Seventh Place!!

Earlier this year I referred to the Philadelphia 76ers as "middling," which may still be true, but the Raptors are now officially more (less?) middling. With their win over the Celtics last night the Sixers moved one spot ahead of the Raptors for the sixth seed in the playoffs. If the playoffs started today, the Raps would play the Pistons who would sweep over us worse than ex-Raptors coach Gene Keady did his hair.

In the meantime, the Raps play - oh shit - the Pistons tomorrow night. Considering the only team that Toronto's managed to beat in all of March (and remember this is the 25th) is the Chris Quinn-led Miami Heat, the Raps should have no trouble getting ground into 'Sheed snacks.

After that nightmare, however, nine of the Raptors' final 11 games are against teams with sub-.500% records. The absolute best that the Raps can do this year is equal last year's total of 47 wins. More realistically they'll get 43 wins. But if the Raptors have shown us anything this year it's that they're adept at underperforming.

Without Chris Bosh I Am Nothing

You might have guessed the reason(s) for the dormancy lately. After a hardy month of convincing myself that the Raptors are well-alligned for the future they started sucking the fat bag, losing five straight and eight of their last ten. I still believe that the team's salary flexibility over the next two seasons is a massive asset, but some of the personel, including a coach or three, might be doing a less-than-adequate job. And at some point the future has to become the present, which has shown no signs of happening in Toronto.

Most disappointing has been the play of T.J. Ford and Andrea Bargnani. It's getting more difficult to have confidence in the potential of Bargnani when he's passed up, or just plain flunked, his opportunity to contribute at his natural position while Bosh is out with a knee boo-boo. Meanwhile, as evidenced by the above clip, T.J. Ford has gone apeshit. He's eschewed passing in favour of taking inscrutable circus shots, ignoring his teammates and handing the ball to opposing teams.

A friend and I have been dreaming up possible trade scenarios involving Ford and, sadly, a suggestion from a Blazers fan on a Yahoo! board seemed most realistic: Pryzbilla + Jack + filler for Ford. It leaves me breathless. Remember, the Raps only gave up Charlie V for the Little Engineer of Doom.

On the positive side, Washington's only one win away from tying Toronto for fifth in the East. The Raptors would be much happier dropping to sixth to face the Magic in the playoffs than staying in fifth and drawing the Cavs. Chris Bosh loves playing the Magic.

Here's a great piece by Tim Chisholm for TSN which is a bit discursive - since it begins by questioning the basis of the NBA's Coach of the Year Award - but makes some nice points about how Sam Mitchell is failing, and the challenges of making a good team an elite team.

Oh, and Rogers Sportsnet won't be televising Raptors - or any NBA - games next year.

Bosh is back tomorrow!

Building the Raptors, Part Three

Rarely are assets viewed as "problems," but to the hyper-neurotic community of Raptors' fans, having two quality point guards in Jose Calderon and T.J. Ford has become a dilemma, especially with Calderon's impending free agency.

How much money will he command? Which teams will be offering him nosegays and confections, courting our inscrutable Castillian star? Bryan Colangelo catches a break, since the only teams that look like they'll be under the cap next season are the Sixers, Sonics and possibly the Clippers. It's safe to assume that someone will offer AT LEAST the mid-level exception ($6 million) to Calderon, but given that the Sixers have Andre Miller under contract next year for $10 million, and that they have to re-sign Andre Iguodala who wants big dough, it probably won't be them. The Sonics recently (moronically) re-signed Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson to more than $5.5 million each (for full figures see below), so their hands are tied, albeit loosely. The Clippers have too many variables, such as Elton Brand exercising his player option and Corey Magette not exercising his, which is a near certainty. Of all the teams waiting to steal the Spanish Fly, I think the Clippers have the best shot, but a few things have to happen before they even make an offer.

And, historically, teams are reluctant to make an offer to a restricted free agent unless they know they can sign him, since the offer is counted against a team's cap, restricting its ability to sign other free agents. It may not even matter given that Colangelo has the ability to match any offer, something which he's publicly said he will do.

Currently T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon make a combined $10.5 million (T.J. - $8 million; Calderon - $2.5 million). This makes them one of the most inexpensive point guard combos in the league, cheaper than the Timberwolves' consortium of clowns ($10.7 million). Considering the market and the situations outlined above, I expect Calderon to sign a three-year, $22.5 million deal ($7.5 million per season). I can mask it behind cap facts and trends, but realistically it's just a guess.

If Calderon does sign as I expect, it would put the Raptors PG tandem at $15.5 million per season, which sounds like a lot for one position but isn't; Keep reading for an explanation why.

Stephon Marbury alone makes $20.1 million this year and will "earn" $21.9 million next year. When you add back-up Nate Robinson's $1.2 million this year and $2 million next year you get totals of $21.3 million and $23.9 million. Imagine if the Knicks still had Steve Francis.

Below is a team-by-team point guard payroll. I've only included teams that are comparable to the projected PG payroll of the Raps and others that I found interesting. You won't see teams like the Jazz or the Hornets on here because their kids are still on rookie contracts even though they're playing like future hall-of-famers.

The Well-Managed:

Detroit Pistons = $12.3 million + ?

• Chauncey Billups - $10 million + $11 million
• Lindsey Hunter - $2.3 million + FA

Phoenix Suns = $17 million + $18.4 million

• Steve Nash - $11.4 million + $12.3 million
• Leandro Barbosa - $5.6 million + $6.1 million
• I realize Barbosa isn't a true point guard, but he's what they go with while Captain Canada's lying on his stomach in a carapace of towels.

San Antonio Spurs = $11.7 million + 12.8 million

• Tony Parker - $10.5 million + $11.5 million
• Jacque Vaughn - $1.2 million + $1.3 million

The So-So:

Atlanta Hawks: 2008 = $19.8 million; 2009 = $20.2 million

• Mike Bibby - $13.5 million + $14.5 million
• Speedy Claxton - $6.3 million + $5.7 million

Chicago Bulls = $14.3 million + ?

• Kirk Hinrich - $11 million + $10 million
• Chris Duhon - $3.3 million + FA

Dallas Mavericks = $20.3 million + at least $21.3 million

• Jason Kidd - $19.7 million + $21.3 million
• Jose Juan Barea - $600,000 + FA

Golden State Warriors = $16.4 million + $17.1 million

• Baron Davis - $16.4 million + $17.1 million
• Davis has no real "back-up." The team runs the ball through Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis during the less than nine minutes Baron replaces his electrolytes on the bench. For that reason, I haven't included their salaries.

Philadelphia 76ers = $12.7 million + ?

• Andre Miller - $9.3 million + $10 million
• Kevin Ollie - $3.4 million + FA

Washington Wizards = $17.7 million + a lot more

• Gilbert Arenas - $11.9 million + a lot more
• Antonio Daniels - $5.8 million + $6.2 million

The Queer:

Los Angeles Clippers = $12.5 million + phantom PG

• Sam Cassell (buy-out) - $6.1 million + FA
• Shaun Livingston - $4.4 million + FA
• Brevin Knight - $2 million + FA

Miami Heat = $12.7 million + ?

• Jayson Williams - $8.9 million + FA
• Marcus Banks - $3.88 million +FA

Minnesota Timberwolves = $10.7 million + $12.8 million

• Marco Jaric - $6 million + $6.5 million
• Troy Hudson - $4.7 million + $6.3 million
• Given the quality of Jaric and Hudson I find their combined salaries hilarious. But on top of that the Wolves have Randy Foye and Sebastian Telfair signed to rookie deals.

New York Knicks = $21.3 million + $23.9 million

• Stephon Marbury -$20.1 million + $21.9 million
• Nate Robinson - $1.2 million + $2 million

Orlando Magic = $5.9 million + ?

• Carlos Arroyo - $4 million + FA
• Jameer Nelson - $ 1.9 million + $5.5 million

Portland TrailBlazers = $20.7 million + at least $17.2 million

• Steve Francis (buy-out) - $16.4 million + $17. 2 million
• Steve Blake - $4.3 million + FA

Seattle SuperSonics = $12.3 million + $12.7 million

• Luke Ridnour - $6.5 million + $6.5 million
• Earl Watson - $5.8 million + $6.2 million

Building the Raptors, Part Two

The Raptors beat the 2005-06 NBA Champion Miami Heat tonight! Only Haslem missed the game for "personal reasons," Shaq and Kapono were traded, White Chocolate can barely lift his elbow, let alone pass off it, Posey signed with the Celtics, Mourning shredded up his leg and Dwyane Wade is coming off body reconstruction surgery. Still, a win is a win.

Or is it? Because a loss isn't just a loss. When the Raptors lost to New York and Indiana over the last two weeks, I found myself reading the RealGM boards and, with a hood-eyed, mouth-breathing Bargnani nod, vaguely agreeing with a few "fans" calling for the firing of Sam Mitchell. Luckily, a sapient contributor from Orlando noted: "The sky is falling Toronto. You're 32-27 and you've lost a few games in a row without your star player." Then I remembered that the Raptors were 27-55 just two years ago. Loren Woods played regularly and a guy named Eric Williams - who we acquired as part of the Vince Carter package - was in street clothes thinking, "If I can't even dress for this team, maybe my career's over."

Also, I remembered that the Pistons were beat by the Knicks (by 25 points), and lost all three of their meetings with the Chicago Bulls this season. My heart rate steadied and life went on.

Patience. It should be written on centre court at the ACC; it should have been the 2007-08 Raptors' marketing slogan; it should be the word most often used by Sam Mitchell. But sports fans aren't patient (I'm not patient). Here are a few reasons Raptors fans should be, though:

As stated in "Part One," the Raptors have $21,719,184 in expiring contracts next year, here's how they break down:

• Rasho Nesterovic - $8.4 million


• Anthony Parker - $4.5 million


• Jorge Garbajosa - $4.3 million


• Joey Graham - $2.4 million


• Maceo Baston - $1.9 million

This doesn't put them under the cap by any means, but it does give Bryan Colangelo flexibility as Doug Smith mentioned here. BC knows more than anyone that the Raptors need an above-average two or three that can slash and temper the team's current rebounding deficiency. A team may be tempted to take an expiring contract + a guy like Moon or Kapono because of their skills and upside before the season starts. Of all the names that Smith mentions, I find Josh Smith, Richard Jefferson and Jason Richardson the most intriguing (and least likely to pry away).

Barring a pre-season trade, expiring deals look more and more attractive as teams near the trade deadline. What got the Lakers Pau Gasol (other than Jerry West's corruption)? Hint: it wasn't Kwame Brown's tiny hands.

If you'll indulge me, and pretend, like I do every time I talk to my friends or post on this meager blog, that Bryan Colangelo loosens his collar at night in front of the Raptors' blogosphere and thinks, "Let's see what Andrew has to tell me tonight,"allow me some words of advice: Don't get too patient with Bargnani.

Part Three will explore why having Calderon and T.J. under contract is completely tenable and how much Delfino might command this off-season. In the meantime, here is Vince Carter being a total fucking idiot.

A Test of Hoops Allegiance

There I was, with a fresh sheet of paper in my typewriter, ready to bash out the second part of my "Building the Raptors" series when I decided to watch The Game. It's since ended, and after a vigorous tooth and body scrub and several wretches over the sink I've decided to abandon part two of my "Building the Raptors" series (until the next win).

The point of this blog has never been about game recaps (check The Dinosty for that, he does it better than some guys who get paid for it) but occasionally a game is so disheartening and painfully honest in its depiction of the Raptors that shock alone inspires me to make little point form notes of hate:

• Our franchise rests on the tender, geriatric knees of Chris Bosh. Did you see the play that he was injured on? I played ball today, set a few picks, but oddly my knee held up. Every time I watch Bosh's two spandex-braced legs stagger up court I worry about him turning into Shareef Abdur-Rahim.


• Sam Mitchell's understanding of a sensible rotation has evaporated with Bosh hurt. Nesterovic was killing the 'Cats with 13 points in the first. What does Mitchell do for the rest of the game? Go small and let Charlotte beat the Raps 50-37 on the glass.


• Is it that hard to get Jason Kapono a shot? I realize that he's a defensive liability, but he was 3-3 in 17.5 minutes. He has also won the NBA's three-point contest two years running.


• With each reminder that Toronto beat Charlotte without Bosh earlier this year, Chuck Swirsky illustrates that, yes, he is an employee of MLSE.


• Calderon and Ford don't share the court well. Stop the experiment, Sam. The pair allied on the floor with 4:30 left in the fourth and the Raps down 98-89. The game ended 110-98.


• Before the Raptors play LeBron or Kobe there's a feeling that most fans get, punctuated by a turn to whoever's sitting next to you and the words, "He's gonna get 40+ tonight, guaranteed." I had a similar feeling, only this time it was that Bargnani was going to have a decent game with Bosh out of the line-up. Instead, he did nothing to warrant any playing time - scoring six points on 2-8 shooting (0-3 from three) in 18.5 minutes. One could be excused for thinking that Barney didn't start playing RECREATIONAL basketball until last year. I checked, and he seriously has two left feet, both sets of toes jutting awkwardly to the right. It must be tough for him. Explains a lot, though.


• Mr. Colangelo, if you catch wind of this, please turn Bargnani into something. Listen to the tear-infused pleas of your coach and trade him for a man who can rebound. He's not Dirk Nowitzki and he never will be; he doesn't have the drive or the work ethic. He must have been too popular as a child, or something, he seems genuinely content with the way things are.


• Before Travis Diener and his mighty Indiana Pacers beat the Raptors there was talk that, if they went 16-10 the rest of the season, the Raptors would win 50 games. I actually thought it was reasonable. That figure now sits at 16-8 after losing to two of the least-watched franchises in the league (Indiana really does have the lowest home attendance, averaging 12,203 fans per game). Not happening. Part of me believed that Toronto's trying to meet Orlando in the playoffs for match-up purposes but then I remembered that this is professional sports.