The AltRaps Blog

Hey, check out Kapono’s big gig on the weekend: Guest judge at the Dance Pak auditions. Tough life. Fitting choice. He’s a pretty good schmoozer. And maybe he knows a thing or two about dancing.

- Toronto Star

 

the fate of the 13th spot on the roster. Yes, Juan Dixon is very much in the mix for it. The Raptors want to use that position for a combo-type guard, and Juan is that. The feeling is that given that Roko is kind of an unknown quantity and with the departure of Delfino, there just might be enough minutes available for Dixon to compete for that he could see it as an attractive opportunity. Throw in the fact that the Raptors will have some cap flexibility next season and they can at least dangle the hope that a longer-term deal might be out there. In the meantime it will have to be at the veteran’s minimum and Dixon will have to get his head around that. Personally if I’m Juan I’m heading to Europe where I honestly think he would tear up. The tighter three-point line, which he could easily attack off the dribble, would make the rest of his game so dangerous he’d be a beeyotch to stop. As an import in the right situation he’d be the featured scorer, which is what he does best. But, hey, what to do I know? I’d be happy to have him back. Juan is one of the NBA’s nice people, at least as far as reporters are concerned. And his collection of designer sneakers is second-to-none. Daniel Ewing is no longer in contention for the 13th spot after a poor summer league showing; John Lucas has some fans but the concern is he’s a true point and a small one at that.

- Globe and Mail

 

Oh brother, my palms are sweating with excitement and I might not be able to contain the joy of potentially signing Jaycee Carroll who might potentially be as good as Juan Dixon. This off-season is bearing some very nice fruits, who this “minimum-salary combo guard” might be the deciding factor between finishing 41-41 and 42-40. Fingers crossed! It looks more and more like one of Jamario Moon or Joey Graham will be our starting small forward next year and this observer thinks that that is simply unacceptable. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what Moon brings to the table but the guy can’t shoot. I can already see teams dropping off against him like last year leaving him open for the 18-23 footer which he’ll gladly take without being reprimanded by Mitchell.

- Arsenalist

 

The word from an Oklahoma City TV station is the Okies’ new NBA franchise will carry the nickname Thunder.

Oh, be still my heart.

Thunder? Before taking its first dribble, OKC sets an all-time record: Worst pro nickname in sports history.

No doubt, the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies rank right up there with the most ridiculous big-time pro nicknames of all time. But Thunder tops the list.

- Amarillo