A few NBA questions to be answered; to start at least
What is this “NBA” of which you speak?
Oh, right. Squeak, squeak, swish, swish, miss playoff, miss playoffs.
Anyway …
You have all kinds of questions, I’m sure. I can bluff my way through a bunch of answers right now and I’m sure there’ll be more here throughout the day.
(An aside: Yes, it’s nice to have the HOTH – Heroes of the Hardcourt – to chat about again. Welcome back.)
So, when’s it all start?
All indications are a Dec. 9 start to training camp and the free agency period but there’s a small chance at least the opportunity to get guys signed could move up a few days.
Imagine a coach showing up to run training camp when there’s still free agents coming and going. I know coaches, they would be miffed.
The Christmas Day season start is a lock; I imagine it’ll be the three big marquee games – Miami at Dallas (so LeBron can watch Dirk get his ring), Boston-New York (gotta have New York, right) and Chicago-Lakers (gotta have Lakers, right?)
The Raptors? Bet on a Boxing Day start but I have no clue where.
Who are these guys?
The Raptors? Let me see if I can remember.
There are 10 of them under contract: Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, James Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Leandro Barbosa, Jerryd Bayless, Linas Kleiza and Solomon Alabi.
Reggie Evans, Julian Wright, Joey Dorsey and Alexis Ajinca are free agents – all unrestricted – while Sonny Weems is going to Lithuania for the season and won’t be back.
Oh, and the first-round draft pick, Jonas Valanciunas, won’t be here; and now there’s NBA games, I might not get to go see him and that’s kind of a disappointment.
Will they all be back?
Can’t imagine why not.
There is apparently an amnesty clause in the new deal which would allow teams to get out from under one odorous contract. Raps are going to be fairly far under the cap as it is, it’s a young group the GM likes so don’t see him using it. If he did, I’d take a long look at Barbosa or Kleiza; but that’s just me.
Will they add anyone?
Oh for sure. Who is the big question.
They need a starting small forward, a backup swingman and at another big, at least. No clue from Bryan who’d be on the top of his wish list (he’s a tad secretive that way) but if he can pick up an amnesty’d guy on the cheap, bet he does it.
He did warn one day we were talking to him this fall that he might not go big right away, preferring to let this group grow a wee bit and being judicious with his spending.
Which, of course, likely means 20-guy, four-team, double-sign-and-trade thing is in the works.
What else is new?
Well, Super Dog’s bugging me for a walk. And I’m a bit peckish.
So I’ll get out of here for a moment, try to catch my breath a bit, grab a bite of brunch and be back with some more fun stuff later on.
On a scale of 1 to Shaquille O'Neal, how happy are you to never have to answer "But how will the draft work?" again this year?
So happy I'm giddy!
Kate C
Blogger's note: To paraphrase: Draft, schmaft
Posted by: Kate C | November 26, 2011 at 10:54 AM
How many exhibition games? Hopefully no more than 2.
Blogger's note: I'm hearing 2; but that's not confirmed
Posted by: Mike kovacs | November 26, 2011 at 11:05 AM
There's joy in Mudville!! No more "Solitaire til dawn with a deck of 51" for you, sir. Time for a new theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZqRL7nJB48
Buckle up, O Intrepid Grunt, and pace yourself. Should be a blurry December. Can't wait!! Cheers.
Posted by: D-Mac Ottawa | November 26, 2011 at 11:16 AM
I'm sure happy we can get back to talking and watching basketball again, but I think the owners caved on too much to solve the system issues they said they were determined to fix.
Posted by: SheikYurbouti | November 26, 2011 at 11:18 AM
I know details are still coming out but what was the deal about the D-league demotions for NBA teams? And on a side note they couldn't have picked a better time to come back. Love X-Mas Bball!!
Blogger's note: No clue. Original report weeks ago utterly bogus
Posted by: Bryan A | November 26, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Why on earth would the Raptors amnesty Barbosa? He's an expiring contract. There aren't any free agents this year the Raptors need to spend more than their cap space on to get and they would be ridiculously foolish to do so anyway. They have enough so-so players as it is now, they need somebody a lot better. And that guy is not in this free agent class.
.
Next year the big prizes in free agency are Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. You absolutely keep yourself under the cap for one of those three guys. However unlikely it is, you have to keep yourself in at the table for that game. That means that Jose is going to be amnestied - maybe not this year if the amnesty can be used next year as well, but he's going to be axed at some point.
Blogger's note: Amnesty guidelines not set; glad you've got all the answers
Posted by: Blake Kennedy | November 26, 2011 at 02:55 PM
Thank goodness, NBA Bball is coming back! How do I know? Because Sheik and Blake are back! Get it? Sheik and Blake! I slay myself!
Posted by: ikonn | November 26, 2011 at 06:02 PM