as many think?

At least dealing him before July 1st, when he will no longer be considered BYC, would not be as difficult as I had thought...

I assumed that if Bargs was dealt, his contract would be valued at 50% of the actual value.  I did not know that his contract for the 2009-10 season would be the amount used.  He made about 6.5 million that year, which is not that different from the 8.5 million that he is making this year. 

Here is what I read on Larry Coon Salary Cap FAQ:

When trading a base year player, the salary used for comparison is the player's previous salary, or 50% of the first-year salary in his new contract, whichever is greater. 

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am assuming then that Andrea could be traded for salaries ranging from 6.75 million to about 8.2million.  Buddah or anybody else want to check the math???? 

Barbosa looks like the Raptor who has been benefitting the most consistantly from the nagging injuries to Calderon and Bayless.  He's definitely worth a look right now.

Handcuffing Calderon with Bayless like guys handcuff their football running backs does not seem like a bad idea for Calderon owners in leauges that set their lineups on a daily basis.

Is Julian Wright on the verge of killing Linas Kleiza's fantasy value permanently.  I would have thought that Kleiza would have some value until Weems gets back, but it looks like Raptors fans may get there wish and JuJu will see some minutes.  All that will do fantasy wise is make Kleiza join Julian Wright as a useless fantasy player.

Other teams:

DeAndre Jordan

I am sure most people have noticed that DeAndre Jordan has blocked at least 6 shots in the last 3 games.  He will not keep getting that many, but Chris Kaman is not close to returning yet.  So in a league with 10 or more teams he is definitely worth running to pick up if you know he is available. 

To put things in perspective.  I am in a ten team league where we need to be consistantly playing 13/14 guys to use up our games played allowed for the year.  So far the average number of points scored per game used of all the owners in my league is about 14.65 .  The average number of blocks is about 0.67.  That means that every block is the fantasy equivalent to almost 22 points scored.  So DJordan blocking 6.33 shots over his last 3 games would be like him averaging 140 pts per game...Insane.  He will not keep this up, but 2 plus blocks until Kaman gets back is looking very achievable. 

DeShawn Stevenson

I do not trust that this guy will hold down the starting 3 spot in Dallas for long, but for as long as he does, he should help out in 3PTM.

He has taken 29 over the last 3 games and hit 11 of them.  Again in my league, the average # of 3PTM per game is less than one.  The value of his contribution in the 3PTM department over the last 3 games would be like him contributing 57 points per game in the points category...Obviously he is below average in many categories, but if he can continue to hit 2 plus 3PTM per game for a bit he becomes very playable in the short term.....

While I truly have no idea, I can't imagine that it would be that hard to get Samuel Dalembert in a trade.  He is not playing much.  The Sacramento Kings have a younger players in DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson that they seem committed to. 

Dalembert makes a lot of money per year (12.2 million this year), but his contract is expiring.  Would anybody other than me, be happy to see the Toronto Raptors acquire him?  Obviously it would depend on what they have to give up, but assuming it were something like Peja Stojakovic plus Miami pick or TPE + Miami pick for Dalembert, would you like it?  Please note that using the TPE to take on Dalembert would force the team to pay about an extra 8 million dollars due to luxury tax issues (not our money though).

I would be happy with bringing Dalembert in to see how he would fit.  He is the large bodied shot blocking type that many fans feel the Toronto Raptors need.  If he works out, perhaps he could be resigned for significantly less than he makes now.  If he were to work out, and choose not to resign, it would confirm that the presence of a very large shot blocker is something this team sorely needs to be targeting.

If it were something Sacramento would do, I would be thrilled with Peja plus the Miami pick for Dalembert.  I would be even more happy if this move were to happen right at the trade deadline so we would have time to lose more games.  I would also be even happier if between now and then Leandro Barbosa, Reggie Evans and MAYBE Linas Kleiza were each moved for draft picks, especially if we had to give up one to get Dalembert.

I have read a few Minnesota Timberwolves rumours lately...

A)    Minnesota would be willing to part with Johnny Flynn because they should be getting Ricky Rubio to join the team next year.

B)     The Timberwolves would deal Corey Brewer and his expiring contract because Martell Webster and Wesley Johnson are outplaying him.

C)    The New York Knicks and Minnesota have been going back and forth on a point guard for Anthony Randolph trade idea.  Apparently the Knicks want Luke Ridnour, but the Wolves would rather send Sebastian Telfair since Frodo, I mean Ridnour is playing pretty well.  The Knicks would need to include another player or two to get the salaries to match.

Could the Toronto Raptors get in on this action?  Should they want to?  I am not sure if it would be possible, but does anyone think this could work? 

Toronto receives: Johnny Flynn, Corey Brewer (expiring) and Kelenna Azubuike (expiring) for Jose Calderon, Sonny Weems and the Miami Heat 2011 first round pick.

Minnesota receives: Jose Calderon, Anthony Randolph and the 2011 Miami Heat first round pick for Johnny Flynn, Corey Brewer, (expiring) and Luke Ridnour.

New York receives: Luke Ridnour and Sonny Weems (expiring) for Anthony Randolph and Kelenna Azubuike

I am pretty confident that the Knicks would do this since they want Ridnour for Anthony Randolph.  They would have to include somebody to make that work.  Although Azubuike is cheap, young and potentially still valuable once he returns from injury – the Knicks were noted to have said they are not sure where he will fit in the rotation that they have established. 

Jose Calderon’s leadership and ability to direct the offense would be missed.  The Raptors would also be giving up on Sonny Weems who some people think may realize some of his potential.   Giving up even a very late first round draft pick is not something that any team, especially a rebuiliding team should typically do.  The Raptors would probably take a step back this year without a veteran point guard.  Those all sound like reasons not to make the deal, but I would jump at it if I were Brian Colangelo.  Not only would the Raptors be getting out of the 10 million or so that Jose Calderon would make during each of the next 2 seasons, but they would also pick up some intriguing young players.  Johnny Flynn still has a chance to prove that he is a capable point guard.  His contract is cheap and short (team option on the 2012-13 season.  Azubuike and Brewer are young guys who may flourish in Toronto.  If they don’t they would not need to be resigned. 

Calderon costs a fair bit more than Ridnour (more than double), but he could certainly serve as the stop gap/back up for Ricky Rubio that Ridnour is pencilled  in to be.  The Wolves want Randolph.  Maybe they would be willing to swallow Jose’s deal to get him and a late first rounder.  The TWolves are most likely the weak link here...I am not confident that this would be enough to get them to take on Calderon's salary, but what do you think?  

I don't dislike Leandro Barbosa, but I really think the team should be shopping him, if they are not already.  He seems to me like he would be attractive to teams in need of a boost to their bench.  He can still play, and as we have seen can get really hot and make a big difference in games at times.  His annual salary while maybe a little high, is definitely not alarming.  More importantly, his contract is not long.  Barbosa could actually opt out of his deal this off-season since all that will be left is one year on the deal with a player option.

Does anybody else think that he is quite likely to opt out of his deal and look to sign a long term deal with a better team, if Toronto does not deal him this year? 

If Barbosa is not traded from the Raptors, and does opt out of his contract, having 7.6 million dollars come off of the books would not necessarily be a bad thing. However, I would far prefer to deal him for an expiring plus a draft pick.for him.  If he is not worth that much to a team, I would also be up for trading him for an expiring plus the right to swap the Heat pick for somebody's pick.  The Heat pick is going to be a late first rounder, so I would be up for moving up a bit via a Barbosa trade.

Losing Barbosa would probably not make a huge difference since Jerryd Bayless is a similar player, and may even develop into just as valuable a player. 

Rumour has it that the Magic are apparently not done adding to their team.  They really want to be title contenders and apparently they think that they need one more seasoned big man to help them out.  Hello Reggie Evans???

I would love to get a very raw and strong big man in Daniel Orton.  The salaries do not match,but it could be made to work.  Maybe Earl Clark gets thrown in with Malik Allen (both of those guys are expiring).

I know Reggie would need to get healthy first, but I would be very happy with this.

suggest that the Raptors are about to use some of their TPE? 

I read/heard that the Raptors may work out a buyout with Peja.  When vet's with expirings are bought out, they typically do not really leave any money on the table.  What they usually figure out is how much they would get paid for the rest of the year if they signed for the veteran minimum somewhere else, and subtract that amount off of the total that the team owes them for the season.

So Peja could be signed by any team either under/over the cap/tax for the prorated amount of the 10+year veteran minimum of 1,352,181 per year.  So lets say the Raptors are able to get him to accept 65% offf of that amount.  Then the Raptors would have to pay him 849 thousand lessover the course of the year. 

The Raptors are currently just about 3.8 miilion under the luxury tax thresh-hold.  If they are planning on using more than that amount of the TPE in a deal, the 849 thousand savings from the Peja buyout would essentially double because you pay dollar for dollar on the amount you are over the tax.

Note: Peja could accept a buyout that pays him even less money (and saves the Raptors even more), but this is not usually the case.

If Mickael Pieturs does not end up earning significant playing time in Phoenix within the next few months, I would love to see the Raptors deal part of their TPE on him.   I would even throw draft pick (highly protected) to get him. 

If VC works out alright in Phoenix there will not be a ton of minutes available for Pietrus.  Grant Hill is playing very  well, and Josh Childress is being paid a lot for a long time.

Pietrus is a very good defensive wing, who can hit the 3 ball.  I think he would be a nice fit beside DeRozan.  Pieturs would give Bargnani someboy to kick the ball out of the post to.  Most importantly, I would not have to watch Sonny Weems play defense or Linas Kleiza turn over the ball as often.

Note: Pietrus could not be dealt until 60 days after the Suns acquire him.

Pick up Marcin Gortat.   In normal size leagues, he is definitely worth the risk.  I predict that he will trhive in Phoenix.  He can defend and rebound, and Nash will make him look very good.  If he ends up getting 25 minutes a night, you will not be disappointed.

Vince Carter is also likely to thrive.

Rashard Lewis is a much bigger name than he is a fantasy player, but he should also improve his fantasy numbers.

JRich is going to take a hit.

Jameer Nelson looks like he could take a big hit.

because I got juice, I lay more chicks than mother goose."  Alright I don't, but that was a classic line.  Thank you to a very young Tom Green.

OJ Mayo is not thriving as a bench player in Memphis. The development of Gay, Conley and Marc Gasol has made his scoring much less important.

Should the Raptors make a play for this guy?  Could they get this guy?  I would say yes on both counts.

Since OJ Mayo is not really playing well or contributing for Memphis right now, and more importantly, I think they would deal him if the right package came along.  I think the Raptors could put together such a package...I have used my imagination to come up with such a package...

How about completing a simultaneous two part trade since the TPE and players can't be dealt together.  That's what Brian Colangelo did when he made the trade (trades) with New Orleans.

1)     Use the TPE plus the Miami pick in exhange for Marco Jaric and OJ Mayo.

That would save Memphis a ton of cash, and get them a chance at a player next year.  The trade would leave a scoring void on their bench though.

Hello Leandro Barbosa...

2)     Deal The Brazilian Blur for Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll (expiring).

Unlike OJ Mayo, Barbosa is accustomed to coming off the bench.  Despite being drafted extremely high, like DeMarre Carroll, Hasheem Thabeet's production would not be missed.

OJ Mayo would give Toronto that young dynamic scoring guard that we are hoping either DeMar DeRozan or Sonny Weems will grow into.

This way we have some choices as for what to DeMar and Sonny.  Obviously we could resign Sonny and keep them both along with Mayo.  Or we could trade one of them if it would land something useful. 

Hasheem Thabeet does not seem likely to figure things out, and would likely just be overpaid this year and next.  You just never know though....Athletic 7 foot 3 players are pretty rare.  I would be willing to overpay him for a year and a half while the Raptors are expected to go nowhere.

If the light were to suddenly turn on for Hasheem Thabeet like they recently have for Darko Milicic, he could even become the most valuable part of the deal.  That's very unlikely, but I could live with just getting OJ Mayo. 

1) Use a big chunk of the TPE to get a team with financial concerns to give us a pick, by taking someone off their hands that has an expiring contract, ie Memphis

Example - Marco Jaric plus pick for 7.625 million of TPE.

2) Trade a protected future pick plus 2.2 million of TPE to New Jersey for Terrence Williams.  

TWill seems to be deep inside New Jersey's doghouse.  He is absolutely dominating the D-League right now.  I remember during his draft year, many readers and Franchise were loving this guy.

3) This would have nothing to do with the TPE, but here is one other move that I would like to see.

 Peja to the Knicks for Eddy Curry (expiring) and Anthony Randolph.

I think Anthony Randolph will probably be a bust, but he has so much potential that I would be interested in adding him just in case.  He only has one more guaranteed year on his deal after this, and it is for less than 3 million.  The Knicks do not even play him (because he has been making a ton of bonehead mistakes).  They are also obsessed with having money to spend next season.  This would clear another 2.9 million for them.

I do not think Linas Kleiza is a bad player or was a terrible signing.  He actually has a pretty reasonable contract, and has some skills/grit.  However, I do not think he warrants minutes in Toronto. 

I do not see Kleiza getting much better than he is.   Whereas I think that SonnyWeems, Demar DeRozan, Jared Bayless, Ed Davis, Amir Johnson, Julian Wright, and Joey Dorsey all have a chance to improve a lot.   They should be getting as many minutes as possible.  Kleiza is too good to accept rotting on our bench though.  It would be insulting to him, since he would know that he is currently as good or better than some of the guys listed above.

After watching some of the OKC game, I thought Kleiza would make a nice addition to their bench.

Something that I personally would love, and I think would improve OKC's chances of winning a championship this year would be to see Kleiza and Reggie Evans dealt for Morris Peterson + filler + prospect/draft pick.

MoPete's contract is expiring. I would be happy to see him back in TO (sitting on the bench).

I know a lot of people love Reggie, but if they really want him, they could still resign him next year.

This team sucks and will likely not contend next year even if they get the number one pick. 

So clear out veterans who do not need to play or become unhappy to be here because we are losing.  Let all of our young guys play, and look to be very good after Jose Calderon's contract expires.

I am neither a Bargs hater nor a lover.  I would prefer to see him traded because I think we can only expect him to be a good player down the line, but I am going to assume he stays because I do not see BC trading him.  Also, if BC were to deal him, it would probably be for a collection of talents that have not been good enough to turn their current teams into winners.  Therefor, I am imaging this with him still on the team in a couple of years.   By the time I think the team will be any good, he could provide an instant offense role off the bench.  He would be overpaid, but his deal would be nearly done.

I would like to see Calderon dealt for something good or an expiring now, but if he had that kind of value, he would already be dealt.  So since he is a good person and character guy, I am not going to continue to beat a dead horse and say that he needs to be traded.  Given the amount of money he makes and his defensive issues, he will hold no value until the 2012/13 season starts and he is in the final year of his contract.  So keep him around and play him a bit.  He is a serviceable back up PG with a good attitude.

Kleiza just got here and will be happy just to play for the time being.  He wants to prove himself.  If the Raptors get offered something sweet for him, they should obviously trade him, but for the time being, they should keep him.  He could be a very serviceable bench player on their team in a couple of years with a deal that is not too expensive and would not have much time left on it.

The same goes for Jarrett Jack, they may be able to get something marginal for him now, but as long as he continues to have a positive attitude, they may as well keep him around.  He could be a fine bench player in a couple of years, and a good role model for now. 

I want to see Reggie Evans and Barbosa traded for expiring and a pick or picks.

If they can add a pick somehow by trading Banks and or David Anderson without taking back long contracts, then obviously they do it.  However, these guys are bad enough and old enough that you can easily just let them expire.

Anderson is never going to hold any value beyond being an expiring that can play if you have an injury or a terrible team.  No need to showcase him, no need to play him.  You may as well give his time to others, even if they are currently not better than him. 

Banks may play better than Calderon or Jack on given nights, but he is not good enough to make this team a winner.  If they need to give him a little run near the deadline to see if he can lure a pick in a trade, but for the most part there is no need to play him.

I would love it if Colangelo could land a real talent with the TPE, but he (or any other GM) would most likely just be getting somebody else’s overpaid player(s).

I think a more realistic use for the TPE would be to try to acquire picks with it...If MLSE would allow it (swallow the short term cost), is at the deadline deal the TPE  for one or more expiring contracts and a pick/picks. 

Road Map

1)      Barbosa, Reggie Evans, and David Anderson to the Nuggets for Kenyon Martin and a draft pick???

Barbosa and Evans could play roles on a playoff team this year and would cost Denver almost nothing.  If they choose to rebuild next year, Barbosa would only need to get paid for one more year max, as he might even opt out, and Evans is obviously expiring.

2)      Waive Kenyon Martin

3)      Start playing the kids like crazy (development and  a higher draft pick)

4)      TPE used at deadline for draft picks plus players with expiring contracts on teams that really need to worry about money. 

For example, part of TPE for a player like Marco Jaric and a pick.  Jaric gets paid to do nothing for a couple of games, but we get some sort of pick.

5)      Draft an impact player this offseason. 

6)      Not get too ambitious next year either.  Only make deals if they are going to help the club in the long run.

7)      Get another good draft pick in 2012.

8)      Trade Jose Calderon’s expiring contract for a piece that fits in with whatever they have built.

9)      Hopefully, be very competitive in 2012-2013 with only one overpaid player.

By then Bargnani is in the 2nd last year of his contract.  Although he would probably be a little overpaid, you would find many teams that have worse contracts on their team then a guy who could efficiently score them 15 plus points a night off the bench. 

He would make 11 million that year.  He would be expiring the next year, thus making him very tradable. 

10)  The team either finds that Andrea will be worth one more year or trades his 12 million expiring deal for something nice.

11)     Have a very solid playoff team, possibly contender in 2013-2014.

Jose Calderon makes more money and is much worse than Andrea Bargnani.  If Calderon's perimeter D was not so pathetic, then maybe we could play Bargnani as a small forward.  Bargnani would be a terrible defender on the perimeter too, and after watching Jose and Hedo  out there together, we already know how that would look.   However, if Bargs was able to pick up the opposing perimeter with the worst handles, then we would not have to play him down low beside one of the worst offensive players in the league to make up for his horrid rebounding.  Hopefully, once the Raptors go on to lose their next bunch of games, and Ed Davis gets back, the focus will be on developing any talent that we have for next year. 

I would love to see Ed Davis and Amir Johnson playing the 4/5 together, no matter how outclassed or outmuscled they are.  I would like Dorsey to be their main back up.  Kleiza could also get about half of his minutes as a PF.  He would certainly grab more rebounds and play more physical than Bargnani. 

For this to happen though, the Raptors would need to be able to deal Calderon, and I doubt that anybody would take him unless they could dump an equally long and terrible contract on us.  

I would certainly deal Calderon straight up or as part of a package for a useless player with an expiring contract.  Guys like Eddy Curry, Kenyon Martin and Michael Redd come to mind, but I seriously doubt that any team would give up an expiring for Calderon.  On the other hand, I am sure that guys like that could be had for the cheaper, younger, more talented Bargnani.

I think Calderon seems like a great guy, but he is the one that is hurting the team the most right now, not Bargnani.  

Chisholm had an article talking about players that the Raptors could look to in the future to run the point.  His fall back guy was Andre Miller.  He thought he would be a very good fit, but is just too old to get really excited about.  He also talked about how Miller does not fit well with the slow down system that Portland runs. 

Seems to me that Calderon and Miller would both do better if they were traded.  Calderon makes slightly more than Miller and has a longer deal so he would be less attractive. 

Calderon for Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez would work financially.  Would Toronto adding Miami's first round pick be close to enough to make Portland interested???  I am assuming that it probably would not, but I would certainly love this.

Please note this is not a rumour, just something that I was thinking about after reading Chisholm's article.

If Miami were to renounce the rights to all of their FAs other than Wade, they could get far enough under the cap to absorb Hedo and Bosh for next to no salary, correct???

If so, I would be satisfied with Bosh plus Hedo to Miami for Beasley, the right to our draft pick back and Miami's first rounder this year (18th).

Then maybe, the Raptors could unload Calderon for an expiring plus late picks as I have seen suggested numerous times.  . 

How about Calderon and 3 million to Memphis for Marco Jaric (expiring) and picks 25 + 28????

The Raptors would clear almost all of their large long term deals (other than BC's baby - Bargnani).  They would have a ton of caproom in 2011.  They would have picks 13, 18, 25 and 28 in this year's draft.  Plus, they would no longer owe Miami a first rounder.

Beasley would not be a good fit, but the team will be terrible next year anyway.  They could allow him to score close to 20 a game ane then maybe deal this cheap/young/talented player elsewhere. 

It woudl be tough to see Miami terrorize the league next year with Bosh and Wade (and Hedo), but I bet their dominance would be short lived.  By the time the Raps would be ready to make a push in 2 years, I don't think Miami would be great.  I would not be shocked to see DWade as a broken down over priced star in a couple of years given the way he plays and some of the injuries he has had.  At the very least, I think Wade will have lost a step within the next few years.  If this happens, him and Hedo would take up way too much money for Miami to be a juggernaut once Toronto would be ready.  

 I forgot to mention that while I am not 100% certain that Miami would be allowed to deal just Beasley and picks for Bosh and Hedo, I do know that renouncing the rights to players does not mean that you can not end up resigning them.  They just lose their bird rights and the ability to offer them bigger raises.