The Toronto Raptors made headlines early in free agency with their pursuit of Steve Nash. They used $34 million (over 3 years) and the allure of returning home to almost land the former MVP.
It would’ve been a great story for Steve to come back to his native Canada, despite being a rebuilding situation….. I wouldn’t have blamed him for it. But you know who I do blame? The Toronto Raptors.
This move wasn’t about basketball, it about selling jerseys.
The return of the prodigal son, Steve Nash, would’ve been the biggest story in Canada since the invention of hockey (oh and Trailer Park Boys). Imagine all the #13 jerseys that would’ve flown off the racks…it would’ve lasted a decade. Steve could’ve run for “prime minister” (what a joke) in the last year of his deal and probably won.
Yes, Steve would’ve helped the Raptors win more games, but ask yourself this…if they really wanted a veteran PG with an impressive resume why didn’t they pursue Jason Kidd or Chauncey Billups too? They were available long after Steve’s decision to join the Lakers. What about Derek Fisher? he’s out there right now and for a lot cheaper…five rings and leadership up the anus. Why doesn’t GM Bryan Colangelo make the call?
See, the Toronto Raptors are just trying to make a quick buck this summer not build a winner. They are the anti-OKC Thunder.
Yes, new acquisiton Kyle Lowry had a good year last year in Houston…but so did Aaron Brooks three years ago. The Rockets have a way of getting career years out of their PGs and then quickly moving on. Jeremy Lin (another Raptor target this offseason), you got next.
If the NBA ever votes for contraction one day, I think Toronto be first on the list. I’d move them to Seattle, but they’d probably call it ‘Vancouver South’ and then try to sign Shawn Kemp to a 10-day publicity stunt.
Colangelo has been watching too many James Dolan press conferences on MSG.
If the Raptors brass keeps thinking about the name on the back of the jersey they won’t have one on the front very much longer.
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Call Me when Kyle Lowry makes the All-Star team next year. Hack City!
ooooh gutsy take. me likey.
Really. Jesus, I hope my mistake of clicking on the link to your site isn’t responsible for popping the site hits out of single digits.
“If the NBA ever votes for contraction one day, I think Toronto be first on the list. I’d move them to Seattle”
“Colangelo has been watching too many James Dolan press conferences on MSG.
If the Raptors brass keeps thinking about the name on the back of the jersey they won’t have one on the front very much longer.”
With talk like this and your title, and looking at your journalism skills, you should just dive on a blade. I mean, really? getting George Lucas III was looking at the back of a jersey? Do us a favor, cover ball hockey. Thanks. Smh
John Lucas III is the epitome of a fan favorite novelty act….all flash and no substance. Way to go Jerry Colangelo Jr., GM of the tanning salon. Why didn’t they try and get C.J. Watson then? he played ahead of Luke in Chi-town last year and was still available till recently.
-Knez
Wow. How uninteresting can a writer make a blog? Try reading this again!
Oh, and the whole Toronto contraction thing… Do you think the NBA, who are trying to promote a global game would even think of removing the one franchise beyond the U.S. border… Dummy.
If the NBA ever moves overseas it would be the worst move ever. Travel issues, logistics, and overall watered down talent would be devastating. Good call, SNOT Collier….
-Knez
This writer doesn’t know his arse from his elbows. Any one who does a tiny bit of research about Canada would know we elect a Prime Minister and not a president!
The less I know about Canada the better off I am as a man…Steve Nash and Trailer Park Boys, that’s all you’re good for.
Hi, My name is John Millett and I am running for Prime Ministah of Planet Aaron Gray: Population Cock.
LOL@ congratulations you’ve done nothing but prove your ignorance.. but good attempt at trying to be a journalist.. what an idiot. If the raptors were just tryna sell jerseys wtf u think the NBA does everyday? Moving out of Canada and back to Seattle that’s gonna make money for the league…
smgdh
Correct me if im wrong but doesnt NBA share merchandise sales amongst teams? also unlike many other teams, toronto even after years of mediocrity or worse still are one of the few teams that make a profit in the NBA, and the have a pretty stable attendance especially considering the meh legacy. There are other teams that would probably do better packing up and leaving to somewhere like seattle or vancouver, like the hawks maybe, or charlotte. Neither of which can seem to sell a seat even when they make the playoffs.
Toronto has generally had massive issue getting anyone in toronto without overpaying in general, Kidd is on a much bigger decline than nash, same with fisher. And on kidd’s case mavs offered him 3 mill a year but he turned it down to play on the team he thinks had a better chance to win. This is something that plagues the raptors and other bottom dwellers, players picking a handful of teams for less money, inherently ensuring those teams continue winning. Now the Nash thing may have not been the best basketball decision yes, but it would have possibly brought back some intensity in the raptors building, some general excitement and best yet actually have player sign with the raptors knowing they get to play with one of the best point guards ever to play the game. Nash still has 1-2 years of good basketball left before he declines sharply and retires, wouldve been nice if he put the raps on the map before retirement, but the dude wants a ring u cant blame that.
Nice “shared merchandise” argument Blaster…so tell me, why did Jeremy Lin get $25M for 25 starts? Why did MSG stock plummet after the team let him go?? Why is Daryl Morey walking around with a perpetual erection this week??? X-actly.
On a serious note, great point about overpaying for talent. The CBA seems to be backfiring at this point. We have to wait a couple of years before luxury tax armageddon comes into effect. As I said, I wouldn’t have blamed Nash for going back to Canada. I just wish the team went as hard for other players as they did Nash. At least they knew to trade Vince Carter, props on that one.
-Knez
Behold the journalistic prowess of some guy!
The main point being hammered home here is that yes, indeed the author thinks Toronto should be on the top of the “list” if the NBA ever “votes” for contraction.
Unfortunately, he does not include in the article any schematics or blueprints for a time machine, so that you might regain the minutes of your life wasted reading it.
This is why I recommend my readers stay off the X….oh, and please don’t read my blog while in a hot tub wearing Borat mankini. Um, yeeeeeah.
-Knez
seeeeeriously. r u on crack? do U have a job? craigslist don’t count bro. and being presidente of B Colangelo’s fan club don’t either. tool
The Raptors did two great things, first they screwed the Knicks out of Nash by signing Fields to an offer sheet. Then they quickly traded for Lowry causing Houston to go after Lin since they didn’t have a point guard. Now the Knicks are stuck with Raymond (Fatty) Felton, and Jason (The Drunk) Kidd.
Mission accomplished!
Welcome Knick Hater, we don’t discriminate here at BlogNBAsketball…So I take it you aren’t buying the reports that Ray Felton is down to 200lbs and looking to “shut people up”. As for Kidd’s DUI, hey, at least it makes J.R. Smith look mature. I like your train of thought with the Raptors moves vs the Knicks…I didn’t se it that way but it’s all connected in the offseason. Yesterday the Bulls missed out on Courtney Lee (Rockets) mainly because they were busy with the Omer Asik offer sheet (again, Rockets). Houston ended up getting a lot back from Boston in pick and players. I luv this game…
-Knez
Wow now i see why I got that text. How did this post get so much reaction.!?! Anyways knez keep it up. Balling tomorrow at 2pm. And I now work for a tiny seo company that may be able to really increase your traffic. I’m out like frank ocean.
Yeah. Of the 25 Raptors fans in existence, 23 of them commented on this blog. Just like they’re name, this group is almost extinct. GO SONICS!
-Knez