February 1, 2006

CONSERVATIVE BABCOCK LOSES POWER STRUGGLE WITH FIERY MITCHELL

      It was never an either/or situation but when it came down to it the Raptor organization wanted more passion and fire, as exhibited by coach Sam Mitchell, something they knew they would never see in the mousy former GM.  When CEO Richard Peddie announced that Babcock had been terminated he talked about leadership, and a lack thereof, that the organization felt was not coming out of the GM’s office.  But there was also the cautious demeanour and the hesitant manner that defined Babcock, as well as his inability to communicate properly with those closest to the court.  In the end Babcock was fired because he had reached a point in his tenure, after enduring constant criticism for nearly his entire time in Toronto, where he was deathly afraid to make a mistake.  

       This is an integral time in the history of the Raptor franchise.  It is classified around the league as a dysfunctional organization with very little future, and this flies in the face of their very serious business owners.  A successful basketball team can be even more lucrative than ownership’s primary club, the Maple Leafs, as there is much more money earned in the NBA than in the NHL.  The Raptors, however, have been continent wide whipping boys since Babcock assumed the leadership role.  It was the drafting of Rafael Araujo with the eighth choice in the 2004 draft and the signing of Rafer Alston to a monstrous long-term contract shortly thereafter that first elicited the howls of derisions from fans and critics alike.  But when Babcock gave away the team’s best player he effectively created irrefutable harm to the franchise, harm from which the Raptors have yet to recover. 

      Following the harsh criticism he received for the Carter debacle Babcock proceeded to cave in to Alonzo Mourning’s demands, though the $10 million gift could not have been given without ownership’s approval.  Mourning immediately took the money and ran to Miami where he has been a positive force on the court, proving once and for all that the serious injury stance that prevented him from reporting to Toronto was a gigantic, selfish hoax.  Babcock was immediately perceived at being taken—again.  Then, at last season’s trade deadline, when several teams lined up with offers for free agent to be Donyell Marshall Babcock, not wanting to endure more criticism, couldn’t pull the trigger.  In the end the Raptors received absolutely nothing when Marshall walked away at season’s end.

       Though he has had a much better season this year—the drafting of Villenueva and Graham, the signing of Calderon and the trade of Alston for Mike James it became apparent that those moves were not born of any form of genius.  Villenueva was the only big man on the draft board willing to come to Toronto (a situation that certainly aggravates anyone associated with the franchise) and Graham was the logical pick at sixteen.  Calderon was brought here because the GM couldn’t lose face when he had his personal choice for point guard—draftee Roko Ukic—sign with a Spanish club and had to look for another option (Chris Duhon, after being signed to an offer sheet, was matched by Chicago).  The James trade looks more and more like one that was created out of Houston, than one that came from Toronto.

       The future may not be now as far as success on the court is concerned, but it is certainly now in the creation for future success.  With the trade deadline around the corner and some minor assets ready and willing to be moved the organization did not trust Babcock either to make a move, or to make the right move.  They also saw that Babcock was not making the proper use of his scouting staff—preferring to either scout players himself or to query his former failed GM of a brother for his opinion.  He also failed to solidify the coaching staff bringing in former Purdue coach Gene Keady only after the season had already begun.  He also failed to bring in a coach to work with his young big men, someone like Clifford Ray, insisting that his present staff could accomplish the same goals.  As his tenure went on Babcock became more and more intrusive, trusting nobody and releasing very little information—even to his staff.  The communication between the GM and his coaches, while forever strained, had effectively ended.

       Mitchell had long ago realized that he did not have an ally in Babcock.  Mitchell also realized that he did have one in Wayne Embry and when Embry was promoted from Babcock’s consultant to Peddie’s consultant the writing was definitely on the wall.  Mitchell and Embry were in constant discussion regarding the fortunes of the club, and Embry and Peddie would meet as well—meanwhile the club’s GM was on the outside looking in on these conversations.  When the Raptor’s board of directors realized that Babcock’s role was becoming less important they queried Peddie as to what exactly the GM was doing.  When Peddie couldn’t answer the question they agreed that he should be terminated. 

       Now before Babcock is termed a complete failure I want to list a few positive things he brought to the Raptors.  First and foremost he brought Embry.  This organization has never had a basketball man at the top—they always had Peddie listed as president even though as a self-proclaimed businessman he is more of the organization’s CEO and knows very little about the sport.  Embry can now take control of the basketball club.  He is a hall of famer, widely respected throughout the league, and an accomplished NBA executive who is perfectly suited to being the point man for this club.  He will take over as GM through the end of this season, and afterward he will be the foremost decision maker and will lead the search for a permanent replacement.  In the end Embry will take on the President’s role and be the advisor to both the new GM and coach Mitchell.  Hopefully, this will finally end Peddie’s input into the basketball side of the organization, for that has been a monumental failure

       Babcock also realized that the only way the Raptors would be successful was through a complete rebuilding program, and he stuck to that plan even when being berated from all sides.  The club now has some quality parts and if the right decisions are made from here on in then the Raptors can slowly start the climb up the NBA ladder.

       In the end perhaps Babcock was the wrong man.  Peddie went though a search a little more than a year and a half ago—a search that not only netted them Babcock but forever alienated Carter from the franchise.  Peddie conceived that Babcock had come from a successful Minnesota organization, but the Wolves are famous for their secretive deal with Joe Smith that cost them five first round draft choices (if Smith were traded today he wouldn’t even net one).  The Wolves also were unable to find the pieces needed to surround superstar Kevin Garnett—except one season when Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell were brought in—and now there are major concerns that the Wolves organization needs to make a change in the front office.  Peddie’s choices have not been good ones and it is time for someone else to make those choices. 

      Stay away from the basketball team Richard—Raptor fans beg of you.  We are tired of enduring the carousel of people you keep shuffling through town.  Stay with your business side, and keep the sporting side to those who are capable.