Hooped Up

DeMar DeRozan has moxy and Carlos Delfino throws angry blocks. So when these never quit dudes met on the fast break, the out come was going to be spectacular with effort either way. This time it was Delfino that won the effort contest, but hats off to the rook for going hard.

This was an awesome block equalled by a spectacular dunk attempt.

Jolly good show gentlemen!

I’m not too sure what was frustrating Carlos Delfino, but he sure took it out on Mickael Pietrus by nearing shattering the floorboards with this violent block full of angst. Can’t we all just get along?

There could be yet another deal swung by the Toronto Raptors in perhaps the most active offseason in franchise history.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Raptors are actively trying to move swingman Carlos Delfino in a sign-and-trade arrangement.One option that has materialized, sources said, is a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks on a swap that would send Delfino to the Bucks for power forward Amir Johnson, which would require Delfino to agree to terms on a new deal spanning at least two years.

The Raptors retained Delfino’s rights while he played in Russia last season, which gives them the ability to sign-and-trade him.

ESPN

Yesterday on the FAN 590, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo explained why Argentine Carlos Delfino left Toronto to play in Russia all of a sudden last year. In short, Delfino left the Raps for a bag of money he is likely never to see in the NBA if he returns to North America — EVAH!

“He basically got 2.85 million net Euros, at the time, that was the equivalent of about $8.5 – $9 million US deal, so, you can see where there’s a discrepancy in dollars of about $5 million US gross and it was too much for him to walk away from.  Now, he’s been there a year, he’s played under those circumstances, and he’s said, ‘You know what?  I wanna be back in the NBA.’  He’s gonna leave a lot of money on the table… I’ve been kinda putting him on my roster depth charts with semi-removable ink.  He’s a guy that I think we can get the deal done if we want to get it done.”

That’s a lot of planetary credits to walk away from, could playing in Russia be that bad?

Via Sports Radio Interviews

“Rasheed Wallace is doubtful for the Pistons’ upcoming Texas swing this week. The power foward strained his calf muscle last Monday against Orlando and has missed the team’s last two games — he won’t dress for today’s match-up against the Memphis Grizzlies, either.”
Detroit Free Press 

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“Kobe Bryant hasn’t been overly cordial this week, slipping out a side door after the Lakers lost Monday in Portland, preferring the silence of an empty team bus over extended postgame analysis. He also declined to speak to reporters after a Wednesday afternoon shoot-around, furthering the notion that he was all business these days. In other words, it was a bad idea for Houston forward Ron Artest to start trash-talking to him during Wednesday night’s game. Bryant responded by scoring 13 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth as the short-handed Lakers held off the Rockets, 102-96, at the Toyota Center. A few years ago, Bryant pleaded with the Lakers’ front office to trade for Artest. On Wednesday, he merely seemed offended by Artest’s in-game antics, calling the dialogue “edgy” and scoffing when asked about their one-on-one “battle.” “It wasn’t much of a battle . . . I kicked his . . . ,” Bryant said. “We’ve had some battles in the past and he’s gotten the best of me a few times. [Wednesday], I got the best of him.”
Los Angeles Times

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The Raptors have really fell off from last years pace but, is Delfino the missing piece they need to get back on track? 

“Carlos Delfino is back on the Raptors’ radar. During a halftime interview yesterday, general manager Bryan Colangelo, without provocation, mentioned the swingman’s name as a possibility. Delfino left the Raptors last season as a restricted free agent, bolting to Russian club team Khimki BC in what is believed to be a three-year deal worth $12 million US.”

Toronto Sun