Betting Away His Future? 
Talk on Barkley in the Half-Time part of today’s blog
PRE-GAME
Celtics can now no longer ignore their lack of road success in these playoffs. The will have to win in the Motor City if they hope to advance to the NBA Finals. I picked the Pistons in 6 games and think this series is setting up to perhaps go that way. If you can’t beat Atlanta and Cleveland why should I have any faith the Celtics can win in Detroit on of the tougher places to play in this league. The answer is I don’t and that is why I picked Pistons in this series cause I had more belief in them as a road team. Boston was lights out on Road in regular season but this is not the regular season anymore.
In the other series I am not sure what can be made of the 20 point comeback of the Lakers. I personally thought they would walk over the Spurs in Game 1. But the way they did win might be more damaging as opposed to a blow out win of any margin. Spurs are the champions but not the favourites and have never been able to repeat as champions. I am going to be interested to see what kind of a game we get in the second one of this series. Spurs did do good things to build a twenty point advantage but it seemed when Kobe flipped the switch to on position the Spurs were in trouble. My guess is Spurs will do what they do in the nasty department to inquire about Bryant’s back and it’s condition. That is risky though do you really want to make Kobe mad at you? Raptor fans know all to well what Bryant can do and he did that when he said he was not at 100%. Scary stuff.
Time for the First half of my weekly co-production with Mark or the Raptors Core. It is are weekly game of Q&A. I call it one on one, he calls it 24 second Rapid Fire, Hopefully you call it good reading. Just a reminder if you would like to throw in your questions from the crowd for a future edition of this feature you can send your question to either of us. We want you input. That is why we have started doing the Live Blog Events together. To get to know our readers and hear what you have to say. This is another way you can do that.
1st Half
1. MR: Should the Chicago Bulls draft Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley with the first overall pick on June 26?
JB: I would almost think Chicago could use this pick to do something like Boston did last year. It gives them a lot more options beyond Beasley and Rose. Based on what the Bulls have on the current roster, if you are keeping the pick, I think Rose is the guy for them based on the performance of Kirk last year.
2. JB: Are the Detroit Pistons running out of time as far as adding another title to this successful era?
MR: I think they’ve reached that point now. It’s not like their stars are extremely old but they are aging andpeople need to keep in perspective just how long these guys havebeen together. With Rasheed, it’s been almost five seasons and it’s actually six when you consider the Pistons were good the year before he got there too. I like Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo but I think the Pistons are good enough to be that old team that gets back to the Final Four every year but are only good enough to lose. My opinion is their streak of consecutive Conference Finals will end next season.
3. MR: Of the teams in the top five picks, who do you think is the most likely to trade out of the draft altogether?
JB: The Bulls, based on the fact they have a stockpile of youth and are in need of a veteran leader to pull it all together. It is always a risky move to trade away the number one pick but it is something the Bulls could look at realistically. The Bulls cannot get a player that can solve the major problem of this team, which is leadership. They tried to find it in Ben Wallace and failed but that doesn’t mean the idea of a veteran leader was a bad one.
4. JB: Who is the most over hyped player in this draft pool from what we know at this point?
MR: It’s hard for me to answer this since I don’t know about every player projected in the first round. I would’ve answered this with O.J. Mayo from USC very early in the college season but now I’m not so sure. I don’t think anyone’s praise is off the wall or undeserved based on what I know about them.
5. MR: Will the Toronto Raptors move up or down in the draft, or possibly out altogether?
JB: I can’t see Toronto going out of the draft altogether. I am concerned at the cost of moving up. I think if they stay where they are, they can find a player that can address the needs of the team. Beyond the first couple players in this draft there are no sure things. Even a guy like O.J. Mayo is a bit of a question mark in how good he will be. This is a deep draft of non-superstars but quality role players.
6. JB: Is Bargnani in play in trade talks from Raptors point of view?
MR: I’m sure Bryan Colangelo will listen to calls about Bargnani because there have to be a few scouts and general managers out there that see the exact same things in him that BC does. However, this is the same reason why I think Bargnani won’t be actively shopped. His rookie season earned him the benefit of the doubt to get another chance in his third season after a horrible sophomore campaign.
7. MR: Aside from Roy Hibbert, who would you like to see the Raptors take a look at with their 17th overall selection?
JB: Any guy that is a big that has the building blocks of a post game, some defensive ability and rebounding. This is the type of player the Raptors lack. I would also like to see them stay away from Europe and get a guy that is an NCAA talent. I understand it should not matter but I think at this point, a guy that is used to North America can step in right away without any social changes to deal with.
8. JB: Is there a number that is too much for Jose Calderon as far as his contract goes?
MR: I’ve said before I think I’d max out around $10 million as the highest-paying year of the deal – that doesn’t mean he’d average that much over the entire term of the contract. I think something like four years, $35 million would be good deal. T.J. Ford got a four year extension worth $33 million before the 2006-2007 season and I don’t see why Jose should get a lot more than that other than the fact Calderon’s a restricted free agent and may get higher offers to match.
9. MR: How have you enjoyed the first couple games of the Conference Finals?
JB: Not so much. I mean it kind of went as I would havethought it might as far as winners. The Lakers’ comeback was impressive but the result was, in the end, the one you expected. Still, there is lots of basketball to be played and you have three very experienced teams anda favourite with the MVP trophy looking for a championship. It is likely because of my age but I am not looking forward to an L.A. vs. Boston Final but given the other choices, it may be the best series from an entertainment standpoint.
10. JB: How important is Rondo to what the Celtics have done this season? Does he get enough credit playing alongside those other three guys?
MR: I think Rajon Rondo is very important to the Celtics and he’s surprised people. He’s very quick, slashes well and has provenhe can defendpoint guards in this league with his decent size. He deserves credit for stepping up to the plate when so many people said the point guard spot was Boston’s glaring weak link but in the end, it’s the Big Three that opened things up and made the game easier for Rondo. It’s a two-way street.
11. MR: How good is Kobe Bryant and can his Lakers win the Championship in June no matter who they end up playing if they beat the Spurs?
JB: I would have said yes and not given it a second thought until Kobe had his back isssues. The thing with a back injury – as anyone that has experienced back trouble will tell you – is it is not something you can predict when and if it will come back. If Kobe is at 100%, I feel it is the Lakers’ title to lose but Gasol andOdom with a lesser version of Kobe Bryant cannot win. So be it Boston or Detroit, it still will be about Kobe’s health.
12. JB: Do you miss the high school players in the Draft?
MR: I can’t say I do. For every high school phenom like LeBron James, there are about ten high school failures that were tempted into entering the draft before they had discovered their game, learned enough and honed their craft. Even Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant needed time. David Stern did the right thing by implementing the rule but I think his push to raise the limit another year is ludicrous. It’d just be stopping young men from making one extra year of professional living and that shouldn’t be Stern’s choice to make. It’s no longer about protecting them.
Half-Time
Charles Barkley is one of my favourite on air people that covers basketball. The fact he owes gambling debts or gambles at all does not matter to me one bit. But I am certain that David Stern does not share my view on this subject. Technically speaking Stern has no control over Barkley’s job status. However Stern if he wants to make something happen he usually finds a way of doing it. I am hopefully this is not the case but I am fearful for Barkley’s long term future in broadcasting in the NBA. Truthfully if he wasn’t so good at what he does he would have long been given his pink slip. When you have lost 11 million in gambling debts I don’t think you can afford to lose your job, even if you were an NBA legend making millions for years and years. We have seen people go down this path in sports from being wealthy to poor in what seems like overnight. I hope that is not in the cards for “Sir” Charles.
2nd Half
13. MR: Do you think Anthony Parker’s unwillingness to shoot the ball at times this past season was a direct result of the hand injury he had surgery on Wednesday in Toronto?
JB: He will say no, but it would seem obvious that if he is not 100% healthy, it would have to have an impact on his play and choices he would make during a game.
14. JB: David Stern wants teams to tone down intros. What do you think about this?
MR: I think this is just Stern turning his attention to something new to pick on. Honestly, how often are intros a problem in a game and who is hurt by them in any way? I can see what he’s talking about but it’s not worth the time.
15. MR: If you were Pat Riley, what position would you be trying hardest to fill before the season starts – point guard or center?
JB: Well, first, I do not have the hair to pull off Pat Riley. It really comes down to what the plan is in Miami. If you are keeping Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade, you would likely want a point guard to take advantage of those players’ strengths. But if not, you want to get a big man and build the new team through him. Based on depthin the draft, they could get a nice big man in round two that will not be a star but could fill the role. I know Riley was high on Beasley, though, and may want to flip picks with the Bulls to make sure he gets him.
16. JB: Have rumours about trades got to an insane level in your mind?
MR: Not yet, that will probably start in about two to three weeks when the Finals are winding down and the Draft is the only thing people are talking about, as well as pending free agency. I love the rumours because most of the time, you can tell which ones are total crap but it’s still good to have something to talk about when only four teams are left playing.
17. MR: Will T.J. Ford still be a Raptor as of June 27, the day after the draft?
JB: Why not? I have stuck to my guns this far. The thing some Raptor fans may not want to hear is that Calderon could be the one moved. I am not in favour of that even though I am a Ford fan. I just don’t see the interest in Ford that would gain the Raptors more than what they would lose. The other issue is that every time Colangelo picks up a phone, the name he will hear back is Calderon and not Ford. T.J. is an amazing talent but far too great a risk given his contract and injury concerns. Ford, at the deadline, after a healthy season and productive one becomes a more attractive asset. Colangelo may end up forced into a move but if it is his choice, I think he wants the best value he can get. Is there anyone that Colangelo feels is more valuable than Calderon? That is the real question. But the movement of Ford or Calderon will not happen as soon as people expect.
18. JB: What are the odds of LeBron James signing a new contract in Cleveland if they do not reach another Final by time his current deal expires?
MR: I think even if the Cavaliers reach another Final, LeBron James could be out the door in the summer of 2010 when so many teams are clearing cap space to take a run at him, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and others. I’d put the odds at something like 40% right now because it’d probably take a Championship and additional star-worthy personnel to keep him out of a huge market like New York.
19. MR: With all the Carmelo Anthony rumours floating around, do you really think he’ll be moved before next season begins?
JB: It all depends on how much of a headache he is to the Nuggets. I think his off-court issues have become a big issue for Denver. It creates an even more toxic situation if you move him based on the fact Allen Iverson will not exactly be thrilled unless he can be convinced it improves the team. Hard to imagine a trade that sends Melo out of Denver that makes that happen. Allen Iverson wants to win now because the clock is ticking on his career.
20. JB: What team is most in need of trading up in the draft now that the order has been set?
MR: This is an interesting question because there are a few teams but I’ll give it to the Indiana Pacers. Jamal Tinsley has too many off-court issues to be the long-term point guard there, despite his skill. You have to believe the clock is ticking on Jermaine O’Neal if anyone else is interested in him. That leaves Danny Granger on his own to fend for himself so they need more young talent down there.
21. MR: When you look around the league, what three teams seem most likely to pull off a blockbuster or semi-blockbuster trade between now and October?
JB: 1. Chicago: They have a lot of parts and now the #1 pick so they seem likely to do something.
2. L.A. Clippers: Elton Brand will be back and they need to build a team around him.
3. Portland: They havelots of parts with Oden andRoy. They could use a vet to depend on and guide them.22. JB: Do you think draft prospects in general are picked apart too much or overhyped?
MR: Yeah, I think the prospects in every major North American sport are put under a microscope from an earlier age every few years. These guys are being ridiculed before they even go pro and it’s hard to deal with but I guess it helps them in the long run.
23. MR: Call it now in May 2008 – what team will have the best overall record next season and what team will have the worst overall record?
JB: Best: The Lakers – look at how good they are without Andrew Bynum.
Worst: I will go with the Milwaukee Bucks based on the fact they seem to be in quicksand and have made a lot of bad choices. A new GM will help but it may take some time.
24. JB: Beyond Hoffa who was the worst Raptor First round pick all time?
MR: Aleksander Radojevic in 1999 probably. Jonathan Bender was in the same year but immediately traded to the Indiana Pacers for Antonio Davis.
Post Game Show- Raptors
Is there any team that has not had T.J Ford or Jose Calderon traded to them yet? I mean this thing is just getting stupid. You may say where there is smoke their is fire. I would counter that with who is creating the smoke? I think it is clear that Jose Calderon no matter where he plays next year will be getting paid very well. But I am not sure if he will be worth the number that the team he plays on pays him. If that team is the Toronto Raptors I am very concerned. Bryan Colangelo has worked hard to maintain his flexibility and paying to much for Jose could make that all go away. Calderon is a very good player but he is not a guy that would be worth putting the franchise into a Cap hell. Ford again may end up the ultimate winner in all of this and once again not for the right reasons but all the wrong reasons. However this all plays itself out it is going to be an uncomfortable situation for fans of the Toronto Raptors.
Another concern is Andrea Bargnani. I do not want to jinx this kid, but if he doesn’t work-out next season and the Raptors stay to the plan to hold on to him, what value will he have left? I think if there is a market for Andrea Bargnani it needs to be explored. Toronto may just not be a good fit for him based on where he is forced to play. The only other option would be trading Chris Bosh and letting him play his natural spot at the 4. I am not seeing that happen anytime soon. Bosh is a proven player in this league and Bargnani is basically at this stage just a prospect. The hope would be Bargnani gets it and starts to show signs of improvement but playing out of his element as a center makes that seem less likely. I am much more concerned about this issue over the on going Ford and Calderon issues. After all however that plays out raptors still have a very talented point guard either way. But should Bargnani and his stock as an NBA player bottom out you are left with nothing but a 7 ft draw to sell some jerseys to people in Italy and Canadians of Italian background.
Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Carmelo Anthony, Celtics, Charles Barkley, David Stern, Jose Calderon, Kobe Bryant, Lakers, NBA PLAYOFFS, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, T.J Ford
