It was about 3:53pm when my phone rang. It was work.
“Zack, did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“Stephen A. Smith is reporting that the Raptors have dealt Rose to the Knicks for Antonio Davis… you should probably get to the game as soon as you can.”
The first thing I thought was “Antonio Davis?!?!” Hadn’t he burned every possible bridge on his way out of our metric-system-favouring city?
The first thing I did was check ESPN.com, and read the 40 word description.
Then I called the reporter I’d be working with, and told him the deal.
After that, I sent a text message to all my immediate hoop-heads to give them the scoop.
Then I rushed downstairs, took a shower, shaved and trimmed the beard, re-brushed the teeth, put on some fresh clothes and left my half-folded laundry on my bed. I ran outside, caught a streetcar that was waiting at the stop already (it feels so good when that happens), and I head to the ACC.
I check in with the Fan crew, figure out who’s doing what, and head to the media center. En route, I see that Knicks coach, Larry Brown, is surrounded by a horde of media-folk. The other Fan reporter is already there. I switch minidiscs with him, so I can chop up the goods, and he can toss a mic in front of Wayne Embry and eventually Sam Mitchell.
I get to the media center, grab a bottle of water, a few slices of pizza and then proceed to put on my headphones and get to work.
A media relations guy hands me the official press release that reads:
“The Raptors acquire Cap Relief, Davis from Knicks for Rose, Draft Pick”
By now you know the deal, so I’ll just get into my views…
I love it.
Assuming Antonio Davis reports, and leaves his sour grapes at home (hopefully along with his wife), the Raptors not only get immediate help in the post… but they also get some size, some defense, and knowledge. I think – again, assuming he didn’t bring a big bag of negativity with him – he can teach the young guys a lot.
But more than Davis, as stated in the header, this trade was more for cap-flexibility. When his $14-million contract comes off the books, the Raptors will have plenty of wiggle-room to re-sign both Bosh and Mike James (if they want to).
They’ll still have their own draft pick (potentially a top-5), but lose the Nuggets’ pick – which in a shallow-draft won’t break any backs – and of course, a great locker room presence in Jalen Rose.
In my time covering the Raptors, Rose was always a pleasure to be around. Even amid all the losing, he’d find a way to keep everybody smiling. His quotes may have turned more cliché than in his past, but he always had something to say.
And with this all consummated, the Raptors are under the cap for the first time since before the over-spending summer of 2001.
Everything’s cyclical, and I think this puts the Raptors in a solid position to make the moves they need to, to get back to being competitive.
Speaking of which, they still had a game to play. While AD was sitting in a hotel room somewhere in Toronto, Jalen was still at the ACC – sitting on the Knicks bench, smiling as if he was that kid in that candy store, who was just told to take anything he wants – free of charge. (Free Candy?? You better believe it)
Charlie Villanueva would get his first career start – at the 3, nonetheless – and while he came out a bit hesitant, the rest of the team came out firing. Mo Pete scored 13 points in the 1st, connecting on all 3 of his shots from downtown, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from half court. Mo finished with 21 points. Chris Bosh led the way with 29 (15-of-17 FT’s) as the Raptors won their 3rd straight.
Raptors 104, Knicks 90
Mike James shot only 6-of-16, but still picked up 15 points, and spread the wealth with 10 assists. Charlie Villanueva had 18 points and 9 rebounds (just like against Washington). The Raptors defense was still porous, allowing New York to shoot 49%, but Toronto did force 21 turnovers, leading to 31 Raptor-points.
It would also be unfair to not mention the performance of Loren Woods, who had played in only 6 previous contests this season had 4 points and 8 rebounds in 18 and a half minutes of work.
Since the Raptors dismantled the Knicks 3 weeks ago, New York has only won once in their ensuing 10 games.
After the game, I was covering the Raptors’ locker room…
We’ll start off with Bosh, who said he’d welcome back AD with open arms.
“Well of course… He’s a big, physical, experience veteran who can teach a lot of the young guys some quality things. He was one of the ones that kind of molded me, so I’m ready to talk to him. Ready to see him.”
Mo said the trade really caught him off guard:
“I was shocked. I was surprised. You know, people had been speculating the trade for the last year, and nothing happened. So I used to tell him, ‘J, you’re not going anywhere, you’re not getting traded.’ And now here he is, moving on to another team.”
Now onto Charlie V… He’d been dogged for his defensive effort at times this season, and was now forced to guard even quicker players, since he was starting at the small-forward. I asked what he felt about that challenge:
“That’s something I’ve been working on in practice, you know. Coach had me guard Jalen Rose or Mo Pete in practice for the past 2 weeks, so I knew he was going to put me out there at the 3 sometime. I just didn’t know when. I was glad it was tonight.”
I mentioned how with him at the 3, it gives the Raptors something they’ve sorely lacked for years… size. He agreed.
“I think it definitely helps us out, as far as rebounding and as far as taking advantage of my height, my length and my versatility.”
He also said he’s looking forward to learning from Antonio Davis. I’m just looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.
==
My views on the trade might be outdated by the time you read this, seeing as how Davis and Embry are meeting as we speak to discuss exactly what’s going on.
Also, I won’t be at the game on Sunday… the station wants me well-rested for Superbowl coverage, so I’ll probably do up my next update after the Spurs game on Wednesday.
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