How About a Cherry on Top?

The Raptors are apparently throwing everything they can at Phoenix Suns President and GM, Bryan Colangelo, to give him the same title in Toronto. As of now, Colangelo is making what’s believed to be around a million dollars a year (two-thirds of the league’s personnel with his title reportedly makes more).

The Raptors are supposedly more than content to triple Colangelo’s salary to bring him up North, where he’s got listless documented ties to Raptors part-owner, Larry Tanenbaum, and interim GM Wayne Embry.

This story has been circulating heavily in the papers for a couple of weeks, now. Initially I was skeptical about the whole thing. Why would someone leave a masterpiece they’ve pieced together, when it’s just a couple of tweaks away from championship contention?

Well, anytime you triple one’s salary, that’s a good start. The Suns new ownership group, which officially takes over command after this season, could easily match the offer (they paid $400 million to purchase the Suns in the first place – the most ever paid for a single franchise), but there is apparently a rift between managing partner, Paul Sarver, and Colangelo.

Since I know of none first-hand, here’s an article from today’s Toronto Star that documents some of the purported accounts.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140735016405&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064&t=TS_Home

If the Raptors can bring in Colangelo, it would mark a huge boost for the strength and stability of the franchise. He won last year’s Executive of the Year Award, and is expected to repeat this year, as well (ala Steve Nash and the MVP?). He’s only 40 years old and commands respect, both earned, and off the reputation of his father, Jerry Colangelo, who has been involved in the NBA since 1996.

check his bio: http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/colangelo.htm (for some reason, I can't link it)

As written in several papers (from both Arizona and Toronto), this entire coaxing process could be ballooned by the fact that Bryan Colangelo might just want a raise, but if he is interested in starting fresh in Toronto… I say give him everything he wants… and a cherry on top.

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The Raptors’ quiet week meant quiet times for myself. I spent most of my break reading about rumoured trades (the deadline has just passed with little blockbuster appeal, with the exception of the further digging on the Zeke/Knicks’ part), playing ball, and spending time at the gym.
The one taste of action that they had since the break was a trip to Memphis. A valiant effort that came short against a very tough Grizzlies team.

Grizz 94, Raptors 88

How the Raptors shot 45% against one of the league’s best defenses is beyond me. Especially when they held Memphis to 41% shooting, and still lost. Bobby Jackson led a furious 2nd half from the Grizz. B-Jacks’ 14 points does nothing close to symbolize his importance to this game – or the team for that matter. Shane Battier continued to play the lockdown D that’s made him a name in the NBA, Eddie Jones nailed the game-winning dagger, while Pau Gasol topped it all off with 21 points, 10 boards and 6 assists.

Chris Bosh had 26 and 9, Charlie Villanueva came off a solid all-star weekend to contribute 14 points and 10 boards, while Mike James added 16 points and 6 assists.

Memphis has won the past 7 meetings with the Raps.

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Before we get back to the all-star break, I want to touch on the Knicks/Magic swap…
The rumoured thinking behind this move [Penny Hardaway’s expiring $14-million dollar contract and Trevor Ariza for Steve Francis] on New York’s part is that they’re stockpiling talent to make a run at Kevin Garnett in the summer.

Maybe I’m being a little naïve here, but I find it so hard to believe that Minnesota would ever trade KG – whether the team is successful or not. This guy’s already got a ticket to the hall of fame, he’s a solid teammate that does everything he possibly can on the court, and says he wants to stay a member of the T-Wolves.

No matter how many shoot-first point-guards the Knicks collect, none of them (or all of them) would pry the Big Ticket out of Minny (in my opinion). New York’s payroll now stands at over $130 million, and as I write this, they are the 2nd worst team in the league, and not really expected to improve on that.

Granted, they do have some talent now, but how well they will play together is another matter in itself…

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Now, to Houston… You all saw it, so there’s no need to recap… I wasn’t even going to write about it at all, but a friend told me he checked in and there was nothing here… so I might as well touch on it…

The Big Show, on Sunday, I thought was great. Lebron James becoming the youngest MVP of an all-star game was nice, as was the East’s beautiful comeback… Bosh had 8 points and 8 boards.

The robbery… errr, Dunk Contest… was also incredible to watch…



That was obviously a little man marvel right there, but how Nate Robinson (listed at 5'9") won after 13 unsuccessful attempts on his finale is a little baffling.
I predicted, and thought, that Andre Igoudala should have won, and his jam off the back of the backboard had me screaming with glee at the station.

I can’t believe I get paid to watch this stuff.



The Rookie/Sophmore game was what it was… entertaining, but not quite incredible. Charlie V had a great showing for the Rooks with 18 points and 12 boards, but the show was Iggy’s… he took the game’s MVP honours and made the game watchable with dunks, threes, and lane-breaking steals, all while picking up 30 points (12-of-17 shooting).

As if anyone in Toronto needs to be reminded… The Raptors could have drafted this wonderful Arizona Wildcat.

Oh yeah, you heard that Rafael Araujo could be undergoing surgery on his shoulder??

Here’s to hoping for Bryan Colangelo.
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The Raptors play a matinee in Dallas tomorrow, after that, they're home to the Hawks on Wednesday... finally back to work.