Opinion | Raptors mailbag: Why didn’t we get a Chris Boucher goodbye? Is a new bench mob on the way?

Enjoy.

Why do you think that it’s basketball players, more than athletes from any other professional sport, who dump on living and playing in Toronto?

From bagged milk to the accent to having to deal with customs.

Baseball players don’t seem to complain as publicly. Former Jay Kevin Pillar just came out in support of playing in Toronto. Likewise for the non-Canadian players on the Maple Leafs.

Raptors players are revered here and have a whole country behind them, even in down years like this one.

So why is it only basketball where there seems to be a problem? Are the players too rich, too young, too entitled, not very worldly or educated?

Your colleague Gilbert Ngabo wrote a nice piece about players who have no issue with Canada, but they seem to be the exceptions.

I mean … where would you rather live and play? Toronto or Milwaukee or Minnesota?

—Eli, Toronto

I think we need to pump the brakes a bit on this “story.” There’ve been what, probably around 300 players who’ve played for the Raptors and they found three or four who went on some podcast somewhere and it’s supposed to be some “issue”?

I’d suggest there’s the same percentage with baseball and hockey guys; there are just not as many outlets that they can go on and vent. Maybe not hockey because of the numbers of Canadians, but among Americans and Europeans, I bet there is. No one’s found them.

The story is probably the thin-skinned locals who care and why they do.

Hey, Doug. Another season is done, congratulations. And based on the level of play of many games this year, my sympathies.

After playoff-bound Memphis suddenly fired their head coach, Denver has now parted ways with Michael Malone, their coach, as well as their general manager. What’s going on? Do these teams really think that their seasons are salvageable by firing their coaches on the eve of the playoffs, which they both will participate in?

I was surprised to see that the Raptors waived Orlando Robinson. Did you think that he had played himself into a backup role with the team (even if the Raptors were to draft Khaman Maluach)?

Based on what you have observed this year, do you think the Raptors can return to respectability, i.e. a 42-plus-win season next year?

And, above all, congratulations on the 30-year honour bestowed by the Raptors on Wednesday.

Appreciated as always,

—Phil

There’s a question later down in this file that deals more with Denver and Memphis, but the Robinson and future questions need to be answered.

I think Robinson is an NBA talent, but I also think he’s a third centre on a very good team. I suppose they can give him a look again next season, and they may think more highly of him that I do, but I think the backup spot can be upgraded even from him. Nothing against him and he showed some flashes, particularly as a shooter, but if you see the stark on-off stats involving Jakob Poeltl, I’d say lots has to do with Poeltl but lots has to do with the guys playing behind him.

And as I said last week, I won’t get into win totals until we see who’s on what team and what other moves occur.

BUT …

I said a long time ago that this season provided great cover, because it excused a litany of things and explained it. But that cover is blown. This team better win next season.

And thanks on the 30-year note. The lovely gift (a nice framed, signed jersey) was much appreciated. But truth be told, it’s been a great ride and all that I’ve gotten out of it has been unbelievable. It’s a great gig, despite the cynicism and odd bout of crankiness.

If the Raptors draft Khaman Maluach, will his passport be honoured by the U.S.? Or could he have difficulty crossing the border and only be able to play at home?

I have some vague memories of players, maybe in other pro sports, having border issues.

—Nick Martin in Esquimalt, B.C.

I made passing reference to it a couple of days ago, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned about the American government in the last few weeks it’s that everything is fluid and what’s true today may not be tomorrow. So between now and the late June draft, the NBA will watch and see and lobby when it has to, and we’ll see where everything is then. My guess is it’s a tempest in a teapot, like a lot of all things Trumpian these days.

Happy end-of-regular-season, Doug.

Is it going to be Thunder-Celtics?

Both teams are doing what most championship-level teams do at the end of too-long regular seasons across professional sports leagues: they crank up their play, focus and intensity while strategically resting stars. Most teams/players have a mid-season lull and then find their focus if they have post-season aspirations. The last six weeks of play for the Thunder and Celtics is emblematic of that, if you can call a three-game skid in February a lull.

As for the Cavaliers, would you say their fortunes have changed since Tristan Thompson unleashed basketball karma with his widely criticized dunk at the end of Cleveland’s last visit to Toronto?

Unwritten rules aside, Thompson, as a veteran, didn’t exhibit the “smarts, self-awareness, no sense of entitlement, being willing pupils of basketball and life” that you described as necessary and the reason the Raptors rookies have shined this season (beauty piece, by the way). You need the same things to win a championship. Success is a journey not a destination.

The chest puffing in the sandbox about unwritten rules in all sports matters to many players and the unique club in which they reside and ply their skills.

What does your experience tell you about sports superstitions and the unwritten rules of the games? What’s the change you’ve most noticed?

—Paul from Port

I can see Thunder-Celtics (I’m not entirely convinced the Cavs have the experience needed to win four series) but how about a Clippers-Pacers final? Out of the realm of possibility? I’d say no. The Pacers got a ton of very valuable experience last year, and Kawhi is Kawhi and we know what he can be like in the post-season.

Tristan’s stunt here was unbecoming, especially of a veteran of long service. I am a huge proponent of respecting the unwritten rules, of paying respect to the game and paying a price when that respect is lacking. That goes for not trying your best to win every game (an organizational decision, not one made by that night’s players), not respecting the unwritten rules of the game (let the clock run out, respect your opponent, don’t run up the score, win and lose graciously, don’t be a knucklehead) and just basically always comporting yourself as a guardian of the sport.

And yeah, I think it’ll bite you in the butt.

Good morning. It has been many moons since I’ve written in. I think that the last time was 15 years ago when I saw Dikembe Mutombo at Pearson airport, folding himself into a giant SUV and making it look tiny. I am pleased that you and I are both, as Pat Quinn once said, “on the right side of the grass.”

It seems to me that (Wednesday) evening may (have been) Chris Boucher’s last home game as a Raptor. I hope that his teammates have gone to the coaching staff and asked that the fans have an opportunity to thank him for his contribution. A cameo appearance would be a nice gesture.

—Bill Wolfe

(and yes, there is a Wolfedale Road connection)

You can almost see Wolfedale Road from the front porch of Casa Doug. Very cool.

And as Darko said before that game, they discussed it with Chris and decided it would not have been a fair move. I get the sentimentality of the fans and maybe it would have been nice. But you know, it’s not like Chris is a top-10 Raptor all-time, and pro sports is not a business full of sentimentality.

And I’ll say this one last time and remind all of the great affinity I have for Chris.

No one told him to sit, head down and uninvolved with his teammates at the end of the bench for weeks. No one told him not to take part in the pre-game layup line every now and then. No one told him to stay in the locker room during the anthems and introductions some nights.

Hi, Doug. Hard to believe that the season is almost a wrap. My question has to do with the astounding level of hubris on display from owners and management with the firings of coaches Michael Malone in Denver, Taylor Jenkins in Memphis and the disastrous (for the Mavs) trade of Luka Doncic.

Is it the Trumpian zeitgeist that those in power no longer listen to advice and trounce any sense of decorum? Firing winning coaches from playoff-bound teams on the eve of the playoffs just reflects poorly on those doing the firing.

—Al

I was stunned at both firings — all three if you toss in the Denver GM — and all I can chalk it up to is a crazy lack of patience from those doing the firings, and an absolutely panic to try and create some sense of urgency in the players. But I agree it reflects poorly on those doing the firing, and I can’t imagine it’ll have any major impact on what happens. And if somehow it does, I’ll say it reflects poorly on the players.

Hi, Doug. So now we get to see who wins the NBA draft lottery in a month, and who wins it all about a month later. All while hoping to be in the mix next year!

Some questions:

1) How sold are you on the idea of our current guys becoming Bench Mob version 2.0? The Four Js (Jonathan Mogbo, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jameson Battle) seem likely to stay on the roster come October. What of Jared Rhoden and A.J. Lawson? Have they proven to be NBA ready?

2) Playing devil’s advocate for a bit, was the second half of the Raptors season a reflection of a schedule loaded with tanking teams with inferior benches? Or did our record show how much our young players improved after 40 games? Or both? I tend to believe we improved, because early in the season the Raptors couldn’t beat depleted rosters or hold a lead. Your take?

3) Staying with the theme, it looks like Mogbo has put the pieces together and now finishes at the rim emphatically! Is he trending toward being a “nice” version of Draymond Green?

4) Sorry, but I was upset that once the triple-double was achieved and the lead was over 20 points, our bench wasn’t completely emptied! I read the feeble excuse of not wanting a player to “look bad” having not warmed up, etc. Garrett Temple was in the same boat, and frankly the fans didn’t care if he had missed every shot. (C)ertain (B)allers have played well, but weren’t allowed the opportunity to receive love from the fans. Not the classiest of moves with lowest stakes. Thoughts?

Bonus question: Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster seem to prefer to make deals in the pre-season rather than around the trade deadline. My theory is that GMs probably are willing to give up more once they have the gift of hindsight. (“If we had this guy, we could’ve won that playoff round” vs. “We might win if we had that guy” before the playoffs.) Of course, you’re also limited by the offers that are actually presented to you (e.g. Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis) Your two cents (no tariff) …

Thanks for your end-of-season evaluation and thoughts on who (besides Cooper Flagg) we may keep an eye on in June!

—Bernie M.

If this group of young players ends up making the contributions and careers of two-time all-NBA Pascal Siakam, all-star Fred VanVleet and “should have been an all-star this season” Norm Powell, I will be shocked. And everyone who ever once talked badly about Masai and Bobby owes them apologies. So my short answer is no.

The last quarter of the season was a series up cupcakes. The year went in the toilet when a young team couldn’t handle the volume of injuries and talent of the opponent and things were ruined before they figured it out. I will say that even with the injuries, if the season was flipped (cupcakes to start, grind at the end) it would have been very interesting.

I like Mogbo and he might be an interesting bit. He is nowhere near Draymond Green, and I don’t think he ever will be.

I’m gonna miss Chris and, man, Ye Olde Mailbag is really gonna miss him. If, when he and Darko talked in the last week, Chris had suggested he would like to play a couple of minutes, he would have played a couple of minutes.

Masai and Bobby prefer to do their roster work in the summer and around the draft for two logical and valid reasons: the pool of teams to talk to is vastly deeper, and it sets up a roster to get some serious work done in August and at camp, rather than be torn asunder mid-season.