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It's time to trade Ford, commit to Calderon

MICHAEL GRANGE

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 7:17 AM EDT 05/04/08

T.J.'s me-first attitude must be allowed to flourish ... elsewhere ...Read the full article

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  1. Roger S from Canada writes: Hooray !!!
  2. albert strauss from Toronto,Ontario, Canada writes: If two all star PG s can work for the Knicks - Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Earl "the Pearl" Monroe, why cant that work for the Raps ? They had Willis Reed as centre and Dave deBuschere and Bill Bradley as wings. Some line up ?I think Phil Jackson was in there somewhere also
  3. andy c from Canada writes: not like the toronto writers have been dropping hints or anything the last few weeks. i think there will be alot of marbury/kidd/nash comparisons and how BC traded away both kidd and nash (to his credit brought nash back). one's gotta think he's not going to make the mistake and keep the wrong guard again.
  4. A Banana from Canada writes: You can't start TJ Ford and Jose Calderon, you'd be giving up too much size on a team that already gets killed on the pick roll as well as rebounding.

    Anyway thank you for writing the column that was a long time coming.
  5. Roger S from Canada writes: I know BC can get it done, but trading Ford will not be an easy job. Usually in this situation, you should call Isiah Thomas first, most of times you will get positive feedback. I don't believe BC has guts to bring back Marbury again, maybe Malik Rose's expiring contract plus a filler are more appealing.
  6. andy c from Canada writes: I can see him bringing in Marbury. his contract expires next season and would be great trade bait at the trade deadline to go with all the other expireing contracts we have. i just would not let him anywhere near a basketball court. if thomas was willing i'd do it (it would be a bonus if we could squeeze a draft pick out of them as well. 2010?)
  7. Jackie Moon from Toronto, Canada writes: Roger S is a visionary.
  8. Jake Richardson from Canada writes: Both you and D.Smith coming out on the same today in support of Calderon! Will wonders never cease!
  9. Andrew James from Toronto, Canada writes: The dices have been rolled, guys. It's too late and I don't feel like translating from Spanish, but please try to read this exclusive interview with Calderon that just came out in MARCA, the biggest newspaper in Spain. In this chat with Quique Peinado, Calderón says a few things:

    - "I've made a sacrifice for the Raptors. Now I expect them to return to do the same."

    - "Sam Mitchell and Brian Colangelo called me to the office." (so he was proposed the deal, not the other way around).

    - "I could have snapped, but that's not my style."

    http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/baloncesto/nba/es/desarrollo/1105022.html
  10. Roger S from Canada writes: - "I've made a sacrifice for the Raptors. Now I expect them to return to do the same." BC should be the first GM to call Jose's agent after free agent market opens, depending on the expectation in Jose's mind, I feel the first offer BC proposed will be considered as "insulted" offer. I think Calderon should adjust his mental state and prepare for the worse. Capitalism does not work this way. - "Sam Mitchell and Brian Colangelo called me to the office." (so he was proposed the deal, not the other way around). This makes more sense. And I think the change like this must be Sam's idea. - "I could have snapped, but that's not my style." Calderon can be deemed as the most selfish player in NBA history.
  11. Roger S from Canada writes: - "I've made a sacrifice for the Raptors. Now I expect them to return to do the same."

    BC should be the first GM to call Jose's agent after free agent market opens, depending on the expectation in Jose's mind, I feel the first offer BC proposed will be considered as "insulted" offer. I think Calderon should adjust his mental state and prepare for the worse. Capitalism does not work this way.

    - "Sam Mitchell and Brian Colangelo called me to the office." (so he was proposed the deal, not the other way around).

    This makes more sense. And I think the change like this must be Sam's idea.

    - "I could have snapped, but that's not my style."

    Calderon can be deemed as the most selfish player in NBA history.
  12. Christine Green from Canada writes: Roger you know that is the wrong translation for the interview. Why don't you the correct translation of the quotes Jose made, and stop causing probs.
  13. andy c from Canada writes: i'll spare some of you the trouble of running the link through babelfish. what calderon tells the spanish media is exactly the same thing he tells the toronto writers.
  14. andy c from Canada writes: rog; yeah you can go ahead and blame the bad translation on TJ and Smitch. not only can they not play and coach, they are not fluent in spanish either. another reason to fire ford and trad smitch






    (yes that last bit was intentional)
  15. Bobby Del Rio from Toronto, Canada writes: Go to raptors.com to get a more accurate translation. That translation is way off. What Jose actually said is identical to the way it has been reported thus far. There is no 'conspiracy theory'. Calderon is a team player, unlike...
  16. Archie Gillespie from Canada writes: Rog, I admire Jose as much as the next Raptor fan for his grand gesture and play but man your adulation for the guy is bordering on creepy. Go Raps.
  17. Daniel Hackett from Cambridge, Canada writes: Bobby del Rio - where is the translation on the raptors site?
    Thanks
  18. Andrew James from Toronto, Canada writes: This is funny. Instead of going to the Spanish text, some people still say the translation is not accurate (I guess it's my fault, then?) What some of you can't understand is that the text in Spanish is an exclusive interview for a paper overseas. The author is Quique Peinado, a journalist who knows Calderon since eight years ago, and considering all these factors I'd say this interview is the most "sincere" interview you can find right now.

    - Calderon says "Ellos me llaman," which obviously means "They call me" (SM and BC);

    Q: Pero podías haberte negado.
    A: Sí, o montar un pollo, pero eso no va conmigo. Además, no sería lo mejor para el equipo

    Q: But you could have said "no."
    A: Yes, or just snapping ("montar un pollo" is Spanish slang), but that's not my style. Besides, it wouldn't be the best thing for the team.

    Q: Hablo de tu contrato...
    A: Yo me he sacrificado por este club. Espero que ellos me lo devuelvan.

    Q: I'm talking about your contract...
    A: I've made a sacrifice for this club. I hope they will make the same for me ("devolver": to return)
  19. Brad Miller from Canada writes: Trading TJ will be extremely hard given his injury past. And as much as I would love to see the 2 pg system work, I just don't think it can over the long-term. TJ's comments yesterday were extremely disappointing if that's what he actually said. Especially right after Jose did what he did. If TJ was smart, he would have said the politically correct thing and say 'whatever the teams needs' etc, knowing full well that he has the starting position for the rest of year. Instead its like he didn't care what the team or people think. I guess you can't fault him for being honest, but I wouldn't want to have someone like that on my team for the long-term. He has had a couple opportunities to show leadership over the past 2 months and has failed; Jose has just exceeded previous examples of leadership. Even though there is more upside with TJ, a championship team needs a leader. They are the second comings of Stephon Marbury and Steve Nash, and each of those players are examples of both how, and how not to, lead a team.
  20. CLEMENT CHAN from Mississauga, Canada writes: Garcia Andrew James for the translation. You are a better reporter in this internet era!

    This is very interesting information. If I recall correctly, this update is contradictory to what Jose said in the post game interview, where he said the hard part is to get Mitchell to accept his proposal to let Ford start. Anyway, I would put my bet on this Spanish version and is more comfortable now. Earlier I thought Jose probably got traumatized in an accident and needed to see a shrink. In any case, my respect to Jose is through the roof as before.

    Jose also mentioned about the club returning the favour, I'd interpret as this: Jose would probably get a contract of similar value or higher than Ford’s at the end of the season. Jose would want the raptor to match the contract for him, meaning he would like to play for Toronto. How good is that!
  21. RR Mac from Toronto, Canada writes: Thankfully the media have deigned it so [what everyone knows] -- TJ's gotta go, sign Jose 'Shoes' Calderon soon -- the two PG experiment in a league full of little boy egomaniacs fails again.

    The fact that he's back has thrown off the team chemistry- he's a poor man's Iverson [and AI's a cancer].

    The Raps performance in the playoffs hinges on it.
  22. Bobby Del Rio from Toronto, Canada writes: Daniel Hackett, go the Interact part of the Raptors' site. Go to page 4 of the "Ford and Nesterovic Inserted into Starting Lineup" thread in the Player's Talk room. Supposedly, the newspaper is very sensationalistic, and the translation is poor.

    The truth is it doesn't matter whose 'idea' it was to make the line-up switch. The fact remains that TJ Ford has been complete crap off the bench - because of his victim attitude - and the team had no choice but to make the switch. After this article today, it appears TJ's true colours are clear... The Toronto Star and Toronto Sun are also asking TJ Ford to be traded...

    Bobman
  23. Robert Krizman from Oakville, Canada writes: Michael, I just wanted to congratulate you on a well written article.

    While it would have been great to keep both PGs, its clear based on TJ's comments in Michael's article that TJ won't accept the 2 PG system and he has to go.
  24. Dave M from Canada writes: Seriously, I love the Raps and also agree they should get rid of Ford and sign Calderon, but I hope everyone realizes that it's going to take a whole lot more than that to make this team competitive. These guys aren't going to make it out of the first round of the playoffs this year. They can't seem to win on the road (at all!) and they have 1 really talented player surrounded by a bunch of nobodies.

    Now look at the Phoenix Suns, realize they have Hill, Nash, Shaq, Bell and Stoudemire and they can't win it all either and you'll maybe get an idea of how deep a team needs to be in the NBA to win a championship.

    We're a long way from the promised land yet gents.
  25. RR Mac from Toronto, Canada writes: Agreed Dave M.

    When I said that the 'Raps performance in the playoffs hinges on it', I merely meant whether they would go out in 5 in the 1st round or scrap their way through Orlando [if they're lucky] get their lunch handed to them in the 2nd.

    Like the Suns relative to the west, they're still too weak defensively to do much. I hope has BC tweaked his model a little to factor this in.

    Still support the rebuilding, we must
  26. Rick Kang from Toronto, Canada writes: What's wrong with a starter saying he feels he should start and play more than 24 minutes a game? Why does having both TJ and Jose around mean they can only play 24 minutes a game apiece? Last I checked, you could play any combination of two players together. And it appears that Don Nelson isn't doing too shabby in a difficult Western Conference starting two PGs (or PG-sized guards) in Baron Davis and Monta Ellis.

    Why heap more unhelpful opinion that merely fuels the remarkably basketball-unsavvy Raptors fanbase's hatred and loathing of TJ Ford?

    To constantly harp on this non-newsworthy matter after a much-needed morale-boosting win is either poor timing or a deliberate attempt at stirring controversy.

    Jose is great and this is no knock on him. He should obviously be re-signed -- but the fact remains that TJ is one of the few Raptors that has any sort of toughness or swagger at all. This team is soft, and without him it's even softer.

    TJ plays better as a starter. Jose was struggling and was obviously comfortable coming off the bench, and again -- the two played excellently together. All your chatter merely fans the flames of basketball ignorance.
  27. Bobby Del Rio from Toronto, Canada writes: Hey Rick Kang, I can go all day on this issue, but I'll make a few tiny points:

    1. TJ does, in fact, play better as a starter. That's because he falls apart when he comes off the bench because he is physically and emotionally fragile. That spine condition is a wonderful metaphor...

    2. My basketball IQ triples yours. Please don't make blanket statements that fans are 'ignorant' because they prefer All-Star snub Calderon over perpetual injury risk TJ Ford. You want to evaluate the 2? Look at assist-to-turnover ratio, field goal%, 3-point %, free throw % and efficiency.

    3. The problem with TJ's starter assertion is that he is unwavering in his stance - even to the detriment of the team. Ideally, we would have 2 interchangeable starting PGs - which would maximize strategy, match-ups and execution. As it stands, we've got arguably the most efficient PG in the entire NBA willing to back up an inferior player because TJ won't stop crying.

    The sooner we ship TJ Ford out, the better.

    Bobman
  28. Rich Chan from Vancouver, Canada writes: Alright guys, remember to boo TJ when he has the ball tonight. Crybabys should never get their way. Keep eating fried chicken (his favourite food, as he mentions on the Swirsky show once) and fish TJ.
  29. David G from Toronto, Canada writes: The translation issue is moot. Since Jose suggested this lineup change to management a week previously, and they didn't want to do it then but turned around a week later (knowing he had been willing to do it), does not make it their idea. It's his.
  30. Rick Kang from Toronto, Canada writes: I never said TJ is better than Jose, statistically or otherwise. My point was that right now, TJ as the starter and Jose as the back-up is working well for both of them -- and the team. Shouldn't that be given its proper due and notice?

    As for whatever "knowledgable" Raptors fans prefer, the reality is that TJ Ford is difficult to trade because of his contract and spinal condition. Instead of harping on something that will likely be difficult to pull off and possibly detrimental in the long-term, perhaps looking on at the tangible benefits -- like winning a game against the Central Division champions -- might help us build and improve.

    And what team in the L has interchangeable starting point guards? Last I checked, none. Some players play better as starters than off the bench. Get over it. If you think egos -- fragile, concrete-hard or otherwise -- don't exist in the NBA, then perhaps your high basketball IQ needs to be checked.

    Confidence is the key to every player's game -- and self-doubt is akin to a self-inflicted wound. Anyone who has ever played the game knows this to be true.
  31. Bobby Del Rio from Toronto, Canada writes: Rick Kang, Jose also has 'confidence'. The difference? He also brings PRODUCTION, EFFICIENCY and a little thing called TEAMWORK.

    TJ Ford's ego is getting in the way of this team. It's limiting our options in the rotation, affecting the locker room and now he's about to get smacked by the media fans. When Leo Rautins turns on you, you know you've screwed up big time. Leo's about as loyal as you get.

    I'll let this little argument die now, but don't start calling people ignorant until you can prove yourself otherwise. As it stands, every major newspaper in Toronto is calling for TJ's head. Papers that have been UBER-supportive of this team from Day One. TJ has managed to turn his biggest supporters into his biggest enemies by doing his best Rafer Alston impression. The best thing TJ can do for us right now is play well, secure us the 6th seed in the playoffs, increase his trade value, then go away in exchange for an athletic small forward that can rebound and play defense.

    Bobman
  32. Robert Krizman from Oakville, Canada writes: The suggestion that some players play better as starters rather than off the bench is ridiculous. Every player will play better as a starter and with more minutes.

    What if Calderon didn't accept his role as a backup and chose to not put forward his best effort as a backup - should he then be moved to the starting unit just because he says he is better suited to that role. The same holds true for TJ. A player's performance either as a starter or backup is dependant on effort. TJ is not willing to put forward his best effort as a backup - that is what he is implying when he says that he plays better as a starter. TJ is a paid professional and he was unwilling to accept the role that the team gave him as a backup PG. It doesn't matter that Calderon suggested this idea.

    Calderon is the better PG at this point and therefore should start and play more minutes than TJ. The idea that Calderon, who has played better than TJ, should now come in as a backup and play fewer minutes makes no sense whatsoever.
  33. Big Cayman from South Toronto, Canada writes: What's getting in the way of this team is mediocre players outside of Bosh and AP regardless of the TJ Jose debate. Rebounding and defense are getting in the way of this team, individual skill and game knowledge is lacking and so is athleticism at key positions. Outside of Bosh and AP every member of this squad has an achilles heal (physical or mental) which which exposes the team to its weaknesses at both ends of the floor. Whomever the Raptors keep at point guard will only be a small point on a team that has far to go to contend in the conference never mind the playoffs.
  34. Bubba The Pas Huskies from The Pas Manitoba, Canada writes: Agreed BC. I'd add Rasho if we can keep him at a reasonable price. His inside presense, both on O and D is worth keeping...
  35. Roger S from Canada writes: Even more so.

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