Filling a hole at no cost on an uneventful deadline day

Yawn.

Yeah that’s the reaction to the trade deadline, right?

Remember this next year, would you? And if someone’s got the time (too much time, actually) go back and check the breathless reaction to things that weren’t going to happen.

Anyway …

These guys at least did a little thing, as we all know, and it’s just what Bryan said he’d do the night of the Gay trade, shore up a hole in the roster and fill a need for a third guard.

To do it at no discernible cost and with no financial obligations past this year is a very good thing; they’ll rent Sebastian Telfair for 29 games, give him a good look to see if he might be worth keeping around next year and it’s done nothing to hamper them in the summer.

In fact, getting out of the small guarantee there was on Hamed Haddadi’s contract (he went to Phoenix with a second round pick for Telfair) is good because it takes them a bit farther away from the tax level.

But what’s it mean on the court?

Not an awful lot, I don’t imagine. Telfair’s more of a pure point guard than John Lucas but I’m not sure he shoots it as well. The big thing is he’s a better ball-handler and a facilitator and could end up getting the backup minutes behind Lowry.

And it’s good insurance to have a third guard to protect against injury, foul trouble or ejections and I’m sure Dwane feels more comfortable knowing there is someone in that role.

It’s not going to change the balance of power in the conference, nor is it going to make it any easier to make a move on Milwaukee to close that five-game gap. It’s a minor deal that needed to be done and it was done without any disruption to the future.

Not good, not bad, not big but necessary.

-

I have no idea why Super Son had this blaring out some electronic music making thing upstairs this morning but now I cannot get it out of my head. And you should feel the same.

This is a pretty good cover version, no?

-

Mail?

Please.

But I’m entirely full up on the Andrea Bargnani questions so we can let that subject go, right?

You can get them sent by clicking on the link over to the right but it’s askdoug@thestar.ca if that’s easier for you.

Talk soon.

-

Right, Benoit Benjamin.

His name came up the other night as the first guy who played for both the Vancouver Grizzlies and the HOTH and there’s a story. A couple, actually. I’ll clean up some of the language because, well, because it’s among the most vulgar things you imagine.

Big Ben was actually one of the lesser, um, motivated players and the tale of his departure from Toronto is legendary.

They’re practicing at Glendon College and Ben’s not quite putting out the effort that then-coach Darrell Walker wanted.

Darrell gets on him a little bit, gets on him a little bit more, gets on him a little bit more as the team’s running sprints, the story goes.

Ben looks over says:

“Bleep you, you bleep-face, bleep-bleep.”

Ten minutes later, he’s waived and the Benoit Benjamin era comes to a close.

Oh, and I didn’t see this in person so it’s second-hand but there was also the night they were out in Calgary for a pre-season game and it’s mentioned to the players that they might want to keep a bit of a low profile.

Not sure this is what they had in mind about low profile when Benoit, a 7-foot bald man, walks into an establishment where women remove their clothes for a living and he’s clad in a full-length white fur coat.

That’s inconspicuous for sure.

Yes, there have been some interesting characters run through town.

-

I’d say I’d have way more interest in the Oscars if I’d seen even one of the movies nominated in any category.

So, who wins?

And we have a rare Sunday off so instead of reading IGBT comments on who’s wearing what, I can watch and mock on my own from the comfort of the couch.

-

So, who won trade day?

How about no one?

I’d say the one team that filled a need and improved itself in the short-term was Milwaukee; getting JJ Redick gives them another offensive option and might be the thing that keeps Toronto from closing that gap for eighth place all the way.

Houston did okay with the Thomas Robinson acquisition I guess, but other than that? It was a bunch of deals that were financially driven or backup for backup or bit piece for bit piece. It is forever thus and, sure, maybe there’s some fun in the three weeks leading up to the deadline to imagine blockbusters or hear reports about this GM talking to that GM but more often than not, it’s just chatter it the wind and nothing comes to fruition.

Yes, much ado about nothing, indeed.

-

IGBT tonight. Just before 7 p.m., be there or be square.

-

With the Knicks in town, it means an overflow crowd on media row because there is not a single team that attracts a crowd of writers like New York does.

Last I heard, there were eight people coming – and that’s outside the team broadcasters for TV and radio – and aside from the Lakers, there is no team that operates with as many scribblers.

And considering with us, it’s usually two for the road, I can’t imagine how anyone gets any work done on their own.

One of the good things about travelling in a small group on the road is that it gives you a better chance to talk to people privately, develop relationships and perhaps get information that you can eventually use in some news story.

Sometimes the travel can be a grind, but professionally, it’s when we get a fair amount of groundwork done peacefully; not sure it’s that way with my fellas who cover the Knicks.

-

Comments

[dean]

Who cares? I mean this team is clawing for the 8th seed to get murdered by Miami in the first round.
If Rudy Gay does not work on his shot this summer, this trade was a disaster. 17 million to a guy that shoots 20-35% a night is outrageous and his contract hamstrings the Raptors big time !!!

Blogger's note: You care, obviously, or you wouldn't be sharing your opinion, flawed though it may be

[Greg]

Hi Doug,

Forgive my ignorance, but what's the point of the trade deadline? Wouldn't the post-season be more exciting if big moves were possible right up to the end?

Blogger's note: Probable would be

[sam]

If Telfair can protect the ball, and involve the other 4 guys on the floor it will be a good pick up. I've noticed the second unit getting out scored on most nights putting the tema in a hole...If he could help the eventual damage there - it's a great pickup...
I don't know too much about Telfair other than what I read last night....
The Raps didn't give up much, and perhaps he has something to prove. I wish him luck....

[Geoff Read]

Going forward, I think the only real question is: has Bryan Colangelo done enough to save his job? I get the feeling the suits at MLSE think so.

Telfair will make the team marginally better for 26 games. Yawn indeed.

[Vincent Lam]

I heard New York signed Kenyon Martin to a 10 day. Does that make the team older or younger? (I keed)

[Lawrence]

Just wondering why the Carlos Boozer deal didn't pan through? From what I read the ball was in our court for this deal to happen. I understand Boozer has a big contract for the next couple years, but with him on board we'd be a more complete roster with very few holes for the duration of his and Rudy's contract. I'd see us rolling with that roster for the next couple years without having to invest much in other pieces. That was probably the best offer we could have gotten for Bargnani, then and in the future.

[SA]

Hi Doug,

A bit of TO-connected Telfair trivia for ya -- in Telfair's senior highschool year at Lincoln,before he was drafted(Of course Telfair was the real Jesus Shuttlesworth), he led Lincoln to the PSAL Final at Madison Square Garden against Cardozo High, whose star import player at the time was the GTA's own teen phemon Theo Davis...For a brief moment there, after Telfair was drafted, Davis held the mantle as NYC's best highschool baller...

[gdr]

Doug, any idea if Bassy will be in the lineup for tonight's game vs the Knicks? Thanks.

Blogger's note: Doubt it, not here this morning, not sure when he gets in

[Juan]

Doug a lot of writers refer to "league sources" when they talk about trades and other things. What exactly does that mean? Someone who works in the NBA office? Someone who works for a team? It's been bugging me....

Blogger's note: Can't speak for others, for me it's someone who is a high-level official at another team mainly

[marc in panama]

Hola Doug,

Pistorius is granted bail. I am the first one to say that nothing has been proven in a court of law, and there will indeed be a trial, perhaps one shaping up to be this generation's OJ moment, that is yet to be seen....but...a guy fired 4 shots into a locked door...and through it all, in that country, whose history history of sexual torture of women is so profound, that the term "rape room" a room designed in houses to be a safety zone away from attackers, Pistorius not once, checked to see if the woman he was in bed with was safe. This is too me, completely implausible, and sounds like the concoction of a high priced lawyer squad more than anything even close to the truth of what happened that night. This will now play out in the courts, and we will watch.

Ciao amigo

marc in panama

[Mike D.]

The best Benoit Benjamin story ever might be the one in which he brought two left shoes to a game....and tried to wear them:

http://articles.latimes.com/1986-10-28/sports/sp-8095_1_shoe-incident

To paraphrase Sam Mitchell's comments once in an interview about big men with potential: team after team signed Benjamin thinking he could be a force in the middle if they could just get that light bulb to turn on for him.....the problem was that there was simply no bulb there.

[doug]

1st time since 2007 a all-star wasn't traded at deadline so it's not always like this years which was directly impacted by teams trying to figure out new tax system...this has to be one of the greatest shots of all time, she makes it look easy when in fact doing anyone element of this is difficult in of itself...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1539344-william-carey-cheerleader-makes-the-worlds-most-impressive-halfcourt-flip-shot

[DaveB]

I agree with you on the Milwaukee trade helping them. I think it gives them a shot at replacing Boston for the 8th spot. Although there must be other issues in Milwaukee as they are 2 -8 in their last ten games. It probably leaves the Raptors fighting Detroit for 10th spot.

Should be a good game tonight. NYK should be motivated tonight after been beaten by the Raps in NY and being spanked by Indiana on Wednesday.

[Mos High]

@ Dean, whats wrong getting into the playoffs. Its better then not being in the playoffs. Brings more hope to the team and fans. Miami is a dominant team and will probably crush majority of the teams. Teams need to build on sucess, making the playoffs would be a major sucess after starting 4-19!!

Im assuming your another person who doesnt actually watch the games to see the impact Rudy Gay has had on and off the floor. I know its not everything but when media outside of this market, they no longer talk about Toronto as just a joke.

With Klezia off the books, possible deal for Bargnani, Colangelo truly could have this going the right way.

[Geoff Read]

I'm listening to my Bob Dylan playlist this morning, and I'm moved to share this excellent and too often overlooked tune from the late '70s. One of Dylan's very best in my books:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2D7LFsKNa4

Doug: what are your thoughts on Mr. Zimmerman? Fan? I've always liked his catalogue but as I get older (now late 30s) I find I'm developing an ever greater appreciation of his work.

Blogger's note: Big fan

[Lorie]

Ha! Enjoyed the subtlety in your Knicks-Raptors game preview. "The Knicks were edged by 34 points in Indiana on Wednesday...". Sublime. And is this Kenyon Martin fellow the same player we used to refer to as 'K-Mart' waaaay back in the early days of the IGBT?

Blogger's note: It is

[Rob.V]

I know it was a long shot with injuries and all however it's unfortunate that the Raps couldn't pick up Gasol and that expiring $19 million or so next year. That sure would have been a nice chip to have... there may be a bigger lineup for that contract this time next year. It will be interesting to see how the new CBA shakes things up around the league. Gargantuan expiring deals like Gasol's have always had value but with the new economics of the CBA it will be interesting to see if these contracts increase or diminish in value going forward.

Having said this, maybe there is still a S & T deal in the summer with one of the Utah bigs. I too still like that Boozer deal if we want to take a step forward in the East. I'm sure there will be some movement (more than an amnesty).

Have to grade the minor move an A. The Raptors definitely didn't need another 2nd round pick so from the perspective of clearing cap room for next season this helps. They avert Haddadi's cost, and the cost of the incoming 2nd rounder.

Dean. If Gay shoots 30% next season and the Raptors finish with 45 wins is this a disaster? How about he shoots 50% and they finish with 30 W's. Shouldn't it be more about "team" wins.

I mean, so far so good right. What's to complain about. They're winning, we have young developing players that are going to get better... and they are playing that gritty, nasty, salty type of playoff (defensive) Basketball that we've been asking for for 10 years!

Things are looking up!.

[Angelo]

From what I remember watching Telfair he's not very assist-prone, it'll be interesting to see if he'll improved in that respect and earn himself a contract with the raps. If not I hope agressively pursuing Jose this summer is what the Raps opt for.

[james]

"With Klezia off the books, possible deal for Bargnani, Colangelo truly could have this going the right way."
Mr. Mos: If he'd just bring back our guy, Jose, I'd agree with you.
Geoff R.: Good letter in the G & M.

[Geoff Read]

James: thanks.

[GM]

Did anyone else read the breakdown of Rudy Gay's game in the Memphis paper yesterday? While it's completely negative, it does seem to be dispassionate, based just on advanced numbers. For example, on that play late in the game when he went 1-on-1 with Randolph before turning it over, it says, "in all ISO plays, Gay passes the ball just 8.3% of the time. Just 8.3 percent! And digging deeper, there's more. When he's ISO'd at the top of the key, as he is here, Gay drives left 45% of the time and right 22% of the time." To read the full article, follow the link: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/feb/21/numbers-game-rudy-gay-his-own-worst-enemy/

And the commenters mostly seem to be glad he's gone.

[JT]

I like the deal for Telfair. Pretty much getting something for nothing. I've watched Telfair previously and I do believe he is a better defender than Lucas. Can the Raps amnesty more than 1 player this summer?

Blogger's note: No

[ronmor]

Doug,

GM's link to the Memphis paper regarding Gay's tendencies with the ball in crucial game situations should be mandatory reading for Dwayne and Rudy. If Gay is to make a long-term impact on an improvement to the Raptors' fortunes in coming years he must LEARN to involve his teammates more on the offensive end.His difference in that area from Jose is as night is to day.

I favoured the trade at the time and still do but RG must become more of a complete player especially on offense if the Raptors are to reap the full benefits of the trade going forward.

RSM

[TLI]

Good work, SuperDad!
If young, teenage SuperSon is blaring Flip, Flop & Fly in the morning, you & SuperMom are definitely doing something right.
BTW - best version ever was Toronto's own Downchild Blues Band, wasn't it?

Blogger's note: It sure is; have used it before, though. And Pat Carey of Downchild teaches Super Son the sax once a week so we're really on the right track.

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. I like the fact that they didn't trade Bargnani yesterday. I still think he possesses a skill set that can be very useful to this team, especially the way it is now constructed. I'm surprised that he wasn't on the floor at the end of the game against Memphis. I realize that he had a terrible night, but when you're down 5 with less than a minute to go even a terrible Bargnani out on the 3 point line is a better option than Aaron Gray clogging up the lane.