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.

Comments

[Lorie]

Hi Doug,
Agree with your about that great World Cup result, but didn't you think the best entertainment of at least the first half of the game was served up by first half was the deliciously dry wit of Ian Helm? (Were you in stitches, too?)

[Mike Smith]

Hi Doug. In regards to
"Toronto would then move Jones and its trade exception from the Chris Bosh sign-and-trade deal to Charlotte for former Suns forward Boris Diaw." (The Arizona Republic)
are the Raptors moving the entire $15 million trade exception? If not, how much is being sent to the Bobcats?

Blogger's note: Diaw's salary is $9 million

[Del]

Good Morning Doug,
Are you saying that Barbosa and Diaw are part of the same multi-team trade. I think many Rap fans were hoping the TPE would be used to bring in a bigger name.

[Mike Smith]

The Globe and Mail also reports that the Raptors will be acquiring a $2.7-million trade exception from the Suns: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/basketball/raptors-talking-turkoglu-trade-with-suns/article1636408/
If this is true, great moves by BC.

[PK]

As a 2nd gen Korean, I am surprised to see that Lenny is doing consulting to my national team... Good for the Korean team but they just don't have enough talents... was Ha-Seung-Jin playing?

[Tony]

Doug,

If we're getting Diaw, does this make you think that Denver is going to match Kleiza?

[Jeff]

Better be seeing more value from this trade exception! Hedo will put up huge numbers beside Nash. I thought we'd get Diaw at trade deadline last year..

[monty]

Hi Doug,

Do you know how long Diaw's contract is?

Blogger's note: This year and one more

[James]

I spend a good chunk of my year in Korea, and I can assure you that Korea is not going to be any sort of world basketball power anytime soon. KBL is painful to watch, and their college system is worse.

Soccer? You could make an argument that they are okay. But basketball? Never, imho.

[Gord McNeice]

I really don't see Barbosa as any lesser a player than the Turkoglu. He is a better 3 point shooter. He defends better and if he stays healthy is on of the quickest player in the league. We would add much need athleticism which was a real sore point in our starting lineup. the fact he only has 2 years left on his contract instead of the 4 looooong years of a player who doesn't want to be here is a bonus.

[David]

Impressed with part 1 - Turkoglu for Barbosa (saves some money and a couple years on the deal)

Not sure I understand the rationale on acquiring Diaw - out of shape and overpaid - and duplicates position and skillset on the team already - is this a case of the trade exception burning a hole in BC's pocket??

[Dave in BG]

The math as explained in the AZ piece doesnt seem to add up but as Doug said, we can dissect once it is final.

Doug could you clarify the comment you made that Turk is a better player today than Barbosa? Do you mean Turk as he played most of last year, or, Turk as he is capable of playing?

Gracias (to honor the WC victors)

[Jason]

Doug, I know you love rumours, but there's a story being posted
(http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16779)
That claims that Diaw is coming in for Calderon, and Tyson Chandler would return for our Trade Exception.

Any truth to that? and how would that make our team look?

Blogger's note: Not sure how it's all going to shake out; it's still very fluid at the moment

[J.R.]

Doug

My assumption on the way it goes down is:
1) Toronto trades Turk to Charlotte for Diaw (salaries within 125%)
2) Charlotte trades Turk to Phoenix who uses its TPE
3) Phoenix sends Barbosa to Toronto who uses its TPE

This way we Toronto only uses $7.1 of its TPE.

[Johnn19]

Read Paul Coro's article in the Arizona Republic for detailed information on the four team (Tor/Pho/Atl/Cha) that is a work in process. He quotes the Tor/Pho main trade is being negotiated between Colangelo and Robert Sarver, will wonders never cease.

[Mike]

Why are they doing the Diaw part of the trade, are they obligated somehow. It seems like they would be better off just making the Turkoglu-Barbosa trade and saving the trade exemption for someone better?

[Tiger]

Barbosa and Diaw, eh?
Read some less than complimentary things about Diaw last year in the Charlotte rag, the only thing to be taken from that is that Bobcat fans will be ecstatic to get a trade exception for him.
I remember Barbosa and Diaw as "downhill" players; when the Suns (or Bobcats) were running wild and running up the score, they looked fantastically athletic.
But when the going got tough, they filled the air with jumpers as the other team racked up rebounds.
Both should fit in great, here.

[Brenda]

Thanks for the update on the bronze medal for our young kids...nice to see the young guys do well - and um...well even the teenager around these parts was interested in reading your update, since he has played against a few of those kids at tournaments across the province. It think it gives the young players a sense that it is possible to have a good Canadian basketball program, and that some of our kids really have developed pretty good skills at the game.

[Dave]

Doug isn't this basically the opposite of your suggestion to save the trade exception for later when you could possibly pry a bigger name than Diaw from a desperate team? I can see the Turk for Barbosa flip, but I don't see why he then has to acquire Diaw.

[kelsey]

Well Colangelo, if one thing we know he can pull the trigger. Im just glad Turk is gone. It didnt and would not work out in Toronto. I know Barbosa is maybe declining, however a fresh start for him, or maybe another move. At least things are happening. Next move is Jose, got to trade him in order to gain something more for this team. I would also love to see Bargnani moved, as this team will never be really competitive with him on TEAM. NEVER!!!!!

[JT]

Doug,

From this trade, it looks like BC is trying to build a team with matchup issues against the other team in the front court. Beside Bargs, there isn't a rotation Centre on the team and the PF are all smaller in the 6'8-6'9 range (Johnson, Evans, Diaw, and maybe Kleiza). Then there are the rookies in Davis and Alabi and who knows if or how much time they get (Davis more likely than Alabi at this point perhaps). They have lots of guys in the backcourt but it seems like they could use some upgrade at SG/SF... Do you see that as the "next" move potentially? Honest truth to me at this point is it looks like they got some good depth but lack quality starters.

[Marc]

Hi Doug, I'm not panicking or anything and I'm sure Collangelo has some moves to make but so far I'm scratching my head a little.
I don't get the apparent acknowledgement that Bargnani would be better playing the 4, drafting Ed Davis (and Triano hinting he may start), over-paying Amir Johnson, then going out of their way to acquire Diaw (what need does he address?). Any of the above items may make sense on their own, but collectively they don't add up. Anyway, can you tell me, have you heard any whispers about Davis potentially starting (similar to what they did with DeRozan) and does the team really want to move Andrea over to the Power Forward spot?

[Julien]

Hey Doug,

still a pleasure to read your blog every morning. A few weeks ago, I proposed you a trade which involved Turkoglu and Diaw. I understood at the time that you did not want to answer all the trade examples. Now that it is almost done, what do you think about it ? In terms of salary, I think it's a little bit better though I would think that since the Bobcats need a point guard, I would say that the Raptors should unload one of their point guards to Charlotte instead of using the TPE.

Also I agree with Diaw and the buffets, I think he's actually always been like this, and since most of the coaches he had wanted him to play in the frontcourt, I guess it was better to had a few pounds. However, I think that both he and Barbosa are versatile players that can at least play two positions each. I think that Brian is far from being done with trades. A lot of tweaking needs to be done on the roster if the trade goes through.

[Ryan]

Hi Doug,

I was really hoping that we could sit on this exception for a while and see what becomes available during the season (I'm sure there will be a star player wanting out or a team looking to dump salary). It doesn't seem worth it to use it on Boris Diaw.

The original trade report had Barbosa and a trade exception being traded to us for Hedo. That seems like a good trade for us and got me excited. Again, nothing against Diaw, but I hope he is not part of the deal.

[Jeff]

Barbosa is NOT a PG in any way, shape or form. He is a small SG. He is a slasher. He is a scorer. He is a 6th man. Hopefully he rebounds after a very poor, injury filled season. I am surprised that Steve Nash would sign off on this.