Built Ford Tough

Nash makes the Raptors a hot draw in Toronto the likes of which they haven't been since Carter was around. I'm not saying they are a struggling franchise or anything, becuase they certainly aren't, but MLSE knows that if they sign Nash this summer their revenue will increase by an absolutely absurd amount. Every game would be a guarantee sell out, merchandise sales would go through the roof, sponsoship opportunities would dramatically increase, etc... Basically, anything related to due with revenue or making money, you name it, it will go up if Nash signs in Toronto. From a purely basketball standpoint they could definitely have a chance of making the playoffs as an eigth seed and they get an extra 2 home games, but I honestly don't think they care about the basketball standpoint as much as the business standpoint. That isn't to say Nash wouldn't be able to help some of the Raptors players develop (or in Valanciunas case, make the jump from Europe to the NBA) and it would be helpful in that regard, but the pursuit of Nash is all about how much profit they would be able to make with him on the team with about 25% of it likely being about Toronto making the playoffs. Also, in Colangelo's case, it probably saves his job. His deal is up at the end of the year and if he doesn't do something to increase the buzz with the Raptors, I doubt he is back given his spotty track record with the team since taking over in 2006.

Sounds like it is all but a done deal (well, as done of a deal as they can get before they are allowed to actually sign).

I definitely haven't been a fan of Colangelo for a long time now, but that is the one silver lining to this deal. Assuming he doesn't sign Nash (and I don't think he will anymore despite what I posted after the draft) this has to spell the end of his time in Toronto, right..... right? Problem is if he does sign Nash the suits will look the other way as they are rolling around in Nash revenue and Colangelo probably gets another 6 years.

The thing that makes no sense to me is if Nash was actually set on signing with the Knicks (I don't think he has made up his mind at all, but lets just pretend he wanted to go to NY) does throwing this offer sheet at Fields actually do him any good? Wouldn't that piss Nash off by taking away his number one choice, or at least forcing him to accept $3M to go to New York? Lets say the Knicks match (lol, I know) and they are out of the Nash sweepstakes, wouldn't he turn to Dallas instead of Toronto? I just don't see how this move helps the Raptors sign Nash. If anything, I think it hurts the chances of him coming to Toronto. Just an awful move from Colangelo.

Koreen, a Raptors beat writer, says that the contract is $5M for the first two years and then jumps to $9M the third year. I'm honestly at the point now where I just laugh at this franchise. What else can I do?

Oh Colangelo, you moron. I know this move is designed to sign Nash by taking away the option of a sign and trade involving Fields. However, you better hope you actually sign Nash because, remember, you actually have to pay this scrub money. I'm all for signing Nash, but not if it costs $20M to sign Landry [expletive]ing Fields. Just up your offer to Nash for crying out loud. Don't sign Fields, lol. What an awful offseason so far.

Rasmus hit a home run to the 5th deck in right field. Ridiculous.

Please show me where I said the Raptors have a better team? I said the Knicks are a 2nd round exit even with Nash. Is that sooooooooooooooooooo wrong? PS: D'Antoni doesn't coach the Knicks.

What exactly is hilarious about it? I'm not being smart or anything, I'm actually asking in case there is something I'm missing in the way I worded it, which is a very good possibility given I'm about half asleep right now and made about 5 mistakes typing these two sentences, haha.

Really though, is $5M a year pricey for a legit center? That is a bargin even if he only plays 25 minutes a night considering his defensive ability and what other bigs around the league get paid. I know the last year of roughly $14M is a lot to swallow even if he does become a defensive anchor playing 35 minutes a night given his offensive deficiencies, but it is only one year where he is making that kind of cash. Like I said in my first post in this thread, the worst case scenario is he is is a flop who can't make the jump from backup to starter and you have a huge expiring trade chip to play with. The thing with this contract is that it really is basically 2 different deals set up in one. It is basically a 2 year, $10M deal followed by a 1 year, $14M deal. If it was frontloaded where the first two years were a lot and then he made next to nothing in the final year or if the yearly payments were closer to $8-9M a season then I could understand questioning it, but with the way it is set up I don't see any problem with the deal. At least that is how I look at it.

What exactly does New York have to offer? Best case scenario is they are a 2nd round exit and that is assuming there would be enough ball to go around between Melo, Amare and Nash, which there won't be. I'm sure he is salivating at the chance to take a paycut for that. I agree with you about Dallas and once they strike out on Deron I think that is where he will end up, but to say that the Knicks situation is substantially better than Toronto's is just false. At the end of the day, who cares if a teams gets knocked out in the first or second round? If I'm given a choice between playing for my home country's lone NBA franchise, getting much more money and being offered a long career after basketball (you just know that is part of Toronto's pitch) or losing in the second round for a few years in New York, I'm choosing the former every time. When it is all said and done, I think he ends up with the Mavs to make one or two more runs at a championship with Dirk. After they miss out on Williams, he won't be taking a paycut, will get to play with one of his best friends and will be able to compete for a championship. I think that will be the most appealing situation for him

Quite a lot. - He had the best points allowed per possession of any defensive player with over 200 possessions defended last season. - He ranks in the 96th percentile in terms of defensive points allowed per possession, the 84th percentile in pick and roll situations and 77th in post up situations. - The Bulls defense without him on the floor last season gave up 97.6 ppg and with him on the floor they gave up just 89.7 ppg. - He averages 13 rpg and 2.5 bpg per 36 minutes, while only fouling 4.6 times which would make it very reasonable to assume he will be able to stay on the floor and won't pick up cheap fouls. Defensive numbers are one of the most transferable stats in basketball. It doesn't matter if you guard 200 possessions or 2,000 possessions. If you are an elite defender, which Asik has been the past two seasons, you are an elite defender. Besides, even if he busts, what exactly is the big deal? Under the Arenas provision, he is only eligible to make roughly $5M the first two seasons and then he becomes a $13M expiring in the final year. That is hardly a crippling contract. In fact, if he maintains his status as an elite defensive player, and I see no reason why he won't, that is an absolute steal for the first two seasons. The third year isn't great, but it is only one year and worst case scenario he is a huge expiring trade chip. I really don't see how this is a bad contract.

If the second tweet is true, it would eliminate teams like New York or Miami who can only offer the MLE or mini-MLE. That would leave Brooklyn and Dallas (whichever one misses out on Williams) and Indiana as the only teams who could even make an offer in that ballpark. Even then, Indy will have to lock up Hibbert and other free agents, which will likely make their offer closer to the $10M range than $12M. Oh yeah, Phoenix too but last I heard they were only offering $10M a year. (not sure how accurate these numbers are as they are just estimates from me) On a different note, it is pretty funny. 6 months ago I was against signing Nash and now here I am today anxiously searching for any miniscule bit of news about the possibility of him signing with Toronto and would be genuinely annoyed if he doesn't sign with the Raptors. I'm still not comfortable enough to say that he will sign with Toronto and can easily see him going elsewhere, but screw it, this team is going nowhere anyways so I might as well have something to root for in Nash.

This doesn't mean that he is leaving. He can get more money by signing next year as opposed to signing an extension right now. Deron did the same thing as he did and most people believe that Williams will be staying with the Nets and the Clippers have a much more appealing foundation than the Nets do. Obviously it is never a good thing to have uncertainty around a player like Paul, but I wouldn't use him not signing an extension right now as any sort of guarantee he is going to leave or won't stay with the Clippers.

I knew they were loaded at the 4, but I never realized just how bad it was. Luis Scola Terrence Jones Royce White Marcus Morris Donatas Motiejunas Patrick Patterson Jon Leuer That is 7 power forwards on the roster. I guess you can make an argument that some of these guys could play the 3 (Jones, Morris, White) or the 5 (Motiejunas, Leuer) but at the end of the day these players natural position is the power forward spot. So what exactly do the Rockets do with this cluster[expletive]? They are shopping Scola, but even if they move him that still leaves, at the very least, 3 power forwards and another 2 tweener forwards.

The league should all join together and boycott Howard. Dude is by far the most annoying player in the league. Just shut up already.

They have a 5 person group (Colangelo, Casey, Larry Tanenbaum [minority owner] and 2 others) flying on Tanenbaum's personal jet from LA (they were at assistain coach Eric Hughes' wedding) to New York to meet with Nash tomorrow morning. Part of their pitch is a video message from Wayne Gretzky advising Nash to sign with Toronto and do for basketball in Canada what he did for hockey in LA when he was traded there. Not only do they have a video to show Nash, they also have Gretz lined up to call and talk to Nash himself tomorrow. They are also pitching him on setting himself up with the organization for life after basketball, although that part has been well known for a while now. Safe to say, they are going balls to the wall in order to convince Nash to sign with the Raptors.

Deron Williams Steve Nash Gerald Wallace Ray Allen OJ Mayo Jason Terry Jason Kidd Andre Miller Chauncey Billups Jeff Green I didn't include restricted free agenets like Eric Gordon or Roy Hibbert because the chances of their current teams not matching any offer is miniscule

I think if the Raptors sign Nash and amnesty Calderon to create cap room to go after a small forward (likely scenario if you ask me) Bayless will be back assuming the price tag is reasonable. With seeing how active he was during the whole workout process (him and DeRozan were at basically every single one of them watching from the sidelines and giving encouragement) I'd be surprised if they didn't bring him back. He will backup Nash and then Uzoh will be the 3rd string point. At least that is what I think will happen.

Just to be clear, they aren't signed yet. The Raptors just extended Qualifying Offers to them which makes both of them restricted free agents. They haven't signed new contracts yet and will still be free agents. The Raptors just have the right to match any contract that they are offered.

Schultz signs a 2 year deal with the Oilers. Can't say I'm surprised since I had them 2nd on my list. I thought he would go to Vancouver, but I guess the guarantee of top 3 minutes (only Smid and Petry would be his competition opposed to Hamhuis, Bieksa and Edler in Van) and 1st unit PP time was more important to him than playing close to his home and the chance of competing for a cup immediately.

They gave QO's to Arthur and Speights but didn't give one to Mayo which means he will be a restricted free agent and likely means he will be playing for a new team next year. Where do you think he ends up? I know Boston has been rumoured to be interested in him as an Allen replacement but I'm sure there will be tams who will be offering him an opportunity to star (which he won't in Boston with them being so high on Bradley)t, assuming he doesn't want to be a 6th man.

Which 4/5 duo would you rather have for: This season? 3 years from now? 5 years from now?

Not huge news, but there was speculation that the Raptors wouldn't give QO's to either of these two players so I thought I'd post it anyways. I can't really see them keeping (well, bringing back) Weems after drafting Ross and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't bring Bayless back (all depends on Nash and if they amnesty Calderon), but I guess it doesn't hurt to make both of them restricted and have the option of matching any contract they receive.

The speculation is that the Raptors will be offering him a 3 yr, $36M contract once they are able to formally offer a deal. That is expected to be the most lucrative contract he will receive so if it is about money one would assume the Raptors would be in the lead. Of course, if he wants to ring chase (I don't think he does or else he would've asked out of Phoenix a year ago) the amount of money Toronto can offer him is moot.