They lose out on Barnes, so what's a team to do now?

So much for Matt Barnes, I guess.

He’s gone to the Lakers, two-years and $3.7 million, and it’s pretty obvious that, all things considered, two-time champs there beats two-time non-playoff team up here.

Barnes probably could have done the same deal in Toronto had he really wanted to be here by forcing the Magic, who could have taken that much of a cap hit to start, into a sign-and-trade transaction.

Didn’t happen and when Toronto’s $4.5 million first-year offer went away, so did he.

Too bad, I still contend he would have been a good basketball fit with the Heroes Of The Hardcourt, bringing them an edge they don’t have.

But, really, can you blame a guy? If he’s going to make the same money anyway, why not go play for the Lakers in the state where he lives and try to win a title rather than come to Toronto and try to squeak into the playoffs.

-

So, the question now is what’s next?

If you look over the list of remaining free agents (and here’s a pretty good one courtesy of yahoo.com), I think you can say there’s not a whole lot there that’s even remotely interesting to this team.

Yeah, there are some names you might like and some guys you might think fit but considering what the Raptors are and what they need, there is really squat available on the market now that Barnes is gone.

That means if Bryan’s got a move or two to make – and while maybe he can live with Linas Kleiza and Sonny Weems as his small forwards but he cannot live with that rotation of bigs – he’s going to have to make a deal and use some of the trade exception money he’s got.

Maybe he does try to hit a home run, or maybe he settles for a so-so pickup to round out the roster but I say it’s going to have to come from somewhere other than the list of free agents who might be amenable to a sign-and-trade transaction.

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Wanna do mail?

Since the golf’s already two hours delayed (first tee time now not until 9 a.m. because of the incessant rain hammering us right now), I may have some idle time.

Click here, send away and I can’t wait to hear from you.

Well, most of you.

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I’m not sure if it’s exactly the right analogy but as the pressure to write bore down, it felt like covering a buzzer-beater on Day 2 as Golf Boy.

A guy in the last group setting a course record is not something you plan for, that’s for sure.

One thing we’re allowed to do in this gig is cheer for your story – not a team or a guy or a gal, but your story – and there was a pretty nice one to write about Vance Veazey that was all set to go when Brent Delahoussaye began his assault on the record.

I’m not suggesting we wanted him to make a series of Smith-esque bogeys, doubles and others but, well, I liked the Veazey story a lot.

-

Okay, I need to say this to stop the onslaught of e-mails and comments.

No, the Raptors cannot and will not get Chris Paul if, in fact, he’s traded.

Remember way back in the day when we were talking some kind of silly trade and it was suggested by a wise old man that you need to consider any crazy transaction from either side?

Well, if have to gut your team to get a guy like Paul, why in the world do you suppose he’d want to come here? And I can almost guarantee you that a 40-win Eastern Conference team in another country that just lost the best, or second-best, player in franchise history is not alluring to Chris Paul.

Not going to happen.

Seriously.

And don’t talk about the trade exception, okay? If the Hornets lose him and get nothing at all back, they may as well shut the doors that day because the city will shun them and they’ll be on the move again.

-

Hey, you want breaking news? Canadian Open in a two-hour delay so if you were headed out to watch a particular player, adjust your schedule accordingly.

Thank you.

-

Thing That Make Covering Golf Worse Than Covering Basketball, No. 1

Rain delays.

Borrrrrrrrring.

-

Hey, they’re still going over at the under-17 girls worlds in France, you know. Canada gets Argentina later today in the consolation round and then gets either Mali or Turkey to wrap things up.

It’s certainly not what they wanted but I bet finishing with a couple of wins would take some sting out of not being in the top eight. Not much, mind you, but some.

-

Oh yeah, got a note that Leo’s team starts workouts here next week.

And this is why I love Canada Basketball now. They’re kicking off the camp with a little happy hour in a saloon I’ve been in before and that’s a pretty good idea, methinks.

Go here to find out more.

Oh, and one I did here a few days ago is that it’s looking less and less and less likely every day that the wheels of government bureaucracy will spin fast enough to get Matt Bonner on the team.

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Comments

[Mike D.]

Doug, yours is the first web site I open in the morning but when I get in to work early, all I see is the previous day's post. Would you mind getting up a couple of hours earlier so I can start every work day on a good note?

Blogger's note: I'll get right on that. Maybe work overnight :)

[PK]

None of the remaining SF out there intrigues me... but that's just me.
But they do have some decent centers out there and I would give Anthony Toliver a chance.
Early Barron - wow, I actually found a guy who makes less then me in the NBA.
What a start to the weekend.

[Carl McMullen]

Hey Doug,

Why no Antoine info this off season? That free agent list is slim pickins. How many emails have you got about signing Joey Graham? Haha!
But seriously what are you thoughts on - Josh Boone, Etan Thomas, Louis Amundson or Joe Smith as BIGS. AND Josh Howard, Rasual Butler, Jarvis Hayes or Rodney Carney as WINGS?

Cheers!

Blogger's note: That's a litany of journeymen and average-at-best guys who would be no big help

[S.C.G]

Raps Should consider doing a s&t w/ Lakers for Shannon Brown..... and Antoine Wright is bringing his pissy attitude to the kings for any1 that cares to know. ( have fun Paul Westphal )

[Joe]

Hi Doug,

Great points today, as usual, by you.

I think B.C. needs to make a choice with this team. Leave them as they are, understand that they'll struggle this year and hope to land a top 5 pick next summer in the draft. The second choice would be to try and land another player via a trade. Right now, his trade able assets would include one of the point guards and the expiring contracts of Banks, Evans, and Bellinelli. What you can get for that is open to debate and only the market will dictate what it is. I'm not sure if you would ever find a combination of Chandler/Diaw that they'd have gotten from Charlotte. The third option might be to try and hit a home run by moving Bargnani, DeRozan, one of the point guards, etc. In other words, players that have good value on the market. I don't think B.C. will take this option. So, I'll guess that he'll try to move a point guard and the expiring contracts for a defensive minded centre and/or a small forward. The key thing though, in my opinion, is to not position this club so that it gets stuck in that 30-40 win category. Thus, they'd never be good enough to get into the playoffs but they'd never be bad enough to improve via a top 5 pick in the draft.

Anyhow, any news on our old friend Tracy McGrady. Will he be healthy enough to play this year? Any interested teams?

[Parminder]

Doug,

Barnes could not have forced a S&T by the Magic. The Magic could only give him so much $$, as they do not have his full Bird rights (or what they call early Bird rights, pun not intended).

This was a severe miscalculation by all parties, but really the big blame should go to his agent.

[Mr. SS]

Hey noticed on the free agent tracker that Josh Howard was an unrestricted free agent. Why has no team made him an offer? Is it because of his recent injury woes? Doug Is he out for the season, would he be an ok pickup for the raps or is he a risk? Also why not offer the vet minimum to Etan Thomas for 1 year. Just a thought

[Mike kovacs]

Any comment on RJ and the Spurs? Yes he makes less next year but he still gets a contract way longer than anyone else would likely have offered.

Blogger's note: I kind of call shenanigans on that; good for him, good for the Spurs

[chris]

Doug -- Toronto could not have done that deal - S&T contracts have to be for at least 3 yrs.

Blogger's note: A third year doesn't have to be guaranteed, they could easily have done it.

[Ryan]

Doug, I am seriously considering avoiding the NBA. I'm just very discouraged with whats happened this offseason. I don't like only certain markets having all the stars, and the ones who have them, wishing out to go play with other stars. If that's the case why don't we just have 5 teams, and they can all play together. Make it a travelling road show.

Is there anything you can suggest to me, to keep my interest, without falling out of love with this game I've loved for years. I'm afraid the more and more people I talk with are feeling the same way.

Thanks

[WH]

Hi Doug,

Pretty depressing scenario, isn't it? We could have had Diaw, Chandler and Barnes to supplement a young athletic team. Now were going into the season as a glorified D League team, maxed out on cap space (hard to figure that one out, since there is not one player even approaching star status). Fast, exciting and entertaining maybe...but struggling to win 35 and land in 10th place.

[Arun]

This is as depressing as that one off season (year after VC left). We had like Eric Williams, Aaron Williams... and we won like handful of games if I remember correctly...
Dark days coming.

[petro]

Doug... you stated how you felt Barnes would've been a good fit for the Raps. How do you think Chandler would've fit if he came to Toronto?

Blogger's note: If he could have stayed healthy -- big "if" -- he would have been a pretty good fit.

[EK]

Torn ACL and all, would Josh Howard be too risky? He's the only intriguing name on that list.
Not sure if he can board like he used to, though.
I hear the Knicks might be interested.
What do you envision him being signed for?

[SY]

Hi Doug,

Do you know if the Raps has any interest in Okafor? I read @ most places that NO is trying to ship his hefty contract and, if we do get him, we have a true center (and the defensive presence) to pair with Bargnani. Okafor is only 27 and he's been relative durable (played almost all 82 games the last 3 years). We have a couple of expiring contract to ship to NO <- we probably don't even have to touch our TPE.....and we can probably get Collison in return as well.....Bargnani, Collison, DeRozan, Weems, Davis, Johnson become our future......Why no interest?

-SY

Blogger's note: So you've got New Orleans giving up their starting centre and a really good young point guard who will be asked to replace an all-star when he leaves and they get nothing in return? Come on. Please.

[The J]

The further this team goes with failed trades and failed signings, the more it looks like this will be a young team filled with holes. Which leads me to one question: how strong is the 2011 draft class expected to be? Because the silver lining is that the Raps look like they are headed towards a high draft pick. The people who have been saying "build through the draft" might just get their wish, even if that wasn't BCo's plan.

[Words]

Doug,

Given that there are slim pickings left in terms of free agents and moves should not be made for the sake of making them, do you think that BC will go ahead with his current roster into the season with maybe one or two guys from the summer league roster and maybe position himself to look at options in the late fall or winter?

[Adge]

LeBrorn, Wade and Bosh have ruined the NBA. I agree that the NBA should now be reduced to 5 teams only. The excitement is gone ......

As for the Raptors... BC needs to go.... something needs to be done..... don't make me a Knick fan again.....

[Ozzie]

Hey Doug

Should the Raps take a look at Iggy even if Brand had to be included?

Blogger's note: Depends on the cost

[Mark]

Hi Doug

I've found the perfect fit. Tayshaun Prince :)

Brian can thank me later.

Enjoy your weekend.

[Michael]

I think that the Raptors should sign the Graham brothers! Stephen and Joey playing together would be an unstoppable combination due to their size and jaw dropping athleticism. You saw what Joey did during the playoffs while in Denver, that's the sign of things to come! They could be the next franchise players of Toronto!

[dc]

C: A. Bargnani
PF: A. Johnson/D. Jones/ R. Evans/J. Dorsey
SF: L. Kleiza/S. Weems
SG: D. DeRozen/L. Barbosa/M. Belinelli
PG: J. Calderon/J. Jack/ M. Banks

... Which player will any opponent in the NBA need to double-team consistently? are they big enough and strong enough to compete for 82 games? Can any of the guards rebound?

Don't worry, I have the perfect strategy: take 100 shots

All these years later, the team still needs a player to replace VC. Now add Bosh to the list.... At least the rookies have no expectations now and can surprise to the upside, like Arujo did, right?

Is the recession the reason why attendance was slack or was it the product put on the court(a bunch of un-hungry, twitter-bug divas [really just talking about Bosh there] and euro-tight pants Mr. softies)?

[SY]

Blogger's note: So you've got New Orleans giving up their starting centre and a really good young point guard who will be asked to replace an all-star when he leaves and they get nothing in return? Come on. Please.
------------------------------------------------------------
Then what does New Orleans expect to get for return from Okafor and his hefty contract? A starting centre with a better contract? Not happening. I thought the last time we shipped out our starting SF with a hefty contract that we only got a backup in return. If New Orleans is so desperately want to ship out Okafor's contract (as reported), I just think that the Raps can make it happen but it seems to me that they have no interest in him....maybe they do but I don't know so that is why I want to see if you know something about it. And you are saying that Collison can actually command an all-star in return? Wow.......

-SY

[Matthew]

Blogger's note: "Come on. Please"

lol that reminds me Marcus Thornton was a 2nd round pick and Collison was a late 1st rounder at 21 over all. That right there is good drafting. Take note MJ.

[camilo]

Is Chris Paul spending too much time with LeBum James or what?
Lebum's advice is of course ...."Do what's best for You and your family"?
Am I the only one starting to get sick of today's selfish NBA players?
They do not want to work hard or make any sacrifice, ...you know they do not want to have to score 30 points every night ....they want it all and they want it fast, as soon as possible; They want to win and have all the glory that comes with it and and of course they want a ton a money too; Sickening.