NBA really gets going and Leafs-Bruins, for a change

So, the gloves are off.

NBA general managers can start talking to agents this morning, players can start using team facilities on Thursday – with supervision by strength coaches and trainers, no assistants or head coaches or front-office personnel, wink-wink-nod-nod – because the league finally came to its senses.

Imagine what it would have been like here had they told everyone they had to wait until Dec. 9 to do everything?

Dwane Casey shows up for his real first day on the job to find he didn’t have enough guys to scrimmage since the HOTH only have nine guys under contract? George Karl gets to Denver where there are seven bodies? Yeah, right.

At least now, GMs can have an idea of what they want to do and guys they want to sign could decide to get to town next Wednesday or Thursday so they’re at least physically in their new cities for Day 1 of camp.

Makes total sense.

Now, what should Bryan be doing? Well, since I’m pretty sure I won’t get a call through at 9 a.m. today, here’s a suggestion.

(You’re welcome, Bryan; glad to help)

I think I’m going to go away from the application of the “things are linear” argument I advanced about the TOD and what Alex Anthopoulos has to do with his larger, more hole-filled roster.

I think Bryan needs to look for a small forward – a starter – because it’s so far and away the most glaring hole, it’s got to be filled.

I can live with four guards being Calderon, Bayless, DeRozan and Barbosa; and a frontcourt rotation of Bargnani, Davis and Amir Johnson isn’t too bad.

But the three?

James Johnson’s a backup, in my books; Kleiza’s not ready (cleared to run, likely not on the court for a month); I can’t see a scenario by which Julian Wright comes back and Sonny Weems is in Lithuania so …

Hole? Yes. Gaping? Indeed.

So, who?

Well, it’s a rather underwhelming group, actually, but it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t make some calls.

My four, in order:

Shane Battier

Maybe he wants to mentor some kids, maybe he likes the idea of a lot of playing time, maybe he wants to live close to home.

Andrei Kirilenko

Yes, he’s in Russia but as the one and only Chris Bernucca said on Sheridan’s site, his deal’s got more outs than the Red Sox in September. Maybe he wants a new challenge, maybe he likes the international feel of the roster and the city.

Mike Dunleavy

Could probably get him on the cheap coming off all those injuiries and I know he’s got some fans in the Toronto front office.

Tayshawn Prince

A better place to try and re-establish yourself as a key NBA player? Lots of chances to play, and score, and get your name out there on a short-term deal.

Who knows, maybe none of the calls are returned but why not make them?

Now, remember the context of all of this: They are in a building mode; Bryan has said repeatedly that he’d like to maybe wait, see how this truncated season plays out and make a big move next year; and there is a very good chance they do next to nothing significant and just add three or four guys as roster-fillers.

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Hmm.

I see by the screaming headlines in our paper, the Leaves and Bruins are playing down at the old icehouse tonight.

That hardly happens, eh?

Maybe it’s me but it feels like the Leafs play a 60-game round robin with Boston and Ottawa and a few other games just to make it interesting

I understand the need to build rivalries and all that jazz, and I understand some leagues wanting to make travel costs less burdensome but, really …

Doesn’t playing so many games against so few teams actually dilute things? Wouldn’t fewer mean better and even more anticipation?

I think fans deserve to see every team in the league at least once a season (yes, even in this bastardized NBA season, but that’s another story) but I guess that’s another thing I think that league poobahs don’t.

When will they ever learn?

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Looks like we’re talking.

Here at 1 p.m. for an hour or so; you should stop by, it’s wildly entertaining.

Oh, and since it’s Wednesday, we better start the weakly, er, weekly, plea for mail. Do it here. Thanks.

Oh, and if you go to the Facebook joint, you’ll see we’re doing a question a day over there sometime during the day; yesterday’s actually drew comments. Thanks.

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Total digression.

Okay, I don’t believe I’ve seen “everything” because every time I do think that something more utterly ridiculous than I ever thought imaginable comes up.

But if I see something that bothers me more than this story, I will be stunned.

It’s a tale of a Scottsdale, Ariz., gun club where – because it’s the holidays and all – kids and their parents can have their pictures taken with Santa – WHILE HOLDING EVERYTHING FROM PISTOLS TO ASSAULT RIFLES!!!!!!

My goodness.

Now, you want to hunt, hunt. You want to take target practice, take target practice, although I find that a little ridiculous.

But assault rifles? And kids? And Christmas? In Arizona of all places, given the carnage wrought there by a gun-wielding madman not too long ago.

That’s wrong on so many levels I don’t know where to start.

Anyway …

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So, I see the Vancouver Canadians won a rather prestigious award from highly-respected Baseball America (the story is here) and part of the reason is their nifty little park.

With all due respect to London’s Labatt Park, which is a great little stadium in its own right (except that that whole London Rippers thing), Nat Bailey’s like a piece of heaven with the view and the quaint feeling and the fun.

Of course, the game I saw at the Nat a few years back was about a 15-13, four-hour marathon and Super Son had to stick around until after the game to get a broken bat that I think we left in Vancouver so …

But it was also a few days after the trip to Forks, Wash., so it felt like it went by in a flash.

Anyway, since I don’t imagine Oakes Park got any awards (another anti-Niagara bias, I presume) I’m glad the Nat and the Canadians got some pub.

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Oh, yeah.

Traded tweet messages with Jose this week.

He’s – gasp!!! – been working out and is excited to head back here soon. Should be in town this weekend.

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Comments

[doug]

nothing surprises me about Arizona, don't forget they were the last holdout state to recognize MLK day and did so reluctantly, people think Florida is a little screwed up Arizona makes that state look like utopia...Nat Bailey stadium is a gem, I was there for a couple minor league games, wonderful setting, all of Vancouver is actually, I remember sitting there in a traffic jam waiting to cross the Port Mann bridge,and as I was sitting there, cursing each passing moment as I wasn't moving a inch, I looked at the scenery surrounding me, the mountains in the distance, the water below me, logging tug boats doing their thing...and thought things could be worse, a pretty special place is Vancouver..and I must say I am disappointed in your column today, what no mention of where and when DD is practicing and for how long, shame on you, I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. ...cheers...

[chrisd1]

Unless Mike Dunleavy comes at the veterans minimum, how on earth could the Raps be interested in him. Doug, please say the interest you've heard has been more of a
'stop-gap' type of solution. All the others are quite formidable, but Mike Dunleavy??

Blogger's note: There are those who don't share your disdain

[AT]

so when can players actually sign with teams?
I think the raps would be pretty happy with any of those on your list.. battier would be an excellent defensive presence.

Blogger's note: Dec. 9 as it stands now

[Peter]

Of the guys you mentioned, Battier seems the most intriguing. He's a defensively oriented player (something the new coach will like), and even though the scoring load will be placed more on Bargs and DeRozan, Battier is a pretty good shooter as well.

Dec. 9th (or whenever free agency opens up) is going to be a wild ride!

Thanks for the blog, Doug!

[Dave]

Doug, in reference to your comment about new players being in town before training camp, I read somewhere else that the GMs can't even verbally agree to any deal until Dec 9. Doesn't this mean players can't join their new teams until after the start of training camp. Were you thinking about other players such as undrafted players.

Blogger's note: As it stands now, they can't; but at least now, if a GM knows he has an agreement with Player "A", that guy can be in town on Thursday to sign Friday and work that day. Under the original system, the GM couldn't even talk to Player 'A''s agent until Dec. 9, no way that guy could have been in camp that day, forcing him to miss one day of a very abbreviate training camp

[Ryan M in Ottawa]

Hey Doug, maybe a mailbag question, but I`m wondering how you think the shortened season will affect veteran teams. Will teams like the Spurs or Mavs have an advantage not being as burnt out by the time playoffs roll around? Or does the high volume of games in a short time negate that? Further, will this help Miami`s "big 3" stay energized roll to a championship? Would it lose some of its luster due the shortened season if they did?

Blogger's note: Good question for a future date, will most assuredly get to it

[Lorie]

Hi Doug!
Sign of age or maybe the snow that's covered the final few hardy perennials in the garden, but whenever I read the line "When will they ever learn?", I start to hum (not whistle) this:
http://youtu.be/abx4TmV-SZM
And thank you for the great news that Jose is back. Really. ('Cause you know he's always been my favourite Raptor.) Can't wait for him to launch the season's first 3-pointer to extend The Streak: Redux Edition. And you thought I'd forgotten.

[Rob.V]

Okay, so I've just heard that the increased luxury tax does not take effect for a couple of years.
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Someobody, please explain to me which (small market) NBA owners (the very same guys holding back the season) would go ahead and sign off on an immediate amnesty clause???
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Wasn't the season held up due to parity, parity parity?
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Doesn't this essentially give the teams currently competing for championhsips another 2 seasons to recruit top talent?
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No team in a rebuild (like us) is going to benefit from the amnesty. If you were looking for parity, you just threw that right out the window for the next 2 seasons.
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Unless I am missing something here, doesn't this amnesty simply extends the window of opportunity for Dallas, Miami, Boston, Chicago, and the Lakers to get better in an effort to compete for championships?.
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If it was parity you were after, the amnesty should have applied to non tax paying teams (only) for the first 2 seasons, then it would be made avaialble for the tax paying teams once the luxury tax increases took effect. Geez!!!
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Someone in Arizona needs to give their heads a shake! A friend of mine once mentioned that guns are part of a hunting culture in some of the southern states so I guess I can understand kids going out to hunt with dad (although I do not agree with hunting personally), but I simply do not see the joy of those pictures with Santa???
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This of course is the state that indroduced a new law that would require police to ask people about their immigration status if they find "reasonable" suspicion that the people are in the country illegally.
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Even Scwarzwnegger, on how silly Arizona is (when he was in office):

"I was going to go and give a commencement speech in Arizona, but with my accent, I was worried they were going to deport me back to Austria,".
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I mean, imagine the cops stopping you at the grocery store to verify that you are a Canadian based on "reasonable suspision"?.
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Damn it!!, that's it man, I could never wear my Sombrero in uptown Waterloo agan!!!!
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[jon]

Hey Doug, kind of tired of hearing NBA players (in particular) whine about wanting to play ONLY in NY, LA, Miami & Chicago. What do you think about having 7 teams in each of those cities with token teams in Dallas, Houston 7 Boston? (He asked with a smirk). BTW, nice having you back talking basketball!

[Nick M]

I know we wait for JV, but again, he is a prospect.
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The free agents seem to have a number of formidable and better yet, natural 5's. I'm not saying BC should make a big splash but a serviceable big man on a 2 or 3 year deal that would allow Casey to move Bargs out of the middle on D would help a great deal. Perhaps Dalembert or Haywood (there seems to be a lot of noise out there about amnesty being used).
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I agree with the early return on Battier. I feel Dunleavy is just another case of an average player who licks his chops whenever he sees the Raptors on the schedule.
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Quick question on the Amnesty. Can it be used throughout the entire 2011-2012 season. Thereby letting a team see if certain players are worth it i.e. Mr. Arenas.

Blogger's note: Amnesty is available for six seasons but only for players under contract to their teams on July 1, 2011

[Ryan]

I haven't yet been reading the blog regularly again, but trying to get back into the habit... though I'm somewhat disheartened to always see some sort of political messages creep into the blog. I know that I am always going to disagree with you Doug, as are many others. The mention of the gunman from Arizona and tying it to the shooter, as if these individuals are related to that individual...

See the problem with mixing any sort of politics in your blogs is it completely distracts from the rest of the blog. I suppose it's your blog, so you can keep doing as you wish, but I just know whenever I read something like that, I'm less inclined to return again. Just some friendly advice.

[Ryan]

Wow, it's my Monday:

"The mention of the gunman from Arizona and tying it to the shooter"

should read:

"The mention of the people in Arizona buying guns and celebrating with Santa, and tying that to the shooter"

[Justin]

The NHL does have home and homes with every team going to every other team at least once during the season.

[Bill]

If you are BC would you use the Amnesty Clause on any current player? If so who would it be?

Blogger's note: Nope

[511]

+1 to Ryan.

[sump]

I disagree that overpaying for injury prone players (Kirilenko, Dunleavy) is the way to go. You could overpay for Prince which would be worth it but overpaying Battier is just not worth it especially with a nice free agent crop next year and the fact that we will probably be a lottery team once again and get prime pickings at the Small Forward lottery picks for next year. You showcase your players this year and let Johnson ride the SF spot and let DeRozan play some back up minutes at the 3. It just doesn't make much sense for a rebuilding team to overpay for B/C level talent.

[drew]

I have asked for Battier for years for my team!!! Thats a no brainer

[jimt]

Doug hello,Do you know of any free games for the fans?
(sorry cant wait till 1pm,lol,thx)

[Dadeo]

I'm a proud hunter and gun owner and I must say...I agree with Doug's sentiments on the Arizona Santa story/picture.

Looking forward to returning to the nornal basketball angst...GO RAPS!

[john]

I must say I agree with Ryan. I find all the poitics jabs quite a turn off. Debates on movies, music, actors, books is at least interesting especially when there is a lack of basketball. I am drawn here for your coverage of the Raptors. The politics thing is a turn off and needlessly divisive of the fans of Toronto Raptors!

Any news or updates on the JV satus or how he is fairing over in Europe in the Pro Circuit? An occassional link or update would be welcome. I dont expect him to lead us to a championship on his arrival, but seems how we all went through a horrible season building towards the future, and they really meant future, it would be nice to hear how he is doing. SOMEONE at the Raps must have been watching for the last few months cause god knows they didnt have anything else going on... ;-)

Cheers

[John T]

A criticism of Santa with a Gun is not political. It is a critique of a cultural phenomena. There was no mention of political parties or pundits. I can't see how followers of the Raptors can be so thin skinned.

[m]

"A criticism of Santa with a Gun is not political. It is a critique of a cultural phenomena. There was no mention of political parties or pundits. I can't see how followers of the Raptors can be so thin skinned."
They'd rather talk about pop culture, the other stuff might make them think. Trivia rules.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

I agree with holding onto the amnesty waiver and using it post-season when the Raps will have another lottery pick (you know they will) and can then go shopping. We may have a drastically different team this time next year. And I'd happily take Tayshaun Prince. Why not? Good rep rehab for him, good for the kids and he's the kind of defensive player coach would love to have around.

Question: would the Raps take a look at Brandon Roy if he's released by the Blazers? I know there are health issues, but he's an All-Star when he's healthy.

Thanks Doug,

AG, Toronto

Blogger's note: I doubt it; those knees scare them. Greatly

[Jeff]

Hey Doug,
In the SF list, I think Dunleavy's defense is way too much a liability for the direction this team is going. What about Grant Hill, he still has some gas in the tank and could provide excellent mentorship for the younguns. Same for Battier and Prince. Caron Butler would be a great addition, but I doubt he'd want to come here.

And the current roster of bigs is completely lacking a BIG, a true center who can defend true centers. How about Pryzbilla? Jason Collins? Obviously Nene, Chandler, or Gasol would be great, but they're unlikely to come here at best.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

Maybe this is more of a mailbag question - if it is, I will send it over there.

I know that the Raptors are not going to use the amnesty (or at least, you seem fairly certain they won't, and I trust you!). But, if you were to look at the other teams, do you see any 'obvious' choices for amnesty? And, would any of these choices be valuable to the Raptors?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: Have had a cursory look, don't see any. But will look closer once more names become closer to real