Colangelo Out; Adler In!
June 25th, 2008
Toronto, CA (AP) – Breaking news out of the Toronto NBA Franchise, as it was announced that Bryan Colangelo, who has been the General Manager for the Toronto Raptors for the past two years is on the move again, this time to the new Oklahoma City Thunder franchise! Colangelo, who has won the both the 2005 and most recently 2007 NBA Executive of the Year awards, was reportedly offered nearly double what he was earning with the Raptors, and jumped to the OKC job in hopes of building a franchise from ground up.
Colangelo joined the team following a 2005 NBA Executive of the Year stint with the Phoenix Suns, and turned the team around, earning them their first playoff appearance sin the 2001-2002 season. In his first year as Raptors GM, Toronto won their first ever Atlantic Division title (of course, this was back when Boston was without the Big 3), and two straight playoff appearances during his two year tenure with the Raptors, making a name for himself in the sports management industry.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, who own the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Toronto FC (MLS) are reportedly furious with Colangelo’s bait and switch with the Raptors franchise, and are expected to file a lawsuit in the coming week.
Unexpectedly though, MLSE already announced their replacement as the Raptors new GM, Virgil Adler! Adler, who has been the Assistant VP of Basketball Operations for the Detroit Pistons, was announced about four hours after Colangelo’s announcement of resignation with the Raptors and signing with the Thunder. Adler was one of the many front office managers who helped create the early 2000’s Pistons rise to power in the Eastern Conference, but now find’s himself in the driver’s seat for the first time with an NBA franchise
June 26th, 2008
It’s been a full 24-hours since Bryan made his announcement, moving all the way down south to Oklahoma City. Was his choice understandable, perhaps, but that depends on who you ask? Me, now, I wouldn’t leave this job to go to a miserable franchise with no real recent history in its books. But maybe that’s what Colangelo was looking for, a fresh start, a brand new slate, somewhere he would engrave his name in to history.
But that was now my job as well. The Toronto Raptors are only recently an NBA Playoff team, thanks to the moves made by Colangelo, and I intend to keep it that way. The team was full of good, young players, potential superstars ready to burst out onto the season. Of course there was Chris Bosh, one of the best you big men in the league who has been averaging 20 points a game and 9.0 rebounds throughout his career, and will continue to put up those numbers for years to come. His contract is up in two years though, but I’m expected Bosh will resign with the Raptors if they continue their success.
And then there’s Jose Calderon, who only recently is looking like one of the best point guards in the NBA, but his $45.00M/5yrs contract eats up a whole lot of cap room. Jermaine O’Neal only recently found his way to Toronto, but his numbers have been slipping lately and also has a huge $44.35M/2yrs contract. And let’s not forget the Raptors number one overall choice in the 2006 NBA Draft, Andrea Bargnani. He has been a bust so far in his career, but his contract expires in the next two years, opening up some more cap room.
But I didn’t think I would be making many changes when I walked into his job. The Raptors were a good young team that needed only one piece to make them a legit championship contender in the Eastern Conference. Perhaps Jermaine is that guy? Who knows? But what I didn’t expect, was in my meeting with MLSE President, Richard Peddie.
As I walked in to the conference room, I immediately became cautious of Peddie, who was faced looking out the window towards downtown Toronto, embraced in his large black leather chair. It was very movie-esque, and I began to expect very dramatic strings to begin playing in the background, as Peddie was going to turn around and deal me “an offer I could not refuse.”
And hell, the only thing missing in what events were to perspire was the sound of the sad cry of violins and basses; for when I sat down in front of his desk, Peddie spoke, “Do you know how much money the Raptors organization made last year Virgil?”
I was caught off guard, as I had yet to really look in depth to how the Raptors had been doing financially. I was only made their General Manager less than 24-hours ago, and had hardly spent any real time looking into the franchise’s development economically.
“No sir, I do not.” I replied cautiously. And with that, Peddie spun around his in chair and put his elbows on the table. “A negative ten million dollars. And do you know why Virgil?”
“No sir, I do not.” I felt like a broken record as I had no clue how to answer these questions.
“Because this, my boy, is Canada! Oh great Canada, where the pines and maples grow! Great prairies spread, and lordly rivers flow! How dear to us thy broad domain, from east to western sea… What a crock of ****.” He said with a sound of angst.
“Excuse me?” I gulped.
“You heard me, this place sucks! Well, at least the fans do; specifically, Raptors fans. You see Virgil, Raptors fans are very wishy-washy. Fair weathered, you could say, only supporting the team when they are good, spitting on them when they are bad. Look at the numbers, only recently has our average and overall attendance gone up, and that is all due to the success of our team. But besides Bosh, whom else can these fans get behind? Calderon? Please. O’Neal? He’s way past his prime. Bargnani? Ugh, forget I even mentioned his name. This team is full of nobodies, and always will be a team of nobodies until somebody makes them a team of somebodies. And that’s where you come in Mr. Adler.”
“Well, I hope to do my best-” suddenly, Peddie cut my off, and began to search his coat-jacket.
“No, no, no Mr. Adler, you aren’t hoping. We’re done with hoping around here.” Finally, he pulled out an envelope and placed it under his hand on the long oak desk. “You ARE going to do your best, and I’m going to provide a little help on the way. Inside this envelope is a list of objectives I want done by the end of the 2008-2009 season. If you do not complete them, you will be on your way out of Toronto just as quick as you got in. Do you understand?” He passed the envelope across the desk and looked me square in the eye.
“Sir? Well, I-” I was cut off once again, thankfully this time, as I had no idea what to say.
“Good, good, I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement Mr. Adler. I expect you to get started as soon as possible. Now please, if you will excuse yourself, I have some other issues I have to take care of.” I was hurried out of the room, and back into the lobby. In my hand was the envelope Peddie had given me, and right then I tore it open and read what it had to say.
“Dear, Mr. Adler,
Sorry our meeting fell so short. I knew it had to come to a quick end, because I have more important Maple Leafs’ issues to attend to, and trust me, they are aplenty. Below is a list of requirements I have laid out for you beginning with this season. If you do not complete these list of requirements, don’t expect to be given another list next season. May you find success in your endeavors Mr. Adler, and until next time,
Signed,
Richard Peddie”
After I picked my jaw up from off the ground, my eyes switched down to the list of objectives the letter written by Peddie.
Requirements for the 2008-2009 Season
- The Raptors MUST make the playoffs.
- There must be at least ONE Canadian player on the team by the end of the 2008-2009 season, and he must average at least 15 minutes per game.
- The team must rid itself of ALL non-Canadian and non-American players.
- The team may NOT find itself -$10.00M+ over cap room at the end of the 2008-2009 season.
- Chris Bosh is NOT to be traded.
- OPTIONAL: If there is to be a foreign player on the team, he MUST be French in order to appeal to all French-Canadian fans.
- There may be other objectives I want you to complete by the end of the 2008-2009 season, so stay available for contact.
And that was it. My job was already laid out for me. Like a train on its tracks, all I was needed for was to move that train along, and hopefully make it to the end of the line
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