Toronto Raptor’s offensive prowess enough to keep Chris Bosh in Canada?

by Jack Maidment

Best scoring teams in the NBA this year. Phoenix Suns. Golden State Warriors. Toronto Raptors.

Wait.

The Raptors? As unlikely as it may seem, the Canadians rank third overall in points scored this season.

108.12 points per is pretty damn impressive, especially when you consider that the franchise has experienced a fairly radical reshape in the past few months.

Shawn Marion has gone. As has Anthony Parker. Both athletic wing players, both versatile, both missed?

Losing two of your better players doesn’t seem like the type of business strategy designed to keep your restless star player in town next year.

With that in mind, it was far from surprising when the Raptors aggresively pursued Hedo Turkoglu whose value, fresh from a trip to the Finals, was at its peak.

Whether or not the amount of money Toronto splurged on snatching Turkoglu from the clutches of the Portland Trailblazers has had the desired effect on Chris Bosh’s mindset regarding 2010 and free agency, there can be no denying the benefits of having the ex Orlando Magic forward on your squad.

14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists may not exactly justify the man’s contract, but Hedo is certainly balling as he tries to adapt to a new home town, a new system. The level he was at last year should eventually come back to him as he adjusts to the wants and needs of his new team.

If Turkoglu isn’t blowing up with points every night, how are the Raps so prolific on the offensive end?

Their much coveted big man and his larger frame is perhaps the main reason. Chris Bosh has been putting up the kind of numbers that will have GMs across the land salivating. 29 points, almost 12 rebounds, 2 assists and a block a game. Numbers worthy of the anticipated demand for his services next summer.

The problem for the Raptors is that basketball is a game played on both ends of the floor. They are currently suffering from the same affliction that has dwelt in Golden State for some years. Entertaining for sure, but the ‘we’ll score more than you’ philosophy can only get you so far.

Defense is the key. A boring fact, but a fact all the same. Allowing 108.62 points a game just isn’t going to get it done in the NBA and it is for that reason the the Raps sit at .500, 3 games won, 3 games lost.

Until they develop a defensive identity the Raptors will remain a team on the cusp of greatness. They have enough fire power to worry any team in the League, but the consistency that a solid defense would bring is sorely missing.

Their status as dark horses for dishing out a playoff upset is well founded, especially given the promising play of rookie wing DeMar DeRozan who is right next to Brandon Jennings in terms of chances of excitement when a rookie plays.

The question for Toronto fans is simple: will the Raptors’ collective performance this year be enough to convince Chris Bosh to stay north of the border?

If it is, Toronto should have a promising few years ahead of them: Bargnani is always improving, Turkoglu should have 3 solid years to come, Calderon’s ability to run a team is unlikely to evaporate and the future of DeRozan is undeniably bright.

If not, Toronto will truly feel the sizeable hole left by Bosh, in all probability consigning the franchise to further years in the NBA wilderness, neither awful or great.

Mediocrity. Nothing more frustrating.

NBA Season Preview: Dirk’s Dallas Mavericks Coming For That #1 Spot?

by Jack Maidment

So apart from the fact that they have the most divisive owner in the entire NBA, what else do the Dallas Mavericks have to arrest your attention?

Sure everyone is talking about the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs are also receiving a large amount of heat. Even the Portland Trailblazers, Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets are at the very least on people’s Championship radar. Dallas Mavericks as actual viable contenders? Not for most people.

Since their capitulation in the Finals against Miami swiftly followed by their, uh, capitulation to the Golden State Warriors the Mavericks are very much the NBA’s forgotten team.

They make the Western Conference Semi Finals and yet are rewarded by just about no faith in their ability to go any further this coming season. Boston, LA and Cleveland closely followed by San Antonio, Portland, Orlando, maybe Denver. It will be one of those teams that gets their hands on Larry in June.

And yet.

The core that pushed Denver so close returns with the exception of their back up big man Brandon Bass who has signed with the Magic. That means that the best scoring power forward in the NBA today, Dirk Nowitzki, will try to lead a squad forward that has done just about nothing but improve since their exit in the 2009 playoffs.

The Spurs may have added Richard Jefferson. The Cavaliers may have added Shaquille O’Neal. But don’t sleep on the move that the Mavs made to bring Shawn Marion to Dallas this off season.

Regardless of his past two seasons in which his production has suffered as a result of changing locations and team members The Matrix remains one of the most versatile players in the League today. A combination of size, quickness and athleticism realistically allow Marion to cover any player on the floor and create a tricky match up problem on offense. Points, rebounds, assists, steals. You name it, Marion does it.

Imagine the unique skills of the former Phoenix Sun and imagine the possibilities of him playing with Jason Kidd on the fast break.

Now imagine the offensive capabilities of a squad made up of Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and JJ Barea.

The one piece that the Mavericks lack is a legitimate athletic big man to hold down the middle as was exposed by the ultra mobile front three of the Denver Nuggets in last years playoffs. Marion’s defensive prowess helps relieve this problem slightly, but the lack of absolutely quality big men in the West and the league in general should allow the Mavs to live with the best teams in the paint.

They will hope that their offense can counteract their defensive deficiencies.

Will the Mavericks win the title next year? The talent on their roster suggests that writing them off completely would be foolish and such a dismissal would only put you in the horrible position to receive an ‘I told you so’ from Sports Most Gracious Owner, Mark Cuban, if Dallas prove everybody wrong.

I’m playing it safe.

NBA Season Preview: Where’s the love for Orlando?

by Jack Maidment

Vince Carter for Hedo Turkoglu? 6 years ago this would have been the ultimate no brainer, like asking a wrestling fan to play favourites with The Hurricane or The Rock.

In fact, despite Carter’s decline due to ageing knees and the inevitable rot that playing for the Nets induces, he remains one of the best scorers and offensive weapons in the League.

The Orlando Magic gave up a lot of pieces to acquire Half Man Half Amazing but when you consider how well he fits with their current roster, the cost of the move (both monetarily and in lost player personnel) seems to be worth their while.

The team may have lost a small point forward who posed their opponents countless match up problems last year, but in Carter they add a player capable of shooting from deep and taking it to the basket in a much more athletic and dynamic way. How many times did you see Hedo dunk it last year? You can argue that dunks aren’t too important and that 2 points is 2 points from anywhere. But. With Carter going to the hole a lot more than Turkoglu the floor instantly spreads that little bit extra giving the likes of Jameer Nelson, Rashard lewis and Mickael Pietrus that much more room to operate.

His shooting ability also ensures the defence has to play true to him allowing Orlando’s resident beast the space he needs to rip the boards down or go to work when he finally develops a go-to post move.

A different player who creates a different match up problem, but a problem all the same. There is little doubt that Anthony Parker, Paul Pierce, Delonte West and Ray Allen are much looking forward to their defensive assignments when the Magic come calling next year.

The big question is: why is everyone sleeping on Orlando?

The majority of the talk seems to be revolving around a Cleveland-Los Angeles Finals just like was predicted last year, and we all no what happened with that.

If it isn’t LeBron and Kobe it is Paul Pierce and co who are filling the column inches. The return of Garnett and the addition of Rasheed Wallace apparently makes them favourites if they stay healthy, or at least The Truth thinks so.

So, despite making the Finals last year for only the second time in franchise history, the Orlando Magic are apparently out of the picture. Even though by adding Carter they improve. Even though by adding Brandon Bass and resigning Marcin Gortat they significantly strengthened their front court. Even though Dwight Howard will have another year of improvement under his Superman cape. Even though they made the Finals without their starting point guard.

Are you serious?

The Cavs, Lakers and Celtics all deserve heat, no question, but to ignore the Magic as absolute contenders and maybe even the team to beat is to not only disregard last year’s achievements, but also their potential going into this year to improve.

Orlando Magic, next year’s team on Parade Street? You better believe it.

Ramon Sessions signs offer sheet with Minnesota Timberwolves: Where does this leave Johny Flynn?

by Jack Maidment

With ‘point guard’ and ‘Minnesota Timberwolves’ in the same sentence you could be forgiven for jumping to conclusions. Ricky Rubio’s decision to remain in Spain for at least another two years barring something more than miraculous happening has entirely dominated not only news regarding the Wolves but also the NBA in general.

But apparently the world, or at least the NBA, has more stories to tell with the news coming out of Minny that Ramon Sessions of Milwaukee Bucks fame has agreed to an offer sheet.

It has been said that all publicity is good publicity but for David Kahn, Rubio’s snub can only be seen as a major problem for a GM who is not only trying to rebuild a team but also salvage and re-brand a franchise long deemed moribund.

The swift play for Sessions is clearly a bid to try and wash away the bitter taste of rejection left with Kahn since Rubio’s statement of intent. Swift the move may be, but the extent to which it will assuage the collective feeling of disappointment felt by all those associated with the Wolves will be minimal at absolute best.

The prospect of having arguably the most exciting young player in the world on your roster is a damn fine way to sell tickets and give your lowly franchise a boost. Bringing in a solid and improving player in Sessions? Just not the same.

And that is to say nothing negative about Sessions. Making it to the League from the D and proceeding to drop 20+ assist nights is something that deserves props: the fact that he has landed a 4 year $16 million contract is testament to the potential he has displayed in his relatively brief stint in the NBA.

This news cements a sense of finality regarding Rubio’s migration West: it’s not happening for a while.

As one case closes, albeit temporarily, another one opens: where does this leave Johny Flynn? The fact that the Wolves drafted two points back to back suggested that they had the faith in both of them to do things in their back court from the off, learning and growing on the job. Kahn said so.

Having Sessions join him in Minnesota must have Flynn a little perturbed to say the least. Bringing in another player at your position is hardly the best way of saying ‘we have confidence in you’ especially given the fact that Session is hardly a veteran himself. He may have played a lot more ball than Flynn but half a season in the NBA hardly puts him light years ahead of the Syracuse man in terms of leadership or savvy.

Training camp is going to be one hell of a ride.

Ricky Rubio to remain in Spain, signs for Regal Barcelona

by Jack Maidment

Spain’s prodigal son, Ricky Rubio, will be remaining in his homeland for at least the next year, probably two, before heading to the NBA.

Despite the prolonged negotiations between DKV Joventut and the Minnesota Timberwolves an agreement could not be reached. Ultimately it came down to the fact that the Wolves were legally prohibited from contributing a substantial enough amount toward Rubio’s ridiculous buyout clause which hovers somewhere around $5 Million.

Considering that the point guard earned less than $100,000 last year, the amount written into his contract to release him would appear to be obscene enough to be overturned by some court in the land, but apparently enough.

With the Wolves bound tightly by the law, Rubio will instead be playing his basketball for Regal Barcelona who have agreed to Joventut’s buyout numbers making Rubio the most expensive transfer in European basketball history.

The fact that Barcelona have agreed to pay such a fee for his services suggests that they expect/demand Rubio to remain in Spain for the foreseeable future.

If that is the case, Minnesota must place their hope in Johnny Flynn, the second point guard that they elected to pick in the Draft Lottery. The clarification of Rubio’s status officially puts the pressure on the Syracuse man to perform: their will be no help from Europe just yet.

Phoenix: Where Utter Madness and Warped Reasoning Happen.

by Jack Maidment

“I think that move was looked at as a white flag of surrender. We didn’t get anything back in that trade in terms of bodies, of players that we intended to keep. But the truth is that move gave us the financial flexibility to move forward and improve in a subtle way.”

The immortal words of Steve Kerr, the Phoenix Sun’s General Manager, when asked to illuminate the benefits of the deal that sent Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers in return for a pack of skittles and some squeezy cheese.

Any time that a GM uses phrases like improving in a ‘subtle way’ after trading one of the League’s best ever succeeds in doing only one thing: providing a growing list of detractors and haters who would happily wave goodbye to Kerr’s entirely controversial tenure in Arizona with even more reason to doubt the direction that the Sun’s are headed.

In the NBA, the words ‘financial flexibility’ are acknowledged as code for ‘save lots of money’, but the fact that such a message is emanating from one of the A’s more successful franchises is cause for bemusement.

It isn’t like watching the Memphis Grizzlies go after Allen Iverson strictly for ticket sales purposes regardless of how he wont fit with the team itself. Financial motives are supposed to be restricted to the lower echelons, not the Suns.

That’s why the situation in Phoenix is weird rather than sad. The vision of the team that was so solid two years ago has officially gone missing. It’s like the compass has been smashed and they have been left rudderless, unsure as to what direction they should head.

Clearing cap room by moving O’Neal would suggest the Sun’s are keen to rebuild rather than re-tool immediately otherwise they would have pursued a deal in which they received something of use for Shaq: there must be faith in Robin Lopez to grow with no other center on the horizon.

Yet re-upping Steve Nash for 2 years and oodles of noodles is hardly the move of a team looking to the future. For Nash, the winning has to start now, but the situation in Phoenix hardly looks conducive to producing the Canadian the rings that he deserves.

This contradiction doesn’t even take into account Amare Stoudamire’s belief that his chances of staying in the Valley of the Sun are 50/50.

What it is to be a Sun’s fan.

Nobody in the NBA has more to prove than Luol Deng

by Jack Maidment

Imagine for a second that you are a Chicago Bulls fan, fresh off of the series defeat to the Boston Celtics in round one of this years playoffs. You are happy and content despite defeat, safe in the knowledge that your team has just taken the defending NBA Champions as close as possible in professional basketball to defeat in a series that will go down in history as one of the finest of all time. A series worthy of more spoils than a mere second round birth.

If defeat can be anything other than heartbreaking, this was the time. A young Chicago team had done themselves proud. They could hold their heads high when glancing at the banners Jordan had provided, believing that their performance allows them hope of adding to the fabric hanging high above the floor.

By taking Derrick Rose with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft the Bulls had acquired the kind of player that only comes along every so often. Given his rookie season and his astounding play against Boston the Bulls have every right to think that Rose will become the League’s most dominant point guard for the next 10 years.

Couple Rose with the youthful exuberance, length and athleticism of Tyrus Thomas, who could be ‘the best running big man in the league’ according to Jeff Van Gundy, and the wild competitiveness of Joakim Noah and the Bulls are in a fine position to move forward with confidence and belief in their future.

That is not to forget the present though with many believing the Bulls will only improve on last year’s playoff run next season. Veterans like John Salmons, Brad Miller and Kirk Heinrich give Chicago one of the best benches in the East and in Vinny del Negro they possess a coach undaunted by one of the biggest jobs in basketball who acquitted themselves with aplomb since his arrival halfway through last year.

Which leaves us with the Luol Deng, the man charged with sparking the major resurgence of the Bulls: you don’t hand a player $71 million over 6 years for mediocrity and role playing.

The departure of Ben Gordon has left a 20/30/40 points a night space in the Bulls line-up which Deng will be required to fill. Coming off of a lengthy injury, Deng will have to hit the floor running to begin justifying the huge amount of faith (money) placed in him by the Bulls. The fact is, Deng has been in the NBA long enough for fans and GM’s alike to demand results. He can be ‘a project’ no longer.

$12 million a year is All-Star money and Chicago need a guy who Rose can at least half the pressure that accompanies playing for one of the biggest teams in sports. It has to be this season for Deng.

The Portland Trailblazers must rescue the Summer from boredom.

by Jack Maidment

On the day that we are told that the Detroit Pistons have lost Walter Hermann to Tau Ceramica in Spain, and that the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Jamario Moon to an offer sheet and that Blake Griffin has been ‘unjustly’ named MVP of Summer League, it becomes clear that there is literally nothing of any real interest happening in the NBA today.

Back up bench players departing for Spain can hardly be labelled exciting news, but the nature of 24 hour news and the fact that we are all greedy like fat kids with cake ensures that hoop heads around the world get a fix that might kkep them happy for around 2 minutes.

Until something more nourishing (read: anything at all) makes itself apparent, we will all have to make do with the speculation and overly hyped non events that are currently making up the bulk of our NBA diets.

So what is there to look forward to before the season begins in all those days time?

There are only two concrete definites: Lamar Odom’s contract and the money waiting to be unleashed in Portland.

So unleashed may be a bit strong, but there is certainly money to be had playing for the Trailblazers. The problem is that there really aren’t too many players left, if any, capable of justifying the almost $8 million in Kevin Pritchard’s pocket.

Turkoglu committed then bolted for Toronto and the ‘toxic’ offer they submitted for Paul Millsap just wasn’t enough to scare the cost effective folks in Utah. Which realistically only leaves David Lee as a target for the Blazer’s, though there is a very strong possibility that the Knicks will re-sign him anyway: by waiting for other teams to show their hands, New York stays in a strong position for when they negotiate Lee’s deal.

As for Lamar Odom, there seems to be a simple two horse race: the Lakers and the Miami Heat. The smart money would be on L O to remain in LA. Why would you leave? Quarrelling over one year and a few million seems ridiculous for a multimillionaire with a realistic chance at 2,3,4 more NBA Championships.

Neither storylines are exactly dynamite, but a combination of the two would certainly spice up the summer.

Portland are just about the only team with the cash Odom wants, but do the Blazers want Lamar?

Let us hope that the answer is yes, or we may be relegated to a summer of truly mind numbing proportions.

Miami Heat seek Lamar Odom and Carlos Boozer to appease Wade’s concerns

by Jack Maidment

The wheel that squeaks gets the grease.

True. Just ask Dwayne Wade. While nothing is concrete until the papers are signed, the noises emanating from Miami surely have to go some way to appeasing their franchise player’s fears over his supporting cast.

Everyone in the League knew the situation: Wade was never going to commit to the Heat’s extension offer unless Pat Riley made moves to suggest that Wade would be leading a contender, sooner rather than later, instead of carrying the entire hopes of Miami on his shoulders.

Riley seemed to be reading from the contrary script: without a commitment from Wade, no changes would be made.

However, it would seem that Riley has come to appreciate the sheer value of his franchise player with news of not one, but two, major trades involving the Heat both with the aim of helping Wade back to Championship challenging status.

Lamar Odom. Calos Boozer.

Boozer, who is being shopped to anyone and everyone, is apparently edging nearer to Miami as part of a trade that would send Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright to Utah. To balance salary and enable the Jazz to re-sign Paul Millsap, the Memphis Grizzlies will take on Wright’s salary, around $2.8 million, with cash and picks in return.

Odom, whose new contract offer from the Laker’s has been taken off the table, is allegedly being offered a five year $34 million deal at the mid level exception from Miami.

The Laker’s offered the forward four years at $36 million with his agent looking for five years and $45 million.

With money around the League all but dried up after the signing of Villanueva, Marion, Turkoglu etc Odom may well be forced to accept a move to Miami if the Laker’s remain staunch in their decision to withdraw their offer.

If both moves are successful, the Heat will boast one of the best starting front courts in the Eastern Conference with Boozer and Odom joining Jermaine O’Neal. 3 big men who can all score the ball will undoubtedly take the strain off of Wade, allowing him to shed some of the weight from his back.

It would also give the Heat scoring from the bench with Michael Beasley likely to lead the attack for the second unit.

The only question that remains will hang over the head of their point guard, second year Mario Chalmers, who did an impressive job in his rookie year: will he be able to keep Wade, Odom, Boozer, O’Neal and Beasley happy?

NBA Summer League 2009: Blake Griffin, Nick Young and Anthony Randolph all impressive. Carlos Boozer on the move.

by Jack Maidment

Aside from a D-League call up, the NBA’s Summer League represents the only real opportunity for players to make a statement of intent and show team’s around the League what they can bring to the table. 

The chance is universal: anyone who plays has the opportunity to build upon their reputation. True for sure, but at the same time the stakes are not the same for everyone. 

For the lottery picks and second year guys, Summer League is the chance to get to know team mates, learn their teams most basic offense and defense as well as show their watching coach and fans a little of what they will take into training camp and the opening night of the upcoming season.

For those picked lower down the draft and into the second round, performances at Summer League will either assure a team that they do want to commit to their salary or perhaps push them the other way: thanks, but no thanks.

The third and final group are a heterogeneous motley crew of players from the past, maybe from overseas and players unheralded coming out of college. Big performances here can lead to that dream contract: a spot on an NBA roster.

Unfortunately, the number of prospects dictates that not everybody can shine. There are only a certain number of squad openings. But hope is eternal and everybody has a shot. Play well and you may be rewarded. Play exceptionally and you almost certainly will be.

It is hardly surprising that the players who have drawn attention to themselves thus far are either from the upper reaches of the lottery or second year players with improvement in mind.

Golden State Warrior Anthony Randolph dropped 42 points on the Chicago Bulls, tying a Summer League record. Pretty impressive no doubt. Yet a pinch of salt may be needed when you learn who also holds the record: Marcus Banks and Von Wafer.

Both good players, but indicative of one thing: success in Summer league is definitely not directly transferable to the NBA where the best players on the planet come out to play.

Even so, Randolph grabbed his opportunity with both hands showing what he has learnt, how he has developed and what he is packing come tip off next time.

The Washington Wizards’ Nick Young is another second year guy who has returned to Summer League and torched his opponents. His 36 point outburst against the Cavaliers goes some way to illustrating why Caron Butler believes his team mate will be a 20 plus point a night scorer in the L.

Elsewhere Blake Griffin did everything possible to justify his #1 selection with an opening night haul of 27 and 12 helping a loaded Clippers squad (Eric Gordon, Mike Taylor) take down the Lakers whose Adam Morrison is doing a good job of reminding people why he was rated so highly just a few years ago.

Free agency may be winding down with most of the big names having chosen their detinations for next year, but trades are looming large. The largest of them all will involve Carlos Boozer who is leaving Utah for certain.

In a recent interview he confirmed that the Jazz are shopping him as part of their desire to ‘go in another direction’. Boozer is more than happy though given their agreement to work on a mutually acceptable destination and the fact that he has apparently wanted out of Salt Lake for some time now.