The pursuit of Chandler is a complicated matter

Okay, here we go, another five days off between games. Nice! Sure, there’s a rather busy weekend ahead with stories to write and people to see but no games and that’s not a terrible thing.

-

THREE POINTERS

My head hurts

Spent more than a few minutes trying to figure out the cap machinations that would make it possible for Wilson Chandler to sign here this season – if, in fact, he’s not simply using the Raptors for leverage – and I’m glad they invented Tylenol.

All the Raps can do this year, most likely, is get to about $4.3 million in cap space, get Chandler to sign an offer sheet at that number and then grumble when Denver matches so you can probably discount that.

Let’s put it this way: There are three best-case scenarios that have to happen for a signing for this year to occur:

If – BIG IF – they can find someone in the next couple of days to take Leandro Barbosa off their hands for nothing in return they can likely shed the $7 million or so to make an offer that at least makes Masai out in Denver go “um, er, ah” and gives Toronto a chance. But – BIG BUT – finding that team is virtually impossible because none of the teams with cap space right now to do it probably have the desire to make the deal.

That leaves …

Hoping Chandler and the Nuggets can’t figure out a long-term deal and he signs for just the rest of this season and becomes an unrestricted free agent in July, when Toronto will have oodles of money to spend on him, or someone else.

Of course, the other hope is that Chandler could decide to sign here for the rest of this season using some of Toronto’s approximate $2.5 million left on the mid-level exception and use the final 33 games or so as a mutual get-to-know-you period.

What happens?

I wish I knew.

I do know Toronto put on the full court press with Chandler yesterday, squiring him around the city and the arena, letting him meet with poobahs, Henchmen and players and making him feel at home.

Whatever happens, I’m hearing, is going to happen quickly, this should all be resolved by the middle of next week at the latest.

We know Chandler’s a good basketball fit, a long wing shooter who would instantly become one of Toronto’s key pieces.

The Raptors have liked him since the summer, they may know by Sunday whether that feeling is mutual.

-

Getting what he wants

All season, Dwane’s been talking about getting the Raptors to up their toughness quotient so teams around the league have more respect for them.

Well, Detroit might.

That was the toughest game they’ve played in a while and at moments, Pistons coach Lawrence Frank was incensed.

You had Jerryd Bayless putting a shoulder in to Greg Monroe and getting a flagrant foul; you had Jamaal Magloire horse-collared someone under the basket (might have been Monroe again, Dwane was blocking my view) and the Raptors generally comported themselves as a gaggle of crankypants.

No idea if it’ll be a consistent trend – it hasn’t so far – but for last night at least, they were tough guys. Good to see.

-

Give him credit

About midway through the first quarter, DeMar is crossing the lane to take a pass and Ben Gordon buries a shoulder into him, knocking DeRozan back about six steps and almost knocking him right over.

Now, it’s not a good thing that a guy as smallish as Gordon could so easily knock DeRozan so off balance (the kid needs to live in the weight room in the summer and become physically stronger) but DeRozan’s reaction was heartwarming to his coaches.

I know they feared that would be enough to make DeRozan shy away from contact for the rest of the night but he didn’t, he was as aggressive in the lane late in the game as he was early in it and, yes, it’s a small step but an important one.

-

And now, the rest of the story, as the man used to say:

-

This would be apropos of nothing but since Bob Seger made a special guest appearance in the IGBT last night, why wouldn’t we pay homage to the other Detroit music genre.

Is Marvin Gaye’s Heard It Through The Grapevine right at the top of the best Motown songs ever list?

I could make that case.

Whaddya think?

-

No, the game story did not include a quote from Leandro Barbosa, nor did he do any TV or radio.

Simple reason.

Dude had a plane waiting for him and a scheduled 10 p.m. departure for all-star weekend back home in Brazil.

He was in such a hurry that he was about halfway up the tunnel to the locker room when the final buzzer went; if you think he moves quickly on the court, don’t think I’ve ever seen him go as fast as he did to get out of there.

He’s a huge family guy and I guess if you’re going to another continent for the weekend, no sense wasting any time.

-

Mail?

Yes, please.

Here would be nice, give me something to putter around on during the flight this afternoon.

Much obliged.

-

So, I hear Barack Obama’s having a little $35,000 a plate fund-raiser down in Orlando tonight which in and of itself is hardly a big deal; guy’s gotta make some cash to combat those other fellows who seem to be spending the entire pre-election period debating each other, which can’t be a wise move since people tend to watch those debates.

Anyway …

Get this: The fund-raiser is AT VINCE CARTER’S HOUSE!

Yeah, old HWSNBN runs in some big-time circles it seems and all I wonder is how come Canada Post didn’t get the invite to me in time.

Bit stressed this morning by having to a rent a tux before my flight but a guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do, I guess.

(I keed, I keed).

-

 

 

Comments

[Penny]

I assume Jose is aware of the fact that other teams have been asking about his availability. Did he go to Spain for the break or is he sticking close to home in case he has to join another team?

Blogger's note: He's off on vacation,easily reachable

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

"If – BIG IF – they can find someone in the next couple of days to take Leandro Barbosa off their hands for nothing in return..."

I thought trades could only be made if the salaries (approximately) matched? Is there some other type of transaction that would allow the above scenario?

Thanks!

Blogger's note: If a team has room under the cap to absorb a salary, no players have to come back

[sam]

Chandler would be a nice get for the HOTH. The math like you said, may be a little confusing to some, but unless they can get a 3 or 4 year commitment from the guy I say stay the course.
Good game last night - Detroit isn't setting the world on fire, but a win is a win - especially after the loss to the Bobcats late last week.
Good to see DD take his knocks and keep going -
On to the second half - let's hope the tough/spirited play last night continues for the rest of season.

[Boko]

It seems to me that your 2nd or 3rd scenarios regarding acquiring Wilson Chandler are NOT impossibilities, like the 1st one is. So hope springs eternal, once again, for Raptor fans ...

In September, start Amir, Andrea, Wilson, DeMar & José, and sub Ed, James & Jerryd, bringing Jonas into the rotation slowly, making Andrea, Amir or Ed trade-bait by the trading deadline in '13. (Aaron, Linas & a new PG would be the rest of the active roster.)

[Peter]

I'm trying to figure out if the use of the term, "AT VINCE CARTER'S HOUSE" violates the self imposed policy of non naming the one who shall not be named. If so, is there a penalty?

Blogger's note: Not if it involves heads of state; small codicil to the rule

[Geoff]

So...10 and 23. For all the whining from people who are dissappointed with the Raps this year, remember last year. All we have to do is get 10 more wins in the second half and our record will be .303. Last year's was .256. And this is without Bargs for most of the season so far and without our first round pick last year and without spending all that cap money we have.
Can't wait to see what we can do next year! Go Raps
And doug..."codicil"? Nice one!

[Sharkey]

Hey Doug, would love if you could start linking to the game story from the opponent's paper again. I miss that feature, was always fun to read from the other cities perspective before and after the match. Any chance that could return?

Blogger's note: Sure, if my scattered mind can remember

[Jason Robinson]

Excellent choice of a Marvin Gaye song, my other MG favourites: "I'll Be Doggone", "Hitchhike" and "Ain't That Peculiar". Other Motown classics for consideration: "Shotgun", "Heat Wave", "Leaving Here", "Money (That's What I Want"). Great music that, to me at least, still compliments this great sport.

[B_Viddy]

IMHO, the ideal scenario for Mr. Chandler would be for him to sign for the rest of the season with Denver and then go after him hard, if required, in the summer. I would really like to see what we get in the draft first. If we get an SF (Hello, Mr. Barnes!), then we could have a surplus of 3's on our hands. Having said that, I love that WC is a 3/2 moreso than a 3/4.

[Bill]

Any sign and trade possibility with Denver?

Blogger's note: Remote next summer but yes

[Jim Rootham]

How long did you take to come up with that out on the HWSNBN rule? Good one. :)

[B_Viddy]

Via Twitter: Sam Amick: Correction there: Wilson's hand has been forced, as Denver wants long-term deal or nothing, according to his agent.

[B_Viddy]

IMHO, the ideal scenario for Mr. Chandler would be for him to sign for the rest of the season with Denver and then go after him hard, if required, in the summer. I would really like to see what we get in the draft first. If we get an SF (Hello, Mr. Barnes!), then we could have a surplus of 3's on our hands. Having said that, I love that WC is a 3/2 moreso than a 3/4.

[Lorie]

Hey Doug!
Love your oh-so-subtle-and-oh-so-accurate comment about those GOP debates...about them not being maybe the wisest idea 'cause people tend to watch them. And "wise" sure isn't a word that could be used to describe any of those participants. Yikes! Scary stuff! That one of them might be thisclose to that button! (But I tell you, the twitterverse's livestreaming commentary's a hoot.) Motown? How to choose just one? Yours is great. But so is this. And it was Motown's first million selling single.
http://youtu.be/hjy8HqrcYys
Safe travels! Cheers!

[DannyFromFreddy]

Doug, I love the Marvin Gate video (the Raptors could dedicated the song to Chris Bosh). There aren't many bands around these days with a full horn section.

[SEAN H]

I wonder if VC stuck around if Stephen Harper would be having dinner at his house. That would be a picture to see!

[Paul Clugston]

Great game for Barbosa. Just watched the game in an hour this morning and I laughed out loud when I saw him sprint off the court with 5 seconds left.

With all of Devlin's talk about how important it is to stay focused in the last game before the break, it was interesting to see Barbosa play so well when his exit showed where his mind really was last night.

[SheikYurbouti]

Great to watch the boys play with energy and grit last night, as well as a very promising game from DeMar.
-
Motown: Ugh so many great tunes to choose from, I don't know if I could pick a #1. Heck even within the Marvin Gaye collection. Some of his best work was when teamed up with Tammi Terrell, as in "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" .
-
And how can one say something is better than "My Girl" by the Temptations?
-
My top 10 (even that's hard), in no particular order, would be:
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
My Girl - Temptations
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Shotgun - Jr. Walker & The All Stars
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Dancing in the Street - Martha & The Vandellas
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - Temptations
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
War - Edwin Starr
-
Ugh, can't even say that's a top 10, but leave it at that. :)

[D-Mac Ottawa]

Oh my, it is a tantalizing alignment of the stars indeed. Our Fearless Doug... in a dusty-rose-coloured tux no less... doing a live IGBT of the Knicks-Heat game... at HWSNBN's house... with The Leader of The Free World and a glittering host of literati and celebrity types in full regalia and entirely agog... wait for it... while simulcasting the greatest edition of Grunt TV to ever hit this or any other planet... wow, man, I think I'm seeing trails, dude...
Cheers! And one good Marvin Gaye certainly deserves another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fopc4exF4D0

[Charles]

I got a little bit emotional reading your game story today.

MVP Aaron Gray said it makes him happy to get guys open. He is happy to SET SCREENS --- and thereby facilitate OTHER players' scoring, and the attendant glory.

That warms the cockles of my raised-on-the-outdoor-rinks-of-northern-alberta heart.

Re-up his contract, Mr. Colangelo.

[Leon]

Isn't there the option of amnestying (is that even a verb?) Barbosa or someone else to get some more cap space this year as a last resort?

Blogger's note: Nope, window closed for this year; re-opens in summer

[Mike D.]

Re DD needing more time in the weight room to resist a shoulder block from Ben Gordon: unless DeMar bulks up to the size of (say) Joey Dorsey, the physics are always going to be against him in a collision with a short,stocky guy like Gordon. Especially if he doesn't see Gordon coming and can't lean into him to resist the impact. It's the same reason that Jose can sometimes play surprisingly effective post defense against opposing bigs....it's all about the centre of gravity.

[doug]

I am torn on Chandler, he would be a good fit but that money spent might be better utilized somewhere else that arises in the off-season or near the trading deadline....if a decision is coming soon then the Raps should just hold off, unless (and i don't know contract requirements in the NBA) the Raps can do a back end loaded long-term deal, but again to throw that kind of money at Chandler leaves me feeling ambivalent...it's interesting you mention Vince in your blog as my buddy and I well watching the game last night were talking about Vince, and wondering if Raptors fans realize how close the Raps came to having the premier team in the NBA, and it would have been for a prolonged period if just a couple guys were wired differently....when we had Antonio Davis, Alvin,Christie,Curry and the 2 key players were Carter/McGrady 2 high scoring, game dominating wing players coming into their prime....we were so close with those 2, a once in a lifetime type of thing, if they were only wired differently, a hell of a team for years to come it would have been....

[SY]

Just curious, why is sign and trade a remote possibility?

Can't Denver do a sign and trade and we give them one of JJ, Ed or Bayless -> the 4.3 million cap space + one of their rookie contracts should give wilson around 6 - 7 million starting. Denver gets a good asset in return and does not have a huge financial commitment (seems like the only reason if they were not able to resign wilson). If we give them JJ or Ed, we remove some logjam, we also get our guy and wilson gets his $$. Looks like a win-win.

-SY

Blogger's note: Can't do sign-and-trades during a season

[doug]

this has to be one of the funniest amusing things I have read in awhile.....it relates to the new HBO movie coming out on Palin, the first part of the quote is fine, it's the last sentence that is just too funny....

"Current and former aides to Sarah Palin lashed out Wednesday at HBO's "Game Change," describing the upcoming film's depictions of her on the 2008 campaign trail as "sick" and inaccurate.

None of the aides said they have yet seen the movie".....now that's gold, ....