This was a question and answer from one of my favourite sports journalists.

I’m upset because I think Toronto is a great city (it’s extremely multi-cultural and friendly) and every time we get anyone good to play here they end up leaving. Vince Carter, T-Mac, Chris Bosh and even Mo Pete (Morris Peterson). This is just a rant, but maybe you have some input about the situation. Is there just a stigma in the States that Toronto is a bad city? Why do people never want to play here and what does the future hold for us? — Matt Negreanu, Toronto

Having been there dozens of times, I agree that Toronto is a wonderful place. In addition to the attributes you highlight, Toronto is clean, peaceful, easy to traverse and filled with wonderful stores, restaurants and parks, beautiful lakeside scenery and recreational areas, a wide variety of cultural events and even fascinating architecture.

However, for too many cosmopolitan Americans, Toronto is erroneously deemed to be little more than a glorified hick town. Some ultra-patriots may still be hostile to Toronto because it provided refuge for draft resisters during the Vietnam conflict.

But losing Carter, T-Mac, Bosh and Mo Pete was nothing to cry about. The problem was the Raptors’ brass believing that those guys were the real deal and could make the team authentic contenders. If the roster were stocked with players who know how (and want) to win, Toronto would be more attractive to the type of performers who would have a more positive impact on the franchise’s fortunes.

Poll on the website:
All else being equal, in which city would you prefer to play?
      Cleveland 12% Oklahoma City 32% Toronto 56%

When Canadians like Nash (Suns) do not want to play in Canada, you know you’ve got a problem.

In the last 30 years there have been 21 new teams added to the 4 major sports leagues, of those 21 teams only 5 have won championships. The Florida Marlins have 2, Arizona Diamondbacks have 1, the Tampa Bay Lightening have 1 and the Miami Heat have 1. If Dwayne Wade did not lead that spectacular comeback no expansion team in NBA history would have won a championship.

I have to say that if the statement “No Star Wants to Go to Toronto” was true it speaks mostly to the immaturity, ignorance or self-absorption of many NBA stars. Bosh and Carter were both happy to play in Toronto, while the team was winning. If all a player cares about is being on ESPN and getting invited to premieres of movies, then is that really the guy you want to build your team around? (cheapshot, I realize)

All teams have to go through this soul searching bad publicity period at some point. A couple of years ago, I remember reading that no player wanted to go to New York(because the team sucked and was capped out). Really?

Having recently visited the Bay Area, I can say that San Francisco is a helluva city, but if you think back over the years there have been players that refused to go there or forced their way out. The Warriors were recently sold for 400M+ and aren’t likely to go anywhere anytime soon.

This latest piece from M&M is just more hot air added to the massive amounts that comes out during the offseason. Why right now their is a sidebar on Raps HQ advertising a totally absurd article called “Why Greed is Good…” What a load of horse manure that article turned out to be. I read it thinking that the author might offer some novel point of view on the Miami situation, but as I discoverd it was just some guy talking out of his a#%, same as this latest ESPN baloney.

ESPN may think that the basketball world ends at the US border, but they are failing to understand that it is a hugely popular sport around the world(some say #2 behind soccer), that Toronto has both tons of native-born basketball fans and many more fans immigrating in every year and that MLSE is one of the richest ownership groups in the league(~$75 Billion in assets). On top of all that, Toronto and Canada are increasingly producing promising basketball that is being honed in US prep schools and colleges.

This post is mostly a directionless rant, but sign me up for the “Yes” option.

How many big free agents have changed the faces of franchises?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/413669-the-10-best-nba-free-agent-signings-ever#page/1

There is a list of top 10 free agent signings in nba history and the impact they have had on their teams. Aside from Shaq to the Lakers it is very difficult to think of any major star changing teams and leading teams to titles. In the nba it really is a process, drafting well, signing good role players and building team chemistry. Our problem, BC feels like his head is on the chopping block. This is causing him to go for band aid solutions instead of long term solutions. In start with the GM, then to the head coach and the players, you need consistency to build chemistry and build a core.

Bosh and Carter both signed extensions before leaving. MoPete was given more money elsewhere and McGrady left because he wasn’t happy being a number two..

LeBron left Cleveland where he was born and raised for sh*t sakes…
All this discussion does is make us look like a bunch of whiners.. We approach our sports teams with the same “woe is me” attitude and as a result, ALL of them suck.. And THAT’S what people in the US have a problem with. We’re pus*y’s. If someone doesn’t want to be here for any reason – *uck em’.. If you’re that bothered by it, burn a jersey. Depression is merely anger that lacks enthusiasm.. otw lets move on…

If yawl haven’t read this yet, please read. Not only is it hilarious, it’s an interesting read of how Ron Artest has dealt with mental illness and a troubled child hood. Great redemption story… But some of this is just toooooo funny, some gems:

“WHERE ARE YOU MOST AT PEACE?
At the beach. Man, give me a mango drink, some sand, that water, and it’s all good. I love running in the sand. But sometimes I’m scared as hell of water. Whenever I’m out there, I’m thinking, “Damn, some tidal wave is about to come!” Okay, so maybe I’m not totally at peace at the beach."

Ok so I guess RonRon is never at peace! LOL

“NOW THAT YOU’VE WON A TITLE, DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY PERSONAL GOALS IN THE NBA?
I would love to get back to first-team All-Defense. I own defense. It’s like my corporation. I’m the CEO and everyone else is just an employee. The fans and players know I belong. When you need a stop, who you going to call? Not the goddamn Ghostbusters, I’ll tell you that. You call me.”

“Not the goddamn Ghostbusters” LMAO! That’s classic material Ron!

“DO YOU STILL WANT TO PLAY FOR TEAM USA?
I want a gold medal so bad, I’d be the water boy. But they won’t even let me try out! I’ve been trying to get on that team forever. Three years ago, I called Jerry Colangelo. He answered the phone. I said, “Hi, this is Ron Artest,” and the dude hung up! At least let me try out. Give me a chance to represent the ghettos of America. Come on, Team USA! I don’t have much time left."

The fact that Ron called Jerry Collangelo and then Jerry immediately hung up on him is the funniest thing I’ve heard all week.

Oh and RonRon’s favorite movie? Titanic. Of course it is… : )

Here’s the link, watch the video too: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5417748

could have had just about any NBA city in it. Most Phoenix fans would certainly agree with the statement. A winning team does make a huge difference tho’ to getting second tier players which puts you in the playoff mix.

The national media talking heads are generally a year behind on any news that doesn’t concern one of the 3 or 4 big name players or the Lakers/Celtics so they tend to be irrelevant to small market teams. They should be ignored.

Just a good solid lineup in Toronto will be competitive.

IMO they should join the Rudy Fernandez trade talks. Portland wants to get rid of Rudy and Pryzbilla and Toronto has some pieces they can give to probably land Rudy and join his fellow Spaniard Jose Calderon and play great basketball together.

A scenario would be…

A.)
Toronto gives:

Reggie Evans, Marco Bellineli and Joey Dorsey/Sonny Weems or a 2nd round pick.

to Portland for

Rudy Fernandez, Joel Pryzbilla or add a 2nd round pick (if it includes DOrsey/Weems.)

or

B.)

Toronto gives:
Marcus Banks, Reggie Evans

to Portland for

Rudy, Pryzbilla and S&T Patrick Mills (to even the salary since Banks and Evans is 9 Mil while Rudy and Pryz is only 8M) or Dante Cunningham/Jeff Pendergraph.

Fernandez is a offensive juggernaut and with him and DeRozan playing at the same time that’s a one-two punch on the offensive end already. And if healthy, Pryzbilla could provide big man depth and possibly can slide Bargnani into the PF spot. If he’s not, well his contract is expiring in a year so it’s not so bad.

A staring 5 of Calderon, Fernandez, DeRozan, Amir Johnson, Bargnani sounds competitive especially in the East when pretty much the Heat, Celtics, Magic, Hawks, Bulls (and maybe the Bucks) are the only ones considered “locks” in the playoffs as of now.

Though defensively it does not sound pretty amazing, but they can learn to adjust. They’re basketball players.

just an opinion.

A suggestion for a possible future thread: How do you tank without ruining the spirit of the young players you are trying to develop? Also, players on bad teams tend to develop bad habits. Considering the thing we like so much about the Young Gunz is their work ethic and attitude, how do we keep that in tact while sucking enough to get another couple of talented building blocks through the draft? Lastly, how do we suck enough to acquire good talent while not simultaneously giving that incoming talent the impression that Toronto is a bad place to play and a losing organization, etc…? To me this all seems like a very fine balancing act. Clubs that attempt this are really walking a razor’s edge.

McGrady was gone one way or another, but both Bosh and Carter stuck around to sign a second contract so it wasn’t exactly the Memphis Grizzlies. And had management built Championship contending teams around them, I doubt they’d be (or have gone) elsewhere.

To say Toronto hasn’t been able to build a Contender (around Carter & Bosh), contradicts the main focus of today’s post – we can’t get F/Agents (or trade-able players) to come to Canada. I realize the draft is one other option, but for most teams that make it to the Finals, topping up the talent level requires going outside, in order to balance out the roster.
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That ESPN crap ……. As someone said before, they’re still pissed about the Canadian access thing. I really could care less what they think. Tunnel vision is far too common down there.
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With regard to Canada ….. I really believe that our obscurity is slowly giving way, because of the Internet, and all the information accessible. Before hand, it was left up to their educational system, a narcissistic entity if there ever was one. And my apologies to those Americans who run counter to this persona.
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As I’ve mentioned before, maybe the Raps need to emulate the Detroit Pistons model – no Superstars. It seemed to work for them. A good group of players, who play like a TEAM.
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Yes Toronto has a tougher time obtaining and keeping players… however that doesn’t mean that Toronto shouldn’t have a team.

If enough fans go to games, watch games, buy gear etc. to keep it profitable there will always be a team here. That can be done regardless of whether big name players are here or not. (there is likely enough Canadian and non-north american support to keep it going and profitable)

However, we as fans need to appreciate that this organization being in Toronto is going to be an added handicap when it comes to players. While it maybe that ‘winning cures all’, it also must be realized it will be more difficult to create that winning culture (or winning team) when players are harder to obtain, seem to need to be ‘overpaid’, or want to chase those bigger endorsement deals in the states.

We need to be less concerned about contracts, more supportive of players who actually want to be here, are less focused on the ‘big name’ players.

http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2010/07/30/bryan-colangelo-fails-again/

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As some have alluded to, the Raps need to pay a “premium” to snag those free agents out there – enough so they forget they’re in a foreign country.

As such, Toronto has to start zeroing into Luxury tax land, more so than other teams. One only has to look at how much the top 4 teams in each conference spent (out of 9 top spending teams – New York excepted). We need to spend, and of course, not foolishly either. Just spend. We don’t right now (and never have), which is why we’re always on the outside, looking in – wondering what it’s all like.
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I think we might be over-thinking this issue. The thing that attracts talent to your team is a culture of winning and success, not the geographic location. While some places may be more attractive than others (e.g. no income tax in Florida), I think by and large, talent gravitate towards teams with good management and a winning culture.

Unfortunately, Toronto hasn’t been a legitimate championship contender throughout its history. Furthermore, our management and coaching staff have sometimes been the laugh of the league (e.g. Butch Carter, Rob Babcock). As was noted in the post, Toronto was able to get both VC and Bosh to re-sign with us when the team was experiencing success. Had we continued to have success, I think we likely would have been able to retain those players.

To say that Toronto can’t field a contending team because we can’t attract star talent is a short-sighted view of the NBA. With the exception of the Three Dream Team, superstar players usually do not change teams through free agency given the current salary structure that we have. Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki are good examples of this. Rarely do superstar, franchise-changing players leave their teams via free agency.

I think what we have to blame for not fielding a competitive team is our management and coaching staff for failing to construct a successful franchise. While in some cases decisions may partially be based on location, the bigger issue is our inability to build a winner and draft successful players.