Saturday June 14 2008 - 9:50pm Eastern
To be fair, until we hear from the young man directly, we all have to cut him some slack. We don’t know yet what is fact or what is fiction. But the evidence that’s out there does not appear to be in Darrell Arthur’s favour.
For those that don’t know, Arthur is a 6′9 Power Forward out of Kansas. He’s big and athletic; he can jump out of the gym. He’s a good rebounder, a solid scorer, and he’s a fantastic shot-blocker.
That overall skill set has Arthur on the Raptors’ radar but the problem is … Toronto can’t get the Dallas native in town for a workout. Arthur has elluded the Raps to this point.
Jim Kelly, Toronto’s Director of Player Personnel, said on Friday that he and the Raptors’ staff have tried “about five times” to get Arthur in T.O. for a workout but there’s been a reason/excuse for him being a no-show every time.
Arthur is a guy the the Raps are very interested in. He could help this time, big time.
On Friday, his reason for not coming to workout for the Raptors was a “hamstring injury”. Legit or otherwise, these on-going absences have led many to believe that Arthur is simply avoiding Toronto.
If that’s the case - if Arthur is shying away from Toronto - it would be in the Raptors best interest to steer clear from this guy. If Arthur isn’t interested in having a future in Toronto … then let him go. He’s not worth the headache.
Again, we don’t know if this is truly the case. We don’t know what Arthur’s reasons are right now. But this is sounding more and more like an ill-informed or ill-advised young player who knows nothing about this organization, city, and country.
One would have to assume that the Raptors as a team - on the floor - are not a cause for concern. The team may not be on the verge of an NBA Championship but they’re not basement-dwellers in the Eastern Conference. They were the Atlantic Division champs last year and they finished as the 6th seed in the East this season. They’re right in the mix in their conference.
The core of the Raptors is solid and fairly young as well … with Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon (and/or TJ Ford), and Andrea Bargnani.
Off the floor, Sam Mitchell’s reputation around the league is good enough - known as being a player’s coach … despite his tough-love attitude at times - and Bryan Colangelo may be the most respected executive/General Manager in the NBA.
The arena sells out - or fills close to capacity - more often than not … and the fans have proven their loyalty and passion for the team time and time again.
Thus, I have to assume that Arthur may have an ignorant attitude towards playing in this country. Why else would he not even workout for the Raptors?
If you’re Darrell Arthur … you have no idea where you’re going to be selected. You could be 10th, 15th, 20th, or 25th. You probably won’t fall out of the first round, but nothing is for certain. With that kind of uncertainty, can one really be selective about who he will and will not workout for? Are we really to believe that Arthur has had a legit excuse for his absence every time the Raptors have come calling?
Arthur needs to get his priorities straight ASAP … because you have to wonder if the no-shows in Toronto could have any kind of impact on how other teams may view him. Is he showing a flaw in his character by turning down a perspective employer time and time again? Is he hurting his standing by stringing along Colangelo, Kelly, and company?
I wonder if Bosh might reach out to Arthur … and fill him in on the merits of this city, country, and organization. Bosh is from Dallas as well … and he even gave the youngster a shout-out in one of his latest blogs on www.chris-bosh.net … so we’ll see how this all plays out … and if Bosh’s influence is used at all.
Time will tell. And I’ll continue to cut Arthur some slack until I hear him speak on this directly. But right now it sure seems like the old cliche of “where there’s smoke, there’s fire”.
E. Smith
What about Arthur thinking he’s going to get very little PT as a 6′9 PF in TO? He’d be behind Bosh at the 4 and we have a #1 pick playing the 5 who gets minutes based on draft stature and not performance. You have Hump on a 3 year extension eating minutes (or maybe if we draft a big BC gets Hump outta here)
I know a guy who is going middle of the pack in the draft shouldn’t be angling for the best fit, but for all we know he already has a promise from a team seriously lacking a front court presence (New Jersey?) that they won’t let him past their spot.
- MikeThat’s fair Mike. If he has a promise - from a team ahead of Toronto - fine.
I’d be surprised if that’s the case though, with still nearly two weeks to go until the draft … I think a team would be crazy to be making a ‘promise’ already.
As for playing time … if Garbo is gone, the door is wide open. Arthur could/should at least have the ‘potential’ to be better than Hump. And he’s certainly not going to start right off the bat. So he’d be right in the mix in the rotation alongside Bosh, Bargnani, and Hump I guess.
I don’t buy it man. I hear ya, but I don’t buy it.
- E. SmithFrom what I’ve been reading he didn’t do that well at the combines thats why his stock is dropping. He has gone from top ten to late teens, that looks bad on him also. If the Raps draft him, his play should get him PT. Can he play the wing at all? He seems a bit small to bang in the NBA post.(right now anyway)
- Andre From B-TownEric
- BrianI would think that Arthur has a ‘promise’ from a team whom he would like to play for.
Eric - Thinking about it some more, you’re probably right.
It’s just odd b/c the kid was willing to spend 3-4 years of his life in Lawrence, Kansas (a great program no doubt, but having had to spend a few months in Kansas for a work assignment …. it sure as heck is a different world compared to Toronto). The other bonus is you don’t have to be 21 to partake in various activities in TO, should be a selling point for someone so “image conscious” of the city they go to.
On a more important note imo: Is Joe Alexander going to be coming in for a workout? His draft stock has shot like a cannon, but if I was BC I’d be peddling whatever I can (next years 1st or Hump) to move up a bit and take this kid.
6′8 SF with huge power and vertical, really tough, great midrange game, and has a serious chip on his shoulder when it comes to improving his game. I want a kid with a killer attitude to motivate other unnamed players on this team.
- MikeI completely agree Eric… At this stage I do not believe Arthur can stiff any NBA team for a workout. He is clearly receiving the wrong advice.
Even with a promise, if the Raptors did like him enough they could always move spots up in the draft to select him, which would guarantee him more money on the rookie scale…
I think Arthur would fit well and receive good minutes in a rotation that included Bosh (cannot mention Bargnani in big-man talk) up front…especially with a Raptors’ team that needs exactly what he brings!
- Dwayne LubinHe’s another Stromile Swift…all muscle, no brains. He can play out of his mind, but he coasts A LOT. There’s no way he’d fit here either, he’d be stuck behind Bargs and CB. He’s too short and weak to be a 5.
- BrianIf Darrel Arthur doesn’t want to play in Canada, then I don’t want him to play for the Raptors. By the way Eric, was that you I saw on the big screen at the Cubs/Jays game?
- MIchael Borland