Not racist police force in Oakland still being shitbags | Danny Green wants to resign, but… | T-minus 10 days till free agency
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6uwThIv22c
Woj on the Clippers-Raptors race for Kawhi: "There's no question the Raptors closed the gap but I still think that they've got a ways to go to compete with the Clippers." pic.twitter.com/1AxcEWpjLP
— ContentNBA (@ContentNBA) June 20, 2019
Ben Baller, a celebrity jeweller and entrepreneur, was sitting in a front-row corner seat just steps away from the incident. He said that Mr. Ujiri was trying to make his way to the court when the officer stopped him aggressively and shouted something like “I need to see credentials to get on the court.” Mr. Baller, 46, says Mr. Ujiri seemed to be trying to show the officer the lanyard in his hand, although he couldn’t make out what the executive said. When asked about this, Sgt. Kelly confirmed that Mr. Ujiri did identify his role with the Raptors and did hold up his credentials, but the placard he presented did not permit court access. Moreover, Sgt. Kelly continued, Mr. Ujiri presented the document in a “very threatening kind of way” directly in the officer’s face.
At this same moment, Mr. Baller said, others in the area started shouting Mr. Ujiri’s position. “That’s the general manager of the Toronto Raptors,” Mr. Baller heard one person yell, but the officer “shook his head ‘no’” and pushed Mr. Ujiri. (Sgt. Kelly says the officer, who felt Mr. Ujiri was violating his personal space, pushed the executive away and said something to the effect of “get away from me.”)
Mr. Baller said the Raptors president’s expression was one of “are you joking me?” This is when things became heated. Mr. Ujiri shoved the officer back, causing the man to stumble backward. “There is no fist going to his face,” Mr. Baller said.
Greg Wiener, 61, told the Associated Press last week that while Mr. Ujiri did shove the officer, he did not hit his face. Mr. Wiener told The Globe that when Mr. Ujiri approached the court, the officer blocked his path with his arm, which Mr. Ujiri “brushed” away, “like, ‘I’m still going forward’ … then the deputy got a little bit more aggressive” and pushed the Raptors executive. “That’s when Mr. Ujiri pushed the deputy hard,” Wiener said.
Ujiri altercation with California cop raises questions about service, protection and race | The Star
There’s no debate over whether Ujiri’s alleged retaliation was illegal. But whether we should judge Ujiri harshly for defending his personal space in an emotional moment, during the signature achievement of his professional career, is a separate question.
Context is key here, as in Black men’s rights not to be physically accosted, even in the face of white power and privilege.
Ujiri’s shoving match happened after days after Mark Stevens, a minority owner of the Golden State Warriors, took a swing at Lowry after a scramble for a loose ball dumped the player into the front row at Oracle. And it pitted Ujiri against a sheriff’s deputy who derived his influence not from immense wealth, but from a badge and a gun and the authority to lay charges, no matter how specious.
The officer blocked Ujiri’s path to the court, claiming the Raptors president didn’t possess a credential. After photos showed a credential dangling from Ujiri’s hand, the sheriff’s office told reporters Ujiri lacked a yellow wristband that would have granted access to the on-court celebration.
You could point out how difficult it is to spot wristbands on men wearing full-length shirts and jackets, but those of us who have lived through the business end of racial profiling know it was never about a credential or a wristband. It’s about a person with power deciding you don’t belong, and making a decision to enforce his authority over your body.
When you assert your rights, the racial profiling playbook says to raise the stakes instead of backing down. And if the person hasn’t committed a crime, goad them into lashing back, then justify whatever comes next.
Legal Look: Masai Ujiri and The Toronto Raptors Facing A Number Of Issues – Forbes
Civil Liability
There is also a risk that the deputy could sue Ujiri civilly (for money), alleging, in part, assault, battery and false imprisonment. Apart from suing Ujiri, the deputy would also sue the Raptors and MLSE since the employer could be found liable for the actions of its employee.
After alleging a concussion and a jaw injury as a result of the alleged assault, the deputy’s lawyer, Mastagni, has indicated that his client is “weighing options”. This statement suggests that a civil suit is quite possible, while also likely representing an invitation to MLSE and the Raptors to settle this matter so as to avoid a possible media circus associated with a civil suit.
‘What’s next?’: With rings on the way, Raptors seek out different motivations – The Athletic
Regardless of what Kawhi Leonard decides to do this offseason, Siakam, at 25, will be a significant part of the Raptors’ future. Two huge games in the NBA Finals plus a likely most improved player award cemented his talent and value. His rookie-scale contract as the 27th pick in 2016 was worth $6.4-million over four years. It is difficult to imagine his next contract going lower than the four-year, $100-million deal Giannis Antetokounmpo signed at the same point in his career, back in 2016. In fact, Siakam will probably get a richer deal, maybe right up to the maximum he can receive.
Siakam knows he can be the second scorer on a championship team, and knows he is about to jump several NBA class strata. This is where his time with Leonard as a teammate paid off.
“He has everything in his game. He can do everything,” Siakam said of Leonard. “He can score in the post. He can shoot 3s, mid-range. And he can guard everybody. That’s a perfect kind of player if you want to be somebody in this league — to be able to defend, and for me being to that level where I can do whatever I want out there on the floor.
“For me, I think the motivation is look what you did in three years. What can you do in 10? You know? It’s about continuing to build and understanding that you put the work in and you got to this point, but it’s only been three years. What can you do in more than that? So that’s my motivation: seeing how great I can be.”
NBA Free Agency: Making the Raptors’ Free Agent Decisions – Raptors HQ
Danny Green
Moving along from least to most important, Danny Green is the next free agent in line. It’s hard to say what salary the market will peg for him, but a continuation of his $10 million this year would probably be in the right ball park. The term will be a question, at his age I imagine he’ll want as much term as possible, and I suspect the Raptors won’t want to give him five years.
Suffice to say the Raptors have his Bird Rights and can offer Green pretty much whatever it would take to sign him. Whether they will or not (or, more specifically, can afford to), we’ll dive into later.
The Airtight Financial Case for Kawhi Leonard to Stay With the Raptors – VICE
Toronto’s franchise can offer Leonard $49 million more than what any other NBA team can give him, with a five-year $190 million contract, which works out to $38 million per season. Rival teams can offer him up to $140.6 million over four years, roughly $35 million per season. The rules give his current team, the Raptors, this advantage to entice him to stay.
Tax rates in Toronto are higher than the U.S.—we’re talking about a combined federal and provincial rate of 53.5 percent on his salary, compared to 50.3 percent if he was playing for L.A.
In addition to that, regardless of what he chooses, he remains a U.S. resident and that means he has to pay tax on his income. He’ll pay the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the games he plays in Toronto, and the days he works in Canada. Based on what happened this past season, about one third of them will be taxed at the American rate. Additionally, there are expensive social security taxes tacked onto every American paycheque, including Medicare (which is 2.4 percent).
Something else to consider is that a carefully-structured deal could offer a big advantage if he re-signs with the Raptors. Up to 15 percent of his pay can come as a “signing bonus” and in Canada, that kind of income is taxed at a rate of 45.3 percent, which is significantly lower than what he would pay in California.
There’s also the cost of living, which is 11 percent lower in Toronto than it is in L.A. and suddenly what the Raptors can offer is, from a financial perspective, more appealing. Norm O’Reilly is the Director of the International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership at the University of Guelph, and he said “all of this is a huge advantage for the Raptors.”
Raptors’ Nurse sheds light on Kawhi Leonard’s season in Toronto – Sportsnet.ca
Another potentially important reason for Leonard to stay could also be the bond he’s appeared to forge with his teammates.
“I will say this, and this happens when you get a championship team, this is a pretty tightly-knit group,” said Nurse. “There’s a great relationship between Kawhi and Kyle [Lowry], there’s a great relationship between Kawhi and Serge [Ibaka], Kawhi and Marc [Gasol], Kawhi and Fred [VanVleet], Kawhi and Danny [Green], and any other permutation of the guys I just mentioned.”
And perhaps the biggest chip in Toronto’s favour is the fact the team can offer Leonard the most money at the most term because they own Leonard’s Bird rights. Should Leonard be looking to be locked into a long-term deal, Toronto can offer him an estimated five-year, $190-million contract as opposed to a four-year deal worth about $140 million with another team.
Leonard was but one topic Nurse discussed with Prime Time Sports hosts Bob McCown and Richard Deitsch Wednesday. Here’s a few more interesting tidbits the Raptors coach divulged:
Raptors Over Everything: The Raptors Championship Podcast Hangout – Yahoo
Host William Lou is joined on The Raptors Championship Podcast Hangout with a handful of the most important Raptors voices:
- (2:00) Blake Murphy, Asad Alvi, and Sahal Abdi slander the state of the East, and break down Nick Nurse taking over Canada Basketball
- (18:15) Vivek Jacob and Zarar Siddiqi discuss the team effort that it took to win the championship, and go into the history of Raptors media
- (39:30) Vivek Jacob and Seerat Sohi explore what this title run has meant to Raptors fans, and the changing demographics of the fanbase
- (53:38) Alex Wong and Ashley Docking revisit the euphoria of the championship parade, and tackle Leafs vs. Raptors
- (1:11:15) Harrison Sanford and Josh Hart go behind the scenes on the float, and try to explain Danny Green’s mohawk
- (1:30:35) Alex Wong and Josh Hart show appreciation for Raptors media
- (1:37:57) Joseph Casciaro and Joe Wolfond go down memory on the bad old days of Raptors fandom
- (2:03:18) Kishan Mistry and Amit Mann share war stories from the road
1. Toronto Raptors (Previously 3rd)
Yes, the Raptors might lose Kawhi Leonard in free agency, even after winning the 2019 NBA championship. Yes, they might lose Masai Ujiri to the Wizards if that annual offer from Washington is just too much to pass up. Yes, this might be an incredibly short reign over the NBA, a la the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. But even if any of those things come true, the Raptors are still the current NBA champs. They’re still hoisting up that Larry O-B trophy right now. They’re still drunk off the title parade throughout Toronto.
Raptors earned this top spot in the rankings, no matter what happens this summer. And if they manage to keep it all together? No reason to believe they can’t repeat next season.
NBA Draft: High-flying Zion Williamson, Canadian invasion the stories heading in | Toronto Sun
A number of Canadians have gone in the lottery since 2011. R.J. Barrett could become the third top-three pick.
Two Canadians have gone No. 1 overall (Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins in 2013 and 2014), Tristan Thompson went fourth in 2011, Jamal Murray seventh in 2016, Nik Stauskas eighth in 2014, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went 11th last year, Trey Lyles 12th in 2015 and Kelly Olynyk 13th in 2013.
Three other Canadians have gone in the first round since 2011 and six more in the second round (plus Andy Rautins in 2010), including eventual sometime-starters Dwight Powell and Dillon Brooks.
If five Canadians are drafted (with Barrett, Brandon Clarke, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Mfiondu Kabengele potentially going in the lottery) it will tie France for the most non-American players drafted by one country (2016) and six would mean a new record.
Canada has had the second-highest number of non-American NBA players for five straight seasons.
Toronto Raptors Report Cards: What grade did Nick Nurse receive for the 2018-19 season? | NBA.ca
Perhaps the most important of all: Nurse trusted Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell even when they were struggling, both in the regular season and playoffs. It paid off in a big way, as Powell scored double figures in three straight games against the Philadelphia 76ers and VanVleet dominated from Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals onwards.
Nurse trusted the starters to get it done when they were struggling in the playoffs as well. Much was made of the need for him to change the starting lineup after they fell into a 2-0 hole against the Bucks, but he wisely stuck with them. Gasol was a big reason why the Raptors won Game 3 – he had one of the best games of his postseason career with 16 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks – and Green delivered in two of their wins in the Finals, scoring 11 points in Game 1 and 18 points in Game 4.
All in all, Nurse navigated the Raptors through a tricky regular season and did the one thing Dwane Casey was criticized for not doing in his time as head coach of the team – make the in-game adjustments needed to get the Raptors over the hump in the playoffs.
The result? History, in more ways than just one.
Grade: A+
Canada poised for unprecedented NBA Draft – Video – TSN
Canada could break France’s record for most international players taken in one NBA Draft. For some of Canada’s top talent this is about more than just being drafted, its about taking the game to new heights as a Canadian. Jermain Franklin has more.
An oral history of Kawhi Leonard’s legendary buzzer-beater for the Raptors – Macleans
The fourth quarter
Mark Blinch, the Canadian photographer working with the NBA who captured The Shot from above: I think the arena was generally pretty nervous for most of the game. There was a lot riding on it. Leonard becomes a free agent after the end of the season, meaning he can choose to sign with another team. A lot of fans hope he might stay in Toronto if he can win with the Raptors.
Frank Gunn, a Canadian Press photographer sitting behind the baseline near the Raptors’ bench: There was chatter. There was nothing specific in those moments. Kyle Lowry’s wife was right behind me and she was stoic throughout the entire game. Silent.
Jim Treliving, president of Boston Pizza, sitting courtside near the Raptors’ bench: The game was back and forth. Both teams were very evenly paced. We came on strong in the fourth quarter. I think Philly was surprised by how strong our defence was—it was so tight. You felt like you didn’t want to go to overtime.
Quinn Lee, Raptors ball girl on the 76ers’ baseline It was so quick. You have to be in the moment, or you’ll miss so much. It was a whirlwind.
Sandi Treliving, sitting courtside with her husband, Jim: Nobody wanted it to go to overtime. I think we were all thinking, “Please, c’mon, we can do this!” I felt confident that we were in control of the action. But it was that kind of game. When you’re that close to the game, it’s exhausting, because you’re fully invested in what’s happening.
Danny Green, Raptors guard: Offensively, we didn’t have it going. We did well defensively; we rebounded and boxed out. But we couldn’t get the pace we wanted, or the open looks.
Brett Brown, 76ers coach: The two things we’ll look back on all summer is [offensive rebounds] . . . and there were some dry possessions at the end. There was probably two for sure, maybe three, where you needed to get a shot. I give Toronto credit. They were switching a lot. They were able to keep us in front of them.
Leroux 2019 Offseason Team Previews: Toronto Raptors – The Athletic
Pressure Scale: 10. While the Raptors have a wonderful foundation on and off the court that played a huge part in their championship, few franchises ever experience the massive uncertainty they face this summer, mostly on decisions outside of their control. What cranks up the pressure for the front office is that negotiations with Leonard, Green and everyone else are more connected than separate. For example, Leonard committing to Toronto or elsewhere changes both the Raptors’ offer to Green and Green’s willingness to return.
There are practical challenges with the most extreme rebuild scenarios as well due to timing. Theoretically, Ujiri could pivot hard by moving Lowry, Ibaka and Gasol if he opts in should Leonard and Green choose other teams in early July as they are free to do. However, the title presumably takes that deck clearing off the table and he absolutely would not want to do so before knowing what the former Spurs decide. Some front offices need an armada of contingency plans heading into an offseason but the Raptors may have too much variability to do more than basic battle plans depending on what happens in a few main scenarios.
Did I miss something? Send it to me! rapsfan@raptorsrepublic.com
