After a tough loss to the Bulls, I had a chance to sit down and go one-to one with NBA insider and Chicago Bulls analyst Sam Smith. Sam writes a regular column for bulls.com that gets daily links to NBA.com, si.com, and espn.com. He is one of the best in the business and here is what he had to say:
PHD: I wanted to know what you thought about the chance of the Bulls and Raptors hooking up to make a deal. A lot has been reported about the Bulls issues in the front court and their need for a “low post presence” with names like Brad Miller, Marcus Camby, and Jermaine ONeal mentioned as possible solutions. Is this their only need right now.
SS: The Bulls need size, if not exclusively a low post scorer.
PHD: There are a ton of Bulls/Raptors trade rumours floating around . Most of the rumours revolve around a deal that would send Hughes and Nocioni + parts to the Raptors for JO and parts. Is this a real possibility?
SS: To me, there’s no chance the Bulls take on O’Neal.
PHD: Why not? He appears to address all of the Bulls’ needs, no?
SS: There are a couple of major issues with O’Neal. There’s the salary and though you can come within 25 percent, the Bulls would have to give up too much in addition to Hughes to avoid a luxury tax hit. I don’t see them going into the tax to take on O’Neal.
PHD: OK, but his contract comes off the books for 2010. Is there more to JO than we know here in Toronto?
SS: The larger issue to me is that O’Neal is what they call around the NBA a de-energizer. He saps the energy out of a team with his constant injury issues which makes it uncertain when he can play, and then when he is around he won’t practice so he won’t get hurt again and guys hate that and become resentful. Then he talks to the media all the time, and while it’s good for reporters, teammates wonder why this guy is talking all the time and never doing anything
PHD: But couldn’t he help the Bulls with their low post problems.
SS: O’Neal is no longer a low post player. He’s a ground based jump shooter.
PHD: What about the Bulls end of the deal? Most of the rumours revolve around Hughes coming back to Toronto- since we have an issue at the wings. Can Hughes help this team or is he a “cancer” in the dressing room as he is so often described?
SS: Hughes isn’t a locker room cancer as far as I can tell. He does whine a bit, but the problem more is the way he plays, looking for his shot all the time in the belief that the more he shoots the more it helps the team.
PHD: So, it sounds as if the chances are not good for O’Neal getting dealt to Chicago. Any thoughts about a JO deal in general?
SS: -the general feeling around the NBA with Bargnani coming on is “what the heck they’re going to do to get O’Neal out of there since Bargnani is no three.”
PHD: On behalf of all the members of the Raptors Republic- thanks Sam for your time and for shedding a little light on the issue.
So there you have it Raptors fans. It appears that JO is moving on, but not to the windy city.
As always, standing in the key, I’m the Dr. I’ve got my feet planted, and I’m planning on taking a charge!
phdsteve
47 Raps
no! we need JO during the playoffs. he does not have to start, score like he was in indy. we will need his defense to defend the likes of dwight howard and KG. he should be our top reserve big man when bargs or bosh are in foul trouble, because he is way better than hump and jake. yes he was brought here to help bosh but so far that has not worked out and oneal has missed many games. as of now, bargnani is on a roll and he deserves to be the starting center. a reduced role for JO will also help him not to pressure his body to overwork. the team should not rush his return and commit the same mistake with jose.
j says…we first have to make the playoffs!!!
yeah that’s true… thanks d279. we have to beat the bad teams on a consistently for us to have a seat in the playoffs. it’s a tight race, we have a chance but we need to win games to be able make it.
WTF!!!!
SS makes up the trade rumours to begin with, than he discounts them. But than he insists that any Raps/Bulls deal would have to involve Bargs.
So… with Bargs “coming on”, will trade him to keep JO’s “ground-based jumper”.
NBA Insider:
Doug Smith >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sam Smith
(Toronto has the good “Smith”).
Toronto has the “good” “Smith”.
No… he got it right the first time. You just implied Doug Smith is actually evil or something.
This is the same tool saying that we’re going to trade Bargnani to the suns. He’s lost a lot of cred in my opinion.
Thanks for this Steve.
His rumors aside, it doesn’t take away from the other analysis. Finally, someone calling JO what he is.. useless goods that doesn’t produce wins. Talks the talk, limps the walk.
I will respect BC more when/if he gets rid of this parasite.
JO is a smart, tough defender who changes shots and defends the paint. Every time I have seen him in the game, he has changed iot for the better. He doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, but he does everything I want in an NBA centre (if an overpaid one).
People do not drive the lane as easily when he is out there…i.e blocked shots and charges. The charges come because he steps up into the lane!! Bosh & Bargnani do not.
It’s all about the D folks…
Gusser… sure, do those things happen when the game is on the line? How many wins have all those things translated to? I am not saying those things are not happening, I just wanna know what effect they actually have on the outcome of the game?
Hey Flux, shut your trap..JO is no parasite (you wanna see one look up Francis, Steve or Marbury, Stephon) and while you and I have little clue as to what his injury issues are – he was starting to play at a pretty high level before the GS game.
Peacedog, and how many times did the Raps win before the GS game? In the month of December.. prior to GS.. Raps are 4-10! Perhaps you need to look it up… I’ve already posted it on this site before… JOs producing does not equal Raptor wins.
nobody is producing wins you moron.look at our record.damn flux,are you “special”?
JO WILL DOMINATE COMMING OF THE BENCH..
and he’s no parasite.. we would have been 15-25 if it wasn’t for him.
36 PTS performancce VS. Sac.Kings..
him off the bench draft a SF. sign a SF we’ll be good to go.
FLUXLAND says: Jan 15, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Gusser… sure, do those things happen when the game is on the line?
In short…in team sports, you can always count on defence. JO makes the offence do things that it does not want to do. Rather than drive and kick, their kicks to the 3-point line become more contested because there is less help needed. Thus, the weak side shot isn’t as open as the offensive would want.
It all starts w/ an imposing, large quick footed post presence. Whatever he contributes on the offensive end is a bonus…
Victor:
The Kings? What is this.. stand up night at RR? Are you kidding me? 36 pts vs who? Brad Miller and Spencer Hawes? Please!! How about that 7 pt performance vs NJ vs some rook or his 8 pt tear of CLV?
JO’s contributions on the defensive have been grossly exaggerated. And much of it is dependent on the opponent in question.
Gusser… considering our perimeter D, not sure how much more the opposition 3 point shots are contested and even if this is this really desirable. Not saying part the middle but…. overall, is he doing us that big of a favour? I mean, teams are still dropping how many points vs us on average?
FLUXLAND says Gusser… considering our perimeter D…overall, is he doing us that big of a favour?
Fluxland, just ask yourself this question. When he is patrolling the paint, how many times do you see guards drive and kick w/ impunity, or take the easy lane. It doesn’t happen. Even if he has lost some hops, he gets the correct position and changes the shot or takes the charge.
The offensive team must change their game plan when he is in there. He also has the bulk to hold off the bigger men in the league.
When the shot goes up, he’s always got a body on somebody, there are no easy offensive rebounds for his man.
These are small things, that add up to a lot.
Triano abaout JO: “He actually volunteered it to me,” coach Jay Triano said. “He said, ‘I’ll come off the bench and ease my way back in.’ He said the big guy is rolling right now — meaning Andrea [Bargnani] — and he’s been talking to him and helping him in practices and encouraging him. I just think that’s a great thing for a teammate to have.”
I read this to my dog and the animal puked a yellow-green vomit and he keeps licking his lips and is salivating heavily…
BTw…I don’t give a damn if he gets 4 or 6 pts a night. I don’t need that from the centre position. What I need is an anchor on defense.
Steve B, maybe your dog had an orgasm thinking about the Raptor’s 3 headed monster in the paint ;-)
Guesser… I am not arguing with you the hypothetical or actual individual effect his has. My issue is “that adds up to a lot”. See, based on the Raptors record when he is playing, I just don’t see that. Again, I’m saying.. look at the record when he is playing and the outcome of games when he has a “monster game” because whether you and I think him getting 4 or 6 is unimportant, it’s very important to him.
playoffs????hahahahahahah im the biggest serial optimist out there and even i know that with this team theres maybe an 11% chance we go to the playoffs.. i agree 1000% with what this guy says of oneal. hes a complete and total energy sucker and even when he does play well its allways at the expense of someone else.. if we got to the playoffs with this team then yes he could be effective off the bench, but unless we trade for an athletic wing ie marion, howard, nocioni we have a very slim chance of even coming close to the playoffs.
btw we also have a huge issue with bosh being heavily overated..
JO’s washed up. He’s not helping this team at all.
Quick look at games JO played in vs. on the bench
Played in: 10 & 18 (35% winning percentage)
Injured: 6 & 6 (50% winning percentage)
Sure, some of that can be attributed to strength of schedule, (played vs. harder schedule and was injured during weaker schedule), but the numbers speak for themselves. Although the injured strength of schedule isn’t even that weak considering the Raps played teams like Houston, Orlando and the Celtics (twice).
On a side note, JO’s on pace to play 57 games this year – the most in half a century….Banner year for the big guy!!
Andiamo, do you know what the term “wins produced” means or are you “special”? “HORNS UP!! We will be a million times better under Triano. Playoffs here we come”
TY TAllin… that’s what I was referring to.
were 3 games out of a playoff spot dummy.
JO’s all right and will be great off the bench. At this stage of his career he should be a 6th man. An excellent one I hope.
He still is a great anchor on D. Blocks and changes shots. For sure he is a pressence down low.
In his defence look at the 1 – 3 spots on this team. Fuck man he has to help on every play.
Remember how effective Mourning was coming off the bench for Shaq in Miami during their championship season? That could/should be JO’s role!
Paps, sure he does what he’s supposed to. Point is, people were/are talking as if he changed the entire defensive complexion of the team, which he clearly didn’t. Worth the trade we made for him? Not even freaking close, man. The trade was a ginormous mistake, IMO. You could even argue you could have gotten more out of Rasho. Shoot, at least he wouldn’t have missed 11 plus games.
Nothing like a $22M role player.
But shit…they get cap room in 2010!
Cap room in 2010!
I mean, look at what the talk regarding the guy has come down to. It used to be Twin Towers, 2nd in East, going to Finals.. to oh, well maybe he can come off the bench and contribute. Ridiculous. Guy is a useless bag of hammers. Anchor all right… draggin this team down. Hey, at least if we keep up with this record we’ll hopefully be a lottery team. Tank, baby, tank.
LOL, TAllin… we need that room to bring in LeBron or Wade, dude! You’ve seen LeBron wearing that Maple Leaf gear, c’mon now.
Don’t EVER assume I’m a Raptor fan using the word ‘we’ like that.
I just happen to live in the city, and appreciate the literature on this blog, and of course feel the need to comment here and there.
Who ever said I was implying “we” included you? YOU just assumed that right now, and made an ass out of yourself. WOW..way to go!
When you address someone, and then use the word ‘we’, it includes the individual addressed.
You’re a real bueaty (not in the literal sense though – don’t get too exicted – I’d have to ASSUME that given I haven’t even seen you before).
I like your style though – argue with everyone you can, and eventually someone will argue back.
I’d take your bait, but then I’d truly look like an ass….and that would make two of us.
Night cutie:)
I’m a fan.
Fuck these mainstream media guys. The reality is the are paid to keep this team sounding good but they know it stinks right now. To be fair they tip toe answers that it’s not all good in raptor land.
I agree it was high hope in the begining, I was on board too. 3 in a row looking great etc.. than some shit games and Sam gets canned and even more shit games. I still believe a real starting wing player will take this team to where it wants to go. And a young player too. I could care less about the trade rumours out there. If Phonoiex needs a trade how a bout J-Rich.
I rarely comment on here because it’s a lot of the same shit right now and people say it a lot better than me. Bosh can’t finish, JO is brutal, Jose can’t guard anyone, Moon is shit, Triano is shit, we need a trade.
A lot of people say wait this year and I’m cool with that. Is the draft good this year? I’m not a college guy but hows that Curry kid?
No, actually, I addressed you and then there was separation. As in, another statement. Which, doesn’t necessarely mean the addressed party is included in the we. You just chose to assume that.
You also need to work on your perception skills as well. Notice, for the most part, I make statements that people happen do disagree with, which turns into a discussion, not an argument. Of course, I doubt, you recognize the difference.
Get some rest, you clearly need it. Try some vitamins, as well.
the JO to Miami rumours just wont go away- check out the story in todays Miami Herald.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/basketball/miami-heat/story/853593.html
also Steve Nash was on Prime Time sports with Bob McCowan yesterday and appeared to be open to getting out of Pheonix- perhaps there is some truth to Smiths story yesterday (which was first reported over a month ago by yours truly on raptorstalk.com)
here is the audio link:
http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20090114_191612_5280
perhaps it is not that crazy to suggest that one month from now, the Raps roster may look something like this:
G- Nash, Ukic
SG- Kapono, Solomon
SF- Marion, Moon
PF- Bosh, Humphries
C- Bargs, Vokul
here is how it happened:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=592~2806~2759~615~635~510&teams=28~21~21~14~21~28&te=&cash=
(or some kind of combination that leads to Nash and Marion coming here)
It sounds kind of crazy (and Im not suggesting that this is what I want) – but Im just saying that right now there is a lot of smoke coming from TONS of reputable sources about BOTH of these deals- and where there is smoke there is usually fire.
thoughts?
This would awesome. I don’t know how realistic it is, but it actually makes sense both financially and from a basketball perspective for all the teams involved.
Marion would come off the books at the end of the year and I don’t think he’d want to resign here. I say that in a good way, since we can then load up on talent around Bosh, Nash and Bargnani over the summer. Plus Roko can actually spell Nash decent minutes, so he might hold up another few years here playing around 30 minutes a game. That’s what Triano has Bosh playing these days anyways.
That’s a thin bench though. Solomon and Kapono at the two? yikes.
What we’d need to complete the puzzle is some Hassan Adams.
TAllin i dont know you, but i have to say that you are clearly a massive loser….go raps
and you’re a huge fan ican tell..but again massive massive loser
phdsteve, if you did it this way the bench and overall team would be MUCH better:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2166~1765~592~2806~2010~3249~635&teams=28~28~28~21~21~21~21&te=&cash=
After doing the Phoenix deal, I woud make this trade…
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=498~510~615&teams=28~28~14&te=&cash=
Toronto’s Lineup:
Nash/Ukic
Graham/Barbosa/Soloman
Marion/Barnes
Bosh/Hump/Voshkul
Bargs/Magloire/Jawaii
Nice starting lineup, decent/solid bench. Great cap space in the summer(Marion, Magloire, Voshkul, Barnes, team option on Jawaii- it’s around 23 million to spend-this summer!)
Or this as the second one:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=615~3247~510&teams=14~28~28&te=&cash=
Lineup:
Nash/Ukic
Graham/Barbosa/Soloman
Marion/Barnes
Bosh/Hump/Voshkul
Bargs/Anthony/Jawaii
Magloire was only put in to make the trade work…either one it doesn’t really matter, although I think I would prefer Joel Anthony.
Jermaine O’Neal … is equivalent to the NBA’s De-energizer Bunny. Now that’s an interesting description of the man and what he brings to a team in this league, at this stage of his career.
Caveat emptor.
Just for the record, Nocioni and Hughes straight up for JO works from a salary perspective, so this Smith fellow would appear to not know his ass from a hole in the ground when he says the Bulls would have to go into luxury tax territory.
No!!! Nocioni isn’t that good and his contract is bad. If you think this team has attitude problems now, wait until Hughes gets here. No one on the Bulls is talking to him at the moment. And he’s the epitome of chucker.
Seems like a guy is just trying to up the value of chi’s players rather than analyze the situation properly. Him running to the defense of hughes is hilarious
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