A bit more to know before I take a break

Okay, one last shot at some compelling questions and plausible answers before I take my leave for a bit.

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So what do the Raptors think of all this?

Sounds of silence.

League is frowning on – and probably threatening fines against – anyone connected with a team’s front office from uttering anything on the record until the deal is officially signed.

That means we’re not going to get to hear Bryan on the roster or Dwane on the system for a few days at least, although you can be pretty sure the GM is scouring the free agent roles and chatting to his colleagues and that the coach and his staff are bleary-eyed from watching video.

The players? Well, they seem pumped, at least one of the more prolific “tweeters” among the bunch, DeMar DeRozan.

“I’m starting to have anxiety attacks. Lol”

The younger crowd tells me “lol” means “laugh out loud.” Oh, you nutty younger crowd, you and your use of the language!

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What’s still to be done?

Well, there are a host of “B List” items that have to be worked out, things like minimum age, drug testing, rookie salary scale, player discipline, demotions to the D League but they shouldn’t hold up any ratification.

But they will take time, which is why Dec. 9 looms as the day to hit the ground running.

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Winners, losers?

Fans, for sure. Arena workers, people with businesses near arenas, all the folks the league and union forgot about it.

But of the two main sides, owners probably got more than the players in the drop in BRI from 57-43 in favour of players to 50-50 and a harsher luxury tax that probably means teams won’t as willingly spend themselves to contention.

But the players kept their guaranteed deals, got free agency to remain pretty much the same, took a slight haircut on the mid-level extension but it still exists and didn’t miss too many paycheques.

Forced to pick a winner? Go with the owners.

But, it’s funny, no matter how horrible deals ever look for players’ associations, salaries don’t ever really go down.

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But what about these “charity” games?

All of us, right now, should be on bended knee, eyes closed, hands clasped, thanking whatever deity it is we worship (Saint Stella? Father Ribeye? Pastor Pasta?) that we won’t have to put up with them until the next time anyone mentions the Drew League again. Hopefully never.

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And finally

What happens to the 2012 draft?

Draft, schmaft. Who cares?

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Okay, time to hit the road for a couple of hours, got some Niagara Falls visiting to do; we’ll be back with a big old main story for the paper and some fun stuff here much later this afternoon.

 

 

Comments

[chris]

draft shmaft.....probably the best draft in 9 years, and if you believe the current CBA allows less player movement than the previous one then the draft is probably the best/only way to acquire a franchise player.

Unless you prefer the limbo of mediocrity forever.....(and maybe it's all that you know, having only covered the raptors).

Blogger's note: As I said, with regards to 2012 draft order: Draft, schmaft. Who cares? Not me. Call me in June

[ikonn]

Doug, lol in Raptorland this year means "lots of luck". See? The young uns don't always know everything.