Another piece of the puzzle about to be put in place

Happy Draft Day!

Or, as some of us like to think of it: Third worst day of the year after Pre-camp Media Day (too many people, no real stories, takes forever) and End Of The Season Locker Clean Out Day (it drags, we’re all tired, no one really says anything but you’re there waiting for about three hours).

Anyway …

What happens tonight?

Who knows?

After a flurry of activity with folks around the league last night, though, it’s come to this for the HOTH, and it’s something I’ve kind of been kicking around for a while:

The only quasi-realistic guy who can come in and help fill a need right away is small forward Harrison Barnes but I can’t envision a scenario that has him fall to eight.

Sure, Damian Lillard or Dion Waiters would be nice but I also can’t see either of them being there at No. 8 and the rest are, according to a lot of people I talk to and whose opinion I respect, are okay but hardly difference-makers for this team.

It’s a group of Austin Rivers, Perry Jones and a handful of others and if it comes to that, Bryan has to try to pull some kind of trade magic, give up eight and a player and move back to get a later pick and a better player.

Can he?

History would suggest not but this is one of the weirdest drafts that I can remember; there’s always chatter and disinformation and smokescreens and speculation but it seems there’s far more this year than there has been.

Who’s going to screw things up? Well, at first glance I’d say Cleveland might do something off the wall at No. 4, I can see Sacramento doing something at No. 5 and the biggest wild card of ‘em all is Houston, which has three picks and a desire to move at least one, probably two and maybe all three of them.

For the HOTH?

This is not a transformative night by any means but it could be significant. If Bryan can somehow solve his small forward issue today or tonight it’s going to be a huge leg up on the free agency season that starts Sunday (a guy can’t get any rest, can he?) and things might be looking better for the future.

But if he has to hold his nose and take someone at eight who’s just a player with some promise, I think it has to be seen as a disappointing night.

Whatever happens, we’ll be sitting around tomorrow talking about it and dissecting it and wondering what it all means when the simple fact is this:

It’s a bit piece in a continuing process of improving this team; no matter what we say or what we think or what others say or think, we won’t know for sure until next fall so I’m not sure there’s any reason to get too bent out of shape regardless of what goes on.

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Five things I’d love to hear from a team executive tonight:’

“We have no idea if he can play but he made some shots when he was being guarded by one of our assistant coaches one day.”

“Sure, he’s short but he’s also slow; mental makeup will cover a lot of failings in an athlete, our sports psychologist told us.”

“No, it’s not the guy we wanted, are you on drugs?”

“We don’t think he can come in and contribute right away but we had to take someone.”

“We had no trade talks whatsoever, what do we have that anyone wants?”

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Okay, this is official:

Penalty kicks to end soccer games at hugely significant international events is a stupid way to decide a winner.

Let ‘em play!

Sure, they might get tired and play might get ragged and they might be out there for hours but who cares?

You need to find a winner on the field, not from the spot. Watching that Euro semifinal yesterday (aside from the fact it was a boring dive-fest for the first 90 minutes) left me entirely empty when it was over.

I’d rather have ‘em run until they drop and someone scores; I’d like to see coaches have to save substitutes just in case the play 150 minutes, I’d like to see overtime tactics instead of penalties.

(I’d sure have loved to see Ronaldo take one, too; wasn’t that the oddest big-game coaching decision since whoever it was left Gretzky on the bench in Nagano?)

Sure, it’s dramatic and I know the fans love it but, really, it doesn’t make any sense. They need to play those games until there’s a winner.

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And five things I’d love to hear from a draft pick tonight:

“I guess I can get used to the city; wasn’t my first choice.”

“I just want to come and get my shots and my minutes.”

“I have no idea what my teammate are like, I only watched good teams last season.”

“I don’t care what style they play, I’m going to get mine.”

“The shortest period of time I have to be here is three years, right?”

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Mail?

I’d love some.

Click. Write. Send.

And don’t forget we’ll be here tonight sometime just before 7:30, please join in, it’s fun. No idea how long we’ll stay but it’ll be worth it.

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A couple of the all-time good guys decided to hang ‘em up yesterday.

Anthony Parker told folks in Cleveland that his career’s over and it was a pretty good one; played about nine years in the NBA, was one of the classiest Raptors I ever had a chance to write about and I’m sure he’ll do well in whatever he does.

And then I wake up early this morning, check the twitter feed and find out from Jose that it looks like Garbo’s putting a lid on his career.

Can’t think of a better guy – forget player, just a guy – that I’ve had a chance to write about. Sure, he was excellent on the floor, played hard, played smart, could make a shot when you needed it, but off the court, he was cool.

Two good ones:

It’s his rookie year, he wins NBA rookie of the month (the same day he’d won Mr. Europa or something like that) he’s walking out of the interview room after a shootaround.

I get up beside him as he’s going to the locker room, suggest he should be pretty proud and looks at me and says:

“If I am rookie of the month, this league is blanked”

Classic.

And one day we’re in Madrid as part of the European training camp trip and I’m in the lobby bar of the team hotel waiting for Stumpy or something like that, sitting there having a beer by myself.

Garbo’s over at another table with his agent or someone and after they finish, he walks by to say hello. I point to the brand I’m drinking (it was all unknown to me) and ask him if it’s a good one that locals have.

He looks at me like I’ve got three heads and says:

“That beer is too light for you. You need to have a man’s beer.”

He orders me a Presidente, we sit there and have it and if you don’t love an NBAer who has an affinity for a beer and will help you pick one, well, you’ve got issues.

Love the guy.

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Comments

[Wilber]

The flexibility from the Barbosa trade was to allow a move before July 1, no? Does that make a trade before Sunday more likely?

Suggested additions to the fantasy Executive quotes list:

"We really think this guy has the potential to really tear up the (summer) league!"

"We had our draft strategy in place, but then we decided it was best to listen to what fans on the internet felt we should do."

You at the ACC tonight Doug? Come on out to the party for a few minutes and mingle with us.

Blogger's note: Am at ACC but have IGBT thing and work to do; not sure I can escape

[Tim]

Hi Doug,

I just wanted to second that call for you to write a book. I know people suggest this to you from time to time, usually when you pull out some anecdote that might otherwise be lost to the sands of time (your mention of Jermaine O'Neal quitting on the team one night and Bosh being upset made me wonder what other tidbits of team history I might have missed out on).

I know things in the publishing world are pretty grim right now, and it might be tough to swing a deal for an old-fashioned book, but consider this: how about an e-book? With your on-line presence, I bet you could move enough copies to make it worth your while. I'm not saying quit your day job, but when the day comes and you ride off into that sunset to retire, I think Raptors fans everywhere would be richer for reading your account of the team, and I bet you could get lots of us to part with enough money to buy an e-book. Think about it!

Thanks again for all the hard work,

Tim

[Lekan]

What do you think of Royce White? I believe he might be the next best forward of need for the Raptors after Harrison Barnes. If Barnes is picked and we get Dion Waiters, then maybe we could trade Ed Davis for a pick (before the 21st pick) so we can pick White. What do you think?

Blogger's note: Sorry, can't/won't do 'em all and waaaaaaay too many moving parts in that one

[g.t.]

id go for Rivers if he is available at 8. He already has good mentorship being the son of doc and being familiar with the league. He has talent to be an elite scorer in the future as well. He sounds more of a sure thing, all things being equal than any other guy at the same position in the draft.

Seeing the raps have a very young roster having a rookie that does not need as much babysitting while they transition to adulthood and a high profile professional lifestyle may be critical.

[Scott T.]

Doug how can you say 3rd worst day of the year. I thought you were a basketball fan. Besides your team being in the playoffs this is the BEST day of the NBA year.

[Van City]

Doug, you say we can't get Barnes/Waiters/Lillard in the draft meaning Drummond falls to us... But Drummond is the guy Houston is trying so hard to move up to acquire... So why is this a bad thing? If he falls to us don't you think BC has some sort of contingency plan to do a draft and trade (much like with Hibbert) of Drummond for Kyle Lowry or something along those lines. Seems like at the 8th pick we are in a good situation.

Blogger's note: If you believe that about Houston, maybe it's possible; or do you believe the dozens of reports that say Houston's stockpiling picks to make a run at Howard? Impossible to tell

[DaveT (Ottawa)]

I do think the possibility of Drummond falling to Toronto wouldn't be a bad thing. I'm sure that there is another team willing to give up a lower draft pick and an asset for Drummond. Or otherwise, you run out the big man and let the coach figure out how to put him next to Bargnani/JV. Everybody needs a strong sub -- and strong can be interpreted both ways.

[raptor]

man garbo was the only reason we won the atlantic division that year. he was the ultimate glue guy did all the dirty work and gave jose the confidence to play his game. surprising but i remember when wed go up against lbj it would be garbo defending him. when we went up against dirk it was garbo guarding him.. this guy is sick best of luck to you.

[sportschic]

I love the Garbo story about the beer. He strikes me as a guy who'd be fun to have a beer with. Oak would be entertaining, too.

I think Anthony Parker could be a good game analyst. He always impressed me as thoughtful and wellspoken. Not necessarily the funniest guy, but I don't think he'd need to be.

[jaunty]

If you say PJ3 is in play for the Raps at 8th – I’ll believe it, can’t see why you would fabricate that…BUT, its hard to believe. He doesn’t even have an invite to the green room (which doesn’t make it impossible to be drafted at the 8th spot) just a long outside shot for a guy with a extremely high ceiling but extremely high bust potential according to sources I’ve been reading. There are many better players at 8 then PJ3 – a project player at that!
@Micheal – Its not that Doug “thinks” as much that Waiters will be gone, it more that its what’s been rumoured be all over almost thing “basketball” that has been published in the past 18 hrs concerning the draft tonight. Cleveland is rumoured to be very interested – and maybe, (maybe) GSW although if they did it will help Barnes fall. Remember with Barnes – this time last year he projected as the #1 pick – then after the season finished dropped to any around 7-13 – after the combine his name shot up again…mostly for his great attitude and 7 foot wing span. So for him to drop to 8th could be a little more doable (realistic) then most are thinking!

[LeeZ]

This has proved to be an EXTREMELY boring draft day so far. I take it you're in touch with various henchmen as we speak, along with other sources. If you were a betting man, what would you put the odds at of a trade involving the Raps before the draft starts this evening?

Blogger's note: 15 per cent now

[phdrapsfan]

I just hope to god the Raps don't buy the empty hype and take Austin Rivers - If his name was Austin Jones, he's be a mid-second rounder. He's a volume shooter with bad shooting numbers - a great handle/crossover that looks awesome on highlights, but subpar passing ability, high turnovers and is too short to finish at the rim.
This is guy who had said he's modelled his game after Kobe (hogging the ball and taking long two-pointers), but who doesn't have a shadow of Kobe's physical gifts.
If Drummond is the guy that falls and Waiters and Lillard are gone, I'd take him and use him as a trade chip - I'm sure given his incredible ceiling there are at least a few GM's that think he could be something special (..Houston?).

[jaunty]

It’s just reported that PJ3 is experiencing some knee troubles/issue’s (injury).

Yahoo is reporting that the Raps are agressively trying to move ahead of GSW to secure Waiters – the article said that it was indeed both the Raps and Suns who gave him a promise and with two teams so highly interested he went home because he Agent felt it was best. If this is true – it will prove that no matter how much (reporters) name drop and think they are beyond an average working/colleague relationships with any player and or GM (in any sport) they are not. BC denied, denied and denied this rumour to all reporters (including Doug)…WHY! Because reports job is to inform the people, so in must cases (with GM’s especially) they tell the reporters only the information they want to give to the public so they dont tip there "hand". By the Raps (if they do) pick Waiters will confirm that there no (“special friendships” – or special reporters…no matter how much the reporter thinks so or “name” drops). The reporters are treated like co-workers by the GM's and high brass - they don’t get the “real inside” important info everytime all the time – when they do get it,it is done when the GM says so (which in this case will come after they draft the player) which in turn is useless information. If a reporter is that close to the GM, the GM would have invited them to the inside circle and let them in on it, but BC hasn't with any reporter – till then BC acts like he would do when playing a game of poker. Keeps a poker face and steers you (the reporters) in a different direction – a direction where the GM wants them to be. If Waiters is drafted by the Raps or even more so – the Raps move up to get him…it means they did give him a promise....at what level that is to be determined through reporting questioning.

Blogger's note: I was right, I don't care what you think you know, frankly. And you have no clue how we do our jobs, don't ever suppose that you do

[Paul]

Blogger's note: You guys are all whack!

[Talkic]

Thanks for the Garbo stories...way too short of an NBA career. The NBA needs more guys like he and Parker.

[Lorie]

Hi Doug! I don't imagine there'll be either space in the paper or time for you to write about it what with today's Magical Mystery Draft Tour happening, but if people are up and at 'em early tomorrrow (after either celebrating Bryan Colangelo's brilliance or bemoaning the lack of it) the Canadian SWNT are playing Croatia at 7:30AM ET in their next important game in the Olympic qualifying tourney. And thank you for the Garbo stories; always thought if I won a trip to Spain and could choose my own personal tour guide, he'd make a pretty good one. Cheers! Go Canada!

[Mike D.]

The guys I feel for are the ones whose non-physical attributes are being pilloried in the press...I'm soooo glad that I when I was in first year university I wasn't subject to the same degree of external scrutiny as these kids. Doug, how would your personality and work ethic have been described by a reasonably friendly reporter at age 19?

[sam]

"You need to have a man’s beer.”
Is this something the irregulars could trademark and get printed on T Shirts?

[doug]

those were good Garbo stories...which makes me thin k why is it seems euros in golf, b-ball etc seem like their just decent guys to hang out with and have a pint...I root for the Euros in the Ryder Cup just because they seem to have personalities and don't take it all so seriously....is the draft over yet, well at least it'll be more exciting then these soccer gamers, but not by much...ok cheers and have a good one...I'll be following your IGBT just to see the angst from the fans.,..you should have a angst meter tonight...

[doug]

oops typos...sorry no proof reading and in a rush my bad...

[Mike D.]

Anyone want to predict the exact time tonight at which the Raptors' "capologist", former shotputter Steve Fruitman, will go ballistic after being asked to model "just one more trade scenario" in frantic haste? My guess is somewhere around picks 5-6.