An expected process is unfolding as it should

Not sure this should come as any big huge surprise given the circumstances and what we know but Marc Stein’s reporting Jose’s agent and Bryan are working to find some deal that’s amenable to both sides.

Now, it doesn’t mean anything is imminent – although we all should know how quickly things can change – but it does make sense to explore all avenues.

If nothing happens, nothing happens. But after listening to Bryan the other day talk about “multiple teams” that called about Jose in the wake of the Lowry trade, there could be some fit somewhere in the league.

Would suck a bit. Despite the bleats of so many of you, Jose’s a fine NBA point guard, he’s given six solid seasons to this organization and I think a point guard combo of he and Lowry would work just fine.

Have been trying to reach Jose directly but he’s with the Spanish national team getting ready for the Olympics and a bit preoccupied. I wonder how much of this might be an agent trying to drum up something for a client, which is what agents are paid handsomely to do and which is just good business practice.

As soon as the Lowry deal was leaked, ears perked up around the NBA about the possibility of a Calderon departure and if I know one thing about NBA general managers it’s that when they smell blood in the water, they go all low-ball with any offers. It’s part of the dance.

But of this we can be certain: There are talks going on -- how serious they are no one knows -- but I also know Bryan isn’t going to do a deal quickly just to do a deal and if this goes into the season before other teams decide they have a point guard need, so be it.

However, if something happens, you have to be certain that Bryan gets a point guard in return or is looking at someone in free agency.

A Lowry-Calderon duo, or Calderon-Lowry, would be a position of strength; a hedge against inevitable injury with two proven NBAers and a tandem with a difference in styles that would change game.

I don’t think any of you would be as confident in, say, a Lowry-Ben Uzoh combination, would you?

I don’t know what the eventual outcome to this will be – my spidey sense says status quo for a little bit – but if it happens, it’ll be a tough day; we’ll chat about that then.

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Thoughts are with all you triskaidekaphophia sufferers out there.

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So it’s about 30 C last evening, not a cloud in the sky, the Mighty Red Tigers are ready for action.

And we get rained out.

Yep.

Somehow, the zany folks who program the sprinkler system for parks here decided that 5 p.m.-6 p.m. would be a good time to water the infield and that 6 p.m.-6:45 p.m. would be a good time for left field to get some sustenance.

Dopes.

Kinda reminds me of this, even if it is rather low quality and doesn’t have the best line of the scene:

“I can get us rainout.”

But what the Mighty Red Tigers aren’t is …

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You guys are good.

It wasn’t 10 minutes after news leaked out that the Houston Rockets were going to use the amnesty provision on Luis Scola that I got the first question about him here.

And, after some of my own due diligence, it’s not happening.

While they’re lots of love for his game – and I’m a huge fan – it’s not really the best fit for this organization as this time and they’ll take a pass. The combination of money, years left, roster composition and where they are in the building process means there’s a lack of interest.

Sorry.

But you guys are good.

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You know, sometimes there are benefits to doing this gig.

One of my sort of branch-out jobs this week was to be part of the paper’s “Help” series and I was able to piggyback on a golf thing to get some tips myself.

Turned out to be a not bad story, and a pretty good video that’s here and Bradlee Ryall (his website’s here) up at Braeben here in Hazelville (New motto: Home Of Inappropriate Sprinkler Time) is one outstanding teacher.

If he can massage our subject’s swing and make it seem so logical and sensible to a guy watching, I can just imagine what he’d do with a full range of lessons.

“Great athletes come to me for golf lessons and they’re robotic. They’re great football players or basketball players or hockey players and they’re just a different animal over the golf ball. You have it in you to be great, it’s just how can we get that out of you.”

We probably weren’t at the practice green for more than 45 minutes and I came away with a far better understanding of what I need to do around greens thanks to Bradlee and Steve.

And trust me, after scuffling it around the last time I played – barely able to hit it out of my shadow – I could use an hour or two of intense instruction since I’m not getting nearly the weight I should in The Friendly Nassau Matches.

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Hey!!!!!!

Summer League starts for the HOTH today!!!!! Pumped?

Anyway, the roster finally got released last night – it’s here for your reading pleasure – and I caution you, as I do every year, with these words:

Summer League doesn’t tell you who can play, it tells you who can’t.

Best thing I ever saw at Summer League: Hoffa getting 10 personal fouls in one game (you can’t foul out of Summer League games, sadly); it was a classic moment.

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Mail, please.

Haven’t heard from some Irregulars in quite a while.

You know the drill.

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Comments

[Rob.V]

Here's the thing:
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Calderon WANTS out! The guy has been very loyal to the Raptors and the city of Toronto. To saddle him with a back up role in a contract year is simply not in HIS best interest. Coming off the bench may be good for the Raptors however it will cost him millions of dollars next summer. What that number is I have no idea however over a 4 or 5 year deal it could be upwards of $10 million that Jose stands to lose by moving to the bench.
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And here's the other thing:
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We all know that the 3 spot was a glaring area of concern however it's not like you can simpy request a trade for Kevin Durant or Rudy Gay and the rest of the league says: sure, can I include Westbrook in that deal for you Mr. Colangelo.
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The point being, other teams like their elite SF's as well. There's only a few out there so teams are not going to just let these guys go. You can ask, but I'm 1000% sure the Raptors already have.
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The Raptors need to practice patience and continue to sign assets so that when someone comes available they can make a deal. If you want a Ron Artest to come in and help for 2 seasons, go get him. If you're looking for a Rudy Gay type of player then you're either going to have to draft him... or wait! No one said building a good team was easy.
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That's the one issue I have with trading Calderon now... it's just not a good time. If we're talking to teams with cap space I cannot think of any that have a 3 we would need, which means we're taking back other expiring deals or trying to recoup a the 1st rounder we gave to Houston.
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Logic might dictate that you wait it out to see which teams are struggling and need to make a move for a PG (on an expiring- Chicago?) after the first quarter of next season has completed.
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To be clear. I have no problem with Jose going all Dwight Howard on us.
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Look, the Raptors have paid him handsomly so there's no need to cry for him however he has been forced fed a steady diet of poop!! by the team the past couple of off seasons.
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I see both sides, the honeymoon is long over... this marriage has ended!!!

[ikonn]

For goodness sake, Calderon/Lowry would be a great duo. No way should they move Calderon unless it is for a clear upgrade for example at the SF position! PG is not where the focus should be!

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
Can't say that I blame Jose for wanting a trade, but I think it would be a huge mistake to do it right now.Why not wait until the trade deadline when his value will be much higher? Especially if all the Raps are going to get is a trade exception out of it. Trade exceptions sound all well and good, but what exactly have the Raps gotten out of their trade exceptions? What did they get out of the Bosh trade exception? Leandro Barbosa's? Not much in my opinion. I usually agree with Colangelo's moves, but if you"re going to trade one of the better PG's in the league, especially when you hold all he cards, you better get "real bodies" out of it. Not just the possibility that you will have the flexibility to possibly overpay a free agent.

[Ted S.]

Saw Tu Holloway fell off the Rap Summer League roster. Although his personality has flaws, I've a lot of respect for his game. Any story here? Very curious to see Ross play today.

Blogger's note: If there's a story, I don't know it.

[doug]

one thing I have learned over the years watching sports...names are inter-changeable when it comes to Pg's, goalies and Qb's...fans love controversies in those positions and always will....one point that no one has mentioned in this whole Jose thing is that Jose is not Casey's kind of starting Pg, so it's not BC doing this directly it is him listening to his coaches wishes as a good GM does on his vision and style of play...and Jose knows it as well, hence why he wants to be moved, the writing was on the wall halfway thru last season, Casey wants his Pg's to be as good on the defensive end as on the offensive end hence why we went and got Lowry....so BC is doing his job, Casey is doing his and Jose is doing his, there is no blame nor is it anything to get riled up about, change happens, it's inevitable....cheers

[SY]

Hi Doug, when is the deadline tomorrow if the Knicks want to match Fields' contract?

Blogger's note: Not sure of the exact time

[doug]

so in this age of cuddling pitchers...we have seen something tonight that I am sure has never,ever happened in MLB.....Zach Greinke has started in 3 straight games, not 3 straight starts but 3 straight games...that is unreal, although there was a reason...I still think major league clubs and their pitch counts do more harm then good....as evidence look at injuries this year, as further evidence look at morris/Ryan/jenkins/Seaver/gibson etc and their pitch counts....it's a farce but no pitching coach or manager has the guts to go back to what it was.....it's a shame as they will proved right...

[J]

@GM:

This is purely anecdotal evidence, of course, but when I was watching my beloved Raptors visiting the Knicks at MSG a couple years back, I don't think I could have felt more annoyance at TJ than that night. The Raptors had been doing well, so it looked like an easy win, even with Calderon out with the flu or what not. My friends had left to get some snacks with the score pretty much tied, and by the time they came back, we were down 20. During that Knicks run, TJ attacked, attacked again, and attacked some more. He might have turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions, but the way it felt, it could have been 34 straight turnovers. It was the best--or worst--example of 1 on 5 ball. At least my friends, who were Knicks fans, weren't there to rub it in. Granted, Ford didn't always play that poorly, but I just could not understand his need to establish the point that he could do it all by himself.

[TLI]

@james: "Silly me: I thought Lowry was coming to be Calderon's back-up."

...ok... I'll 'fess up too!

[Dave]

" We all know that the 3 spot was a glaring area of concern however it's not like you can simpy request a trade for Kevin Durant or Rudy Gay and the rest of the league says: sure, can I include Westbrook in that deal for you Mr. Colangelo.
-
The point being, other teams like their elite SF's as well. There's only a few out there so teams are not going to just let these guys go. You can ask, but I'm 1000% sure the Raptors already have.
-
The Raptors need to practice patience and continue to sign assets so that when someone comes available they can make a deal. If you want a Ron Artest to come in and help for 2 seasons, go get him. If you're looking for a Rudy Gay type of player then you're either going to have to draft him... or wait! No one said building a good team was easy."

I love this. (not the ron artest part) It seems like a lot of times fans choose to forget this...they just have to hit a draft pick...

[Dave]

As far as Calderon goes I say play him behind Lowry and wait till deadline or when someone gets hurt, and get maximum value for expiring contract. This is a building process...