably going to be the States and it’ll a monumental task to beat them.

But even a loss there puts Canada in a bronze medal match Sunday afternoon. Lithuania, Germany, Poland and Serbia are in the other half of the draw.

We’ll get more for a fuller story later on but Anthony Bennett, who had missed three games with a head injury, returned with a vengeance, leading Canada with 29 points.

We’re supposed to be on a conference call with the folks over there in a little bit so more details should emerge but wanted to get this up as quickly as I could.

Cleaning up the debris of a one-of-a-kind night

It was self-indulgent pap, kow-towing to a gifted basketball player who has won fewer titles that Zan Tabak and one of the more narcissistic hours I can remember sitting through.

Yes, that whole The Decision (and doesn’t that lend a level of gravitas entirely disproportionate to its actually significance?) was something I hope I never, ever have to sit through again.

But I did, and so did a lot of you and now we have to sift through the fallout, right?

And what is it?

Well, I’ll tell you this: Love or hate ‘em, the Miami Heat are now THE STORY in maybe all of pro sports.

I don’t like it – as I’ve said, I’m far more of the ‘beat ‘em rather than join ‘em” mindset and think all three have in some way diminished themselves in this whole process as colluders rather than competitors – but I am sure I will watch them.

And so, I’m sure, will you.

We’ve never seen anything like this maybe ever with three guys in the prime of their careers on the same team. It wasn’t like this in Boston with the new Big Three, the Showtime Lakers were close but not quite there and that’s going to make for some compelling moments on the court.

Will it work?

Probably well enough.

LeBron James, who is as skilled as maybe anybody in the game, is the most unselfish star out there and now, not having to make every shot in every fourth quarter, he can play more relaxed and who knows what that will mean.

Dwyane Wade knows how to play with another star (see O’Neal, Shaquille) and I have a feeling he’ll be quite all right.

Chris Bosh? Well, for a guy who wanted to be The Man and make the max money and not play centre I’m guessing being Third Fiddle, perhaps taking less money and being on a team with no other centre is kind of what he wanted?

Anyway, the Heat are pretty much the favourites in the East today, right? I’m sure there are millions who believe that

I’m equally sure none of them run the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics or Chicago Bulls.

It could be a memorable season, indeed.

Will that be enough to have the stench lifted from this period of ultimate collusion, when three guys dictated the paths of so many franchises in what I think you could call a disgraceful manipulation of a sport? Probably.

But not today.

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I believe they tried to reach Kobe Bryant for comment last night but he was busy polishing his championship rings.

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So, what do we have here in Toronto?

Well, when we went to bed, there were still deep talks going on into turning Bosh into some kind of sign-and-trade transactions and until there’s a signature on his new contract, I’m not ready to entirely discount the possibility.

But if that doesn’t happen – and it would be a terrible failing to a sorry saga – what’s it mean?

It means they go forward, stumbling a little bit and would probably enter the next season – if no other moves are made – as longshots for a playoff berth.

But here’s the thing: There will be other moves made. I don’t know what they will ultimately be – sources have pretty much gone underground for much of this last week – but there will be some. Maybe they’ll be good, maybe they’ll be bad. I don’t know and you don’t know and no one really does.

Are the Raptors worse off now than they day the season end?

Of course they are, you cannot take a Chris Bosh off a team and expect it to be good.

Today, it’s not good around Toronto. In October it might be.

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Hey, for all the “blow it up and start over people out there” I have a question:

Seen the Knicks lately? How’d that all work out for them? Think two years of absolute misery was worth Amare Stoudemire?

And for those who hold up the Oklahoma City Thunder as proof positive that sucking for a long time is worth it, I ask you this:

How many playoff series have they won? And when do you think they’ll come to realize they can’t pay anyone and start moving pieces?

Look, you get good a couple of ways in the NBA. You hit the jackpot with a draft pick out of nowhere, you find some GM to fleece in a trade or your players simply get better and grow up.

The Chicago Bulls couldn’t give Joakim Noah away two years ago, he was an immature kid who didn’t get it, fought with teammate and coaches and now he’s the guy a huge majority of Toronto fans were pining for if Bosh picked the Bulls.

Will any of that happen here? Maybe not.

But sports – thank goodness – is an inexact science, which is why we feel compelled to watch. We can argue and debate and make bold statements this way or that but none of us has any real answers.

And isn’t that the fun part?

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Mail?

Well, since my day is going to by tying up the loose ends of Bosh, figuring out what else might be on the horizon while putting in a guest shift as our assignment editor in a move that could shake the foundation of Star sports to its very core, why not give me a mailbag to start putting together.

As always, click here.

(Yeah, staffing levels are that low that they’re plucking me to sit in the big chair the next four days and mess things up).

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Annual alert

Summer league starts this weekend out in Vegas – the big bird carrying the Raptors take off tonight – and it’s time to offer this:

Summer league bites.

Horrible refereeing kills the games, talent level of many of them kills the games and about the only good thing you can say about it is that it’s not overly long.

Oh, wait: It is.

So pay no mind to any scores or any stats, what the Raptors want to see is skills development in DeRozan, Weems, Davis and Alabi (oh, and The New Legend Joey Dorsey, right Mike?).

That’s it, that’s all.

So see if they handle the ball well or have increased their shooting range or have found some new quickness and strength.

Other than that? Read a book.

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Last shot at the LeBronathon.

Was that the worst reality TV show since Who Wants To Marry A Multi-Millionaire?

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It's not much but it's what I've got

Just out of a Bryan Colangelo scrum after the Amir Johnson news conference and the latest on Chris Bosh isn’t sexy but it’s news.

According to the president and general manager, there are “things under consideration” to get something in return for the departing all-star.

No specific details, of course, but the suggestion is that nothing will become close to official until after LeBron James announces his intentions later Thursday night.

Bryan did say he wasn’t at all surprised that Bosh left – who was? – and that now that the Raptors know where he’s going, they can get down trying to see if there’s a deal out there with the Heat.

I know there is all kinds of stuff out there floating around about multi-team transactions and this and that, I can assure you that if there’s a creative way to salvage a couple of assets out of this for Toronto, the Raptors are exploring them.

All right, have to get a couple of things written before sitting down to watch the TV show and respond accordingly.

There's a new Raptor in town

The Raptors have dipped a foot in to the NBA free agent waters but it’s not a move that should cause too many ripples.

As we mentioned here the other day, the chance to get Linas Kleiza in the fold a year after an earlier dalliance was too much to resist and the Raptors have signed the restricted free agent to an offer sheet.

Seeing how my very good spies tell me Kleiza was actually spotted in Toronto last night, I’m sure he’ll stop by the Raptors office and sign the offer sheet today.

And since someone mentioned Kleiza’s name to me the other day around the Air Canada Centre (after I’d left him off an earlier list of possibilities) this makes entire sense.

The Denver Nuggets have seven days to match the contract – which is four years and $20 million. No indication what they might do but they’re fighting tax issues, let him go once and it would be no surprise if they didn’t let him walk.

Who is he? A 6-8 small forward who played for Olympiakos in Greece last year after averaging 9.9 points a game with the Nuggets in 2008-09.

He’s a role player, does nothing spectacularly well but does add some depth to a spot where the Raptors need it.

The money seems about right, it takes almost all of Toronto’s mid-level exception out of play. The rest of the mid-level exception will go to Solomon Alabi, the second-round draft pick who’s going to get a bump from the minimum salary and a deal that’s multi-year but not fully guaranteed, I’m hearing.

The Raptors kicked the tires on Kleiza at this time last year but had so much other stuff going on, they let the interest wane.