Linkage - May 6
Sam Mitchell is the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, and Colangelo insists he is not looking for a new coach. D’Antoni, meanwhile, is apparently talking to Chicago and New York.
Why isn’t D’Antoni talking to the Raptors, other than the fact Toronto has a coach, and is not looking for a coach? No matter how the organization might feel about Mitchell, it would cost at least US$8-million to fire him. Even for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, that’s pricey. So unless Mitchell decides to walk - say, to the Knicks, run by Mitchell fan Donnie Walsh - he stays. And Donnie hasn’t called.
But whatever is being said publicly, there is a gap inside this organization. The whispers are smoke, even if there is no fire. Maybe the gap simply developed as the result of a fitful season, full of T.J. Ford’s drama and Andrea Bargnani’s stunted growth, and fingers are just being pointed. Maybe someone wanted to push Mitchell towards the Knicks, or elsewhere. But there is something there.
Mitchell is not the perfect coach, but his teams play hard - and together - and he is maturing. Colangelo is not the perfect GM, but he is one of the sharpest minds in the game. The Raptors roster was flawed this season - there was no one to beat people off the dribble, or defend people off the dribble - but it was the non-development of Bargnani that was the franchise’s biggest problem.
Was that Mitchell’s fault, or Bargnani’s fault? Some in the organization blame Mitchell, some blame the kid, and nobody knows for sure. What matters is what Colangelo believes.
Sources suggest that, in a season-ending meeting between GM and coach, Colangelo pushed for changes from Mitchell in numerous areas, including his handling of Bargnani. Both have said the meeting was productive and healthy. But as the Raptors spin into an important summer, the question will be whether the relationship between coach and front office is as solid as it seems, or whether it is falling out of orbit. That is how D’Antoni hit the market in the first place.
To succeed in this league, it helps mightily if everyone pulls in the same direction. Cracks like these need to be filled, and fixed. Otherwise, they only grow.
Now, I like D’Antoni, he’s a good guy and his teams play a wildly entertaining brand of basketball. His teams also play defence like they are allergic to it, and his teams have had Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw and a rash of other excellent role players. His teams have been quick and athletic and big. His teams have not been the Toronto Raptors.
And if there are flaws in his style and his ability – and apparently there are if you listen to the bleatings out of Phoenix these days – what makes you think they wouldn’t surface here?
Now, Sam has his flaws, all coaches do, but this incessant harping on Mike D’Antoni is really getting old.
D’Antoni might be the next Red Auerbach, he might be the next Red Klotz when it comes to coaching this group of Raptors. You don’t know, I don’t know.
Word out of Phoenix is that D’Antoni told Paxson he wants to be the Bulls’ next coach. New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh also traveled to Phoenix over the weekend to interview D’Antoni.
The Raptors were only a .500 team and were done in by what plagued them in the regular season: poor perimeter defence, lackluster rebounding and a dearth of secondary scoring around Chris Bosh. If anyone can get it turned around, don’t you have faith in Bryan Colangelo?
Selfishly, I’d like to see both players back. As I’ve said before, they both bring pros and cons to the Raps and they play well off each other. If T.O. makes a move involving either player … their greatest strength (that 1-2 punch at the point) will be gone. And they’ll have to search for a legit back-up for whoever is staying in town (and, no, I don’t think Roko Ukic is the answer for that role … yet). Plus, they’re good guys. Period.
So let’s have a look around the league at teams that may be in the market for a PG.
Obviously, keep in mind, the situation in any of the cities on any of these teams could change in a heartbeat with a trade, free agent signing, or draft selection. Take this for what it’s worth … as of May 6th …
And keep in mind … this list is based on Ford or Calderon going to another team and being a STARTER. Neither player is looking to move on … and be somebody’s understudy!
May 6th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I do like this blog. “Mitchell is not the perfect coach, but his teams play hard - and together - and he is maturing. Colangelo is not the perfect GM, but he is one of the sharpest minds in the game.” What a wonderful way to look at the season.
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