Whatever else happens, it better happen quickly

You see Atlanta making all kinds of trades and Brooklyn making deals and Utah getting in on the action and Portland signs a guy to a lucrative offer sheet and a lot of teams are entertaining a lot of free agents both high profile and low and I know you’re thinking:

What the heck is going on here in Toronto?

Basically, it’s waiting for on the one big shoe to drop and until Steve Nash decides what he’s going to do, there’s not a whole lot to report.

The Raptors have gone so far all-in on Captain Canada it might be stretch to say it’s hamstringing them on doing anything else but that’s not too far off.

Sure, I’m certain they’re having quiet conversations with a couple of other guys – if they’re not, Bryan’s not doing his job and he’s always been one to make sure bases are being covered so I can’t imagine he’s sitting on his thumbs in his office – but they can’t really do anything for real right now.

Money is a bit of an issue – they’ll have to figure out how much they need to clear to get Nash, they’ll have to figure who, if anyone, they’ll have to amnesty if they don’t – but it’s more a matter of timing.

If they get him, all they have to do is concentrate on a three; if they don’t get him, they’ll need to figure out if they’re okay with Jose as the point guard for another year at least – I think they should be – and then find the other pieces they so sorely need armed with whatever cash they decide to clear up.

What I do expect, from the very few conversations I’ve had since before free agency began, is that things will happen rather rapidly once they know what’s going on with the big fish they’re chasing.

It won’t take two or three or four days for them to basically fill out the roster if they get Nash – he’s got that kind of allure to other free agents – and if they don’t, they have to be ready to hit the ground running with Plans B and C and D.

Things around the office have been eerily quiet and calm, no one’s talking even privately, but you have to hope that beneath that calm, there’s some furious paddling being done and once the No. 1 issue is resolved that things will move at a rapid pace.

I don’t think anyone wants to hear “we’ve got some flexibility, let’s see how we can use it in the future.” They want to hear “we’ve got our No. 1 guy now here are our Nos. 2, 3, and 4” or “we didn’t get the big guy but we’ve got these guys locked up” and they want to hear it quickly.

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It’s official:

After having the TV on as white noise while I’ve been working away at Casa Doug these last couple of days, Criminal Minds is sooooooo much better with Joe Mantegna than it was with Mandy Patinkin it’s not even funny.

Agree?

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Let’s get this straight:

The Atlanta Hawks are going to trade away a perennial all-star and very much the face of their franchise and a guy, love him or hate him, who can make those dramatic late-game baskets and they’re getting back a gaggle of nobodies and a lottery-protected draft pick and somehow they “won” the Joe Johnson trade?

Yes, it is a wonderful sport, isn’t it?

And the next time someone tells you some NBA contract is “untradeable” please laugh out loud; the Nets took on Johnson knowing they’ll have to pay him $25 million in three years.

There are no “untradeable” contracts.

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Tom Cruise turns 50 today; I think we should all jump around on our couches and act like fools.

Ya with me?

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TOD for a minute?

How hard is it to watch Ricky Romero these days?

Had a nice quiet night last night waiting on non-existent Nash news with the ball game on in the background and it was startling to see the ace of the staff scuffling so much.

Now, I don’t profess to know nearly enough about the intricacies of pitching – all I remember is that I couldn’t hit it – but I don’t have any real doubt that, eventually, Romero’s going to find the stuff that made him so good just a year or so ago.

It’s a weird business, professional sports. I don’t know what minor thing can turn a guy from good to bad, make strikes become balls, ground balls turn into hits, bleeders become doubles.

But I do know – and we’ve seen it countless times in baseball and other sports – that just as quickly as things go south they can turn around again and go north. Maybe it’s one pitch, or one strikeout, or one rocket that turns into a threat-killing double play; something happens and things are good again.

I’d love to be able to examine the brain of a scuffling pro athlete to see how much confidence plays into it, too. Every good athlete I’ve ever known has been supremely confident, they just “know” things are going to work out for them and there’s nothing to indicate a crisis of confidence in the relatively young lefty.

Sure, he’s got to be wondering what the hell is going on but I guarantee you he thinks his next start is when he gets back on track and that might be the most important thing he’s got going for him.

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Going to be a little bit of CanCon on the Raptors summer league team, I hear.

The full roster hasn’t been announced yet – it’s hard to get firm commitments with players weighing different offers – but Oregon guard and Toronto native Devoe Joseph has been lined up.

Toss in such other luminaries as Ed Davis, Terrence Ross, Quincy Acy and Mr. Triple Double Ben Uzoh and the team’s eight-game summer league winning streak looks in peril, not to mention it might be hard for them to defend their championship.

I, of course, will be paying scant attention.

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Hmm.

Three weeks today I land in London. Guess it’s time to start getting up to speed on the Olympics, no?

And I hear it was the wettest June in a long time over there, remind me to pack the brolly, would you?

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Comments

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
I hope that this Nash saga doesn't become a Waiting For Godot scenario for the Raps. It would be nice to get a Yea or Nay sometime today.

Blogger's note: I agree wholeheartedly

[Peter]

Is it safe to assume that as soon as there is Nash news, that we'll be able to check here for a few details? Or will you write a story that we'll have to look for in the sports section?

Blogger's note: Can't say for sure but it'll get out everywhere as quickly as possible

[SEAN H]

Sorry if you've answered this. While you are in London, will we be getting the morning blogs?

Blogger's note: That's absolutely the plan

[511]

Re Joe Mantegna vs Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds, I was surprised when you first stated your preference for Joe Mantegna, back some time ago. Thinking about it, it may’ve been that after reading an interview with Patinkin in which he disclosed that by doing what he felt was the necessary character study in order to play the role of Gideon, he had been researching real FBI case files similar to the story-lines in the show, and that they had left him profoundly disturbed. Watching the show during those earlier years, one could sense - I thought - the turmoil in the actor and that it translated well, through to the character.
When Joe Mantegna’s David Rossi arrived to replace the Gideon character (Mandy Patinkin left the show, he said, because the darkness of the subject matter had simply overwhelmed him - paraphrased from memory), I first thought that while Mantegna was suave and cool in his way, he was ... sort of bland. As the show has continued on, the David Rossi character has filled out and I’ve come to appreciate what he brings to the show, so now, if I catch a rerun, it’s either/or, as far as preference. (As long as the writing and production stays high, which, with the exception of a few shows at the beginning of last season, is usually consistent, I’ll be a fan.)

[doug]

can Dwight Howard just go away....please....his act has become like a on-going SNL skit, talk about losing any credibility....he's like the boy that cried wolf ....Atlanta had to do something, me I would kept JJ and just moved a lot of the pieces around him, although his contract is large and Atlanta doesn't exactly sell-out...I think teams just have to let struggling players struggle, i know their trying to help or do their jobs but coaches can sometimes put to many thoughts into a guy's head, then it becomes much more of a confidence thing it's a fine line, to me though it's a no-brainer in that Mathis has to be Romero's catcher for the next few games....Raps are all in with Nash but there are fall back plans, Lowry trade possibility and I am sure BC has them all lined up...this time next week most of the puzzle will be solved...ok pip pip cheerio...

[Chris Jones]

"The Raptors have gone so far all-in on Captain Canada it might be stretch to say it’s hamstringing them on doing anything else but that’s not too far off."

What does this even mean? Either the Nash offer is hamstringing them or it isn't.

[sam]

This may be a stupid question, but aside from some intangibles - like the ability to lure free agents, giving the HOTH a fresh face, etc.....
Is NASH really that much of an upgrade over Jose?
What's is your point of view?

Blogger's note: He is

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:

Will you be storing the brolly in the boot of your car? Or, will you be driving a lorry? And will you be using the car park?

[Mike D.]

So Doug, do I hear you saying you WOULDN'T jump up on a couch and act like a fool to demonstrate the strength of your feelings for Super Wife?

Blogger's note: I'd get yelled at for jumping on the couch and what kind of message does that send to Super Son or Super Dog?

[AT]

funny commercial starring Steve Nash...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xRr6FT6DaA

[dean]

can this just be over? Nash is either the Great Canadian Hero, or the man who is about to break the heart of basketball fans of Canada.......

Tough tough spot, glad I am not making the decision. If its NY over Toronto, then wow, is that a kick in biscuits.

All the best Steve, but please hurry up so we can at least sign one free agent other than you. Or maybe, and i know this sounds crazy, but maybe, BC might manufacture a trade sometime soon........

[Nick M]

Blogger's note: I'd get yelled at for jumping on the couch and what kind of message does that send to Super Son or Super Dog?
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You're right, showing off your dexterity in the face of Super Dog would just be, well, cruel!

[JHK]

Keep hearing names like Dragic and Lin; do you think there is room for Jose even if Nash turns it down?

Blogger's note: Personally, I would think so

[ad]

This whole nash thing reeks of MLSE trying to make more $ off the court than put a winning product on the floor. Nash is a great player, no doubt, but the man is 38 years old!! Yeah, he would make the players "look" better but he doesnt really fit in with all the young players the raptors have. I wouldnt complain if the raps signed nash but I just get the feeling its not for basketball reasons. I know its not as a matter of fact (sigh). If only the raps had better owners and a gm who wasnt so eager to overpay a 38 yr old.

Blogger's note: So you're not going to complain but you're going to complain

[Ted]

There was an article in the 'other' paper (TRTCBN - The Rag That Can Not Be Named?) saying that if Nash passed on the Raptors, then no other big name FA would ever come to the Great White North. Essentially, if Captain Canada won't come, why would anyone else? I don't buy that because Nash has a few options and who really knows his priorities. But WTF do I know? What do you think ... will a snub by Nash be seen as a lack of confidence in the Raptors across the NBA?

Blogger's note: It won't help but it's not a killer

[LeeZ]

@ad: Good point about Nash making the other players "look" better. He won't actually make them better players. It's an important distinction. By giving them so many incredibly open and easy looks, they will become way more productive than their actual talent level allows. Not that there's anything wrong with that in the here and now, mind you. But if you're looking at the long-term implications in terms of developing our younger players, Nash won't help. He might even harm, in that they'll be able to coast while he's there and once he's gone, will have to shake the rust off and actually have to develop their game. Nash playing on your team is like, say, Charlize Theron saying, each and every night to a 5 foot 250 pound shlub, "take me, I'm yours". Just cause you're sleeping with Charlize doesn't make you a ladies' man, and in three years, when Charlize leaves, you'll revert back to being a shlub!

[Jacques]

Doug, do you think Nash gave a list of his own on who he wants on the Raps if he comes.

Blogger's note: No

[doug]

that argument that he won't make players better just more productive is to say the least a absurd one...the same can be said about MJ,Magic, Lebron,Kareem,Bird etc...that's why their great...of course players skill levels don't improve as players who are they are....b-ball is all about spreading out the defense and creating lanes, and open looks...Nash does that....so to say getting Nash will curtail players growth/development is mind-boggling to me....it's a TEAM game...so the team will be better, and 3 years is a eternity not only in the NBA but life, so if Nash gives us 3 then I'll take it in a heartbeat...and RIP Andy Griffith there's a iconic tv figure....

[doug]

so 3 year offer sheet for Landry Fields...interesting to say the least,on implications moving forward...

[LeeZ]

Marc Stein of ESPN is reporting that the Raps have signed a 3-yr offer sheet with Landry Fields. Good young player who took a bit of a step back last year. The Knicks were thought to be wanting to include him in a sign and trade for Nash. If Stein's report is indeed true, do you think the S&T angle (i.e. screwing the Knicks to make it harder for them to get Nash) factored into BC's thinking? Have you been able to confirm any of this with your sources? And any idea what the amount is?

Blogger's note: Don't know the money but it's a crafty move indeed

[Mike kovacs]

Landry fields? Thoughts?

Blogger's note: Solid move; takes him out of any sign-and-trade for Nash and in rookie year when ball moved in Knicks offence he shot 40 % from 3 and 50 % from field

[LeeZ]

Apparently, Fields will cost them about 7 mill a year (backloaded). Good grief!!! I mean, I like the kid, but that's awfully steep! So. If Nash signs, if the Knicks don't match Fields, if the Raps amnesty José and then if the Raps sign either of Batum or Ilisova (sp.?), does that put them in luxury tax territory? And is this the year that the Board authorizes luxury tax?

Blogger's note: Not close yet

[gdr]

Any chance the Fields offer sheet could back-fire in BC's face and he could lose Nash to NYC and overpay for Fields? If it's $20Mill for 3 years, that seems like a lot for Landry Fields. What's stopping the Knicks from trumping the Raptors offer and including a 4th guaranteed year?

Blogger's note: Look at this way, as cold as it is, and probably not right: If it backfires, it's going to be someone else's mess to clean up

[LeeZ]

So in the tit for tat category, Chad Ford is now reporting (musing? spitballing?) that the Knicks could trump the Raps by offering Phoenix Shumpert, Douglas, Gadzurik, Harrleson and Jordan to get Nash for four years @42 mill. This is starting to get interesting!

[LakeSimcoe]

"some NBA contract is “untradeable” please laugh out loud"

I agree but my gut feeling tells me that Nets might "dethrone" Knicks as the LOL king in NBA for years (if not right begin from next season).