The Playoffs: So Miami and Memphis have moved on to the conference final. This makes only 4 franchises to have yet to play in a Conference Finals. The Raptors being one of the four along with the Clippers, Bobcats and one other team not to reach the Conference Finals. It stings when you realize the Grizzlies once that Vancouver team that we laughed about.
The latest Raptors’ mess is the simple choice on what to do in terms of Bryan Colangelo’s future. It has been just about a month since the Raptors season came to its conclusion and still we wait and wonder about who will be the G.M of this team. My partner on This Week In Raptorland Josh Lewenberg wrote a great piece on this whole situation go give it a read here.
Demar’s Shoe Game: Demar DeRozan is in the running to win an award. For his shoe game which is apparently cool. I have never been much of a sneakerhead myself. Even I notice some of the stylish kicks that Demar has sported through out the year. Here is an article making the case for him being the King of kicks from Nice Kicks .com.
The Draft: The Raptors despite not having picks are in Chicago checking out the draft combine. Lots of rumours about teams looking to get picks, including the Raptors apparently but don’t believe the hype. I would doubt this rumour has much base given the Raptors current cap situation. The Raptors still have to see if they end up with a pick via the draft lottery first of all. There is no question it should be a buyers market for picks in this draft. Most will be more interested in next season’s draft class expected to be topped by Andrew Wiggins who earlier in the week choose to take his great talents to Kansas.
It is a holiday weekend coming up so make sure to have fun and be safe. Will start are search for DNB Staff shortly after that.
5/14/13
News And Notes: B.C's Future, Wiggins to Kansas and Playoffs
It has been awhile but back typing on keys and talking some ball with you all again. The big story of the day is the announcement of Andrew Wiggins going to Kansas. Having had the chance to see him live and in person here in Hamilton there is no question he is worth the hype.
I find it interesting that in an age where the media seems to know everything before it happens. No one seemed to have a good idea on this one. It speaks to Wiggins and the type of young man he seems to be. He is greatly talented but not all that concerned with the hype that surrounds that talent. Most of the media and me had him targeted to go to Florida State. If it wasn’t there it was going be Kentucky. Well it ended up being neither.
The truth is whatever school that gets Andrew Wiggins was the winner. He could go to any school and likely keep his earned place as the number one pick in the 2014 draft. Congratulations to him and good luck as he has the chance of being the best Canadian Basketball player ever. Someone had noted this on twitter, in a place where the game’s Canadian Inventor spent many years at Kansas.
As for the Raptors it seems a strange game of chicken has begun as relates to the future of Bryan Colangelo. MLSE has still yet to make a choice about his future and Colangelo is apparently quite fed-up about it. I have to say regardless of what you think of the job he has done it hard not to agree with him. This is not rocket science here you have basically three options:
The stalling is keeping Bryan from finding a new position somewhere if the ultimate choice is to let him go. This is not a good way to do business as the end of the day. It is not like MLSE is hurting for cash and needs to force Bryan into quitting.
As for the NBA Playoffs I feel for the OKC Thunder that a year ago at this time looked like the team to battle the Heat for years to come. Now no James Harden and Westbrook lost to injury and they are on the verge of being out of it altogether this year. It sure seems like Miami has a clear path to the title. Really no one even looks as close to as strong as them at this point. I have to say the NBA Playoffs for me have not been exciting. Maybe it is my fault for always looking ahead rather than enjoying the moment in front of me.
Anyway that is about it from me. I will be starting a search for some staff soon. It is going to be vital to find some people to take this thing to where I want it to go.
I find it interesting that in an age where the media seems to know everything before it happens. No one seemed to have a good idea on this one. It speaks to Wiggins and the type of young man he seems to be. He is greatly talented but not all that concerned with the hype that surrounds that talent. Most of the media and me had him targeted to go to Florida State. If it wasn’t there it was going be Kentucky. Well it ended up being neither.
The truth is whatever school that gets Andrew Wiggins was the winner. He could go to any school and likely keep his earned place as the number one pick in the 2014 draft. Congratulations to him and good luck as he has the chance of being the best Canadian Basketball player ever. Someone had noted this on twitter, in a place where the game’s Canadian Inventor spent many years at Kansas.
As for the Raptors it seems a strange game of chicken has begun as relates to the future of Bryan Colangelo. MLSE has still yet to make a choice about his future and Colangelo is apparently quite fed-up about it. I have to say regardless of what you think of the job he has done it hard not to agree with him. This is not rocket science here you have basically three options:
- Pick up the option on his contract
- Don’t pick up the option
- Offer Colangelo an Extension
The stalling is keeping Bryan from finding a new position somewhere if the ultimate choice is to let him go. This is not a good way to do business as the end of the day. It is not like MLSE is hurting for cash and needs to force Bryan into quitting.
As for the NBA Playoffs I feel for the OKC Thunder that a year ago at this time looked like the team to battle the Heat for years to come. Now no James Harden and Westbrook lost to injury and they are on the verge of being out of it altogether this year. It sure seems like Miami has a clear path to the title. Really no one even looks as close to as strong as them at this point. I have to say the NBA Playoffs for me have not been exciting. Maybe it is my fault for always looking ahead rather than enjoying the moment in front of me.
Anyway that is about it from me. I will be starting a search for some staff soon. It is going to be vital to find some people to take this thing to where I want it to go.
5/9/13
5 Questions That Will Impact Raptors Outlook Beyond Colangelo
As we wait for the Raptors to decide on the future of their G.M let’s take some time to worry about some other concerns this off-season. Here are some questions to ponder beyond the future of Bryan Colangelo.
1. Can Rudy Gay be healthy and put his back issues behind him?
This might be the most vital concern given how much money the Raptors have wrapped up in Rudy Gay. He did to his credit try to play though his injuries last season but Raptors need a player at 100% for all the money they are sending his way.
2. Kyle Lowry in a contract year.
Kyle Lowry really did not match some rather high expectations last season and now he most likely will enter next with no contract extension. What will we get from Lowry in a season where he could be more concerned with his own numbers than the numbers of his team? Even if things go great do we realistically think he will want to remain in Toronto? Drama no matter what it would seem.
3. What do you end up with Bargnani?
The worst case is that he is back and unable to be traded. The best is if you we’re able to trade him without giving up anything else to do it. In the end the Andrea Bargnani fire sale will never get a return that will make you happy. But it is more about minimizing the damage at this point.
4. Jonas and Ross in Year 2.
It is important for both Jonas and Ross to continue to grow and become bigger parts of the rotation. This is especially true in the case of Jonas. Ross on the other hand will have to fight to earn minutes with DeRozan, Gay and likely a healthy Landry Fields all making their own cases for minutes. Jonas on the other hand will be counted on to start and stay on the floor and play major minutes.
5. Playoffs?
Everyone wants or needs this team to make the post-season. That said is it really as easy and some think? Cleveland and Washington should both also be teams looking to make that jump. The Raptors even with the changes they made through out the season struggled to be a .500 team even when you forgive a 4 -19 start. The expectations will be playoffs or else this is definitely the case should Colangelo and Casey both return. If they get off to another slow start expect Tim Leiweke to not be as patient as the MLSE Board was last season.
There are more questions like if this team can actually play defence and other issues but these are 5 big ones that should dominate the conversation over the summer and heading into the season.
1. Can Rudy Gay be healthy and put his back issues behind him?
This might be the most vital concern given how much money the Raptors have wrapped up in Rudy Gay. He did to his credit try to play though his injuries last season but Raptors need a player at 100% for all the money they are sending his way.
2. Kyle Lowry in a contract year.
Kyle Lowry really did not match some rather high expectations last season and now he most likely will enter next with no contract extension. What will we get from Lowry in a season where he could be more concerned with his own numbers than the numbers of his team? Even if things go great do we realistically think he will want to remain in Toronto? Drama no matter what it would seem.
3. What do you end up with Bargnani?
The worst case is that he is back and unable to be traded. The best is if you we’re able to trade him without giving up anything else to do it. In the end the Andrea Bargnani fire sale will never get a return that will make you happy. But it is more about minimizing the damage at this point.
4. Jonas and Ross in Year 2.
It is important for both Jonas and Ross to continue to grow and become bigger parts of the rotation. This is especially true in the case of Jonas. Ross on the other hand will have to fight to earn minutes with DeRozan, Gay and likely a healthy Landry Fields all making their own cases for minutes. Jonas on the other hand will be counted on to start and stay on the floor and play major minutes.
5. Playoffs?
Everyone wants or needs this team to make the post-season. That said is it really as easy and some think? Cleveland and Washington should both also be teams looking to make that jump. The Raptors even with the changes they made through out the season struggled to be a .500 team even when you forgive a 4 -19 start. The expectations will be playoffs or else this is definitely the case should Colangelo and Casey both return. If they get off to another slow start expect Tim Leiweke to not be as patient as the MLSE Board was last season.
There are more questions like if this team can actually play defence and other issues but these are 5 big ones that should dominate the conversation over the summer and heading into the season.
5/7/13
Raptors in a Holding Pattern For Now
The Raptors have kind of been in a state of limbo since the end of the season. This was no doubt due to the incoming arrival of Tim Leiweke as the head of MLSE. He stated that the Raptors would be first on his plate. First on that list for the Raptors is obviously determining the future of Bryan Colangelo. It would seem that may be coming soon as meeting are expected to take place with the board and Leiweke and Colangelo as well. Leiweke has stated that he will be advising the board in terms of what to do in terms of Colangelo.
It could go just as many expected with Colangelo having his option picked up. Phil Jackson who was rumoured to be a candidate to replace Colangelo has since got involved with the Pistons as a consultant in their coaching search. It does make sense for Jackson to wait a season if he had true interest in the Raptors job. It would also allow Dwane Casey another year to try and establish himself as the coach of this team. No one expects the Raptors to contend next season. They do expect them to make the playoffs. But if you wait a year on deciding to bring in someone new to replace Colangelo it would not be the end of the world. Bryan has put this team in such a position that not a lot can be done to change the roster. The core group he has brought in to the fold is pretty much locked in.
Another thing still to be determined is if the Raptors will have any role in the NBA Draft in terms of having a draft pick. Short of winning the draft lottery and landing in the Top 3 they will not be a part of things currently. On surface winning the lottery in any of the top 3 spots would be a major headache for the Raptors. The Raptors just don’t have the room to add a guaranteed contract at the level a top 3 pick would be paid.
What a top 3 pick could mean is a legitimate chip to add to a trade of Andrea Bargnani without having to part with another key piece of the roster like a Terrence Ross. If you add a pick in the top 3 to Bargnani maybe you can actually get something decent in return for him. It would have to be crafted in a round about way. In other words after the draft pick is made as the Raptors would still owe their first round pick to OKC if they indeed did win the lottery. The NBA does not allow teams to trade first round picks in consecutive years hence why the Raptors would technically have to make the pick.
We have seen this in the past where a trade is agreed too by the parties and than the Raptors would pick on behalf of the team they are trading with. This happened most recently in the trade with Pacers in which the Raptors selected Roy Hibbert on behalf of the Pacers in the T.J Ford and O’Neal trade.
The real downside for the Raptors hitting in the lottery is the chance of losing a pick in the draft next season. This would happen if the Raptors missed the playoffs and did not land in the top two spots. So it would protect them with a shot at the top spot and Andrew Wiggins if they happened to miss out on the playoffs. Beyond that dream situation it is expected to be a much deeper draft class to have a pick in.
In the end it is a case of wait and see on terms of Colangelo, Casey and the Raptors’ fate in terms of the draft. Once the choice is made on Colangelo and the draft lottery has taken place the Raptors off-season will truly start to take shape.
It could go just as many expected with Colangelo having his option picked up. Phil Jackson who was rumoured to be a candidate to replace Colangelo has since got involved with the Pistons as a consultant in their coaching search. It does make sense for Jackson to wait a season if he had true interest in the Raptors job. It would also allow Dwane Casey another year to try and establish himself as the coach of this team. No one expects the Raptors to contend next season. They do expect them to make the playoffs. But if you wait a year on deciding to bring in someone new to replace Colangelo it would not be the end of the world. Bryan has put this team in such a position that not a lot can be done to change the roster. The core group he has brought in to the fold is pretty much locked in.
Another thing still to be determined is if the Raptors will have any role in the NBA Draft in terms of having a draft pick. Short of winning the draft lottery and landing in the Top 3 they will not be a part of things currently. On surface winning the lottery in any of the top 3 spots would be a major headache for the Raptors. The Raptors just don’t have the room to add a guaranteed contract at the level a top 3 pick would be paid.
What a top 3 pick could mean is a legitimate chip to add to a trade of Andrea Bargnani without having to part with another key piece of the roster like a Terrence Ross. If you add a pick in the top 3 to Bargnani maybe you can actually get something decent in return for him. It would have to be crafted in a round about way. In other words after the draft pick is made as the Raptors would still owe their first round pick to OKC if they indeed did win the lottery. The NBA does not allow teams to trade first round picks in consecutive years hence why the Raptors would technically have to make the pick.
We have seen this in the past where a trade is agreed too by the parties and than the Raptors would pick on behalf of the team they are trading with. This happened most recently in the trade with Pacers in which the Raptors selected Roy Hibbert on behalf of the Pacers in the T.J Ford and O’Neal trade.
The real downside for the Raptors hitting in the lottery is the chance of losing a pick in the draft next season. This would happen if the Raptors missed the playoffs and did not land in the top two spots. So it would protect them with a shot at the top spot and Andrew Wiggins if they happened to miss out on the playoffs. Beyond that dream situation it is expected to be a much deeper draft class to have a pick in.
In the end it is a case of wait and see on terms of Colangelo, Casey and the Raptors’ fate in terms of the draft. Once the choice is made on Colangelo and the draft lottery has taken place the Raptors off-season will truly start to take shape.
5/6/13
Predictions for Round Two of the Playoffs
Back from a week off and the NBA Playoffs have moved on to round number 2 so let’s ease on back into working with some predictions for the 4 series.
Miami vs. Chicago
The Heat are well rested and it is almost a miracle Bulls have made it this far. Some wonder if Derrick Rose will make an appearance in this series. I would say why bother as even if he was to come back that is not going to be enough to stop the Heat. Why risk it if your Chicago? The Heat should have little trouble getting rid of Bulls.
Miami in 4
Indiana vs. New York
This series already got underway but I was picking the Pacers regardless. The Knicks not being able to finish off the Celtics fast was a sign of their flaws. Pacers are a good team that has had it’s struggles this season. But at the end of the day they are a talented team and likely the only team that could possibly give Miami any kind of trouble. Just in the sense of winning a game or two. Pacers will be able to get past the Knicks. Patrick Ewing and Reggie Miller will not be walking through that door for either. Although with some of the old guys on the Knicks roster Ewing might fit right in.
Pacers in 6
Memphis vs. OKC
Oklahoma City and their margin for error is far less without Westbrook. Memphis has been a tough team for the Thunder to battle with over the years. It would not be the major upset it would have been a month ago. This series if the Thunder are able to come out on top will be a showcase for Kevin Durant. He will have to will the Thunder along. I think the road to the finals will be a lot tougher but OKC should be able to get through this round if K.D is on his game. But it will be tough.
OKC in 7
San Antonio vs. Golden State
The experience and style of the Spurs is far different from that of the Warriors. Still they can play other peoples styles and be successful. The Warriors have already advanced beyond where most people thought they would. I expect the Spurs to not mess around with series. They will look to put this series away early and sit back and watch Memphis and Oklahoma City beat the hell out of each other.
San Antonio in 5
So that is about it for me. Will keep things rolling a little this week and talk some Raptors.
Miami vs. Chicago
The Heat are well rested and it is almost a miracle Bulls have made it this far. Some wonder if Derrick Rose will make an appearance in this series. I would say why bother as even if he was to come back that is not going to be enough to stop the Heat. Why risk it if your Chicago? The Heat should have little trouble getting rid of Bulls.
Miami in 4
Indiana vs. New York
This series already got underway but I was picking the Pacers regardless. The Knicks not being able to finish off the Celtics fast was a sign of their flaws. Pacers are a good team that has had it’s struggles this season. But at the end of the day they are a talented team and likely the only team that could possibly give Miami any kind of trouble. Just in the sense of winning a game or two. Pacers will be able to get past the Knicks. Patrick Ewing and Reggie Miller will not be walking through that door for either. Although with some of the old guys on the Knicks roster Ewing might fit right in.
Pacers in 6
Memphis vs. OKC
Oklahoma City and their margin for error is far less without Westbrook. Memphis has been a tough team for the Thunder to battle with over the years. It would not be the major upset it would have been a month ago. This series if the Thunder are able to come out on top will be a showcase for Kevin Durant. He will have to will the Thunder along. I think the road to the finals will be a lot tougher but OKC should be able to get through this round if K.D is on his game. But it will be tough.
OKC in 7
San Antonio vs. Golden State
The experience and style of the Spurs is far different from that of the Warriors. Still they can play other peoples styles and be successful. The Warriors have already advanced beyond where most people thought they would. I expect the Spurs to not mess around with series. They will look to put this series away early and sit back and watch Memphis and Oklahoma City beat the hell out of each other.
San Antonio in 5
So that is about it for me. Will keep things rolling a little this week and talk some Raptors.
4/29/13
This Week In Raptorland: Special Edition
Thought I was going be taking a little time off but the news of Tim Leiweke hiring by MLSE would class as major news. Given that decided to do a podcast on the subject. John Chick fills in for Josh Lewenberg as my co-host. We get into all the talk about Leiweke and the whole impact he will have on the Raptors. Also we discuss the whole rumour that started about Phil Jackson coming to Raptors management. In addition we talk about the NBA Playoffs a little and the breaking news of the day about Jason Collins. He became the first active player in North American sports to come out as gay. He technically is without a contract but was with the Washington Wizards this past season. So all of that in this special edition of the podcast.
Thanks to John for filling in for this special edition of the podcast. In the off-season this is how we will be rolling with the odd special edition of the podcast during the off-season when situations dictates. John has an article on the is topic of Leiweke and what it will mean for the Raptors up now over on CBC.Ca. Thanks to him for taking the time to guest host with me on the podcast. Also give the man a follow on Twitter @Roofthatpeach he is one of the great people I got to know back in my short time at TSN.
Also if you missed my thoughts on the Leiweke hire I did write something last Friday that you can check out. I may take a little time to re-charge my batteries for next week or so. This is a bit of a different off-season given the Raptors lack of a draft pick unless they somehow were to wind up with a top 3 pick in the NBA Lottery.
Thanks to John for filling in for this special edition of the podcast. In the off-season this is how we will be rolling with the odd special edition of the podcast during the off-season when situations dictates. John has an article on the is topic of Leiweke and what it will mean for the Raptors up now over on CBC.Ca. Thanks to him for taking the time to guest host with me on the podcast. Also give the man a follow on Twitter @Roofthatpeach he is one of the great people I got to know back in my short time at TSN.
Also if you missed my thoughts on the Leiweke hire I did write something last Friday that you can check out. I may take a little time to re-charge my batteries for next week or so. This is a bit of a different off-season given the Raptors lack of a draft pick unless they somehow were to wind up with a top 3 pick in the NBA Lottery.
4/26/13
New Head Of MLSE Is Here To Change The Raptors Reputation
So who really missed Richard Peddie? No one right, after all anytime he spoke doom for the Raptors was sure to follow. It was the end of 2011 when he bid farewell to MLSE, than came Rogers and Bell to take over the company and the Teacher Pension Fund Era was dead. The company never really replaced Peddie but was said to be searching for a successor. Today the news broke that they found a replacement in Tim Leiweke as the new CEO of MLSE. It also came with rumours that the Toronto Raptors are in pursuit of Phil Jackson to become their new president. Bryan Colangelo still has that job for the moment.
Will get to the Jackson stuff in a minute which is honestly pretty nuts and I have no concern if him and Leiweke are soul mates. But regardless of Phil Jackson, this is a true potential changing of the guard for MLSE. Leiweke made his mark with the AEG group that owned the Kings, L.A Galaxy and part of the L.A Lakers. All teams that have won championships something MLSE is clearly not familiar with at all.
Michael Grange gave us all the first signs that this day might come back in March. He goes in depth into this man’s impressive resume. I will just say that in his debut on the scene in Toronto after being hired he said all of the right things but even went a step further. Talking in such bold terms as the Raptors are the main reason he was interested in this job. Wait a second someone that is more interested in the Raptors than the Leafs? I am becoming a fan of this guy. He said a number of things that will play well with fans.
Toronto deserves to host an NBA All-Star Game. That said this was well on the road to happening before he arrived. He spoke about fans deserving some good news and something to be excited about. That Toronto needed to become a destination like L.A and Miami. The Raptors should be a destination for any player. This needed to become the Raptors’ reality.
He is excited about the possibility of a potential fan base of 36 million in Canada. Something MLSE has truly struggled with in making themselves a national brand and the Raptors a national brand. He talked about pushing management to succeed. He talked about taking an active role in the future of Bryan Colangelo.
He talked about re-investing in teams by spending money on rosters. He talked about winning championships. This is a message that really seemed dead in the current Raptors set up. He basically hit on all the things that fans have expressed about what this franchise isn’t and met it with an attitude of the era of excuses is over. No longer should the Raptors settle and accept they can not get anyone.
It all sounds good doesn’t it? Sure but Phil Jackson is still not walking through that door at least not now. Also he wouldn’t be walking through to coach it would be to do Bryan Colangelo’s job. His star player Michael Jordan has surly taught us that success in one area does not mean it translates to ownership. His work with the Wizards and now Bobcats is a shining example of that. Conversely look at what Larry Bird did in his career. He was a Championship player and an above average NBA Coach and eventually executive.
The one thing we can all agree on is Phil Jackson is a smart guy. He is well aware of what he would be getting into with the Raptors. They are a mess contract wise and if God came down to earth he might not be able to dig out of the hole that Bryan Colangelo has dug into. He may not be able to trade Andrea Bargnani either. Jackson can take his time and call his shot. If he has an itch to come back to the NBA he will only do it if he can succeed. He has proven that with his choices in coaching ranks.
So Phil Jackson is likely not walking through that door tomorrow, next week or next month if he ever does. That should not diminish what this means for the Raptors. If you can sum up what Tim Leiweke has brought to all of MLSE and the Raptors in particular it can be summed up in one word.
Accountability.
It has been sorely lacking these last 5 years especially. There was always someone or something to blame. That it appears ends now and the goal at least for the moment has been turned to being a franchise that is not just playing to make the playoffs but to win a championship. To demand more and not just settle in free agency but to compete in free agency. To not be trading players that want out of Toronto but trading for players that want to come here.
It all sounds pie in the sky type talk and it sounds like things we have heard before. To which we all likely have in the past. We just have never heard it from a guy that has actually done it. He has won championships and brought David Beckham to the MLS. This guy makes things happen and he has a proven track record.
Will see if the words turn to actions and what this all means for the future of the Raptors both short and long term. If you think the whole Phil Jackson stuff was the story today it really wasn’t it was the fact you had a guy that has the track record to make people take the insane idea serious for 5 minutes. He did that in his first day imagine what he can do in a year to rehabilitate the Raptors brand with the NBA Community. It is badly needed with or without Colangelo and Casey.
Will get to the Jackson stuff in a minute which is honestly pretty nuts and I have no concern if him and Leiweke are soul mates. But regardless of Phil Jackson, this is a true potential changing of the guard for MLSE. Leiweke made his mark with the AEG group that owned the Kings, L.A Galaxy and part of the L.A Lakers. All teams that have won championships something MLSE is clearly not familiar with at all.
Michael Grange gave us all the first signs that this day might come back in March. He goes in depth into this man’s impressive resume. I will just say that in his debut on the scene in Toronto after being hired he said all of the right things but even went a step further. Talking in such bold terms as the Raptors are the main reason he was interested in this job. Wait a second someone that is more interested in the Raptors than the Leafs? I am becoming a fan of this guy. He said a number of things that will play well with fans.
Toronto deserves to host an NBA All-Star Game. That said this was well on the road to happening before he arrived. He spoke about fans deserving some good news and something to be excited about. That Toronto needed to become a destination like L.A and Miami. The Raptors should be a destination for any player. This needed to become the Raptors’ reality.
He is excited about the possibility of a potential fan base of 36 million in Canada. Something MLSE has truly struggled with in making themselves a national brand and the Raptors a national brand. He talked about pushing management to succeed. He talked about taking an active role in the future of Bryan Colangelo.
He talked about re-investing in teams by spending money on rosters. He talked about winning championships. This is a message that really seemed dead in the current Raptors set up. He basically hit on all the things that fans have expressed about what this franchise isn’t and met it with an attitude of the era of excuses is over. No longer should the Raptors settle and accept they can not get anyone.
It all sounds good doesn’t it? Sure but Phil Jackson is still not walking through that door at least not now. Also he wouldn’t be walking through to coach it would be to do Bryan Colangelo’s job. His star player Michael Jordan has surly taught us that success in one area does not mean it translates to ownership. His work with the Wizards and now Bobcats is a shining example of that. Conversely look at what Larry Bird did in his career. He was a Championship player and an above average NBA Coach and eventually executive.
The one thing we can all agree on is Phil Jackson is a smart guy. He is well aware of what he would be getting into with the Raptors. They are a mess contract wise and if God came down to earth he might not be able to dig out of the hole that Bryan Colangelo has dug into. He may not be able to trade Andrea Bargnani either. Jackson can take his time and call his shot. If he has an itch to come back to the NBA he will only do it if he can succeed. He has proven that with his choices in coaching ranks.
So Phil Jackson is likely not walking through that door tomorrow, next week or next month if he ever does. That should not diminish what this means for the Raptors. If you can sum up what Tim Leiweke has brought to all of MLSE and the Raptors in particular it can be summed up in one word.
Accountability.
It has been sorely lacking these last 5 years especially. There was always someone or something to blame. That it appears ends now and the goal at least for the moment has been turned to being a franchise that is not just playing to make the playoffs but to win a championship. To demand more and not just settle in free agency but to compete in free agency. To not be trading players that want out of Toronto but trading for players that want to come here.
It all sounds pie in the sky type talk and it sounds like things we have heard before. To which we all likely have in the past. We just have never heard it from a guy that has actually done it. He has won championships and brought David Beckham to the MLS. This guy makes things happen and he has a proven track record.
Will see if the words turn to actions and what this all means for the future of the Raptors both short and long term. If you think the whole Phil Jackson stuff was the story today it really wasn’t it was the fact you had a guy that has the track record to make people take the insane idea serious for 5 minutes. He did that in his first day imagine what he can do in a year to rehabilitate the Raptors brand with the NBA Community. It is badly needed with or without Colangelo and Casey.
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