Media Watch for September 24, 2007

I'm tired of all the injury risk talk, especially from across-the-country nabobs like Ziller who are simply deflecting attention from their craptacular cap-strapped teams (Sacramento).

Fact is, Bosh played all last season with PF (he only missed those games with a knee injury, not foot), and one does not have to play for a national team in the summer to get injured (Brand ruptured his left Achilles' tendon during his daily workout routine).

Finally, all those dissing the Kapono signing need to give the benefit of the doubt to Colangelo; he is a buy-low kind of guy (Parker, Garbo, etc.) and there is no reason why Kapono at 26 can't broaden his game. MoPete is getting the same cash and years from New Orleans and he is on the downside of his career. I guess it's time to prove the doubters wrong once again.

I'd rather have varejo than kirilenko. Can't believe they haven't locked him up yet.

Yes I agree, people are always saying negative things about my raptors, but you know what we shock them last year we will continue to shock them until they have no choice but to give us nuff respect.

I agree with axl, I really like varejo game but I guess BC is not going to do anything right now

Axl, tell me you are just trying to make a point about going after Varejo. I can't actually believe that at the same price, you would rather have Varejo over Kirilenko. Not a chance!

You tell them JJ, Kapono will be a great addition, regardless of what some dude in Sacramento says.

I've always been a huge supporter of TJ, but I think I may be coming over to the other side. I look for Brian to package one of them at or before the trade deadline and it may just be TJ.

About Swirsky and bad nick names about Spanish Fly???

'Finally, all those dissing the Kapono signing need to give the benefit of the doubt to Colangelo; he is a buy-low kind of guy'

Since he came off a career year, and many dubbed the contract to be too rich, I do not think you could classify this as a buy low move.

Questions - you trade Ford, even in a package, you're going to get a lesser PG in return unless it's a kid with a big upside. Big risk with having to sign Calderon next year, and also gives Calderon leverage to raise the stakes. Don't see it being worth it at point.

zona - yes, one of the reason I think varejo's a better fit is because he should come cheaper than kirilenko. But I also think he's just a much better fit. I just think we don't need another starting scorer. We need a high energy rebounder who plays off the ball. And i'm assuming AV could play mostly as an oversized 3 and play the 4, 5 as needed, maybe that's unrealistic.

Of course AK's defence would be nice but mostly I just hate players who sign big contracts and give up on their team.

Erezona ...you are dr eaming BC awill not and I repeat not trade TJ he would rather trade Jose than Tj

My only concern with Kapono would be his passing (which I've heard is fine, but I obviously haven't witnessed much of it).

The whole discussion of injuries though, that's silly. We lost several key guys last season and still managed 20+ games improvement, a division title, and 6 playoff games (with what, 1 dude on the roster who'd ever been?). This team is built to survive injury.

I think for BC to actually consider trading TJ over Jose, he would need to see some kind of continued huge improvement from Jose. If Jose takes the starting job from TJ because Mitchell figures he's earned it, then and only then would I look to BC to make a move.

The beautiful thing is, he doesn't really have to trade either of them.

Shep, with the salary cap stracture, you really can't have two great guys at the same position on your team without sacrificing the rest of the roster. If Jose continues to improve, there is not way that both he and TJ are on the roster next year. I love them both and go back and forth between them. Not really sure who I'd rather have, but I think that as the season goes on, it will become apparent.

After watching several "Raptors Game in an Hour" on RapsTV the last few weeks, the Swirsk really, really needs to take the "salami and cheese" line out back behind the ACC and put it down with a bullet.

Nothing worse than watching a game and there's 7 minutes left and Chuck trots the line out. It's unprofessional and unsportsmanlike IMO and it needs to stop.

And this is coming from a big Chuck Swirsky supporter.

Uretha...agreed! That gimmick was amusing the first few times I heard it but it's become downright irritating. It's even worse when Leo keeps "baiting" Chuck by asking if it's time for the salami and cheese yet. I generally like the Swirk's enthusiasm for the game that he brings to the broadcasts but he seriously needs to let the salami and cheese die.

good call on the salami and cheese, did you see they even have them printed on t-shirts? and on top of that, on the "chuck checks in" blog, sometimes people write in asking for them .... in other news i don't know about you guys but i am very intrigued to see what jamario moon can bring to the table

I am also interested in seeing Moon play. He might be the 'buy low' guy BC was looking for.

I know that having two great players in one position hurts, but I might see BC doing it at the PG position. In a BC offence, the PG is critical and you don't want TJ playing 40 mins a game.

I think that trading TJ is an option, but his value per dollar is a lot less than Jose. I know BC traded CV to bring in TJ and Ford is kinda his guy, but the legomaster would not stick with a guy just for that reason. I am sure if it becomes obvious that Jose is the future and he can get value for Ford he would trade him.

That said, if Calderon's stock keeps rising, it would be interesting to see what he might fetch. One player I am sure would look good is Josh Smith. I think today a swap like that might not work, but if Jose comes in and ups his play, those two could be the principals of a trade that helps both teams.

Interesting idea with Calderon and Smith. Smith of course is another player whose skill set (attitude aside) would be a perfect fit for the Raps at the 3. Right now the salaries are out of wack, but like you said Archibald, if Jose ups his play (and therefore his contract status) then maybe a swap could work down the road with some additional players.

Also - speaking of Jamario Moon, a link from Slam that mentions him along with a few other fringe NBA'ers:

http://slamonline.com/online/2007/09/most-known-unknown/

The salaries pretty much match for this year. If some kind of a trade deadline deal did go down, both contracts are in similar in that Josh Smith needs a qualifying offer and Jose is a restricted FA. I do think that Jose wouldn't be enough though.

Josh Smith $2,243,543

Jose Calderon $2,471,604

-didn't JSmith sign an extention this offseason? I thought he was making a lot more now?

Whoa-ho-ho! Did nobody notice the new design at www.raptors.com? Mind-boggling. Seems kind of cluttered. Too much text on the page, that's what it is.

Erezona - I think if there ever was a time to keep two starting quality players, it's when you have PGs that good. They just make everyone on the floor better. If you look at the suns, their real problem is the drop-off when Nash sits. My favourite thing about the raps is that there generally is no drop off when a PG sits.

I can't see an NBA gm agreeing with me (although spurs have freakin manu ginobli coming off the bench and he's a starter if not a pg, so that partly supports my point), so I don't expect BC to jump through any hoops to keep both PGs. I think whoever becomes the better jumpshooter will stay and the other will go when jc's contract is up.

BTW why do people care either way about salami and cheese?

1. Agreed, Frank, the new raptors.com is pretty bad. I'm in the internet business and let me just say the information hierarchy is all over the place. It's also pathetic that MLSE positions such blatant corporate sponsorships (Rogers persisting in the banner) and ad spots (Honda, Ben Stiller movie, etc.) right in the middle of the frickin' homepage. Maybe I'll just bookmark "Chuck Checks In" so I can read it while I enjoy my salami and cheese sandwich.

2. I mentioned this in an earlier post, but if Jose gets, say, $7 million a year, that would be around $15 million for two young, quality PGs, which is a lot better than Starbury making $20 million, Baron (injury risk) Davis making $16 million and asking for a max extension, and Mike Bibby making $13.5 million. Only Kidd at $19 million is worth that much money as a PG (Nash is making less). The only question is, if they *are* satisfied with their salaries, would they then be happy splitting time, with TJ playing, say, 28 minutes, and Jose playing 20 minutes, for the next 3-4 seasons?

3. Yapper, Josh Smith has not *yet* signed an extension, but since, in his class of 2004, Kevin Martin got 5 years $55 million, and there are one-dimensional players like Ben Gordon asking as much, front-court studs like Deng, Okafor, Al Jefferson and yes, Josh Smith, are probably going to get $12-$15 a year, if not a max deal like D'Black Howard got. So, if for some reason Atlanta is suckered enough to trade J-Smoove for a *currently back-up PG* (especially when they just drafted another back-up PG in Acie Law), the Raps will be paying the luxury tax through 201? -- especially with Bargs extension coming up in 2 years. Now, MLSE can do this, considering they are raking in the cash with the parity of the CND and a salary-capped Leaf team, but since they have no issue with ruining their web presence with advertisements, I don't see why they would pay the tax if they don't have to.

Now espn is reporting that Marion wants out of Phoenix! Sure seems to be a summer of discontent for elite players (him, AK47, Kobe). If you read Jack McCallum's book on the Suns, it seems that Marion doesn't like playing 3rd fiddle to Nash and Amare and has now decided that his poor bruised ego can't take it anymore. Marion for AK47 anyone?

Re: Marion

I'd love for the Suns (my 2nd favourite team) to deal Marion for AK47.

As awesome a defender as Marion is (and he is IMO the most versatile in the league. Period), AK47 is almost as good, and AK would be a MUCH better fit ego wise and offense wise in the Suns system.

Kirilenko would also shave a $3M a year for the first two years off the price of Marion, and as much as $6M for the last two years (Marion is due an extension and has publicly requested it be $20M a year - I'm assuming that's high and he only gets $18-19).

The thing I wonder is, would Utah be interested in Marion? Does he fit well next to Okur, Boozer, etc.?

I just hope it isn't the rumored Odom+? for Marion deal. I've never been impressed with Odom, and he's had multiple shoulder surgeries.

Gotta agree with Axl - think BC is very happy with our point guard situation and I think his main objective would be to resign Jose - I really don't think we would get market value for him at this point in time.
As Erezona stated - lets see how we progress throughout the season - just about every other team envies our PG situation. What about the possibility of TJ and Jose on the floor at same time? The experimented a little last year and I expect to see it more often this year. Would like to see a minimum of 25 minutes each. With 5-10 minutes on floor together.
With regards to the two ingrates who want to leave a winning situation --why would we want them?