Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo: Deal Maker

by Stephen Brotherston…  As many have said before, the silly season is upon us and despite some misgivings from those who prefer news over rumor, trade speculation will run rampant until the trade deadline is past.

And why not!  Midseason trade speculation is the hope of every teams fan base that their team will acquire the missing pieces to contend  for a title or even just make the playoffs.  Even those fans who just want to blow it all up and start over again have something to hope for.

In Toronto, the Raptors GM has already blown up a substantial part of two teams and rebuilt them in only his fourth season at the helm.

Bryan Colangelo has made at least 15 trades since coming to Toronto and signed numerous free agents.  And since his teams have been to the playoffs in two of three attempts, his rebuilding history isn’t too shabby.

Bryan Colangelo joined the Raptors on February 28, 2006 just after Wayne Embry had completed some much-needed salary dumps courtesy of the New York Nicks.

By the time next season started, Colangelo had nine new faces on his team, putting his stamp on the Raptors and giving Toronto their first NBA division title.

June 2006 trades:

Rafael Araujo > Kris Humphries
Matt Bonner > Rasho Nesterovic
Charlie Villanueva> TJ Ford

Key free agent additions:

Anthony Parker
Jorge Garbajosa
Fred Jones

Bryan Colangelo established early on that he was not afraid to take chances and make deals.

After early success, Bryan Colangelo proved that he was willing to take the big gamble and go for it all when he sent TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and a first round pick to Indiana for big man and former all-star Jermaine O’Neal.

And the risk was as big as O’Neal’s $20 million contract.  After several years of knee problems, it was hoped that O’Neal had recovered enough to regain some of his all-star form and lead the Raptors deep into the playoffs.

No sooner had the experiment with O’Neal been deemed a failure, Bryan Colangelo was on the phones trying to move his recent acquisition.  Shawn Marion’s expiring deal was acquired to remove the financial limitations of O’Neal’s contract.

No one can say that Colangelo is hesitant to pull the trigger on a deal that he believes will help his club.

This season, like in 2006, Bryan Colangelo cleaned house yet again by bringing in nine new faces.

Summer 2009 trades:

Jason Kapono > Reggie Evans
Roko Ukic + Carlos Delfino > Sonny Weems + Amir Johnson
Shawn Marion + Kris Humphries > Antoine Wright + Devean George + Hedo Turkoglu
Devean George > Marco Belinelli

Key Free agents:

Jarrett Jack
Rasho Nesterovic

And the result of all this movement is the team at 21-20 is just ahead of the Atlantic Division Champion 2006-07 Raptors who were 18-21 after 39 games.

Way to go Colangelo!

But this season is different from 2006-07.

In 2006-07, the Atlantic Division did not have many obstacles for the Raptors to over come in their pursuit of first place.  This time, a proven veteran Celtics team will not permit a 47 win up-start to claim the title.

This season, the Raptors face a potential point guard controversy similar to the TJ Ford/Jose Calderon problems of 2007-08.  A controversy that cost the Raptors games down the stretch and saw that team significantly under-achieve.

And this version of the Raptors is better than the 2006-07 team.

Key players like Bosh, Bargnani, and Calderon are more experienced.

Key free agent additions are stronger than their counterparts in 06-07.  Specifically Jack > TJ Ford and Turkoglu > Garbajosa.

The 2009-10 Toronto Raptors may only be one or two additions away from truly contending in the Eastern Conference.

But is often noted by realists with a mind to contend, acquiring the necessary talent to put around Bosh will take the Raptors into luxury tax territory.

And MLSE  has permitted the Raptors to be a luxury tax payer when they have had a chance at becoming a perennial playoff team.  As recently as 2004, the Raptors paid $4 million in luxury tax.

The opportunities will likely exist for Bryan Colangelo to make the big deal before the NBA trade deadline that could vault the Raptors from a fifth to eighth seed and an early first round playoff exit to a team with legitimate aspirations of contending for the Eastern Conference finals.

MLSE has permitted the Raptors to spend to succeed in the past.

Is there any chance that a deal maker like Colangelo lets this opportunity pass his team by?

Let the rampant speculation begin!
(Oops too late.)

TJ Grant vs. Johny Hendricks Confirmed for UFC 113

by Stoker MacIntosh… According to TopMMANews.com, it’s been confirmed by credible sources close to the fighter that rising 170-pound UFC contender—and my fellow Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native—TJ Grant will be facing Johny Hendricks at UFC 113 in Montreal on May 1.

Joining Pittsburgh Penguins hockey superstar Sid “The Kid” Crosby, Grant was the newest “hometown boy makes it big” story here last January, after signing a four-fight deal with the UFC.

The 26-year-old Grant, who is 15-3-0 with two knockouts, is coming off an impressive KO of the Night victory at UFC 107 over Kevin Burns, and his win against Ryo Chonan at UFC 97 last April was voted among the UFC’s Top 10 Best Upsets of 2009.

Hendricks, who is a native of Ada, Okla.—and also aged 26—shared a victory with Grant on the very same UFC 107 card in his last outing. Hendricks remains undefeated at 7-0 with the impressive win over Ricardo Funch.

One of the top Canadian prospects out there, Grant made his big show debut at UFC 97, which was sold out here in Canada at Montreal’s famous Bell Centre.

Grant is a tough young welterweight who (besides Chonan and Burns) holds notable wins over UFC vets Forrest Petz and Chad Reiner.

Other Canadians on the card include Patrick Cote, who will be back in action after a disappointing loss his last time out to elite 185-pound superstar Anderson Silva.

This time Cote will be facing another tough customer in Alan Belcher, a well-respected stand-up fighter who recently defeated Wilson Gouveia by TKO at UFC 107 last December.

The recent win over Joe Lauzon at UFC 107 by London, Ontario’s Sam Stout has awarded him, among other things, “new star potential.”

Stout will certainly be looking to build on that recently acquired momentum this coming May 1 in Montreal, when he takes on Jeremy Stephens.

And last but not least, Jonathan “Road Warrior” Goulet.

Goulet will be looking for a win at UFC 113 to get him back into contention; he is slated to face the tough but slumping UFC “human punching bag,” Marcus “Irish Hand Grenade” Davis.

Good luck to all fighters.

Raptors Report Week Twelve: Raptors Playing Like a Contender

by Sachin Arora… That’s right, I said it. The Raptors are playing like one of the best teams in the NBA. Really. And with a healthy Reggie Evans and a performing Hedo Turkoglu, this team could be a serious contender. The Raptors are just killing opponents, one after another, picking defenses apart, and actually playing some good defense.

The Raps are tied with the Heat for fifth in the East, and while Atlanta may seem out of reach, if this type of play continues you never know.

The Raptors had a good week, other than a late collapse in Indiana. They have looked dominant in every game and are playing like they can beat any team.

Record: 2-1

Performance on a scale of 1-10: 8

Positives: The Raptors have looked simply dominant, coming up with a huge win at home vs. Dallas, one of the best teams in the league. The defense has been good, offense great, and Jose Calderon has provided a great spark off the bench. The killer B’s (Bosh, Bargnani) have really been spectacular and have sparked our offense.

Negatives: That collapse in Indiana shows some concern, blowing a 23-point lead can’t happen. Hedo Turkoglu still hasn’t been able to get it going and Jay Triano must do something to get himself going. Bench him!

Overall, this team has been doing great things and I am hoping this type of play can be continued.

The Raptors once again have that one-two point guard punch, and it is working great.

GO RAPS!

Take Any Buffalo Bills Relocation Rumour with a Pinch of Salt

by English Paul… Another day and yet another story linking the Buffalo Bills with a move to a new city. This time, the rumour mill has them relocating to Los Angeles.

John Semcken, managing partner of Majestic Reality Co. and the developer behind a potential new stadium in Los Angeles, has stated that Buffalo and Jacksonville are his prime candidates.

“Jacksonville and Buffalo are two teams in very, very small markets,” he told the Associated Press.

Personally, I do not see the Los Angeles scenario coming to fruition. Apart from the fact that this news is coming out of California rather than Buffalo, no stadium has actually been built yet.

Also, any potential new owner would have to meet all of the numerous strict relocation rules in place before any move could be considered. There is a lot of work to be done before it gets anywhere close to this stage.

Add to this the fact that Jacksonville is in a much worse position than Buffalo and this story is a non-starter.

Having said that, Buffalo’s residents must be sick of these constant rumours surrounding their beloved franchise. They already have enough on their plate worrying about where the Toronto experiment may eventually lead.

However—and this is easy for an outsider to say—maybe the people of Western New York do not need to worry so much. That’s because Buffalo has the backing of only the most powerful man in the NFL: Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Goodell was more than happy to approve the deal for Buffalo to play eight games over the course of five years in Toronto. However, this decision was not made with the intention of eventually moving the team north of the border full-time.

Instead, Goodell felt that having annual games played in Southern Ontario would mean enough additional revenue to help the team stay in Buffalo long-term.

“I think their step to Toronto has helped strengthen that,” Goodell said, according to the AP. “And I see the Buffalo Bills being in Western New York for a long time.”

For anyone still not convinced that Goodell has any real interest in keeping the Bills in Buffalo, it is worth noting that he was born in nearby Jamestown, and spent his early years growing up in the area.

Of course there are no guarantees in life and no one knows for sure what will happen when Ralph Wilson passes on. However, with the commissioner on board, you can be assured that he will do everything within his power to keep the team in its rightful place.

Doyle makes his return home to the Air Canada Centre with the Rock “C”

by Laura Bridgman… The Toronto Rock hit the turf at the Air Canada Centre for the first time in 2010 today, Friday, January 15 when they host the Boston Blazers. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Rock (1-0) opened the season last weekend in Boston with a 17-7 win over the Blazers (0-1).

“We’re happy with the outcome of the game, but any veteran in this league knows that Boston did not play the way they wanted to,” said Toronto general manager, Terry Sanderson.

Looking back at the 2009 matchups between Toronto and Boston the first outcome is quite similar. The Rock won in Boston the first time the two teams met. When the Blazers ventured to Toronto later in the season they were victorious in the ACC, a final the Rock don’t wish to repeat.

Leading Toronto in points in the season opener was Captain Colin Doyle who recorded 10 points from one goal, and nine assists.

“It was a fantastic night for Colin,” said Sanderson. “Given enough time he will score, but he has strength in finding open guys to distribute the ball.”

Game MVP Garrett Billings took the lead in goals with five. The Rock’s first round draft pick, who also added two assists in the game, was named NLL Rookie of the Week for the first week of the season for his seven point performance.

Boston was led by Captain Dan Dawson with three goals and two assists. Blazers head coach Tom Ryan was “very disappointed” with his team’s performance in on Saturday.

“I give Toronto a lot of credit, they took it to us,” said Ryan. “We didn’t execute well, and we didn’t put in the effort we needed. We were out loose balled, out played, beat. We can’t expect to just show up and win games.”

Friday’s home opener will be broadcast on TSN2, tape delayed at 10:30 p.m. with Dave Randorf calling the game, Brian Shanahan providing the colour, and host Claude Feig.

Single game tickets for todays game are still available at the Air Canada Centre box office or online through Ticket Master at www.ticketmaster.ca.

Livin’ large

by Jeremy Visser… I’m pretty sure it’s the dream of every basketball fan with an annual income under $250,000 to sit courtside at an NBA game just once in their life. Well, at least it was mine. On Sunday, I had that dream come true when the fine people at Gatorade and High Road Communications had me experience a new contest they’re unveiling in the next couple weeks — one in which they give away dope seats to sporting events across the world. So, there I was, just a normal kid sitting courtside for the Raps and Celtics.

I won’t talk about the actual game as much as the experience, but I’ll start off by saying Toronto lost, as usual, to the bad boy Celtics. Are we ever gonna make a stand against these guys? Without KG, Boston jumped to an early 10-0 lead and never trailed in a 114-107 win. A little excitement at the end with a late Raptor push, but nothing to show for it. Oh well, it didn’t do too much to dampen the mood.

Anyway, probably the best part of sitting that close was witnessing Rasheed Wallace swearing at the refs first-hand. There’s actually a lot more to ‘Sheed than what you see on TV, though — the guy doesn’t just periodically blow up at these guys, he’s having a constant conversation with them all game, lobbying for calls and letting them know just what’s his. Sweet kid. Anyway, this sets up the highlight of the day for me: Early in the third quarter, Wallace caught a pass right in front of me and fired a three with me yelling in his ear. Of course, the shot dropped, and ‘Sheed did a little turnaround and glare. Never thought I’d be the guy getting glared at by an NBA player after he nails a three, and it actually felt pretty, pretty, pretty sweet.

Another guy with a mouth on him (and this comes as no surprise): Celtics tough guy Kendrick Perkins. The funniest moment of the game came when Perk was fouled in close and yelled at a couple teenagers sitting behind the net to “eat a d—!” The big boy proceeded to miss a pair of free throws that gave the Raps a shot to pull closer, but a couple late turnovers sealed our heroes’ fate.

All in all, a crazy afternoon (can you believe Rasheed glared at me?!) and one that I’ll be talking about for about 27 years, or at least until Gatorade and High Road randomly choose me to sit courtside and run up a tab on their credit cards again. Seriously though, it was incredible — an experience I won’t soon forget.

Raptors Report Week 11: Toronto Closing in on Fifth Seed

by Sachin Arora… To me, this week was great for the Raptors considering the opponents that they have faced. They came away with two road wins, where they have struggled—one against the reigning Eastern Conference champs and one against a struggling Philadelphia team who managed to put up a good fight and make it close.

This team has showed incredible toughness and finally has everything working.

Jose Calderon has returned from injury has looked great off the bench.

Only a game back from the fifth seed, the Raptors are looking better than ever. The loss against the Celtics to end the week sort of put a damper on things, but the Raps have won eight out of 10 and are playing some good basketball. To start the game, the Celtics ran over the Raptors with a 10-0 run, but in a game that had the looks of a blowout, the Raptors made it close.

Record: 2-1

Performance on a scale of 1-10: eight

Positives: The Raptors defense is quickly getting rid of that “worst in the league” tag and going to “mediocre.” With the offense of this team, I think that we’ll take that happily. Offense certainly hasn’t been a problem, and Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani have been spectacular, pouring in the points.

Negatives: Hedo Turkoglu has been looking more and more like a bust. He has been nothing but mediocre this whole season. Imagine the things this team could do if he was actually playing to his potential. If the Raps could play tough throughout the whole game and be a little more consistent, that could push them over the top.

Overall, this team has been playing some great basketball. If they get the win vs. Boston, their weekly rank goes from eight to nine or even 10.

Jarrett Jack remains the starting point guard, but it hasn’t seemed to affect Jose Calderon. He’s been great off the bench, but it would be nice to see Jose back as a starter.

Jack is great off the bench because of his versatility.

If the Raps keep playing this way the rest of the season, they should have the 5th seed.

GO RAPS!

Dimitar Berbaflop To Be Sold As United Gear Up To Rebuild Flagging Squad

by Willie Gannon… Dimitar Berbatov, Luis Nani, Luis Anderson, Nemanja Vidic, and Michael Carrick will head a sensational clear-out of Manchester United as Alex Ferguson wields the axe on some of his under-performing stars at the end of the season.

After 18 months of inconsistent and indifferent performances, Dimitar Berbatov looks to be on top of Fergie’s list as United gear up for a summer clear-out.

The reason for the clearout is two-fold , on one side it will see the club look to reduce its increasing wage bill, while on the other it will see Fergie remove the dead wood from his squad.

While the Red Devils may still reside in second place in the English Premier League, and are in the semifinals of the League Cup, and are in the knockout stages of the Champions League, their form has been below what is expected of a Manchester United team.

Over the past six months the United boss has come to believe that his squad is short of his required standard, and has now signalled for the first time that he is planning a mass overhaul.

In 2005 Ferguson sold or moved on 16 players as he rebuilt his squad for the Champions League assault, it paid dividends in 2008. Last season United was well beaten by Barcelona in Rome as the Spanish giants easily brushed United aside.

Many players were given a second chance but after a misfiring first half of the season it appears that Ferguson has drawn a line in the sand for many of his supposed stars.

Back in 2005, United only received £40m for the 16 players who left the club, this time around they will be looking to receive substantially more than that figure the Glazers (team owners) deal will an increasing debt.

The 2008 season was United’s most successful season of all time, Champions League winners, Premier League winners, League Cup winners, and beaten semifinalists in the FA Cup, and yet their debt in that single still rose above the prize money the club brought in, hence the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo for a world record £80m and the refusal to re-sign Carlos Tevez.

Dimitar Berbatov has scored just 20 goals in 66 appearances for United and has struggled with the expectancy of playing for such a prestigious club. While some players, like Wayne Rooney, have thrived under the added pressure, Berbatov has been a shadow of the player who was allowed to play his own game at Tottenham.

After the Leeds defeat, which seems to be the straw that broke the camels back for Fergie, the riot act was read to many players, but Berbatov was singled out for particularly failing to shine over the course of the last year.

A United insider said: “The four midfield players got a lot of criticism after the Leeds game, but the biggest under-performer was Berbatov.

“People say he’s got a great touch, and that isn’t in doubt, but this game is also about hunger and work rate.

“To put it bluntly, Berbatov doesn’t run around enough for this United team – and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the people that matter most.”

Nani is also on the way out the door at Old Trafford, having come in in 2007 for £17m, the Portuguese has done little to impress and has gone backwards since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid after leaving the winger with a clear run at a permanent place in the team.

United has already offered Nani more than £14m for Benfica’s winger De Maria, but the offer was shot down as it was considered “not enough” by the Portuguese giants.

Anderson was substituted after impersonating a footballer and failing to make an impact against Leeds, and is another who is under severe pressure after United paid Porto £18m for his services in 2007, also.

The Brazilian international feels he has not been given enough chances to impress in his favorite position as an attacking midfielder.

He said: “If I said I’m not disappointed in things I’d be lying.

“Of course I’m disappointed because a player of my ability, who is used to playing at attacking role and scoring goals like I did at Porto, then it makes me sad.

“I have only scored one goal for the club, but I can’t be dispirited.

“My first goal has to be to get back to the condition I was in at Porto and to get a run of games like I did there.

“Then I want to start scoring goals and deciding games because that’s important for my career.”

The word on the street in Manchester is that Anderson has used up all of his lives with Fergie and that the Scot wants to move him on as soon as possible. Earlier this year, Ferguson called the Brazilian to task over his fondness for the nightlife in Manchester amongst the growing Brazilian population.

Soon after, Anderson’s form improved but he has been very poor this year, and also appears to be a player who is missing the off-field influence of Ronaldo.

Outside the club, Nani, Anderson, and Ronaldo were all friends who frequented each others company on a regular basis.

In midfield, Michael Carrick’s poor form and Owen Hargreaves injury problems are also problems that Ferguson has to contend with, while Darron Gibson is showing little of the potential he has promised over the last couple of years.

Only Darren Fletcher has reached the heights expected of him, and it now says much of United’s problems that the Scot is easily its best midfielder and a player the first team cannot do without.

One player who is a surprise on Ferguson’s list is Nemanja Vidic. Last season, prior to the Champions League final, he appeared to have his head turned by Barcelona after a move to Spain was offered to the Serbian.

However, following many conversations with Ferguson, Vidic decided to redouble his efforts and stay with United.

His form has been hampered by injury this season, but when available he has been well below par, causing many to question the Serbian’s future. His cause has not been aided by the continued absence of Rio Ferdinand.

The English international has missed most of the season through a back injury, but Ferguson also has major worries about the celebrity lifestyle he leads off the pitch.

Following Vidic’s withdrawal from the Leeds game through injury, Ferguson was said to be furious with his defender.

The Serbian has been chased by Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are looking to take advantage of Manchester United’s reluctancy to double Vidic’s wages to £100,000 per week.

It would seem that this move has been driven by the boardroom as such a rise would increase United’s wage bill by £2.5m a year before bonuses, and the name of the game in the current climate is to reduce the annual wage spend.

With the player nearing 30 and looking to secure his long term future, it may seem a wise move by Ferguson to allow him to move to Spain now as they could command at least £20m to £25m for his signature.

Elsewhere, United also looks to be on the verge of losing Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Edwin van der Sar, and Gary Neville, as the four player are all near retirement age.

So when it is all added together it looks like next summer could be a very busy one for the Old Trafford club.

They have four important players on the verge of retirement, a striker who is misfiring, a couple of midfielders who are not improving, and a duo of defenders who look to have played their last season together.

And with the club struggling with their growing debt and looking to refinance it in any way possible, it could be a very busy transfer window at Old Trafford.

Just don’t mention Ferguson retiring too…

Will Jose Calderon Be Traded By the Toronto Raptors?

by Stephen Brotherston… With the NBA trade deadline less than 42 days away and several teams significantly under-performing expectations, some in outright disarray, trade speculation is ramping up to take over the “news” wires.

Since game 20 of this NBA season, the Toronto Raptors have gone 11-5 to bring their record back to .500 and slow the speculation that Chris Bosh’s departure is inevitable.

Not that several media sources have ceased to speculate about (dream) of a trade or free agent acquisition of the Raptors All-Star.

But with the Raptors improved play of late, thoughts have turned to what are the missing pieces or tweaks that could turn this year’s Raptors from first round playoff fodder into legitimate playoff (second round?) contenders.

Meanwhile, some will argue that the Raptors should just let things stand, develop the young guns, and look to the future. Not to mention the fact that many fans believe Jose Calderon is the Raptors best point guard. If the opportunity to dramatically improve the Raptors fortunes presents itself, shouldn’t they take advantage of it?

The obvious holes in the current Raptors line-up are at:

1. Starting shooting guard where the Raptors are relying on the rookie DeMar DeRozan with options to use the inexperienced Marco Belinelli or the limited Antoine Wright.
2. Back-up small forward where the Raptors have been utilizing players like Wright, Sonny Weems, and DeRozan, who are all better suited at shooting guard.
3. An experienced shot blocking, defensive big man. A very young Amir Johnson has provided energy off the bench but is over-matched in size and strength at times. Reggie Evans, who doesn’t block shots, has yet to play a game, and Rasho Nesterovic watches from the bench.

As Andrea Bargnani continues to develop and play more minutes, the need for a back up big man with superior talents to Johnson is diminished.

The Raptors have been able to hide their weakness at back-up small forward recently by using Wright for defense and Weems for athleticism.

DeMar DeRozan is showing signs that he will develop into a shooting guard of Andre Iguodala’s status in time. But as it has been discussed in several forums, the biggest leap the Raptors could make this season would be to acquire a veteran starting shooting guard.

ESPN’s Chad Ford ,

“Unless the Raptors are legit contenders, I don’t see Bosh sticking around. The Raptors are another team I think will be very active at the trade deadline. I think they’ll try to see if they can swap Calderon for a starting two guard.”

And acquiring a high quality starting shooting guard could take the Raptors from pretenders to contenders in this year’s playoff race.

The list of team’s under duress this season due to monetary or performance pressures includes (for now): Chicago, Washington, Detroit, Indiana, Philadelphia, Utah, New Orleans, and Golden State.

Some will be willing to make trades now while others will want to see how the season progresses. But there are teams that will be looking to make trades that they didn’t envision at the start of the season.

Some possible trading partners:

Washington Wizards, for obvious reasons, are reportedly willing to trade anybody on their roster and if this is true, they’ll be looking for expiring contracts, young players, picks, and luxury tax relief/cap space.

Caron Bulter is a veteran star wing with a manageable contract. But the Wizards should be demanding a premium young player in return. Would (should) the Raptors be willing to part with a Belinelli or DeRozan in addition to expiring contracts to get him?

The Philadelphia 76ers are 10-24 and miss Andre Miller more than they ever expected. They’d probably like to unload Elton Brand’s $80 million contract or Samuel Dalembert’s huge deal. But with Brand under-performing and Sammy’s 15% trade kicker, this seems unlikely.

The other piece getting mentioned is Andre Iguodala and his $12 million per year.

The 76ers need a pass first point guard to resurrect Brand’s career and the Raptors need a starting shooting guard. Is an Iguodala and Jrue Holiday for Calderon and DeRozan (plus parts) deal possible?

Could things have started out any worse for the Detroit Pistons? Every move they have made in the past two seasons has turned against them. At 11-23, they have to be thinking deal.

Not sure what the Pistons believe they need to fix their problems. But since Chauncey Billups left, they’ve needed a point guard who will pass the ball! Calderon for Ben Gordon?

New Orleans has gone from contender to out of the playoffs in one swift season. They are over the luxury tax cap and are reportedly looking to dump salary.

The Hornets have no interest in acquiring a point guard. But, would a Morris Peterson for Reggie Evans shore up the Raptors backup small forward position?

Would the Hornets consider a bigger salary dump of Emeka Okafor for Evans and Johnson?

One interesting trade possibility that shouldn’t be expected until the offseason would involve the LA Lakers’ need to replace the aging Derek Fisher with a younger point guard. Jose Calderon providing the obvious chemistry with Pau Gasol.

This is one trade that would provide such obvious long-term benefits to the Lakers that the Raptors could hold out for top flight help in return. I’d settle for nothing less than Lamar Odom, there being little else that might be available worth taking off the Lakers’ roster.

In the coming days and weeks there should be enough rumours, suggestions, speculations, and even opportunities to keep everyone’s interest until trade deadline day.

Everyone (except possibly Raptors fans?) will over-estimate their team’s players value and downplay the value of other teams’ guys. But trades are done to meet team needs, not necessarily to acquire the best player.

There should be true distress situations among several NBA teams this year. The Raptors are well-financed and profitable. Shouldn’t they be one of the teams looking to take advantage?

Chris Bosh’s decision this offseason may well depend on Bryan Colangelo’s moves over the next 30+ days.

Brothersteve’s Green & Red Raptor Blog

Why Brian Billick Should Be Considered for the Buffalo Bills Job

By English Paul… According to various reports, Brian Billick is the latest big name to be linked with the head coaching job in Buffalo.

However, unlike Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher, there appears to be a possibility that Billick is seriously considering the role, which is good news for any Bills fan. This is because, if history is any indication, once the former Super Bowl-winning coach sets his mind to something, it’s as good as done.

This mentality can be traced all the way back to the Ohio native’s college days when, after spending his freshman year at the United States Air Force Academy, Billick transferred to BYU.

It turns out that he made this decision after learning that his height and weight stopped him from ever becoming a fighter pilot (something which he didn’t find out until after he had enrolled).

Another example of Billick’s focused approach came when he made the decision to become a head coach in the NFL. He was considered “hot property” at the time and was apparently the top candidate for the Cleveland Browns job.

Billick was offered an interview but decided to meet with the Baltimore Ravens first. Within 24 hours of his initial interview, he had signed up for the job. Once again, Billick had made a firm decision.

One other interesting facet to Billick’s make-up is his adaptability. While with the Minnesota Vikings, he forged a reputation as an offensive genius. His crowning achievement was the 1998 season, when the Vikings set a then-NFL record for most points in a season (556).

However, once Billick was installed as the Ravens’ top man, he adapted his philosophy to suit the personnel on the team. Only two seasons after setting the offensive mark, he did the same with the defense, which allowed an NFL record 16-game low of 165 points.

Unfairly, critics state that anyone could have had a productive offense or defense when you have the likes of Randy Moss and Ray Lewis to work with. But this just proves the ignorance of people.

During the 1998 season with the Vikings, there is no doubting that Randy Moss had a spectacular rookie campaign. However, this would not have been possible without the rebirth of quarterback Randall Cunningham.

Earlier in his career, Cunningham was better known for his scrambling abilities. However, under the guidance of Billick, the former Philadelphia Eagle developed into a pocket passer and enjoyed the most productive season of his career.

Likewise, Ray Lewis and the Ravens defense had ranked no higher than 22nd before Billick’s arrival. Suddenly in 1999, Baltimore jumped all the way up to second, which was surely no coincidence. Billick can flat-out coach.

Apparently, Billick is currently putting a coaching staff together. If this is true, it shows that once again Billick has his mind set on something and will do everything within his power to make it happen.

The only question is whether this vision includes the Buffalo Bills.

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