Canadian Content: PG-13?

[Bendit]

I don't know much about it as a non-Canadian, but as far as I've read Magloire did still come back to Toronto during summers and contributed to the community. Calderon doesn't get a lot of slack around here because of his choice to participate for his country which has hurt his play on the Raptors. But his team, Spain, is at least alway among the medal candidates, which makes it much more logical to me. Magloire just focused on his professional career and I don't see a problem with that.

If I understand the typical euro national sensibility, it is an honour to represent their country at the world's or Olympic tournaments. Sometimes this participation is forced (not overt) but there is much national fervour and pressure that not participating is not an option for fear of being "loathed" locally. Nationalism is a much more prevalent entity than in North America. After all it is the "fear" of this that in part prompted the creation of the Euro project! Even in the US it is a different type of fervour. Rather than nationalism as the driver it is more a proving of American exceptionalism. Canada does not have this trait (I dont believe).

Without getting too deep in such reasonings and differences, my only argument about participation is to assist in the growth of the particular sport in your country/immediate sphere of influence. More often than not, it was the grass roots institutions that assisted the player to achieve a level of expertise to be then extended thru to the professional level. I do understand the difficulty of the season and the contractual reality but not to be a participant even in olympic qualifiers is a bit curious. Jose's supporters in Spain couldnt care less about what Raptor fans think. And Raptor fans did not begrudge Jose's participation then. Now (2012) is another matter. It's his age and history of injury after/in such events. For myself I think he has done his part for Spain and believe the Raptors now need his best form possible either on the team or as an asset for trade.

As re JM's local good deeds I am not in a position to comment. I am sure he has done his part but many many others in a position of wealth do so as well. Vince Carter used to do quite a bit. To be cynical, charity expenditures receive a fairly healthy tax break. Participating in olympic qualifiers do not...just an assist to the growth of the game in the country.

[Bendit]

I am not a big fan of Magloire either, but just used him as an example of someone that was elevated by the team because of his roots. I also agree that Magloire put on a "show" this year to try and redeem himself for lack of participation for Canada. I am also aware that a lot of the hype around these things come from the media and PR to bring more attention to the teams; however, I grew up with Dan Hamhuis in Northern BC and he signed with the Vancouver Canucks for less a couple years ago because he WANTED to play for the team from where he grew up. He loves playing for them and has taken that excitement into his play on the ice and his community work off the ice.
I guess I am saying that getting guys that are excited about playing in Canada is key... and I would hope that would be the case for Canadian born players.

I believe I mentioned "NBA players" in my first note and have a different opinion about the pro NHL hockey player even on the matter of the "home town discount" which I believe is fairly common in the NHL. The hockey culture is just more team oriented and ownership in the past have taken much advantage of this. I had previously mentioned the possibility of a "cultural" difference in the NBA. Of course there will always be exceptions. I just remember being very disappointed that JM always said "no". His participating could have advanced the game so much more even in Toronto. Even today, Nash has gotten involved again to do this. In anycase, I digress from the central notion in discussion...with regard to the Raptors...no national or hometown perogatives, childhood friendships or other nepotistic reasoning should supersede talent and need. This leads to clique forming. Just not good.

[Father rev]

They messed up BIG TIME when they drafted PJ TUCKER over Denham Brown...

[The Coach]

Jamaal Magloire is a bit of a sore example for me and his allegiance quotient level. I am now referring to the Canadian national team who seeks to have the best talent available to them....and JM was a consistent no show (not once). I dont believe he ever said why. Sorry, I have a jaded view of Jamaal's motivations re joining the Raptors this season...he needed a job and it so happened that BC was stocking his team with some low calibre filler for a season to allow for a high draft slot. But a certain Dwayne Casey upset those plans somewhat and Jamaal played his intimidating/cheerleader role well. The speech? He was in a way a natural and willing choice. He did a good job with a dose of politicking...he probably gets to come back for another year in his hometown. Not a bad way to finish his career.

A reuniting of the Compton boys? No thanks. I had responded similarly in the that thread essentially for the same reasoning...personal type external motivating factors should not really play a role in pro player acquisition. More often than not this tends to be more distractive than positive in my view. Of course if the talent is exceptional...then...

I am not a big fan of Magloire either, but just used him as an example of someone that was elevated by the team because of his roots. I also agree that Magloire put on a "show" this year to try and redeem himself for lack of participation for Canada. I am also aware that a lot of the hype around these things come from the media and PR to bring more attention to the teams; however, I grew up with Dan Hamhuis in Northern BC and he signed with the Vancouver Canucks for less a couple years ago because he WANTED to play for the team from where he grew up. He loves playing for them and has taken that excitement into his play on the ice and his community work off the ice.
I guess I am saying that getting guys that are excited about playing in Canada is key... and I would hope that would be the case for Canadian born players.

[Soft Euro]

I don't know much about it as a non-Canadian, but as far as I've read Magloire did still come back to Toronto during summers and contributed to the community. Calderon doesn't get a lot of slack around here because of his choice to participate for his country which has hurt his play on the Raptors. But his team, Spain, is at least alway among the medal candidates, which makes it much more logical to me. Magloire just focused on his professional career and I don't see a problem with that.

[Bendit]

Jamaal Magloire is a bit of a sore example for me and his allegiance quotient level. I am now referring to the Canadian national team who seeks to have the best talent available to them....and JM was a consistent no show (not once). I dont believe he ever said why. Sorry, I have a jaded view of Jamaal's motivations re joining the Raptors this season...he needed a job and it so happened that BC was stocking his team with some low calibre filler for a season to allow for a high draft slot. But a certain Dwayne Casey upset those plans somewhat and Jamaal played his intimidating/cheerleader role well. The speech? He was in a way a natural and willing choice. He did a good job with a dose of politicking...he probably gets to come back for another year in his hometown. Not a bad way to finish his career.

A reuniting of the Compton boys? No thanks. I had responded similarly in the that thread essentially for the same reasoning...personal type external motivating factors should not really play a role in pro player acquisition. More often than not this tends to be more distractive than positive in my view. Of course if the talent is exceptional...then...

[ceez]

Stern should give us Wiggins like he gave the Knicks Ewing

[The Coach]

Lawrie would have been a hit no matter of nationalty nor team he played for.

NBA players (the very good ones) tend to be prima donnas (the NBA encourages this) and really have no allegiances for the most part. I dont know if it's a cultural thing but Nash is a different dude. I take more pride in Nash's Canadian-ness (?) as representative of a value system rather than his basketball skills which he uses to advance the former. As for the Raptors...always acquire the player with the best combination of skill and character no matter wherefrom.

I don't believe you judge a person by the country they grew up in and I think you make a great point about the combination of skill and character. However, are there times when a player excels because they are motivated by a sense of representing their country/province/city? I know their are times when players are unmotivated to represent a certain team/city (i.e. - Steve Francis). It did seem like Magloire was pretty excited to be specifically on the Raps this year... and do you think he would have done the year end "thank you" to the fans on any other team in the league? As well, we have talked on this board about the possibility of reuniting Compton boys and how that could be a motivating factor.

[Bendit]

Lawrie would have been a hit no matter of nationalty nor team he played for.

NBA players (the very good ones) tend to be prima donnas (the NBA encourages this) and really have no allegiances for the most part. I dont know if it's a cultural thing but Nash is a different dude. I take more pride in Nash's Canadian-ness (?) as representative of a value system rather than his basketball skills which he uses to advance the former. As for the Raptors...always acquire the player with the best combination of skill and character no matter wherefrom.

[The Coach]

Kabongo is more like Rondo

Swishscout seems to agree with you. Here is their comparison:

Darren Collison with shades of Rajon Rondo

I thought Myck had a bit more flair and was less effective on defense than these comparisons.

[NoPropsneeded]

Kabongo is more like Rondo

[The Coach]

Kabongo.

I think his game is more suited to the NBA game than the NCAA game. He reminds me of Rubio, so I hope his experience with the national team can bring him the same confidence that Rubio has. Selfishly, I was hoping he would declare and the Raps could pick him up, but I think it is better for him to mature another year in NCAA.

[Ambidextrious]

As I am sure you know, there is no guarantee what will happen. 2 years ago Harrison Barnes was a sure-fire number 1 pick. That obviously didn't pan out.

I'm ready for the Raptors to start competing. With a hands on off-season of training and coaching plus a full training camp (nevermind whatever trades or free agents occur), I can't see the Raptors in the hunt for lottery balls next year. I'm not ready to proclaim playoffs but they should be a 12/13/14 pick if they don't.

Yeah i have to agree if somebody is considered a high pick that opinion can change fairly easily, and there are a ton of examples.

With Colangelo telling the fans and media that this team is now past the rebuilding stage and are nearly ready to compete for playoffs, it would be a major disappointment if the team keeps losing games next season. I feel we're one or two key pieces from taking over the atlantic division in the next few years.

[mcHAPPY]

Im never one for losing but if that is the hand were dealt with, then im rolling with it. I strongly doubt we are going to suck next year. So getting Wiggins is next to impossible seeing hes a top 5 pick next draft or the one after. You never know maybe if we trade for that pick somehow we'd be able to draft him.

As I am sure you know, there is no guarantee what will happen. 2 years ago Harrison Barnes was a sure-fire number 1 pick. That obviously didn't pan out.

I'm ready for the Raptors to start competing. With a hands on off-season of training and coaching plus a full training camp (nevermind whatever trades or free agents occur), I can't see the Raptors in the hunt for lottery balls next year. I'm not ready to proclaim playoffs but they should be a 12/13/14 pick if they don't.

[Ambidextrious]

To get Wiggins, the Raptors are really going to have to blow chunks next year (or possibly the year after if he does not reclassify). That assumes he continues to be awesome relative to his peers.

Im never one for losing but if that is the hand were dealt with, then im rolling with it. I strongly doubt we are going to suck next year. So getting Wiggins is next to impossible seeing hes a top 5 pick next draft or the one after. You never know maybe if we trade for that pick somehow we'd be able to draft him.