NBA Chat With Stephen Brotherston 2/18/13

Steven

Seems the last trade chip is Bargs and one of extra 3s. Fields or Kleiza.

In your opinion, what would be a successful return for the above. A Starting Scoring 4 who rebounds like a Paul Milsap and Back up 3 to Rudy Gay or a change of pace backup point guard?

Stephen Brotherston

Welcome to this afternoon’s chat.
NBA trade deadline is mere days away. If there was ever an appropriate time to discuss potential deals and fantasy moves, now is that time.

That is the obvious scenario – Bargnani & possibly a surplus SF for ………

Yes the Raptors could use a backup PG, not necessarily a priority, but prudent.

If Bargnani is traded, the Raptors need a big man who can legitimately play in the rotation for 28-32 minutes. With the way Casey coaches, someone with some toughness or an edge about him would fit nicely. Millsap would be great if he’d re-sign with Toronto and Utah wanted a another PF (which they don’t)

Josh Smith would be great – same basic issues as doing a deal as with Utah.

If MLSE & Colangelo really want to give Raptors fans hope – they’ll open their big very fat wallet and do the heavily rumored deal for Carlos Boozer – that deal takes the Bulls out of the tax and makes the Raptors a luxury tax team. It’s time for the very deep pocketed ownership in Toronto to prove they want a winner – Rogers, Bell & MLSE can afford the cost of the Raptors being a tax team – Every Single Year! The long suffering Toronto fans deserve it – it’s time to get a playoff team back in the Big Smoke

Blake

The Raptors and Blue Jays now have the same ownership do they not? I ask because I wonder if it would be a good thing to change the Raps colors to the Blue Jays colors? The Jays colors would give way for a magnitude of multiple different jersey options for the Raptors (light blue, blue, dark blue, red, white, black, grey) and could increase jersey sales. Is this a good idea or something that’s maybe been considered before?

Stephen Brotherston

The Toronto Blue Jays are owned by Roger Communications.

The Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Marlies, Toronto FC are owned 37.5% Rogers (Sportsnet), 37.5% Bell Canada (TSN), Larry Tanenbaum 25%

As you can see, there could be some conflicts between Blue Jays marketing and the teams owned by MLSE – hope not, but their interests will not always be the same.

Personally, I’d like the Raptors to change their name to Huskies and assume the blue & white

Ny

How about Kris Humphries for Andrea?

Salaries just about match up, BKN get a big who can space the floor and let JJ and Deron do their work, the Raps get a regular double double guy to play alongside JV who doesn’t need the ball (plus his contract is shorter if slightly more expensive)

Thoughts? Seems a no-brainer

Stephen Brotherston

I agree – Humphries fits Coach Casey’s style better & the Nets desperately need some (ANY) scoring out of the forward position. Nets need Bargs a lot more than the Raptors need Hump – have to add some kind of decent sweetener here, but the basic deal makes sense.

Bob

Hello Steve, I have Eric Bledsoe is he worth keeping in hoping he is traded? Thank you Bob

Stephen Brotherston

Practical matter – Clips have faced injury issues with Paul and Billups – they need Bledsoe. Besides, Bledsoe is finally starting to look like he is going to become a decent player long term, they control his future – no rationale reason to be letting this asset go.

Jaimeson

Here’s a new dunk contest idea. Have these guys play a game of horse with just dunks. Follow the guy ahead of you. Maybe give 2 tries. If “horse” is too long call it “jam”. Could even
have judges with scores if need be, But not necessary. Can’t have these guys missing 3-5 attempts before the making dunk. This was bad and I wasn’t disappointed in who they selected cuz these guys can jump out the gym. I expected something tho.

Stephen Brotherston

Watching guys miss uncontested dunks gets pretty frustrating pretty fast – I’d go for almost any idea that solved that huge problem with the dunk contest. The “horse” idea would add some pressure, even excitement to the proceedings – I like it.

Dyaptor

Hi Steve, Ever since, BC, got Rudy Gay, the Raptors, have been in a 4 win streak.
So, do you think w/o anymore moves this team is capable of making the play-offs? Or Do the Raptors need another Star player to really have have a good chance to sneak in the play-offs?

Stephen Brotherston

Raptors playoff hopes reside more with other teams falling apart than anything they can do. At 6 games back, even if the Raps go on a great run, they can’t catch the guys ahead of them unless they falter. The good news might be – last year – Milwaukee owned the 8 spot with 10 games to go and gave it away – so there’s hope.

Adding another player to the Raptors has to be as much about next year as this year – but that shouldn’t stop the team from doing a deal

Steve

How come Toronto isn’t going after guys like Josh Smith, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson? If colangelo wants his job he has to get talent like that to pair up with the core of Demar, Rudy, Lowry and even boozer might be a guy that makes immediate impact. The thought of those players not re-signing in Toronto is ridiculous because that core with them is a dangerous team in the east.

Stephen Brotherston

Smith, Millsap, Jefferson are all on expiring deals – sure there is a deal to be made with those teams, what should Colangelo give up to get a guy who is likely to leave the Raptors in July?

The difference with Boozer is there is 2 more seasons on his deal.

The thought of guys not re-signing in Toronto after playing here for 2 months is not only reasonable, it should be considered likely – that’s way too much risk to take when the team’s only big dollar trade asset is Bargnani and you can only use that asset 1 time. It is far safer to go after guys on expiring deals in the summer as sign & trades.

Steve

If theres absolutely no good deal for bargnani in terms of talent coming to Toronto, will they just do the boozer deal? I don’t think guys like Gordon, hawes, ilyasova will be the final piece to the puzzle.

Stephen Brotherston

If the fans sit on their hands and don’t start making it obvious they would love a Bargnani for Boozer deal – we might just see MLSE sit on their wallet and think they have done enough.

Gordon does nothing for the Raptors – that’s a very bad idea. Hawes or Ilyasova aren’t bad deals, but they aren’t the impact move adding Boozer would be. Those are the kind of deals that suggest the team is doing solid basketball moves within the luxury tax cap, but maybe they’ll never actually venture beyond that level of spending.

LA in LA

After the first 2 rounds of the dunk contest, will this be enough to pressure the league into finding a way to force more superstars (LEBRON) to dunk? On a side note, Faried and T_Dot Flight need to return next year.

Stephen Brotherston

Almost nothing forces the NBA to do almost anything – I’d love to see stars in the dunk contest, but there is no way an LBJ is going in a dunk contest with Ross & Faried.

Huni

Millsap or Jefferson for Bargnani? seems to me the best makable trade available.

Stephen Brotherston

As discussed – those guys will be UFA in July. That quickly becomes just a salary dump and lost opportunity unless they sign an extension on the way into town

APHX10

Stephen Hello

DeMarcus Cousins…in my opinion the Center that the Lakers need. I see him having the same hunger, passion, emotion as Kobe does. I can see him leading that team and maturing under Kobe’s mentoring. Your opinion?

Stephen Brotherston

Cousins could be the center a lot of teams need – even if he is pretty much uncontrollable at the moment (Almost) everybody grows up eventually.

APHX10

Stephen hello

Let’s say that Andrew Wiggins is eligible for the upcoming NBA Draft or even in the year he’s intended. What does it cost Toronto to get that number one draft pick off whoever holds it so they can select him, or trade for him on the night?

Stephen Brotherston

In 2014, the only way a team will be able to trade for the No. 1 pick is to trade for it before the lottery balls drop and hope it falls to them.

I watched Wiggins play on Sunday – no one is going to trade that pick away.

Deven

Is Toronto really going to bid for the ASG in 2016?

Stephen Brotherston

Very, very possible. Last time they released the requirements for the event, Toronto was very well situated with the needed hotel rooms, convention facilities, stadiums within walking distance, arena amenities. A big part of the reason for the renovations at the ACC & Maple Leaf Square was to make bids for All-Star games feasible.

Mapko

Raptor fan:
Bargs, Val , DeRozan & Kleiza for Love, Pekovic, Roy & Barrea.
May have to play with salaries.
Maybe? Who says no?
Am I close?

Stephen Brotherston

Both teams.

Toronto isn’t giving up JV, Wolves aren’t trading Love.

Guarantee the teams have talked, but both teams are trying to upgrade – makes a deal tough to get done.

Raps would love to do a Pekovic & Roy for Bargnani, Wolves might not be as interested

gk13

Any truth to the Bargnani/Gordon swap? Wouldn’t Boozer help the raptors more? As a bobcat fan who lives in canada i just don’t see how this helps either team on the court. Is it just both teams wanting to get rid of a problem?

Stephen Brotherston

That deal makes no sense at all – Raps have zero use for Gordon on their roster, loaded with 2s already

#tradeBargnani

Would you trade Bargnani/JL3 for Boozer/Robinson? What about if a 1st round pick was included from Chicago?

What do you think the odds are of Bargnani getting moved before deadline?

Stephen Brotherston

Other than I’d rather sub in Acy and keep Lucas – I’m doing this deal.

A Bargnani trade – should be better than 50/50 – it should be 100%, but we just don’t know how far MLSE is prepared to go

Steve

Stephen,
I know players have a right to say what they want.
But when players talk about only having a limited a career and they need to do whats best for them and their family, like get the ext $50 million contract, it makes me cringe.
They are such a spoiled, fortunate, self-centered bunch.
Which of them actually gives 10% or more of earnings to charity?

Stephen Brotherston

We don’t get access to players tax returns – but there are lots of examples of players who are very generous publicly.

Players salaries are based off of league revenues, the numbers are just huge and not something relate-able outside of the entertainment industry. It is what it is…..

Beau

Ben Gordon for Danny Granger?
Charlotte gets a star caliber, proven commodity while deleting an unhappy player that can be a detriment in that locker room. As long as they are sure David West will resign, the Pacers get a player that fits better with the rest of the team. Salaries are similar. Why not?

Stephen Brotherston

Gordon doesn’t have that kind of value – he fits the need though, but just not enough

Trog

Any chance to the Mavs being able to swing a deal for Brandon Jennings? What would it take?

Stephen Brotherston

Can’t see anyone on the Mavs that the Bucks would want back

Beau

As the trade deadline looms near, where will Bargs end up? Are they looking for a player at another position, or just trading Andrea for a power forward?

Stephen Brotherston

Raps have shopped or responded to just about everyone about Bargnani – Colangelo isn’t letting anything slip. A deal should happen, but should doesn’t always mean will.

Any deal for Bargnani has to return a PF/C

JP

Hi Stephen, I hope you are doing well! I have three questions for you. I really hope you can answer them.
1-Would it be a legit option to play Love as center (along with Williams as PF) to force the opposing Center out of the paint?
2-If so, if you have to choose how to build the team for Minnesota Timberwolves in knowledge that they are going to have 3 1st round picks & 3 2nd round picks:
A-Shooting guard: The options are: JJ Redick via free agency & Shabazz or MCLemore through the draft.
Your pick would be: …
B-Small Forward: Options: MKG/Chandler Parsons/Other you may choose
Your pick would be: …
C-Center: Noel/Sanders/Zeller/Other you may choose –> If you don´t buy Love as Center.
Your pick would be: …
3-If you buy Love as center, would you do a deal like the following at draft night?
Minnesota gets MKG-Ben Gordon-1st pick
Charlotte gets Ridnour-Kirilenko-Budinger-Pekovic
It would give us the SG (via the pick) & SF of the future.
Starters: Rubio-McLemore/Shabazz-MKG-DWill-Love
Bench: Shved-Barea-Oladipo -MLee-Gelabale-Dante-Stiemsma…+ other scouted picks.

Thanks!

Stephen Brotherston

1) Teams play small ball all the time and use a stretch 4/5 – very legit style of play

2) Wolves don’t need to get younger – they only want potential stars out of the draft – the picks should be trade bait

3) JJ Redick all day – he’s ready to contribute right now

4) If I can grab MKG, I do it – he is going to be a good player/ already looking pretty good

5) I don’t want so many rookies/ young players – the T-Wolves have to get good fast or Love won’t be the long term PF/C

Bohdan

Do ou think the CAVS will make a trade at the deadline? Have Speights(4.5), Gibson(4m), Casspi(2m) and Walton(6m) expiring contracts.

Stephen Brotherston

If they can get a young developing player or another future 1st round draft pick, the Cavaliers are dealmakers. But they have been very careful about preserving flexibility – they will not do a deal just because they can – those expiring contracts are gold to the Cavs

Kayl

Hi Stephen, I got a few questions for ya

Do u think colangelo should be resigned at the end of the year and y

Do u think we should try to manage this barges for Booz deal? I think Itl put us in luxury tax and still won’t make us a contender which is the only valid reason for doing so

Is there any way Dwight can get to LAC? I think he’d be damn good as a clipper with Blake being such a jokester they’d get along

Stephen Brotherston

1. yes I want to see Colangelo back as President

2. I want to see a Boozer for Bargs deal – I want MLSE to finally start spending those profits to make the team as good as it can be, legit contender or merely pretender, at this point I don’t really care

3. If I’m running the Clippers, I’m going after Howard – I don’t believe the Lakers will accommodate unless DH says he is leaving anyway, but the Clips have to try

Dan

Hearing alot of rumors coming out of Milwaukee. Josh Smith, Eric Gordon. Dalembert, Jennings, Ellis, and maybe even Ilyasova available. Is there truth to any of this and what makes the most sense

Stephen Brotherston

The Bucks are shopping around – they would like to unload Dalembert & Gooden, but the market might not let them. Ilyasova is definitely marketable, as is Jennings & Ellis, but that might signal the Bucks have recognized this team isn’t going anywhere as constructed – haven’t got that impression yet.

Like many small market teams, doing a trade for a pending FA like Smith is very risky and probably not going to happen unless the Hawks will take back contracts the Bucks don’t value highly or just want to dump.

Kayl

How bout something along the lines of DJ Bledsoe picks for Howard if he will resign hypothetically maybe even take a bad contract or something if possible

Stephen Brotherston

I like the idea of of a deal built around DJ for Howard – might just be a dream though, can’t see these two teams willingly doing a deal.

Anthony R

If Bargs isn’t traded untill the summer, will he overtake Amir as the starting PF?
Thanks!

Stephen Brotherston

I don’t believe so. Amir is playing the best of his career and has earned the starting spot with his toughness. Now if Andrea plays as tough as Amir has, I guess he could win the job back.

dub

Hey Steve, i’m sick of people crapping on rudy gay saying that hes not a guy to bring the raps a championship. I’m not saying hes lebron james but if you surround him with other good players thei think eventually they have a chance. The mavs never had a kobe or lebron james, the pistons of the early 2000′s never either. All i’m saying is if you put some good players around him he could be a #1 or 2 option on a championship team.

Stephen Brotherston

Rudy isn’t LeBron, but since LeBron isn’t coming to Toronto – Rudy Gay is pretty good – have to be very happy to have him. Raps can build around RG

dub

Is it too early to trade landry fields? I like the way hes playing lately but he seems a bit too expensive for a guy comming off the bench.

Stephen Brotherston

I like Fields, he is a good player with upside, but if moving him improves the team, he can be traded.

dub

I think the raps should do a deal that involves bargs and filler for boozer and marquis teague. The key is not only getting boozer but you get your 3rd pg. There was mention of nate robinson but i think he may be toxic.

Stephen Brotherston

I like that deal with Teague a bit better, but I’d prefer to hang onto to Lucas – Lucas is a good vet to have

A Cow

Do you see another high impact player coming to the raptors via trade by the deadline?

Stephen Brotherston

Hoping…. its possible, but as MLSE has never let the team take the big risk if it involved luxury tax, we won’t know for sure until its happened… 1st time for everything….

Sam

Would trading for Boozer deter Raptors from being able to sign Lowry when his contact expires?

I’m not 100% sure myself but do you even see Lowry as the future player for our 1 spot? In the last few games, he seems to lack confidence in his movements espiecally last game when he seemed to get ticked off with everything. is there something happening besides basketball that is effecting him emotionally? I remember watching him in Houston and he seemed to be such a different player.

Stephen Brotherston

Boozer has 2 more years, but its not a hindrance to signing anyone on the roster as long as MLSE doesn’t play cheap on their fans.

Lowry has played hurt a lot this year – But he is very physical, fits in well with the style Casey wants to play

gabriel

Hey stephen

i heard rumors about the spurs are in talk about get al jefferson or josh smith.i was wondering whkch kne would workout better for the spurs salaries wise and which player would fit the system better? If we did get one of them do you think spurs will win the chapionship

Stephen Brotherston

hear the rumors, can’t figure out who the Spurs will send back that those teams will take – Spurs can win without help, they are the likely 1st place team in the West again

kayl

hey stephen 3 Q’s

1) should BC be resigned after the season and y
2) do you think getting boozer is a good option. I don’t really since it puts us over the tax line, I think that we finally have a player who can attract some FA’s and getting boozer is a quick fix which won’t make us a contender and take away the little flexibility we have.
3) what are the chances rapz make that sweet sweet 8th seed

Stephen Brotherston

I already answered the first 2 – 1) yes, 2) yes – don’t care about the tax

The 8th seed is possible, as long as the Bucks cooperate and fold down the stretch. Raps can get close to a 500 record by the end. 50/50 proposition, only because of the Bucks history last year

mike

Hey do you think everyone is making a big deal over kobe blocking and “locking down” lebron last night? Also do you think lebron was even trying and that he was playing pg most of the night which isnt really his primary postion?

Stephen Brotherston

it was an All-Star game – no one got locked down who hadn’t just said – “why bother”

Jon

Hey Stephen
Do you see my Spurs making any moves before the deadline?

Stephen Brotherston

can’t see anything significant for SAS

Stephen Small

Based on the multiple officiating errors in Raptors’ games this year when, if ever, will the national media truly investigate whether or not that some NBA officials are repetitively and consistantly anti-Canadian ? The media could clearly put the NBA head office on the defensive if it were to bring to light to the average fan the biases of some NBA officials.

Stephen Brotherston

There are a lot of new inexperienced officials this season – and it shows – everyone is suffering – no one more than the Raptors, but there is nothing that can be done about it.

Kuda

If Andrea is not traded im still ok with that,but if they are going to make a push why dont they do the Boozer/Robinson trade then? Push for either Smith or Milsap.

Stephen Brotherston

I am okay with Bargnani not being traded as well – no deal is better than a bad or risky deal.

I’m all-in on the idea of a trade for Boozer – becoming a luxury tax team proves MLSE is committed to winning.

Millsap or Smith are deals that should wait until the summer as S&T – no rent-a-player deals right now

Knewleaf

In your humble opinion, does Colangelo deserve a new contract based on his performance since joining the Raptors?

Stephen Brotherston

As President of the Raptors, I’m 100% behind Colangelo getting a new deal. No one better to be the link between the Corporate world of Rogers & Bell and the basketball world. And Colangelo has shown lots of willingness to hire solid management help to run the day-to-day operations.

I am hoping we see some of those very risky moves we witnessed early on in BC’s tenure in Toronto tempered by that help he has hired in the future – and he sells MLSE on the merits of being a luxury tax team

Tony romo

My cell phone bill is with Rogers. Does that mean I’m
Paying for the raptors roster and future luxury tax expenses?
Just a Crazy thought… I feel better every time bell or Rogers nickel and dime me.

Stephen Brotherston

Join the majority – if you are with Rogers or Bell, you might just consider yourself as someone subsidizing the Leafs & Raptors – but not to worry, both of these professional teams are awash in profits – they send money out, they don’t need cash from the parents. (Even if the Raptors become a luxury tax team)

sojiro

Hi i am sojiro from France , i am sorry i don’t speak very well english… my question is :

Bargnani and John Lucas III to Chicago
P.Gasol and Meeks to Toronto
Boozer , N.Robinson and Fields to Los Angeles

Is it possible ??thanks for your answer

Stephen Brotherston

That is an interesting proposal – Toronto would be down to just 1 PG, so that’s a little risky and they are overstocked at the 2, so Meeks isn’t the ideal player returning. Raptors are very interested in Gasol, but his injury makes a deal in the summer more likely.

Chicago & LAL should be all over this one, for their own reasons.

Horse Meat

Does Landry fields have any value to the team or in trades? His contract man……

Stephen Brotherston

Fields has value – his rebounding on the wing alone is valuable and his scoring touch is slowly coming back post surgery. His contract is expensive, but not so expensive that it eliminates the possibility of a trade. Just takes the right situation.

Mac

Any chance we see Calderon in a Raptors jersey again? If the price is right for Toronto would they welcome him back as a free agent?

Stephen Brotherston

small chance Calderon could return, more just nostalgic hope than anything. JC is a great person, good player, if he was available and willing, the Raptors would be foolish to not have him return – but I expect some team will out bid them this summer.

Devonte

Why arent the knicks going after guys like brandon jennings or tyreke evans guys that would make an immediate impact putting more pressure on defenses than raymond or iman shumpert can how about giving up either raymond or iman and a first round pick or they could trade iman and try to get some picks your take?

Stephen Brotherston

Knicks don’t really have the assets to go after real high potential players unless the other team really wants Shumpert (there’s a case for that), but that limits the dollars in any trade. But I absolutely agree the Knicks have to be shopping for an upgrade on the wing – this roster is old & brittle and they can’t waste a single season with Chandler, Stoudemire & Kidd heading towards the playoffs healthy.

Cait

What have you been hearing about Rondo. I think he is one of the top 10 players in the league right now. If you trade Rondo who is going to want to sign there in free agency? Are trade talks really still surrounding him?

Stephen Brotherston

Not hearing any trades involving Rondo, but if the Cs want to win 1 more title, maybe we should be! Clock is ticking.

Pacer Fan

I have been a huge Pacer fan my whole life, but I still think this team is one piece away from contending for a title. I think a great piece for them to make a play for over the summer would be Rondo. He would bring championship experience and be a great pairing with Paul George. Thoughts?

Stephen Brotherston

I agree – Pacers are 1 piece (maybe 2) away from the Finals. Another starting caliber guard and the Pacers are a scary team. Rondo would be great, but why wait until next year – find that missing piece by Thursday instead.

gabriel

Do you think the spurs could land jefferson or smith or they are just trying to get hype?

Stephen Brotherston

I looked at the Spurs roster – I couldn’t come up with enough dollars from players they’d trade to do a $13-15 million trade.

gabriel

With the addition of rudy gay to the team,how do you think the raptors will fair for the second half of the season?

Stephen Brotherston

I expect a solid run with 29 games remaining. They should be 17-12 or better.

That’s all for today
Thanks for all the great comments & questions.
This will be a very busy week for trade rumors and there is a decent chance one of them actually goes down among several smaller deals.