Tremendous job with the questions for Ye Olde Mailbag this week, folks.

Hope the answers are up to snuff.

Now, go get ready for the election because that’s precisely what we needed right now, isn’t it?

(The answer to that is an emphatic no).

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Q: Hey Doug,
A slightly philosophical question: Why are sports considered an “escape” for fans, in your POV?
Joe

A: Oh, man, that’s a deep one.

There’s a lot that goes into it, I think.

One, it’s basically not “real” to fans, it’s a way to forget the tugs of life for a few hours and I also think there’s a “wow” factor at what athletes are able to do, especially compared to our own athletic limitations.

But maybe greater is that there’s a sense of community in being a fan. You feel what others feel and that’s a communal interest away from reality in some ways. How many times have we heard or read fans talking about a team, or even an athlete, as “we” or “us”? That gives a kind of escape, doesn’t it?

Or maybe we just like shutting out the world for the time it takes to play a game or a match.

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Q: Ever heard of the freedom of rights. However not a surprise that someone that works at the Star would want something that sounds like a dictatorship.

Fiorenza P

A: Sure. You have the right to not be vaccinated and I have the right to refuse you my services. Seems pretty simple, can’t imagine you’re unable to grasp that concept.

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Q: As an elementary teacher, I work like to see the Ontario government do something right for a change and require mandatory vaccinations for all school staff. They also need to get ready for mass vaccinations of children under 12 when a vaccine is approved. Lives are at stake.
I don’t care what government does it, but we should also have vaccination certificates and I’m perfectly comfortable for any company to require proof before using their facilities (e.g., sports, movie theatres) and even requiring masks.
John

A: I believe you speak for the vast majority and the “scream factor” needs to be discounted.

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Q: Dear Mr. Smith,

I’m 100% on board with you about being pro-vaccination. I’m fully dosed, so is my wife, and so is the rest of my family and circle of friends. I agree in principle with you about the need to try to get every anti-vaxxer or hesitant person jabbed. Having MLSE dangle this kind of carrot may be a great solution.

Except.

The one issue you never mentioned which will definitely impact MLSE (and indeed, a lot of businesses) is children under 12. I have two boys, 11 and 9. My 11-year old is an avid soccer fanatic, plays all the time, and we have season’s tickets to TFC. But I haven’t taken him to any of the games since their return because he isn’t vaccinated due to his age. (His 12th birthday present will be a needle in his arm if something isn’t approved sooner than that.)

How would you suggest MLSE implement a policy that doesn’t punish fans who legitimately cannot be vaccinated yet? Sports players are heroes to millions of kids around the world. Surely their love of the game and desire to cheer on their heroes needs to be a consideration.

I’d love to hear how this kind of balance between social responsibility and allowing kids the chance to see live events could work.

Thank you,

David

A: I thought it went without saying that those who are not allowed to be vaccinated would be exempt. Until they are able to vaccinated and then they are like the rest of us.

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Q: Hi Doug,

First off our Canada’s women’s soccer team has done us proud! What an accomplishment for the women and I think all Canadians were so proud watching them dig deep to accomplish a Gold medal on Friday morning!

Our Canada Men’s Soccer Team are still in a battle to qualify for the World Cup in Quatar and I’m wondering if you can give us some insight into whether Davies and David will be available for the upcoming HEX qualifiers starting on September 2nd? Also, what do you think of our chances to qualify in the top 3 automatic spots that get us directly into the 2022 World Cup? I think we are right behind the US and Mexico but definitely have the quality to finish 3rd out of the 8 teams.

Finally, with the recent disappointing finish for both the Men’s and Women’s Canada basketball teams could you give us a brief timeline of what’s in store for each team to qualify for the next FIBAS World Cup in 2022 (women’s) and 2023 (men’s)?

Thanks,

Alex Clendinning

Waterdown, ON

A: I read somewhere this week that Davies is on pace to start the Bundesliga season so that would bode well for playing for Canada and I believe David is over his injury, too.

The women’s basketball team will have a World Cup qualifying event around February and the men will have some World Cup events in, I believe, February, June, August and November. They’ll also have the AmeriCup tournament next September in Brazil.

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Q: Hi Doug,

I laughed out loud at one of your tweets that included the line “Expect nothing, be pleasantly surprised if you get anything” in regards to the NBA making trades official. As you’re always on the cutting edge of fashion, may I suggest the phrase appears on the next batch of Doug Smith inspired t-shirts? All proceeds to the charity of your choice!

Let’s assume you’re able to have all the same pre-COVID access to athletes this fall when the NBA season resumes. What are you most looking forward to? Is there anything you’ll focus on more now that there’s been a season of no access? Thanks for all you do to keep us informed!
Andrew

A: I am looking forward to having one-on-one, face-to-face conversations with players, coaches and management. It’s the way to build or sustain relationships, nuggets from one chat might lead to a story or two down the road and it’s the best way to cover a beat. Missed it hugely the last 19 months or so.

In fact, I haven’t seen a Raptor player, coach or big shot in person to talk with them since March, 2020. They may not have missed it, but I have.

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Q: Hi Doug – You reported that Gary Trent Jr. signed a three-year contract with the Raps worth 54 million, with six million in the first year. That leaves an average of 24 million per year for the remaining two years, which is a huge jump from year one. What’s the explanation for such a huge imbalance?
Best,
Rob Hanks
Ps. Keep up the great work! Your columns and stories do much to explain basketball to non-specialists.

A: I think you might have the contracts of Khem Birch and Gary Trent Jr. combined. I’m pretty sure I knew and said all along that Trent would come in at the teen millions. But if I mixed ‘em up, I’m sorry.

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Q: Hello Doug, 

I enjoy the mailbag.  I have a question about the Lowry sign-and-trade deal with Miami.  How does it differ from the teams doing a deal at the regular season trade deadline a couple of months ago with Lowry going to Miami and Dragic and Achiuwa coming to Toronto and then Miami signing Lowry, once he is with the Heat, for another 3 years at $90 million. The end result is the same deal they just did or am I missing something?

Thanks,

Roger

A: They could have done that, for sure. Miami could have then signed Lowry as a Bird Rights guy for any amount and the Raptors would have had to decide on Dragic’s option year.

For whatever reason, the teams – if they had really serious discussions at that time – couldn’t come to an agreement.

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Q: Hello Doug, who do you believe will be our starting center this year?  Do you believe Dragic’s apology or is he back peddling from his comment? I’d like him to stay he could provide some help offensively and also mentor our young.

Thanks

Kevin 

A: Birch will likely be the starting centre as things stand now, I would guess. But Achiuwa might challenge him.

I think Dragic would like to be Dallas, I think that very well might still happen but if there’s no deal to be made, he’ll be here and be a professional.

I also think Fred VanVleet’s a pretty good mentor, too, so that’s not a real part of the equation.

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Q: Doug

We all realized that Barnes will have a great chance to make the Raptor team but my question is who of the rest of the new draft picks and non drafted players that the Raptors signed to the various types of contracts do you think we’ll have the best chance to make the Raptors main team?

John

A: They gave Dalano Banton a contract Friday so he’ll be around, David Johnson and Justin Champagnie have two-way deals so they’ll be around. The others – guys like Watanabe, Gillespie, Dekker and Wainright – have camp invites and will have a chance to make the team. I can’t see more than two of those four being on the opening night roster.

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Q: Doug:

I have never paid much attention to NBA Summer League before. You will probably remind me that I have been lucky! 

Watching the Raptors’ first game against the Knicks, FVV, OG and Pascal were all in the stands.  Is it usual for veterans to be around? Is it just that it is in Vegas and these players are spending a week-end there enjoying all that Vegas has to offer and merely made an appearance at the game? Or are there things that go on with the team (meetings? workouts?) beyond the glorified exhibition games for the youngsters?

David H

A: No, it’s not unusual at all. A lot of vets get to Vegas for at least a few days to watch games, work out with the draft picks and check in with the organization and friends. The informal workouts are where a lot of things get started.

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Q: Hey Doug,
Hope your keeping healthy and enjoying your summer NOT in Vegas.
Without overreacting to Summer League Barnes and Malachi are looking really good.
This Champagnie kid looks really interesting.
Well Dragic really got things stirring this week- not sure it matters much as I don’t ever seeing him in a Raptors uniform.
I guess we are all wondering why he hasn’t been flipped yet, but came across something that says he can’t be traded until Sept 14th. Also rumour has it Raps really like Moses Brown in Dallas who also can’t be traded until Oct 1st….don’t really get why that is but I’m sure there’s a rule on that.
Can you confirm if there are dates that Drajic & Brown can’t be traded before.
Always a pleasure and have a great summer!
Enio
Richmond Hill

A: Either of them can be traded on their own any time, the thing with Brown is that his contract cannot be aggregated in a trade until Oct. 1. And it alone doesn’t come close to matching Dragic’s so if the Raptors are interested in getting him from Dallas, they’ll have to wait until his money can be added to someone else’s.

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Q: Hi Doug,

With the disappointment of the Canada Basketball Senior Men’s National Team’s failure to qualify for the Tokyo Games and NBA Summer League in full swing, I remember reading about the old Summer Pro League. It was based in Long Beach and I recall that the SMNT participated one year. I believe it was for preparation for a world championship or an Olympic Games. 

Fast forward to today, the CEBL is proving that Canadian players are willing to ply their trade at home in a competitive environment that opens doors for greater opportunities. And this is happening during the off-seasons of all other major professional leagues around the world. 

Doug, do you think it would be possible for the NBA G League to entertain an independent team that is comprised of Canadian professionals, a proxy for the SMNT? It may be one way that the men can emulate the spirit of togetherness that the Women’s Team demonstrate by developing a core group of players that play with each other regularly. It would be similar in concept to the NBA G League Ignite team. And unlike the Ignite, which will likely turn over its roster annually, perhaps some of these players could become mainstays. They would be relied upon by the national team for qualifying tournaments, World Cups, and hopefully the Olympic Games one day. NBAers would be desired and welcomed as additions but the core would be well established. 

I’m not smart enough to figure out how the finances on this would work. If you like this idea on paper, how likely would it ever see the light of day?

Thanks for all you do, Doug!

Roel

Mississauga 

A: It’s an intriguing idea but it doesn’t seem at all financially viable for one. Canada Basketball certainly can’t afford to run a G League team and keep any of its other programs going. Then there’s the logistics of stopping one team’s league play for various in-season events, the desire of players to try to stick with other NBA organizations or even EuroLeague teams.

I not only remember that Long Beach Summer League, I actually covered it one year, it was great. Far more informal and less structured than the for-profit Vegas setup.

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Q: I haven’t got a clue where the Raptors are financially now. I have heard the talk of bringing back Gillespie but I am curious if someone like Meyers Leonard is worth giving a fresh start or maybe take a shot at Markannen. I don’t know what his value would be. What do you think Doug? You think anyone will touch leonard after his video game comment? Are optics going to sink his career because of his lack of knowledge? In my opinion if he was a racist he would have known what that word meant. Markannen is 7ft and has some talent. If you don’t go with Gillespie would you look at either of these guys?
Cc
Oshawa

A: I think the thing keeping Meyers Leonard out of the NBA is his skill level. And there’s no way he fits here either way.

Markannen’s interesting. I’d probably make a call on him but I presume lots of other teams would be making the same calls. He has basically zero shot creation skills but he can hit a three-pointer.

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Q: Hey Doug, really enjoy your Q&A sessions. 

First off, I’m really glad the Jays are back home at the Rogers Centre, and that there are separate broadcasts for TV and radio. The use of TV broadcast on the radio just wasn’t cutting it with me. It’s good to hear Ben Wagner again but I wish he had a colour person to work with. 

My question is – why are the TV broadcasters still doing the games off monitors?  The first game at the Lid it appeared that Dan and Pat were in the broadcast booth. Were they?

I assumed that at least home games they would be at Rogers Centre, but I tuned in one night and Buck was in his man cave in Florida and Dan was in some basement enclave at Sportsnet calling the game. 

I wonder what the reason for this is. Is it for health reasons, travel issues or Rogers cost cutting measures?

Saying that, is the radio broadcast being done from monitors or is Ben at the stadiums, home and away?

That’s all.

Thanks Doug

Jim D

A: I know that Shulman and Tabler did home games from the stadium before Dan went off on a break to do the Olympic basketball and I would presume that will return when the Jays do. I also saw Hazel Mae and Arden Zwelling live in Seattle on Saturday so I presume there’s some normalcy there. I’d guess that border issues, vaccine needs, quarantine and simple logistics made it hard to just hit the ground running.

I believe radio is being done remotely but I don’t listen so I cannot say for sure.

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Q: Hi Doug,

Hope you and yours are doing well even with the beginning of the Fourth Wave.

Thanks for your thoughts on MLSE and vaccination policy, however I fear that as numbers increase in mid-August, the point might be moot in late September/ mid-October. Also, the government has yet to give the Raptors permission to return to “normal” activities yet! Toronto fans need that Miami at Toronto game to give an hour-long standing ovation to Kyle!

Agree with the early evaluation of the summer Raps in general. Malachi is good to go, and will likely be joined by at least two of Barnes, Achiuwa, and Gillespie, though Freddie’s lack of offensive finish could be his downfall. But I think two or three others might see short stints with the big club after some 905 time. 

Undrafted players Wainright and Champagnie impressed me (the latter had a block, rebound, steal and a made three in the span of about a minute, talk about hustle!) and local kid Banton showed some potential as well. My biggest concern is that the Raptors seem to have a lot of long, young players with great defensive instincts, but poor shot-making ability. 

Thoughts?

Bernie M

A: Yeah, the kids in Vegas haven’t shot it well but you also have to realize that all five starters and at least two key backups aren’t there so anyone coming out of Summer League aside from Flynn and Barnes aren’t going to be counted on. You’re looking at guys 10-15 on the roster at best.

Let’s see what the team looks like in October.

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Q: Hi Doug,

Can you please explain to me which players’ rights are owned by the Raptors?  I know that anyone signed to an NBA deal is a Raptor, that’s easy.  I know that Barnes will sign a rookie deal and take up one of the NBA roster spots.  But what about Banton?  Are his rights controlled by the Raptors because they drafted him?  If so, why did they bother giving a two-way deal to Johnson?  I guess what I’m getting at is: which players that project to get time with the 905 have their NBA rights controlled by Toronto?

Thanks,

Tom from Waterloo

A: Anyone drafted – Barnes, Banton, Johnson – are Raptors property until they are released or traded. The camp invitees are just that, camp invitees and once they are signed or released, they are in the organization. As for G League possibilities, players who are in camp with the NBA team and cut can be added as “local” players to the 905 roster. Some are, some go on to pursue other opportunities.

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Q: Hi Doug,

Enjoy your articles.  A couple questions which will likely prove I don’t understand the NBA CBA.

First one about the Norman Powell and Gary Trent Jr. trade and contracts.  I  think the reason Raptors traded Powell was because they did not think they would be able to sign him?  Powell ends up signing for 5 years/$90m and Trent Jr. signs for 3 years/$52 (I’m rounding).  Both at $18m per.  I like both players, but thinks Powell a more finished product.  So why do Raps make this move?  It isn’t about the money as both at $18m per unless I’m missing something?  Is it just to get younger?

Second question, I can’t figure out why Miami would pick up option on Dragic just to have to add him to a trade to make Lowry signing work?  If they don’t, wouldn’t they have had more money ($18m) to go after Lowry and avoid sign and trade to match salaries, as well as losing Achiuwa, to make it work?

Mike in Calgary

A: Part of Trent’s deal was his relatively small cap hold that gave the Raptors some possible flexibility in free agency. That they didn’t use it is not the point, it’s that it was there in the first place in case they wanted to. And, frankly, Trent’s about six years younger than Norm and on a three-year deal rather than Norm’s five, which is a small consideration.

Miami would have picked up Dragic’s option in no small part as a safeguard against not getting Lowry and be caught with gaping roster hole.

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