ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

See you after that when we’re heavily into the international basketball season and, hopefully, a baseball pennant race.

Do you honestly think that Luka Doncic would be in the shape that he’s in now if he hadn’t been traded, and in his mind humiliated, by the Mavs? If not, what does that tell you?

—Paul M.

Yeah, I bet I’m not the only one whose eyebrows danced a jig when the pictures and stories popped up and the deluge of media appearances began. A bit of image resurrection, maybe?

But it does tell me that he — perhaps at urging from those closest to him — realized that he’s at the time of his career when some serious changes are necessary. We’ve seen it before. We even saw it here in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ when Kyle Lowry basically remade himself physically in the summer of, I believe, 2017. So it’s not entirely unexpected that he would.

If I was a Dallas fan, I’d absolutely wonder why he didn’t feel the need for the change a year ago and if that had been enough to keep him with the Mavericks.

But it wouldn’t excuse the fact Dallas management gave him away for a dime on the dollar.

What letter grade would you give Raptors management for their off-season efforts so far? And what still needs to be done?

—Ed Helinski in Auburn, N.Y.

If the grading curve makes C the average, then I give them a C.

They didn’t lose anyone of note, they made the logical choice with the draft pick and it’s unknown what they’ll turn into, and the addition of a low-cost, low-risk backup centre who gives them a different look from the starter was a totally fine, average move.

To be done? Find out how the group will mesh and how they acclimate Brandon Ingram and go from there.

There are no more roster moves to make that matter.

Hey, Doug. Hope all is fine and quiet as the NBA catches its breath after the Summer League games.

There used to be a time when athletes from one sports league could never have played in another. For example, Yvan Cournoyer, at five-foot-seven, could never have played basketball; he just wasn’t built for the game. Michael Jordan did try to go from basketball to baseball, but never made it into the majors. Beyond size, physical attributes and skills, and Aaron Judge at six-foot-seven has the height for a basketball player, what other factors differentiate basketball players, baseball, football and hockey players?

Somewhere along the same path, am I wrong in my perception that basketball players from non-English speaking countries are more likely to answer the media’s questions in English than are baseball players? And as far as you know, do players from one league have friendships with players from another? Do Raptors socialize with players from the Blue Jays or the Maple Leafs, for example, or are most friendships confined to the sport they practice?

And finally, are you hearing anything from the Raptors about their search for a replacement for Masai Ujiri?

Appreciated as always.

—Phil

I think the biggest factors are cultural and circumstance. Sure, maybe a six-foot-five marvel could have been a hockey player and not a baseball player if he started skating as a kid; most Americans and many Europeans never had the opportunity to make that choice.

My history is that athletes in one sport form bonds with others through off-season training sessions, agencies, college experiences and just from growing up around similar people. So there’s a lot of, say, baseball players who know basketball players who know football players who know hockey players because of shared histories and experiences.

Happy Simcoe/Civic/Caribbean Carnival/Festival long weekend!

±Ê³ó±ð·É!ÌýTwo months until “real” basketball starts up in some form, so rest and recuperate! Until then, some questions:

1) “The East is wide open!” I’ve heard this repeated a lot, but I’m not totally convinced. Although the Pacers and Celtics have lost significant firepower, the Knicks and Cavs are relatively intact. There definitely will be a shakeup in the conference standings, but aside from Atlanta (and hopefully a healthy ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½) can you say the remaining non-playoff/play-in teams are significantly better than a Turner-less and Nembhard-led Pacers team?

2) A question about dealing with players in non-sports settings. I always assume that if you bump into a player or celebrity in the course of your normal day, or even on vacation, you should try not to disturb them. Years ago, I lived in a neighbourhood where I saw José Calderón occasionally grocery shopping, but never approached him. I’ve also run into Brian Williams (longtime CBC Sports anchor) but gave him a nod of recognition while he went about his business grabbing a bite. I’d never scream, “Oh my God, it’s …”. Am I right in my assumptions?

3) Reports of Dwane Casey being considered for the Raptors position must be a hot topic for the mailbag! Two big questions: Is it safe to assume those who had a hand in his dismissal are no longer around (Larry Tanenbaum? Masai Ujiri?) and that’s the only way he’s even considering the job? My second question is: How much of the role is hands-on? We know what Casey brings as a coach, but as the new Masai (Messiah?) is his job almost entirely acquiring personnel rather than telling players how to defend, pick and roll, etc.?

Thanks for hanging in there and keeping us informed. Sleep in if and when you can!

—Bernie M.

I don’t think “significantly� better, but I do think there’s more parity up and down the standings. Cleveland and New York are good — one fell flat in the playoffs, the other has to adapt to a new coach and that can always be dicey — but there’s no question that with no Myles Turner or Tyrese Haliburton the Pacers have taken a step back. I’m still not sold on Milwaukee, who knows what Philly will be, and I think Detroit’s going to be hard-pressed to match last season’s jump. So maybe not deeper in talent, but the East is closer in overall teams.

My experience with running into “famous people� is that it’s always best to keep a respectful distance and never bother them when they’re dining or in conversation, but if — again, only with respect — you say hello, they’re fine with it. It’s the gawkers and disruption that are a pain.

We’re not entirely sure of the role of any new president, which is why it’s hard to handicap who might get it. But I don’t think there’s any rush, and if they had someone in place by the start of training camp that’d be fine.

I think Casey is interested because it’s a new challenge, far different from coaching, and there are no impediments in place to him inquiring about the gig. But I also want to remind everyone that one of the first names out of Keith Pelley’s mouth was Bobby Webster. And after due diligence, maybe he’s the guy.

I was watching Sportsnet’s Barker/Blair show on trade deadline Thursday suppertime and they spoke with David Price. He mentioned about playing for the Jays and how it was so unique to not only be playing for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ but for the whole country; that’s all true as we have seen and know.

Afterward Blair commented on it and stated that there are two teams that have that in this country. I thought he was going to say Jays and Raps. Instead he said Jays and national teams (national teams go without saying).

He then said Raps have it, but not to the extent of the Jays. I agree Jays definitely have it — that’s not up for discussion — but as a Raptors fan I could argue the Raps are as strong as the Jays.

He said ratings, etc. I don’t buy that. For one thing, the Jays have the whole sports scene to themselves more or less during the summer, whereas the Raptors have to compete with the NHL on a nightly basis, and then NFL on some select nights.

I think the Raps national fan base is as passionate as the Jays fan base. There to me is no difference. If it is, it is marginal.

What is your take? I’d be interested as you have travelled and seen our national fan base in action. I think no further than us winning the title, and the Raptors Canadian fan base at that game was and is still truly memorable.

Thanks.

—Doug B.

I’m going to disagree, respectfully, with my pal Blair on this one and suggest it’s at least a tie. I don’t buy the ratings thing much, to tell you the truth. They don’t take into consideration bar crowds, restaurant crowds, crowds in homes and, at least in the case of the Raptors because of the timing, the incredible size of the groups that gathered for outdoor viewing events that cannot be counted in any metered way. And yes, that’s the same for other sports, but my experience is basketball fans tend to skew younger and would do better numbers not only in communal circumstances but in things like streaming.

And here’s one other point I’ve often thought on that discussion, which I’ve had often over the years with pals. There are baseball fans who have been trained to be supporters of “other� teams because their dads or moms were or what have you. I don’t think that exists in basketball. Not many fans in Canada were raised as Celtics or Knicks or Lakers fans — at least not to the same volume as baseball fans who were born to be Yankees or Dodgers or Giants fans through family history and tradition.

That gives the Raptors another edge, or at least creates a tie.

Now, maybe if the Jays go on a legitimate string of winning and get to a World Series it might for a period shift things, but since we haven’t seen that in more than two decades, no one can speak to it. But I am certain that there will not be thousands of fans packing city squares and outdoor spaces in every corner of the country to watch the World Series like fans did in the 2019 Raptors playoff run.

I’ve always wondered how dates are allocated at Scotiabank Arena. Is there some sort of pecking order? Do the Leafs get priority over the Raptors? And do organizers of concerts and other events have to wait until the teams lock in their dates? Thank you.

—Michael H.

It’s really like a family sitting around the dining room table trying to put together a big, intricate jigsaw puzzle. And you can imagine how hard that is.

There are preferred nights — the Raptors tend to like Fridays, the Leafs prefer Saturdays — and they work to get a suitable number of dates that each submit to their leagues, which have the final say. It’s not fair to say one gets preference over the other. And since concerts and shows tend to be booked far in advance, each team knows what nights are blacked out as the process unfolds. But remember that the priority is, in almost every case, with the teams rather than the shows.

Both ESPN and the Athletic rank the Raptors 24th or worse going into the new season. Agree or disagree? I was surprised that anyone would put it that low. I’m not thinking they are a great team, but surely they’ve taken some clear steps forward with their roster, and they seem, at least now, to be buying into team defence. Surely they will move up a bit in the rankings? Am I looking at things with rose-coloured glasses? This tells me outsiders aren’t liking the moves the team has made. I predicted to you a couple of months ago that we’d have a 39-win season. Sticking to that prediction.

The starting five — the addition of Brandon Ingram I can’t imagine is a step backward. Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes — all are likely to get better. Jakob Poeltl isn’t in decline. And surely the rest of the team almost certainly will look stronger than last year, particularly with the addition of Sandro Mamukelashvili. I feel for the first time in a long time we actually have the makings of a second unit, and not just a few players who can fit in to give the starting five periods of rest.

We’re a young team. I’ve got to assume more players will be improving than there will be players sliding.

It has felt until now that players were added with an eye to building tradable packages rather than longer-term pieces of the team. I’m thinking of Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and Davion Mitchell as examples. I’m thinking this transition period is over, although it is fairly clear they will not be able to give enough court time to Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Collin Murray-Boyles, A.J. Lawson, Jamal Shead, Alijah Martin, Jonathan Mogbo, Ulrich Chomche, Jamison Battle, Chucky Hepburn and Ja’Kobe Walter. That’s 11 players who all need playing time to improve, and I don’t think games are moving to 60 minutes any time soon. Can we assume that there will be roster change at some point in the season amongst these 11 (with one of the starting five added, if things go south)?

—Jeff V.

I honestly don’t ever pay much attention to any rankings because their sole existence is to create conversation, drive views and clicks. But I suppose a non-playoff team from last season would be logically in the bottom third, since no games have been played and every change is theoretical until October.

I’ve said all along the “roster change� has to come from what Darko Rajakovic and his staff decide is the nine-, 10- or 11-man rotation. For two years, they could play tons of players and not really worry entirely about winning and everyone could be happy. There are going to be four or five players left out entirely, and how that’s handled may determine how the season unfolds.