Friday July 23 2010 – 10:48am Eastern – Toronto, ON
So, Matt Barnes has signed with the LA Lakers?
Is anybody surprised by this?
As I said on the Fan 590 the other day – and I’m sure many of you theorized this as well – the choice for Barnes seemed clear once the sign-and-trade option fell through with the Magic and Raptors.
To recap, Toronto had already spent most of its mid-level exception on forward Linas Kleiza, so they couldn’t afford to sign Barnes outright. Thus, they needed help from Orlando to orchestrate the sign-and-trade scenario. But because of the fact that the Magic had employed Barnes for only one season (last year), they didn’t own his “Bird rights” and as a result – based on the rules of the CBA – they could only sign (and then trade) the swingman to Toronto for $1.9 million or less. Barnes was looking for a contract that would pay him in the neighborhood of $4+ million – and the Raps were willing to give him that; the CBA simply prevented them from being able to do so.
So Barnes was back on the open market again – free to sign wherever he wanted.
Word was that the scrappy rebounder and defender was not only looking for playing time, he wanted security and a chunk of change too. Who could blame him! He would have had all of that in Toronto. But when the higher dollar figures simply weren’t going to come through in T.O. a decision had to be made: Sign for about $2 million in Toronto – where you’ll likely be scratching and clawing to make the post-season – or sign in LA, Boston, Miami (for example) for a similar amount of cash and have a realistic shot at not only a playoff berth, but a CHAMPIONSHIP?
Despite overtures from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Barnes took his act to the Lakers (for less $$ than what the Cavs were offering) to play alongside Kobe Bryant and join the quest for a third-straight title.
Unfortunately for the Raptors, Barnes’ name will be added to a list of players (including Boris Diaw and Tyson Chandler) that could’ve / should’ve / would’ve come to Toronto in the post-Bosh era. A starting five of Jarrett Jack, DeMar DeRozan, Barnes, Andrea Bargnani, and Chandler would have looked good in the East – with Leandro Barbosa, Diaw, Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson, and Ed Davis coming off the bench. But it’s all for naught.
Bryan Colangelo now has more work to do. But he is armed with two separate trade exceptions and a small amount of financial/cap wiggle room and a point guard (Jose Calderon) that is highly-regarded around the league (in spite of what some of you may think).
Training camp (in Vancouver) is still 10 weeks away, so there’s plenty of time to work some magic and try to lessen the blow of the two trades that feel apart in the last 10 days.
E. Smith
21 Responses to “Barnes To L.A.”
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When it rains it pours
- d12Forgot about Klieza? I wouldn’t sleep on him – I’m thinking he starts.
- JoeIf he was getting the same salary from Toronto and Lakers, then yes it was a no-brainer to go for the 3-peat. However, as opposed to being a starting 3 with better playing time, he is now relegated as back up SF, less playing time and likely the 2nd or 3rd guy off the bench, depending on the situation at hand.
- ShaneIn this respect, Toronto was a better choice!
Thank GOODNESS the Raps didn’t sign Matt Barnes to a $10M contract over two years.
That would have been CLASSIC Colangelo. Massively overpaying a fringe, veteran player who would have done very little to advance the Raps in the standings.
This team needs to be blown up…not patched up with bandaids. Matt Barnes can certainly be an asset to a contending team, but not to a Raptors team that will, hopefully, be after a very high draft pick this coming season.
- brento.“A starting five of Jarrett Jack, DeMar DeRozan, Barnes, Andrea Bargnani, and Chandler would have looked good in the East – with Leandro Barbosa, Diaw, Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson, and Ed Davis coming off the bench.”
Wow, Eric you just had to crush our hearts like that. :(
- Raps FanThis team is headed for the lottery pick with a starting 5 of Jack-DeRozan-Kleiza-Bargnani-Amir with Jose-Barbosa-Weems-Davis and Alibi off the bench. Not too sharp!
However, i believe in BC and think he will make this roster better.
- Ippolito OPlease, Raps Fan…please, tell me you’re being sarcastic.
You didn’t think that lineup was capable of finishing even .500, did you?
I continue to be shocked at how seemingly clueless Raptors fans have become. With all due respect, that’s not a good lineup. I mean, I’m sure they’re all nice guys, and some are even hard working athletes, but that’s a lottery lineup.
Not, that I would have been at all upset with it. I am so tired of below average/mediocrity with this team but I, unlike what seems like most Raps fans, am completely willing to be patient with the rebuild.
As long as it’s a legit rebuild and not one that involves giving a journeyman like Matt Barnes nearly $5M a year.
He’ll be long gone by the time this team is competing for the East Finals.
- brento.And, Shane…you are absolutely wrong about Barnes’ choice.
Regardless of where he went, he was bound to make bundles of cashola. Plus, if he’s at all wise, he’s already well taken care of. Remember — even a marginal NBAer earns $2-$3M a year! That’s a crazy amount of cash. It might take some of us fans 20-30 years to earn that kind of dough.
From a competitive standpoint, he made the absolute correct choice. Why in the world would he want to come to TO? I love this city, and this team, but it might be one of the worst places to come to at this juncture…certainly, for a guy like Matt Barnes.
For an undrafted or second rounder, looking for some PT, perhaps this is a good place to pad some stats, but this is not a winning environment.
And, perhaps most glaringly, this is NOT at all a stable environment. From coaching changes to a GM who signs and trades players like it’s his last day on earth, this team has been a mess for the past three seasons.
I hate to say it, but that’s likely the reality for most players in the league.
- brento.Personally, I’d rather see us tank this season in order to get a solid draft pick.
As long as our young players get better than this is the better strategy in my opinion, it beats missing the playoffs by 5-10 games for the next few years
- Fanmatt barnes will play 15 minutes a night in LA. Hes a nobody, exactly the kind of guy we should never pay 5 million to a year.
Raps look awful right now
- CartsBrento are you crazy!!!!
A starting five of Jarrett Jack, DeMar DeRozan, Barnes, Andrea Bargnani, and Chandler
with Leandro Barbosa, Diaw, Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson, Klieza! and Ed Davis coming off the bench
That’s not a 500 team? That could even be better! Like, remember BC’s last year of course he is going to put a competitive team! Like, you saying its a lottery starting line-up?
Give your head a shake man!
- Raps FanRaps could be a .500 team . Looking at Kleiza on YouTube , he could be a solid starter .. He can score .
Barbosa should be a solid addition .
DeRozan may blossom ..
Jack and Calderon give Raps good G play .
Amir might become a 15-10 guy .
Barg might emerge as a 20-8 starter .
The draft picks are legit 1st rders
It could be an entertaining team that challenges for a playoff spot .
And as Eric posted , Colangelo still “has plenty of time to “work some magic “
- Chas@ Fan
- WebI respect Colangelo for one thing and he’s tried to do that since he got here. Bring a winning attitude. Not tanking ever is an absolute great move for the Raptors at a relatively early stage for this franchise. Fans need to see winning on a consistent basis to never want to be out of the playoffs. True tanking, gives us better talent but talent means nothing without that winning attitude. Even Bosh was here you saw the right attitude go out the window. The Raptors need to know what it is like to win on a consistent basis.
I don’t think realistically there’s enough potential players left to use both of our trade exceptions and be remotely competitive.
BC will use one to save face and one before the year expiry date to target someonme decent imo.
Too much time has passed and too many mid-level players signed elsewhere.
To those who want to “tank” for a few years and gert decent lottery picks; you’re going to get your wish.
- GaryInteresting to hear Colangelo blast Bosh for sitting out so long with a broken nose as Raps fought to get a playoff spot.
I wonder what Colangelo’s motivation was ?
- Chaswow E thoes players you named off couldnt hold the jock straps for the top 6 in the east lt alone the leauge, and raptors fans are starting to sound like leafs fans who are happy with mediocrity. Hope BC can over come this.
- Krull1Listening online to the latest about Bosh’s Toronto comments.
Not to be rude, but it sounds like it’s the old “Canadian inferiority” complex?
I’m American. I’ve lived in the U.K. and Japan. I’ve traveled to 9 countries. And most people think I’m Canadian and not American. Why? Mainly because of global view of things.
Does reverse typecasting bother me? Not at all. It makes like more interesting. But also, since this is a global economy, regardless of your job shouldn’t you do everything you can to intergrate into your new environment?
In many ways Bosh did that. He din’t breach his contract. Then again, no matter who it is, there’s always some fan who gonna be on his case about every tiny thing.
In the overall scheme of things, who the bleep cares? I’ve never been to Toronto. But I know something about it and can appreciate what I’ve learned. If Bosh didn’t do that, that’s nobody else’s fault but his. And he has to live with the consequences of that.
My suggestion? 590 (and the rest of the MSM). Give it a freakin’ rest, ok? I mean, I know it’s a slow news cycle and everything. But can we please move onto things that actually matter?
- TomNo, Raps Fan, I am not crazy.
Just realistic. That is a terrible rotation.
I like Jack, for his leadership and attitude but he would be playing out of position, at the most important position on the team.
And, I like Amir Johnson, but he clearly has a ton of work to do.
Both Barbosa and Diaw are on the down sides of their careers.
And, the rest? They are all marginal. Except for Bargnani who, I believe, is a huge detriment to this team. And, at $10M? That’s just insane. I’ve been watching Bargs for five years now (or is it four?) — on a legitimate contender, he’s nowhere near the starting five. He’s lazy, wildly inconsistent, below average defensively and entirely afraid to get dirty. Exactly the type of player you WOULDN’T want on your team, if you actually expected to contend for home court playoff advantage.
- brento.10 Things in Canada that are more important than Bosh’s Comments (written by an American):
Canada’s role in the Afghan War.
The NAFTA agreement.
Homeless people in Toronto, Vancouver. And other cities.
Native people’s rights.
Is Stephen Harper abusing his power?
What do Canadians think of Naomi Klein?
What do you do with American war resisters?
Should Canada and the rest of the G20 demand that the States stop their reckless borrowing?
How come so many American films and TV shows are made in Canada. Yet, the reverse isn’t feasable?
Considering the lousy economy, how do many Canadians feel about Americans working in Canada?
- TomWow, Brento you really don’t see talent.
Barg, is “lazy” maybe because the raptors allways gives the ball to Bosh and he just stands their and not playing like a TEAM.
And as for his contract, if Barg was a free agent a team like New York would give him that money for sure, because he fills in their system and his friend Galio is on that team.
Brento stop b*******! :@
- Raps FanHey Raps Fan…I wouldn’t consider anything the NY Knicks do as being admirable. Now, if you had said you envision LA, BOS, SA or DAL signing Bargs to a 5 year, $50M contract, then I’d even begin to start considering the deal was an appropriate one.
I absolutely HATE, HATE, HATE when pro athletes get paid for what they MIGHT do in the future. I don’t have much of an issue with Colangelo drafting Bargs…but, after three years of him pretty much remaining the same, flawed, lazy player, BC signed him to a ridiculous extension that was all based on Bargnani suddenly improving.
As we now know, it never really happened and I just don’t see him taken any steps to become a reliable, all star type of player. He doesn’t have any of the intangible traits that allstars carry when they play the game. Those traits don’t magically appear.
And, no, Bargnani’s attitude and approach can NOT be attributed to Chris Bosh’s game. Bosh was a legitimate allstar who played alongside a bunch of overpaid stiffs.
Why do Toronto fans always look for excuses? How about saying Bargnani has failed to dedicate himself to improving and, as such, his game has stayed virtually the same as it was when he entered the league?
Seeing players like Bargs signed for longterm, massive deals kills me.
- brento.