And another fan favourite is heading out

Well this ought to get a few of you going.

While I took the night off, it seems they’ve agreed to send James Johnson to the Sacramento Kings for a second-round draft choice. The deal’s not done but it could be today and it will come as no surprise whatsoever.

Hardly a windfall, right?

Now, I know Bryan is looking for whatever financial relief he can get – even miniscule like the $2.8 million or so that Johnson was due to make this year – so maybe he could have gotten a player back but that wasn’t the plan.

I’m going to put James up with Julian Wright, Antoine Wright and maybe even Pops as guys who fans tended to like an awful lot more than coaches.

As we mentioned a couple dozen times last year, James would have a tendency to go rogue, especially on offence; he had the bench episode with Dwane that resulted in a de facto two-game suspension (they didn’t actually suspend him because they didn’t want to take money away from him, which is an honourable thing to do in many ways) and, frankly, his effort – according to people who saw him in practice every day and watched games more closely and analytically than you or I – was too inconsistent.

So he’s gone, or will be in the next few hours, and while many will lament what could have been or what he did, they don’t seem to have nearly the same opinion.

Maybe they’re wrong, I believe they’re right and the departure does nothing to swing the balance of power in the East. Nor does it lessen what this team is or will be.

-

Things that happened on the weekend that we missed:

Woody Guthrie would have turned 100 and who didn’t sing this in some school music class way back in the day when (a) they had music classes in all schools and (b) teachers were able to embarrass everyone into singing.

-

Okay, Tuesday ends the amnesty period and if Bryan uses it – and he continues to say it’s a last resort and there’s no plans right now – I’m thinking it’s a big mistake.

Especially if he does it for Jose, which, according to the last time I spoke with Bryan, was not in the cards.

No matter what you think, Calderon is an asset as much as anything, a solid guard with a big contract and to limit your moves with him – if there are moves to be made – by giving him away for nothing makes no sense whatsoever.

It leaves you with no backup point guard and there aren’t an awful lot of proven NBAers floating on the market; there’s no indication there’s a $10-million player out there that they’re interested in adding; why not wait, use the player in the season to see what’s up for trades and, at worst, have that money next summer.

No, it’d be the dead wrong thing to do.

Other candidates? Not sure there are any. The Kleiza piece was interesting but now maybe there’s a role for him at the three; I think if you need to divest yourself of either Amir Johnson or Ed Davis, it’s better to explore trades than giveaways.

-

In a moment of entire weakness, got home from my gig at the ballyard on Sunday (this and this came out of a relatively easy day) and Super Son’s got the Raptors-Heat summer league game on and I figure I’d watch some.

In that game there were 61 fouls called in 40 minutes, the winning team shot 32.4 per cent from the field, the losers shot 35.3 per cent from the field and teams combined to go 4-for-28 from three-point range.

I resisted a terrible urge to stick a pin in my eye but when it was mercifully over, the vow was made again to never, ever watch a summer league game. Even if means painting a wall somewhere and watching it dry; that’d be more entertaining.

-

This is classic.

In an interview yesterday about Jeremy Lin and the back-ended “poison pill” offer sheet from the Houston Rockets, these words tumbled out of Carmelo Anthony:

“It’s not up to me. It’s up to the organization to say they want to match that ridiculous contract that’s out there.”

Now, I’m not sure about the levels of solidarity between members of the players association but shouldn’t one guy want his brother in arms to get as much money by whatever means as possible?

Isn’t that the deal? Maximize your value, rightly or wrongly or however it impacts one team or another?

Look, sure it’s a big, potentially arduous contract that Lin might sign off a career that’s spanned all of 25 starts or so. But he got it, not sure I’d want a potential teammate to be telling everyone how ridiculous it is.

-

So I’m a Seamhead for one day and it’s a big one since the iconic Bob Elliott gets to throw out the first pitch and I am really, really glad I was there to see it.

Big Boy, as he’s known in some circles, gets the J.G. Taylor Spink Award from the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown next weekend and Sunday was the last Jays home game and they decided to honour him with the first-pitch thing and a video tribute before the game.

Now, I’m not sure how many of you know Bob but if there’s a more connected, respected, hard-working beat grunt in North America, I’d be surprised.

He is the epitome of what our craft should be: Fair, even-keeled (I don’t know that I’ve read him “scream” in a column in the almost 30 years I’ve known him) and readers would be far better served if more of us were like him.

He is a baseball guy – sandlot, national team programs, minor leagues, major leagues – and he treats the game and the men and women in it with respect.

He helped me along this path an awful lot of years ago when I was first breaking into the big leagues of beat writing and I’ll never forget it.

Not a better guy in the business and even if he bounced the first pitch into the right-handed hitter’s batters box, it doesn’t matter.

Fine tribute to a fine man.

-

 

 

Comments

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug:

James Johnson was still with the Raptors? Who knew?

Any chance at all they make a run at Igoudala? Even a shimmer of a glimmer of hope?

AG, Toronto

Blogger's note: Not now, no

[LeeZ]

Speaking of Woodie, Billy Bragg (who has "co-written" some songs with Guthrie) was performing at Bluesfest the other day in Ottawa. He says when he was first making a name for himself, he was invited to play the Vancouver Folk Festival. They asked him if he wouldn't mind participating in a Woody workshop. He thought, sure, why not, he could probably wing it, even though he really didn't know much at all about Woodie or his music. Turns out the other participants were: Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Pete Seger and Arlo Guthrie!!! (he joked that Bob Dylan must have been busy that weekend). So at one point, they all take turns singing This Land is Your Land. When it's Billy's turn, he stammers: "Uh...um...well, I don't actually know this song. I mean, this land isn't actually MY land, it's your land. Uh...sorry..."

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Jeez, so much angst for the trading of JJ in Raptorland, you'd think he was an All Star or something. C'mon folks, he was the starting SF on a team that didn't make the playoffs, a guy who got that starting job, because frankly there wasn't anybody better on the roster. Remember fans, JJ started games last year because Klezia hadn't fully recuperated from his surgery by the start of the season. For months now, astute followers of this team have been saying that his position was what needed to be upgraded, so why all the drama? Because you don't like the return? That's what the market dictates a so-so player on a bad team is worth. Management took a flyer on the guy, and it turns out, for whatever reason, they think his spot on the team is better served by someone else taking it. I think it's really that simple.

Ciao amigo,

marc in panama

[ad]

Fairly pointless move. I hope they will package the second rder in a trade for a legit sf. Also, how is amnestying amir johnson NOT a good move? Nobody is taking that awful contract back in trade. If they would, he would have very likely been gone by now. If they amnesty johnson, they will have close to 10M in cap room which is not bad. They could absorb salary for a legit sf and provide salary relief for a team looking to shed salary in a trade.

Blogger's note: "Awful contract?" Not in this day and age and I would presume you, like a zillion others, missed the point that the final year is not fully guaranteed.

[LeeZ]

This is in today's New York Post. Obviously, it's heresay, but have a look:
Though he sure didn’t act like it, Jeremy Lin still wants to be a Knick.
A Lin confidant, contacted yesterday, was asked whether Lin wanted the Knicks to match the Rockets’ revised $25 million offer sheet.
“Yes, he does,’’ the person said.
Lin’s high school coach made it sound that way, too.
“He did not see this happening,” Peter Diepenbrock, Lin’s coach at Palo Alto (Calif.) High School, told Yahoo! Sports. “He sounded surprised. He loves the New York fans. To have the experience that he had for the two months and for that to be over with, that’s quite a shock to the system. I think he really believed the Knicks would match whatever offer he got.”
So. We are seriously down the rabbit hole these days. Will the insanity never end? I mean, what a crazy, perverted system! If this story is true (and for the sake of argument, let's assume it is), you've got a guy who wants to stay with the Knicks, but to get a better salary, signs an offer sheet with another team, but one so hideously backloaded as to put THE TEAM AND FANS HE SO PROFESSES TO LOVE PLAYING FOR in such financial doodoo that it will cause serious problems for THE TEAM HE WANTS TO STAY WITH. Doug, is it just me or is this completely insane? Has Stern made any noise about outlawing this whole poison pill strategy in future, or is it here for the duration of the CBA?

Blogger's note: Better question is why NBAPA wanted the poison pill to ensure its members could have movement and why they went to bat so hard for Lin to get his early Bird rights and get into this position. There were options open to Lin he didn't take.

[LeeZ]

If you read no other article on the Paterno "legacy" bullsh*t (yeah, some legacy), read this one. Brilliant. If Penn State doesn't get AT LEAST five years, the NCAA is a JOKE.
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/8162972/joe-paterno-true-legacy

[LeeZ]

"There were options open to Lin he didn't take."
Such as? (I don't mean that facetiously)

Blogger's note: Agree and sign the first, less-odious offer sheet; work with Knicks on some other agreement

[Scott T.]

Probably the most telling thing about James Johnson is that he was a projected top 10 pick in 2009, who dropped to a late-lotto pick just before the draft, who dropped to 16th overall to the Bulls, who was sent to the D-league a year and a half later, then traded to the Raps for the 28th overall pick and finally traded to the Kings for approx. the 38th overall pick. This player is on the way down and has been for some time.

Blogger's note: A point conveniently ignored by a vast majority of people.

[Angelo]

Doug, do you know if there is any interest by the raps in bidding for Josh Childress?

Blogger's note: Don't know, doubt it, why in the world would they? Marginal talent who can't stick anywhere

[nick]

I'm really puzzled by Colangelo's actions in the media recently. It's one thing for a player to come out and say he's unhappy with a situation (or that he downright wants to be traded) but for the GM himself to publicly fuel the fire? And for that matter, it doesn't seem like Calderon himself has actually publicly stated anything, which makes BC's comments seem even more provocative.

What does he stand to gain? He certainly stands to lose a lot: Calderon's trade value drops if he is traded, if he isn't, things become awkward in the locker-room (and if you think that's not a huge deal, it seems Casey would beg to differ, having just had J. Johnson dumped due to locker-room concerns).

Even if the rumors had been substantiated by Calderon himself prior to BC adding credence to them (they haven't), it still seems like he's putting his foot in his mouth by openly acknowledging them.

BC's got me scratching my head on this one -- do you know something here that I don't that might explain this mess?

Blogger's note: I don't see it as a mess; he's got a veteran point guard "not thrilled" with the idea of a younger guy playing the same position. I think the GM and the coach and everyone who's spent a bit of time around the team realize it's not going to be a "locker room issue" and if something comes up that will help the team, the GM will make a move. Nothing really to see here

[Shawn]

While I am not particularly upset by the moving of JJ, I do understand some fans' angst. He was a fellow who showed so much promise and for once we hoped we had hit a grand slam. early indications were that we did. However, like was said earlier, the facts show a different story.

I am not thrilled with some of the moves this summer, but I am sure BC is doing his best to upgrade our team. I am reserving judgement until October.

Doug, thanks for your efforts. I don't always agree with you, but I always appreciate having the background skivy on many Raptors issues. Keep up the great work!

[Scott T.]

If you want to have a laugh type in Jeremy Lin to google news (sort by relevance). Two articles in a row by ESPN are titled "Knicks must let Jeremy Lin go‎" (16 hours ago) and "Knicks must match Jeremy Lin offer‎" (17 hours ago). Pretty funny how wildly different opinions are on this right now.

One more thing on the Lin stuff. Through all the insanity of the Linsanity last year it's still pretty funny that the Knicks may get absolutely nothing out of him and the buzz he created if they don't match.

[Christopher, Victoria]

Morning Doug,
So I saw a picture of Ed Davis looking like he was taking the ball to the rim in Las Vegas last night and am I mistaken in that he looks like he has put on a lot of beef up top? I think there are even some ripples there!! Looks good for October.

Blogger's note: Saw him briefly draft night, didn't notice too much

[Robert Bertuzzi]

Except that when the Raptors traded for Johnson management conveyed through media what a steal he was. That the team was getting a lottery talent with an end of first round pick despite his being a complete non-entity in Chicago. To run counter to management's narrative is to be told once more that fans know nothing about basketball and that we must prostrate ourselves before this all knowing deities. But at some point, as the losses mount, another season without a playoff appearance goes by and attendance declines and then stagnates, perhaps these emperors, mixing metaphors here, will be revealed as lacking the proverbial robe. But probably not.

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As for Billy Bragg, listen to his recent appearance on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman marking the 100th anniversary of Guthrie's birth and you'll know that Bragg is a Guthrie historian. Not to mention his Grammy nomination for the Mermaid Avenue project in conjunction with Wilco from 1998 that brought to life and light scores of unfinished Guthrie songs.

[Michel G]

Doug, did the Raptors' use the TPE from the Barbosa deal to absorb Lowry's contract? They had not relinquished any of the cap holds at the time of the deal (correct me if I'm wrong), so technically they were still over the cap. One of the earlier posts was complaining that BC had not used Barbosa's TPE.

Blogger's note: As far as I know, and I asked, he went into available cap space.

[Mos High]

Learned something new today about Snake Oil.

@ Rajv... I know some others will defend your point, but I cant on Lowry. To me and many others who followed him last year you should know He is HUGE UPGRADE, YES I SAID IT HUGE upgrade to Calderon. Yes his shot % wasnt the greatest, but he does many things Raptors need, 14ppg 4.5rpg 6.6ast pg 1.6 stls last year. Last year Raptors Bargnani 5rbs/pg Derozan 3.3rb / J Johnson 4.7 / Amir Johndon 6.3 / Calderon 3.0 ...So He would already be one of the best rebounders on this team not to mention attackers. Jose is good for back up roll, not as starter on this team.

[james]

I liked J. Johnson too, particularly in the early part of last season, and not just because of his excellent name. However, I assume this move (and the earlier one involving Bayless) was not made without input from Casey, and if our defence-first coach is happy to move a player whose principal strength was his defence, then one has to go along with it.
On another matter, I note that the Suns were "awarded Scola". What does that mean? Awarded by whom and using what criteria? I assume more than one team was interested.

Blogger's note: Convoluted bidding process

[Paul]

This is a good move, but if it's not to make room for another move, then it could have waited until after the olympics. It's a small chance, but if LK gets hurt in London we might have wanted a JJ around...and I think the deal for a 2nd rounder would still have been there in Sept/Oct when we are more sure who is healthy for the season.

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

Shouldn't this reply of yours been preceded by, "Move along..."

"Nothing really to see here" ;>)

[LeeZ]

Amidst all the talk that Lin's contract will (would?) cost the Knicks upwards of 45 mill IN LUXURY TAX ALONE for the 2014-15 season, a question occurs to me: where does that tax payment go? Am I correct in assuming it goes into the NBA coffers, to be distributed among teams that are under the cap?

Blogger's note: Yes; it is parcelled out

[Mike D.]

As far as the over-the-top fan support, I have to admit I was a big JJ fan at the start of last season and late the previous year when we first acquired him.....he had the size and agility to be the elite perimeter defender we've always coveted, and we got him at a cheap price. However, the defense seemed to be just as effective toward the end of the season with the substantially less physically gifted Alan Anderson playing the 3, and based solely on that I'm prepared to trust Casey's assessment of JJ. Maybe we all got too carried away thinking we'd found a bargain....but in reality it was more like one of those Costco trips where you get a great price on an industrial-sized drum of pickles and only realize later that you can't possibly eat that many pickles before the expiry date.

Thank goodness we now have Quincy Acy, his beard and his dunks on whom to bestow our undying support.

[SY]

Maybe sometime the grass is greener at the other end.......definitely a good year for Bosh, living a good life at Miami, just won a championship and made it to the 50 highest-earning American athletes @ 48....wow http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/specials/fortunate50-2012/?xid=cnnbin

[sam]

I sometimes wonder if the Raptors team I've been watching is the same Raptors team others here have been watching.

There seems to be a lot of focus on what certain players can't do, and not enough on what they bring to the table.
James Johnson goes from a starter, to the bench, to sitting out fora couple of games, to a somewhat disinterested player backing up a 10 day contract guy. It's pointed out that he had a career year. A career that now see's him on his 3rd team in a rather short period of time.

I just don't get the allure of Jeremy Lin - A nice story from last year for a few weeks, but he's not the all world - all pro PG he's made out to be. I think he took some bad advice from his representatives. It may make him close to $25 million over the next few years, but takes him out of the picture on the big stage in NYC.

[Andrew Gregg]

Hi Doug...

Lemme see: which problem would I rather have?

Option one: Team trades away a failed prospect for a second round pick?

Option 2: team has to choose between paying way too much money for a PG who was a star for 25 games, or going with a 39 year old creaky legend who just got loaded and wrapped his Escalade around a telephone pole?

Mitigating factor: creaky PG was known at one time for abusing his wife.

I'll take option one thank you.

AG, Toronto

[Ryan]

I was just reading a comment somewhere about Landry Fields, speaking of his contract and being overpaid. I really don't understand why when people look at Fields, they only seem to see his time with Carmelo as the indicator of his talent. It's as if leaving the US means he also gets dinged in the exchange rate or something.

In all honesty I expect him to be the surprise player on this squad, if not become the team's "glue" player. If there were somewhere I could play money on this, I'd be laying down a fifty easily.