Toronto Sun
“There’s no better way in gaining experience than being in an NBA game,’’ he said. “The quicker young players develop, the quicker an organization moves forward.
“Regardless of what happens in free agency, there’s an opportunity for both.”
Both Davis and Alabi have length and are athletic, each is defensive-oriented, capable of rebounding the ball and blocking shots.
When the NBA’s movement moratorium lifts on Thursday, it’s expected the Raptors will announce the re-signing of Amir Johnson.
As is the case with every free agent that preceded Johnson, and will be the case as long as Toronto remains part of the NBA fraternity, the Raptors had to overpay, the price of doing business in the league’s only non-American market.
But when you strip away the money, Johnson makes a perfect fit, as does Davis and Alabi.
Throw in Andrea Bargnani and a healthy Reggie Evans, if he doesn’t get traded, and you have the makings of a decent big rotation.
The mid-level exception got raised over the weekend when a report surfaced suggesting the Raptors were on the cusp of exercising a sum roughly in excess of $5 million that doesn’t go against the cap, but is applied to the luxury threshold.
Part of the money will be spent on Alabi, a second-round pick with first-round potential, a kid who deserves some guarantees that are only manifested in a longer contract.
That’s a slam dunk.
“I don’t view what happened to me as a drop,’’ began Alabi on Monday, when he and fellow draft pick Ed Davis were formally unveiled by the Raptors.
“I’m just excited to be here in Toronto, to be with the Raptors. The way I look it, there were teams who missed out on me.”
Teams missed out because they were scared of Alabi’s health.
Alabi suffers from Hepatitis B, an inflammation of the liver, a condition he said he has had since birth, very treatable and not likely to prevent him from reaching his pro goals.
“He has been checked out thoroughly by our doctors,’’ Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo said.
The Raptors forfeited cash and a future second-round pick to acquire Alabi from Dallas, which selected the Florida State product with the 50th overall pick when many draft experts figured Alabi would go much higher.
While rare in a country such as the United States, Hep B is quite common in the continent of Africa.
“I always remember Toronto being a great city, a clean city with warm people,’’ the elder Davis said on Monday when Ed Davis was introduced to the media. “Nothing has changed.”
Terry Davis lists Charles Oakley among his closest friends, a further Toronto tie connecting the Davis name and the Raptors franchise. The two are products of Virginia Union, a school that also gave the NBA Ben Wallace.
Oakley gave Toronto much-needed toughness and experience when he was acquired from New York.
Ed Davis is no Oakley, but his rebounding and athleticism are what’s needed for Toronto’s current incarnation of the Raptors.
Ed Davis will be asked to do what he did at North Carolina, but it’s off the court where incoming players separate themselves, an area Davis has advantage over most of his peers.
“My dad’s seen it all,’’ the younger Davis said. “He has always talked to me about working hard and the lifestyle of the NBA.”
Terry Davis believes his son’s legacy will be based on the time he spends in between games and practices.
“You need rest in this business,’’ the elder Davis said. “These kids and even some of these veterans get caught up in matters that have no bearing on basketball.
“I’ve always said that 70% of this game is mental. The more mentally prepared and the more mentally tough you are, the longer you survive.”
Ed Davis, a 6-foot-10 power forward, does possess the skills to make a seemingly easy transition from the University of North Carolina to the NBA. He made his name in college primarily as a defender and interior presence, and while at 225 pounds he may not be as strong as many of the guys he’ll be going up against each night, he realizes where his career will be made.
“I just know that I can rebound and block shots and all those things translate to the NBA,” he said. “I know I can do that every night and it’s something I can bring to the table.”
Learning what it takes to be a pro has been the most valuable lesson imparted from father to son, that work ethic trumps just about everything at the game’s highest level.
It’s why Terry Davis is convinced his son can make the leap.
“He’s a no-maintenance kid,” said the father. “You don’t have to worry about him, he doesn’t get into any trouble and he loves the game of basketball. . . . That’s his life and you won’t have any nonsense outside of that.”
But for the first time in his tenure running the franchise he allowed that the Raptors are looking further down the road than the season immediately ahead.
“It feels like we’re turning over a new leaf as we build this roster and put a new product out there the floor,” he said yesterday.
The men sitting to his right were doubtless happy to hear it.
Colangelo was speaking by way of introduction of the team’s newest members, a pair of rookies-to-be in the form of Ed Davis, drafted No. 13 overall and Samuel Alabi, drafted No. 50.
With Chris Bosh all but gone and Andrea Bargnani and Reggie Evans the only big men under contract – the club can’t confirm the signing of Amir Johnson until Thursday – there could be no better time to be close to seven feet and a Toronto Raptor, at least if the chance to earn significant playing time is the goal.
“It’s going to be a good fit: great organization, great city, I’m ready to work,” said Davis, a 21-year-old sophomore form the University of the North Carolina.
Said Alabi, a 22-year-old sophomore from Nigeria by way of the Florida State University: “It’s a great opportunity for me. I’m excited to join the team and contribute to the program.”
“I just know that rebounding, blocking shots and running the floor always translates from college to the NBA,” Ed Davis said. “I know I can do that every night.”
Alabi, meanwhile, was discovered at a camp in Nigeria when he was 12. Alabi eventually made his way to the United States and to Florida State University, but he remains a project, albeit one that is seven-foot-one.
Colangelo, for his part, said both players could contribute on the floor this year.
Alabi also has Hepatitis B — a viral infection of the liver. He’s had the condition since birth, which could be a reason he tumbled from a spot late in the first round to a spot late in the second round.
“We were given assurances by not only our doctor but by our medical staff that this should not be a concern,” Colangelo said. “We’ll obviously deal with the treatments as required. Everything should be fine. It should not affect his playing career.”
“All I’m going to say,” Alabi added, “is the other teams missed out.”
Raptors sign Amir Johnson for 5 years, $34 million –
Go ahead and re-read that 15 times, still makes zero sense right? When I heard about this contract I thought it was one of those jokes people were telling to lighten the mood of all the stress free agency seems to be bringing. But turns out the Raptors, one year removed from giving Hedo Turkoglu six years and $60 million, feel that Johnson is their replacement for Chris Bosh. The same Johnson who 50% of those following the NBA didn’t know existed, is now going to be making $7 million a year for accomplishing absolutely nothing.
This is a contract that will tie up the Raptors cap-space, meaning they will have a starting front-court of Hedo, Johnson and Andrea Bargnani, all tied up for 4-5 more years, along with the contracts of Jose Calderon and Jarret Jack. I already feel bad for Raptors fans for when they have to trade away Demar Derozen just to get someone to help them clear cap-space in a couple of years. I’d keep going but I don’t want any Raptor fans to kill themselves.
Stupid Signing Scale: 150/10
It’s believed they are filming a documentary of the process. Although Henry Thomas (the agent of both Bosh and Wade) told CNBC’s Darren Rovell nothing has been decided:
"We’ll decide what we want to do with (the film)."
A documentary approved by the players and their agent? Like that’s not going to be a puff piece.
The cameras have not been in the meetings (where the actual interesting stuff happened), Bosh tweeted. Still, the cameras have made some of the front office uncomfortable. In their idea of utopia, NBA front offices would operate in a completely closed-door environment; this whole transparency thing unnerves them. But in this case they have no choice – the cameras are there under the direction of the players the teams are recruiting. So they have lived with it.
What this really means: Later this week when Bosh and Wade come to a decision (let us pray it is later this week, any longer and my mind will turn to oatmeal) it will not be the end of it. Soon enough, we will get to relive it all.
First, Chris Bosh, who might be the most over-rated forward on the market right now. The big man has spent the first part of his career up in Canada, as a member of the Toronto Raptors.
It is easy to be the best player on the Raptors, who have struggled to make the playoffs since trading Vince Carter. However, the problem that Bosh brings is that he is one of the most selfish players out there.
Bosh may go somewhere and become a bigger star. I just don’t see it. A team might over-pay for Bosh, and they could be rewarded. Despite saying he would not return to Toronto, there is a good chance that he will go to the team that will pay him the most, and that very well could be the Raptors.
Over the weekend, a report surfaced saying the Raptors were becoming disenchanted with the idea of making such a deal, which would limit Bosh’s earning potential if he does leave the Raptors. It would also mean the Raptors would not get something in exchange for Bosh. The Raptors had long said they are willing to work with Bosh to the benefit of both parties if he decided to leave.
"Things have to make sense for all sides. Things have to make sense for the player. Things have to make sense for the two teams involved," Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo said yesterday after the club introduced rookies Ed Davis and Solomon Alabi to the media at. "That’s the part that ultimately has to be decided. He might decide on a franchise and we participate, we may not. That’s kind of where things are."
Q. Has Toronto soured on working out a sign-and-trade for Bosh?
A. There have been several reports along those lines, but the Raptors are going to do what’s best for their team, so there is no reason to rule it out.
The Toronto papers have suggested the Raptors won’t take back Miami’s Michael Beasley in a sign-and-trade, one of only two players the Heat currently has under contract. It’s possible the Raptors would be more receptive to draft picks and a traded-player exception for Bosh.
The Bulls are in a similar situation. The Raptors may be averse to taking Luol Deng’s expensive contract. But the Bulls could get Bosh close to a maximum salary by sending Taj Gibson, James Johnson and draft picks to Toronto.
It’s difficult to imagine the Raptors wouldn’t take that deal, but it’s all up to Bosh. If he tells Toronto he will go ahead and sign for five years with the Bulls or Miami, the Raptors figure to take what they can get in a sign-and-trade.
Can the Raptors get anything back for their former star player? In the past, as we saw, the Raptors have not been successful in gaining any compensation for their players. This time fans are hopeful that GM Bryan Colangelo can get something in return for Bosh in a sign and trade. The best case scenario that are being floated around internet rumour boards is Joakim Noah from the Bulls or Michael Beasley from the Heat.
The other burning question is how Raptors fans will treat Bosh when he returns to the Air Canada Center next season. At the moment he will probably get a mix of cheers and boos. Unlike Carter, Bosh tried right up until taking the elbow in the face, so that will earn him the cheers, and unlike McGrady leaving when the team was good, Bosh is leaving when the team is constantly rebuilding and without a real chance to win.
Even though these are points in his favour, Raptors fans cannot help but feel like they have witnessed the development of an NBA superstar to again have him walk away in his prime.
His abilities are, of course, hugely significant. That is why we are here discussing his potential maximum salary. Yet despite that, Bosh is not worth a six year maximum deal. He is not even worth a five year maximum deal. He is an elite player who made significant improvements last season – a cynic might point out that it was a contract year – scoring more than ever, more efficiently than ever, and with a career best rebounding rate. But he’s normally a below-average rebounder, inconsistent and timid defender, who doesn’t want to take the tough defensive matchups and who isn’t very good at it when he does. His offensive skill and versatility is only bettered in the NBA today by Dirk Nowitzki, but if you buy Bosh, you’re buying a solution for half of the game only. As such a fear of overpaying him (and for him) can be entirely valid.
Yet the question is paramount; forgetting for a moment what the Raptors would want and need in the sign-and-trade, and the realistic amount of basketball assets that the Bulls would be willing to give Toronto to get him, do you give the $125 million to him anyway if it’s the only way to get him?
Yep, probably. There are more buyers in this auction than there are lots, and as such, the Bulls are going to have to overpay to get someone. If they’re going to overpay someone, I’d rather they overpay the best of the bunch. And the best of the big man bunch available this year is Chris Bosh.
If obtaining him means that he gets $25 million to do $13 million’s worth of work when he’s 32 years old at the end of the deal, so be it.
How does he fit with the Raptors?: Outlaw is a great fit as a young, athletic small forward who can rebound with the best of them. He plays above average defense and is a player that, as mentioned above can step it up and bring his game to another level in crunch time. As a 6th man Outlaw would probably be lead the Raptors second unit in scoring and would likely log heavy minutes (20+ mpg). Outlaw is someone that can get to the free-throw line in bunches which is another reason he is viewed as such an ideal fit for the Raptors. And quite honestly, if we do not take restricted free agents such as Luis Scola into account Outlaw is probably the best fit out there for the Raptors.
The window to win a title with Bosh is likely over the next three years. After that, his wonky knees and age will work against him. Remember, over the past five seasons, Bosh has played in an average of 70 games per year, so durability is a factor.
The manner in which Bosh’s free agency has played out is best for both CB4 and the Raptors. Long term the Raptors will be better off rebuilding with the young gunz, while some other team can take the risk and pay $48.6 million to Bosh when he’s 31 and 32 years of age.
The front end salary numbers are fine. But that’s only half the story. Bosh’s max money deal looks very ugly at the back end – particularly if his knees don’t cooperate.
