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WTF???
Posted on | June 7, 2010 | 8 Comments
You know, I remember back when Jordan was in his prime, Jerry Krause, the then-GM of the Bulls, was fawning over what many said was the European Magic Johnson. After drafting Toni Kukoc in the second round, Krause talked him up like he was going to be the future of the Bulls. This annoyed Jordan, as Kukoc hadn’t even played a minute in the NBA and he had decided to stay in Europe for three more years before joining the Bulls. The fact of the matter was, however, that Jordan had almost no input into personnel moves. He didn’t like Krause trading his good friend Charles Oakley for Bill Cartwright but Krause did it anyway. Both moves, however, helped bring consecutive Championships to the city of Chicago.
You see, while Krause may never have been the best people person, and often had a rather contentious relationship with Jordan, he was a good GM and knew how to run a club. He never asked Jordan for advice about what he should do because it was simply not Jordan’s job. Jordan was one of the best players to ever play the game, but that certainly didn’t give him the qualifications to give advice on personnel moves, and Krause knew that. And everything that Jordan has done since leaving the court proves this.
So when I read that LeBron was basically making decisions involving trades, I shook my head. Is this what the NBA has come to? Allowing the inmates to run the asylum? It’s no wonder that the Cavs roster looked like a patchwork of players that didn’t go together. I don’t mind when franchise players are given some input on personnel moves, but to be given the power that LeBron had is ridiculous. So when Cleveland’s real GM, Danny Ferry, announced he was “stepping down”, I was of two minds. Well, three. First, I didn’t really believe that he was stepping down. And if he did actually step down, he should have been fired. Also, is it fair to fire a guy when he wasn’t even the one making the decisions? Then again, if the GM is really giving decision making power to one of his players, he SHOULD be fired.
This brings up Chris Bosh’s assertion that the Raptors need an All Star who can create his own shot. Does that mean, if Colangelo wants to retain Bosh, he should do what Bosh asks? Of course not. It’s not that the Raptors don’t need one, it’s just that there are things higher on their list of needs. Like defenders. That’s why the latest trade rumour involving the Raptors made little sense to me. Now, I wasn’t a big fan of Mo Williams when he was in Milwaukee because he was a shoot first PG who didn’t seem to know how to run an offense. And he didn’t play much defense, either. In Cleveland, though, he fit fairly well. The Cavs already had the offense running through LeBron, but what they didn’t have was someone who could create his own shot, other than LeBron. Williams did that.
I simply don’t understand the point of the Raptors trading Calderon for Williams. First of all, with it being likely that Bosh AND Turkoglu won’t return next season, shouldn’t you want a PG who can run an offense and make his teammates better? Calderon certainly has a weakness on the defensive end, but there were many times he saved the Raptors when he came into the game with the second unit and jumpstarted the struggling offense. He’ll hurt you on the defensive end, but he has a much bigger impact on the offensive end than most fans realize.
Mo Williams WAS an All-Star with Cleveland, but if anyone thinks that had more to do with him as a player than the fact that he was the second best player on the NBA’s best team, well I’ve gone an oil well in Texas to sell you. Williams would not improve the team, but it might be something that would entice Bosh to stay. If it doesn’t improve the team, then it frankly isn’t worth it.
Of course, then I read that Doug Smith asked about it and was told to “Forget it.”
Hold on, though. How could this widely circulated story possibly be based on nothing? I decided to do some digging…
Nets Turn Down Dooling Deal For Beasley
Heat Never Offered Beasley To Nets
Okay, that’s a little weird.
Report: Wizards Ready to Dump Arenas. Will Consider Buyout
Wizards Like Duo of Wall-Arenas
Mmmm.
Wesley Claims LeBron Leaning Strongly Toward Bulls
Source: LeBron Seriously Considering Joining Wade In Miami
WTF?
You know, I’m starting to wonder whether I can believe ANYTHING I read now. It’s almost as though half of the NBA rumours out there are completely bogus with very little basis in fact! Talk about your world crumbling.
It makes me wonder about the latest Raptor rumour making the rounds, about Colangelo wanting to move up in the draft. Well, you’ll excuse me if I pee my pants. Where do I sign up for this? I don’t know if there is a trade I wouldn’t do in order to get the number 2 pick from Philadelphia. I just get the feeling that Evan Turner is going to be a special player in the NBA. With Bosh probably gone, the Raptors need a new franchise player and getting the number 2 pick would be a huge step in the right direction.
Of course, now we wait a couple of days for an opposing article…
8 Responses to “WTF???”
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June 8th, 2010 @ 5:37 AM
I’m starting to think people read blog posts and take them as fact. Like some guy goes on the to the web, writes about how they think Jose should be traded for Williams, then some other guy comes along and says “we’re trading Moe Williams for Jose! Man thank you inside source!”. It’s very irritating in general.
June 8th, 2010 @ 10:30 AM
Well, at least I know some of those sources on RealGM forums are legit. Right?
June 8th, 2010 @ 3:10 PM
Do your research. Toni didn’t come over right away because Jordan was fearful of Toni taking his spotlight.
Also, I remember Zeke being left off the Olympic team because His Highness detested the Bad Boyz.
So, Jordan had far more pull than you give him credit for.
June 8th, 2010 @ 5:26 PM
Good article, good read
Already heard some debunking from some blogger in Philly who is supposed to be a good source, but I will listen to Chad Ford and hope for the best
June 13th, 2010 @ 10:30 PM
Sorry, your comment just appeared to me, a little late.
Yes, I read something similar about the debunking. It wouldn’t surprise me because I certainly don’t think it’s worth giving away the 2nd pick to get rid of Brand, but I guess you never know.
June 16th, 2010 @ 10:06 AM
Tim,
Those who propose these types of trades for the Raptors, as a way of supposedly “improving” the fortunes of the team are not very knowledgeable NBA people to begin with … and, I’m including [i] casual fans, [ii] independent bloggers and [iii] traditional media sources, etc., amongst this group.
I agree with your take on the proposed deal involving a player like Mo Williams, or Michael Beasley, as but 2 examples of potentially incoming players who would actually make the Raptors worse next season compared to last year’s team.
As unappetizing as it might seem to some … the correct way out of the Raptors current dilemma is to:
1. Trade Andrea Bargnani;
2. Trade Hedo Turkoglu;
3. Select the best player available in the 2010 NBA Draft;
4. Acquire an additional selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, in exchange for cash;
and, then, decide to let Chris Bosh do whatever he feels is in his own best interests, as far as re-signing with the Raptors is concernced.
Option 1 – if Bosh re-signs
Terrific!
If the Raptors did moves #1-4, above, then, this would actually be the best available option for Bosh to accomplish his long term goals in the NBA.
Option 2 – if Bosh signs elsewhere
a. Let Bosh walk … and use the available salary slot to attempt to sign other UFAs moving forward;
or,
b. Execute a feasible Sign & Trade.
There are plenty of very good young players available in this year’s NBA Draft to be able to gradually re-build the Raptors team, after the debaucle of the last 4 years, which has seen them waste the brilliant start to Chris Bosh’s career in the league, as a stalwart Big Man.
There have always been decent-very good building blocks in Toronto, provided that the team’s upper management actually knows how to use them in the right way, in the first place.
June 18th, 2010 @ 11:12 AM
khandor,
Can’t agree more with your strategy. As you’ve no doubt discovered, I’m in the midst of posting something about this.
June 21st, 2010 @ 11:55 AM
Fluxland,
I actually remember quite clearly what happened at the time. Toni not coming over had absolutely nothing to do with Jordan not wanting him to take away his spotlight. And as far as I know, the Jerry Krause wasn’t GM of the Olympic team, so your point is kind of moot.