Moving the Matrix

By Pedro Souza

This was not really intended to be a post or anything, just something that I can’t keep off my mind: the Shawn Marion trade demand.

While Marion is the perfect fit for the Suns and they’ll never get what they need because he’s also possibly one of the most untradeable players in the league since he’s essentially an All-Star role player. Who else can clean the boards, defend several positions and hit threes?

The Suns could get seriously screwed over by dealing Marion.

Despite all the positives he brings to a team you wouldn’t want to build your franchise around him because he’s got a massive contract and he’s only really suitable for teams that are already contenders.

That being said, Steve Nash is nearing the tail-end of his prime and their Championship window is closing on them but there’s no way they can win the whole enchilada with such chemistry issues as posed by Marion’s complaining.

So, what should the Suns do?

On the one hand, the Suns are in a dire need of big men or any kind of roster depth. Pundits dismiss the Celtics’ chances on account of their thin bench, but Phoenix only has seven NBA-worthy players (and very good ones at that). Considering that one of them is the notoriously injury-prone Grant Hill, Steve Nash has chronic back problems, Amare came back from microfracture surgery just one year ago and Boris Diaw dipped into mediocrity last season I’d say they need some insurance. Trading Marion for a couple of reliable, dependable guys could be one way out.

Where does that lead them? Well, I cranked up the ESPN Trade Machine and played with a few trade scenarios.

The High Risk Tickin’ Time Bomb Scenario
PHOENIX sends Shawn Marion ($16.4m) and Eric Piatkowski ($1.2m) to SACRAMENTO
SACRAMENTO sends Ron Artest ($7.4m), Shareef Abdur-Rahim ($5.8m) and John Salmons ($4.7m) to PHOENIX

For Phoenix: It all boils down to Artest. He’s a loony, but he can play ball. He’s a top defender, a good rebounder (6.5 rebounds per game last season) and can play above the rim and shoot threes (last season he had a better three point percentage than Marion). Maybe playing alongside Steve Nash will keep Artest sane and happy for a while. Perhaps Amare’s alpha dog personality will intimidate him a bit. Who knows? But it could work: Artest’s a lot like Marion in several aspects and earns a lot less. That’d make room for John Salmons and Shareef Abdur-Rahim to bolster the Suns’ bench. Shareef has a big body and can come off the bench, nab a couple of rebounds and score a bit. Salmons is a decent three-point shooter and can bring some defense to the mix. The downside of this deal is that all three have contracts with at least three years left. But the Suns are looking to win now, right? They can’t keep selling draft picks and giving away their big men for free.

For Sacramento: Artest and Mike Bibby have an on-going feud and it’s getting increasingly difficult to move Bibby. Also, they need to make room for the emergence of Kevin Martin so adding a selfless player like Marion will help. With Brad Miller on the downswing of his career, they desperately need a rebounder. Besides, Marion is young enough to stay around for a few more years and lead the team in their post-Bibby and post-Miller era. Piatkowski is a throw-in who’s in the last year of his contract.

The Obvious Choice
PHOENIX sends Marion ($16.4m) to UTAH
UTAH sends Kirilenko ($13.7m) to PHOENIX

For Phoenix: Kirilenko saves them money this season (but costs more in the long run) and has similar traits to Marion. He’s a tenacious defender, good rebounder, knows how to score, can steal and dish some important assists. As Bill Simmons points out, he could very well thrive on a free-flowing Phoenix offense.

For Utah: Kirilenko wants out because he’s firmly in Sloan’s doghouse. Millsap-Marion-Boozer would dominate the boards. The only downside I see in this is the following: Marion was tired of being the third banana in the Suns, but a move to the Jazz would mean he’d become the team’s fourth scoring option. He doesn’t shoot as well as Okur, doesn’t slash as well as Williams and has no post moves like Boozer. Could he be happy in such a setting?

The Let’s Hope He Doesn’t Get Injured Again Scenario
PHOENIX sends Marion ($16.4m) and Eric Piatkowski ($1.2m) to LAKERS
LAKERS sends Lamar Odom ($13.2m) and Vladimir Radmanovic ($5.6m) to PHOENIX

For Phoenix: Odom is very similar to Marion, except not as durable and not as good a long-range shooter (and probably an inferior defender too, but, hey, you can’t have it all). Alas, bring in V-Rad, who fell out of favor with Phil Jackson and was even called a ’space cadet’. Phoenix would be able to keep their playing style and would increase their roster’s depth. Playing alongside Nash I feel both Odom and V-Rad could post big numbers. Besides, Phoenix’s second unit would feature Barbosa, Boris Diaw and Radmanovic, which would make it pretty strong. Sure, both Odom’s and Radmanovic’s health would be a concern…

For Lakers: Maybe this is the kind of deal that would appease Kobe. Also, Marion would bring some hustle and some much needed defense. Besides, with Luke Walton looking good and Andrew Bynum progressing along, they don’t really need Radmanovic.

The Let’s Try it Differently This Time Scenario
PHOENIX sends Marion ($16.4m) to MIAMI
MIAMI sends Udonis Haslem ($6m) and Jason Williams ($8.9m) to PHOENIX

For Phoenix: They’d have to change their playing style a bit, I guess, since Udonis Haslem is hardly a multi-task three-point-shooting kind of guy, but he’s a hard-nosed player with a knack for playing tough defense and snagging rebounds which would help hide Amare Stoudemire when Tim Duncan struts towards Phoenix’s paint. He’s not the great defender and smart player that Marion is but he is big and could be of enormous help. Also, Jason Williams’ flamboyant playing style just reeks of Phoenix, dosen’t it? He has a fat expiring deal so if they’re unhappy with him they could use that as a trade-bait later on. Phoenix would save some money this season too. He could be the back-up point guard Phoenix so desperately needs to give Nash a good rest during the season, though his health and durability is dubious to say the best.

For Miami: Marion could mean giving less minutes to Antoine Walker and that would be a good thing. With Udonis out, they’d need Shaq to actually put in some effort during the regular season but I think that might be possible. A trio of Wade-Marion-Shaq could be pretty damn good on both ends of the court. They don’t need a PG too badly either since Wade commands most of offensive possessions. It’d increase their pay roll, even though Pat Riley wouldn’t mind it too much as he tries to erase last year’s humiliating blunder from the fans’ memories.

The Possible Heist
PHOENIX sends Marion ($ 16.4m) to NEW JERSEY
NEW JERSEY sends Richard Jefferson ($12.2m) and Nenad Krstic ($1.8m) to PHOENIX

For Phoenix: They’d get two possible starters for one. Both Jefferson and Krstic have looming injury concerns but Jefferson is a talented scorer who can hit threes and would thrive under Mike D’Antoni. Nenad Krstic is a young, still-developing center who’d significantly improve their front court. Defense would obviously be a problem as neither guy is much of a rebounder though. Considering that Krstic is in a contract year and was coming along nicely last season, it could work out marvelously for the Suns if both remain healthy, especially if Amare improves on D.

For New Jersey: They re-signed Vince Carter and kept Jason Kidd which means they’re looking to win now. Jefferson duplicates to a certain extent Carter’s playing style, hanging on the perimeter and nailing jump shots so they could use someone completely different. What about playing Marion at the 4 and enjoying his defense and rebounds? With former All-Star Jamal Magloire as center to make up for Marion’s lack of height, that would be a very interesting frontcourt, at least when it comes to D and rebounds.

Well, that’s it. I thought about other possibilities (Marion for Caron Butler and Antonio Daniels, for instance) and I was really bummed that I couldn’t envision a scenario that’d put Rasheed Wallace in Phoenix where he belongs (he’d really add some toughness to the Suns and his out-of-control personality could fit well with their style), but all in all I think all the above scenarios are realistic to a certain extent.

I was afraid of being biased towards the Suns but I think it’s fairly balanced. If it were up to me I’d try the Ron Artest option, after all who cares if it implodes after a couple of seasons if they win the Larry O’Brien in the process? Nash’s career is nearing its end and Phoenix will probably struggle mightily after he goes so a break-the-bank all-or-nothing approach could be their best move. Besides, it would also bolster their roster significantly and that shouldn’t be overlooked.

It’s also a shame that the Warriors dealt Jason Richardson recently. I assume a Jason Richardson and Matt Barnes combo could be somewhat enticing to the Suns. Barnes is the poor man’s Marion and Richardson is the kind of high-flying uber-athletic swingman that would look wonderful alongside Nash.

Oh well…

Scottie Pippen and the Comeback Kids

It was announced on Thursday that former Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen is close to signing a two game contract with a professional basketball team – in Finland.

The news comes just months after the 41-year-old former NBA superstar attempted to relaunch his career with the Los Angeles Lakers in time for the 2007 playoffs.

Ridiculous? Yes, but it’s not uncommon.

This summer, Indiana Pacers fans found themselves cringing upon hearing the news that their own beloved Reggie Miller was eyeing a comeback with the Boston Celtics. Or were those Celtics fans cringing at the thought of the 42-year-old Miller trying to keep up with the Dwyane Wades and Carmelo Anthonys of the modern league?

And we can’t forget the futile attempts of, both the 46-year-old Dennis Rodman, and Shawn Kemp. The same Kemp, who, at age 37 may seem like the baby in the group, is in the worst shape of them all.

What is it that makes these players insist that they’ve still got something left in the tank? Maybe, just maybe, they’ve kept their bodies in good enough condition to run around for a few minutes every night, but at what point is it worth jeopardizing an established legacy just to show they can still play the game they had originally left for a reason.

I’ll admit, whenever I hear of a player I grew up idolizing contemplating returning to the game I get mixed feelings.

Ten years ago I wouldn’t have cared if a retired All-Star decided to dust off his kicks and rejoin the league, and in another 10 years I’ll probably crap myself if I hear of a player doing the same. But now, I’m somewhere in between.

The reason for my indecision, I believe, is this. Ten years ago, at age 10, I was just beginning to warm up to the idea of obsessing over the sport for the rest of my life. When retired legend, Dominique Wilkins, decided to return with the San Antonio Spurs, and then again with the Orlando Magic a few years later, I didn’t really know what to expect. While Wilkins was entering his prime in the mid-80s, I was leaving my mother’s womb, and while Wilkins was leaving the league in the mid-90s, I was entering my prime as a sports fan.

I had no memories of the man, and thus no emotional investment in whether his comeback was a success or complete flameout.

In another ten years, when players like Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and Tim Duncan have since retired, I guarantee we’ll hear them or their peers, mulling over the option of signing with a playoff team for cheap, hoping for one last chance at glory.

And I imagine, having watched this current crop of athletes since the beginning of their careers, that I’ll cross my fingers and hope it never happens. Pray it never happens, because that way their legacies, the ones they’ve been forming in my mind and yours, won’t be jeopardized.

But with that established it only leaves more grey area regarding the generation of players currently going through retirement boredom, the Pippens, and the Millers.

Scottie, Reggie, Shawn Kemp and Dennis Rodman are all players whom I am familiar with, but lack a full appreciation for. Since they were already in, or past, their primes when I discovered the sport, I don’t have the attachment to them that I do to Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tracy McGrady, all of whom are players I have watched, loved, and adored since I could stay up past eight o’clock to watch a game on TV.

I imagine that my father, or any sports fan lucky enough to watch Scottie Pippen from the beginning of his career to the end, is hoping that Pippen opts to relax, take up the sport of golf, and never set foot on a basketball court again. And imagine that my little cousin couldn’t care less.

But as for me? I’m going to cross my fingers and hope to find a cable network that televises Finnish basketball.

Just one more glimpse of a player I never got enough of.

Grassroots

In any kind of fan-based medium, there are always different entry points into the particular obsession. Star Trek fans usually got into the whole series with either the original or the Next Generation series. Blue Jays fans largely got into the sport during the teams magnificent runs in the late 80’s leading up to the World Series championship. A whole new generation of Leafs fans started enjoying hockey when Doug Gilmour led the buds against the LA Kings so many years ago.

How about the Raptors?

The vast majority of fans got into the sport during the Vince Carter era. His exciting dunks, along with the incredible athleticism of his cousin T-Mac, and the wild antics of one Charles Oakley aroused the curiosity of a city to the wonderful sport of basketball. In subsequent years, that interest would dwindle due to a lack of success, but I remember getting people to watch basketball in University. I wasn’t alone when I saw Vince Carter pull off his dunks at that faithful All Star Game, and definitely converted more than a few to the Raptors’ purple during those years.

However, the times have changed. The Raptors are now red, the west wing is undergoing major construction and Chris Bosh has become the face of the franchise. Season ticket renewals are up but many would have you believe that basketball’s growth in this country is stagnant. TV viewership has been consistent, but unspectacular, and those in the Leafs nation frequently tend to point out that basketball is just a niche sport. However, like the years I spent in University, people don’t seem to understand where the majority of growth is – with the youth of Canada.

Nevertheless, people like Craig Wilson have become recent converts. Craig, a 25-year old graduate student at McMaster University, recently discovered the joys of being a Raptors fan.

“I only really started following the team a third of the way through the season, when Chris Bosh came down with his injury and the team had to play through it,” Craig told me in a recent interview. “I missed the 2-8 start, but overall I thought the team did extremely well.”

Craig, a native of Oakville, hasn’t had an easy time being a Raptors fan in a surrounding suburb.

“My circle of friends in Oakville isn’t really too keen on basketball” he lamented. “Some are better than others, but at best, it’s not something the population at large takes a large interest in. Even my Dad doesn’t like the game.”

His experience is far from uncommon. Although a lot of youth are starting to open up to the game, the older generation seldom gets excited. Many of them grew up in the golden days of the Hockey era, so they can be forgiven for their enthusiasm for the #1 sport in the country. However, like any kind of fanbase, it usually takes time for individuals to find each other and become a mob.

“I did go to a Raptors game back in my first year of undergrad, so 2000/2001,” Craig recalled. “One of my friends at the time was a fan, so we went. I wasn’t terribly impressed then, to be honest. I did follow them a bit during the Vince era, when they had their first playoff runs.”

Craig didn’t turn into a true fan until he reached college. Thanks to the influence of some of his Toronto friends, he became a more frequent basketball fan. From there, be went on to try and get other others into basketball, but was often met with resistance.

His friends often would talk about how the game “lacked defense” or how “scoring doesn’t matter”, and how “scoring only matters in the last minutes of the game,” although Craig has found other ways to entice some of his other friends into the game.

Craig told me, “The team plays a style that’s conducive, I think, to bringing in non-basketball fans; fast, and offense-oriented.”

And if all else fails?

“Use the attractive Italian parts of the team to woo potential female Italian fans,” laughs Craig.

First Day as a Fantasy Major

Diary of a student’s first day in pursuit of a Fantasy Basketball degree.

10:00 – My first class is taught by the head of the department, Prof. Loomer. He tells us about himself. Should I be taking notes?

10:30 – Prof. Loomer lists the traits of successful fantasy gurus:
“… trust yourself …”
That’s me.
“… think outside the box …”
Me.
“… create opportunities if they are not perceived to be there …”
Me also.
“… You may need to start out offering your services for free …”
Um, I’ll get back to you on that.

10:48 – Prof. Loomer lays down some cardboard and performs his breakdance routine. Eat your heart out, Mr. Schneebly!

11:00 – At the library to copy Prof. Loomer’s recommended reading. This’ll take a while…

12:26 – Food fight at the cafeteria. My eye! I’m not supposed to get pudding in it!

1:30 – Regained my sight just as Prof. Kettner puts up his Shooting Guard Rankings.

2:00 – Our TA gives us a take-home test, due at the end of the week. At least it’s multiple choice, and top marks get you a FREE Rotowire subscription. Only 30 openings left!

3:15 – Got lost on my way to Prof. Velasco’s Theory of Draft Positioning. Arrived in time to write down why Gerald Wallace is like a gassy Scarlett Johansson.

4:04 – Prof. Nels hands out a copy of his Mock Draft Round Up. I have to memorize this?!

5:17 – Back in my dorm room, in the fetal position. When will it be summer again?

Peterson Ready For The Big Easy

Hoopsworld is currently lacking a beat writer for the New Orelans Hornets so I was asked to write a column for them on Morris Peterson and what he’ll bring to the team this season. I’ve been a longtime Mo Pete fan and I felt this was the perfect way to say goodbye to one of my favourite Raptors and wish him good luck this season in N’Awlins.

Click here to read “Peterson Ready For The Big Easy.”

Will The Real Juan Dixon Please Stand Up?

My latest article for Hoopsworld is now online and it’s about Juan Dixon’s roller coaster ride late last season. When he arrived in Toronto he captured my attention because of the scoring spark he provided off the bench but a late season wrist injury resulted in him only averaging 3.0 points per game in the playoffs. Which Dixon will Raptors fans see this season? Personally, I feel it’s the one we witnessed in March but the team has a lot of depth at the shooting guard position so it will be interesting to see what happens in training camp.

Click here to read my article “Will The Real Juan Dixon Please Stand Up.”

Interview with NBA.com Fantasy Guru Jon Loomer

As part of my continuing series of interviews with New Jersey-based NBA-related people, I present NBA.com’s Fantasy Games Manager, Jon Loomer.

Jon chatted with me about a number of things, including:

• What he does at NBA.com/Fantasy
• His career path
• His skills on the dance floor
• How to get a job in fantasy sports
• What Samuel L. Jackson is really like
• Predictions for the Raptors’ upcoming season

HoopsAddict.com: Could you describe your typical day as NBA.com’s Fantasy Games Manager?

Loomer: There is no typical day on this job, which is one of the many reasons I love the gig. My generic response is that I oversee NBA.com/fantasy. This includes game development, content, stats, partnerships, promotions, advertising, and drinking coffee. You name it, I have my hand in it (even the coffee). I spend much of my day in planning meetings, on the phone with partners, or on the internet — work-related surfing only, of course. We recently wrapped up the NBA.com Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide (on shelves October 2), and we are now in the process of polishing up the Ultimate Fantasy Commissioner (leagues are open!) and finalizing launch details on game and content offerings for this season. Premier Fantasy Championship, NBA Cares Celebrity Fantasy League, new content partner to name a few. [Ed.'s note: See Jon's first promo of the revamped Ultimate Fantasy Commissioner here.]

This is no newsflash, but it’s incredibly rewarding to do what you love. The great thing about the gig is the control over my product. We brainstorm around here over fantasy content, tools and games on a regular basis. It’s great to be able to say, “You know what would be awesome?….” and do something about it. I fully appreciate that what I do is a “fantasy” job, and I don’t take a minute of it for granted.

HoopsAddict.com: What was your plan coming out of high school? What field of work were you aiming for?

Loomer: Most people I knew coming out of high school didn’t have much of a plan, and those who did have a plan inevitably changed it during their four (seven for some) years in college. For everyone out there graduating from high school who doesn’t know what they want to do, relax. It will be ok. Figure out what makes you happy, and everything will work itself out.

I grew up a huge Wisconsin sports fan, focusing much of my childhood energy on the Brewers, Bucks and Packers. The only things that I knew coming out of high school were that I 1) had a passion for sports, 2) could breakdance with the best of ‘em, and 3) enjoyed writing. The breakdancing thing wasn’t going anywhere, especially in the ’90s, so I had to find a way to combine writing with my love for sports. Some of my days growing up were spent in Michigan, and I idolized Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press. Yeah, seems strange that a kid would idolize a sports writer. Maybe that was a stretch. Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Cecil Cooper, Paul Mokeski and then Mitch Albom.

And the fact that I went to a liberal arts college without a journalism major only emphasizes how I really had no idea what I wanted to do. At that point in time, it never struck me that someone could ever do what I am currently doing for a living. Never mind that the Internet was not yet invented (man, how old am I??). The option simply wasn’t fathomable.

HoopsAddict.com: I didn’t have a clue either coming out of high school. So what did you do coming out of college?

Loomer: I wasn’t any more sure about what I wanted to do coming out of college, to be honest with you — outside of knowing that I wanted money overflowing from my pockets (although that would be a waste). I majored in Philosophy with an English concentration, which prepared me for everything and nothing at the same time. I graduated college with good writing and life skills, but no specific place to utilize them. I still had those breakdancing moves, but after college they are only useful at weddings. Most people refuse to pay for that entertainment. I had thoughts of being a teacher (grade school level or Philosophy professor) and even took some courses to head in that direction. When I got married, however, my wife reminded me that we needed to pay the bills, so I took the first reasonable job available. That happened to be in insurance. Exciting, I know. From the beginning, I saw it as a temporary endeavor. Of course, temporary became six years until this NBA gig came around. Thank you, NBA, for saving my life.

HoopsAddict.com: What led you to fantasy basketball and the NBA?

Loomer: My dad was a mathematics and computer science professor, so I’ve always had a solid background in math and statistics. Everything was a statistic or some question about probability with my dad growing up. As annoyed as I was (“The probability that you would choose that pair of underwear was 1,560 to 1!”), it set a very good foundation.

Even before I started playing fantasy sports, I was playing fantasy in my head. My brother and I played Strat-O-Matic and MicroLeague Baseball, and I was addicted to collecting and trading baseball cards. Serious addiction. And when you think about baseball card trading, it’s very similar to fantasy sports. Analysis of talent, buy low, sell high. Fantasy sports didn’t actually find me until I finally played fantasy basketball back in the mid-’90s. I was hooked ever since. Once I found myself in the uncomfortable world of insurance, I quickly decided I needed to use my fantasy skills to find a way out. It was a ridiculous dream, and one I am still surprised was realized. I started out by writing for some other sites before starting my own. Amazingly enough, I actually got out of the fantasy industry altogether in 2004. A year later, I started writing some sports editorials that got my name back in the game. Just as I hit that “no going back” career crossroads, the NBA job opened. One thing led to another, and the next thing you know I’m packing my family up for beautiful New Jersey. Many thanks to the wife.

HoopsAddict.com: Your career path reminds me of my own. I’m currently at the unrelated-field-plus-writing part.

Loomer: My guess is that most people take a similar path into fantasy sports. Go to school for one thing. Start a career completely unrelated. After some time of dissatisfaction, we turn to fantasy sports as an outlet, and potentially as a career savior. Colleges don’t yet have a Fantasy Sports major, as far as I know. They should so that those interested could take a more direct route going forward. If that happens, maybe I’ll go back to teaching (Fantasy Sports Professor).

HoopsAddict.com: What were the top three things you learned along the way that equipped you for your job?

Loomer: The first would be to trust yourself. It’s easy to read someone’s article telling you to take Paul Mokeski in the first round, but when your pick is up and Paul is still on the board, what matters most is what you think. Many of the experts out there are no more equipped to make a decision than you are (this applies to all walks of life). While collecting thoughts from different people is always helpful when forming an opinion, you inevitably will take responsibility for your picks. Trust your gut — in the end, a successful season (career, life, etc.) is much more rewarding when you put thought into your decisions instead of copying off of the guy’s paper next to you. This helps me now as I am ignorant to what other “experts” think. I trust myself.

The second is to think outside the box. Popular opinions often lead to failure, and you will be ridiculed for not thinking mainstream. Whether it’s your fantasy team, interaction with friends, or your career, it’s important to think about things in new and different ways and stand firm in your findings. Use statistics in new ways, question what is accepted fact, challenge authority. I guess this is a variation of the first in some ways, but hang with me.

I also learned to create opportunities if they are not perceived to be there. You can’t sit around waiting for something to happen. That helped me get this job, but it also helps as we continue to develop new games and content on NBA.com.

HoopsAddict.com: For the fantasy fans who want a job in your field, what advice would you give? What skills do you need?

Loomer: There are many jobs in fantasy, so your skills should be specific to your career path. There are always computer jobs — programming, designing, statistics. And if you can do all of these things, why not partner with someone to start your own site? If you enjoy writing, you can do anything from writing weekly articles to updating player news for fantasy sites. If you’re a businessman or investor, take a good idea and make a million bucks with it. In the end, focus on your skills. If you can’t write, don’t try to be a writer. If you aren’t business savvy, don’t start a company.

For anyone in high school or freshly out of college who wants to get into fantasy, I’d suggest that you contact your favorite fantasy websites and offer to write for them. Don’t expect much. You may be lucky to write articles, but you may only be able to update player news and depth charts. Start somewhere. And it should be a site you enjoy, otherwise you won’t enjoy the grunt work. The grunt work I did back in the day helped prepare me for much of what I do now. Like anything, let your strengths work for you. Also, don’t expect to get rich. You may need to start out offering your services for free.

HoopsAddict.com: Can you put in a good word for me at NBA.com?

Loomer: Sure, I’ll tell Jon Loomer all about you.

HoopsAddict.com: Thanks! Changing gears now … Have you met any celebrities (NBA or otherwise) through this job — for instance, through the Celebrity Fantasy League? Or Carmelo calls and complains that you ranked him too low? I know Gilbert Arenas cares about his fantasy rank.

Loomer: Everyone wants to know. In my regular day-to-day activities, I’m talking to the famous Rob Peterson and Dave McMenamin of NBA.com. What, never heard of them? Hmmm….

I’ve encountered a few celebrities and players through this job, but I’m not as closely involved with players on a day-to-day basis as the features writers are (i.e., Peterson and Dave Mac). I did work All-Star weekend this past season as a writer, so I interviewed players as well as celebrities during that time. The Celebrity League does give me some contact with celebs as well. One of the highlights of this job was talking Samuel L. Jackson through last season’s Celebrity Fantasy League draft. Yes, he is the exact same person you’d expect him to be.

HoopsAddict.com: Is it true that Samuel L. is a Raptors fan?

Loomer: My understanding is that Sam is a Raptors fan, but we didn’t talk about it. The majority of the call was spent talking about what players were available and ripping on picks made by George Lopez. If you’re wondering, I had virtually no say in his draft. I made recommendations, but he regularly ignored them (although I wish he would have ignored my suggestion to wait on Mike Miller). Of course, if his team was successful, I’d take full credit.

HoopsAddict.com: Do you think fantasy affects fans’ perception of players?

Loomer: Absolutely. Without fantasy, Shawn Marion is a very good player, but not a superstar. In the eyes of the general public, he is the third best player on the Suns. If you’re a fantasy player, you see things differently. At worst, he is the equal of Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, at least in fantasy terms. A good argument can be made that he is more valuable than either player to your fantasy team. On the flip side, we in the fantasy community tend to devalue players who are otherwise seen as superstars by the media and non-fantasy playing population, particularly if their main forte is scoring (or if they can’t make free throws). In the end, fantasy basketball helps us appreciate stats other than points, and in the process helps us appreciate players who don’t otherwise get their due. I think that it ultimately helps form new rules for how media and the general basketball-viewing public will value players.

HoopsAddict.com: Raptors fans would never forgive me if I didn’t ask you: How far into the playoffs do you think the Raps will go this year?

Loomer: Toronto has a nice team. Although they didn’t make any major moves, they will get better naturally with the growth of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. The addition of Kapono will help open the floor for Bosh, which can only be a good thing. I have concerns about the center position, but at least they are playing in the East. The health of TJ Ford is important, but Calderon is a very capable replacement. It’s a deep roster, and you need depth to go deep into the Playoffs (that was a deep comment). I see no reason why they couldn’t make it to the second round this season.

HoopsAddict.com: I collaborated on a post recently about the Raptors’ injury potential and didn’t mention Ford. Do you think Ford is injury prone?

Loomer: I wouldn’t say that Ford is injury prone. I just see him as a player who has serious injury potential. The neck injury may be behind him, but it’s this type of catastrophic injury that concerns me about a player his size who attacks the basket without fear. He’s a warrior, but that approach can also work against him.

HoopsAddict.com: Who is your fantasy sleeper on this Toronto roster?

Loomer: Depends on what you call a “sleeper.” Andrea Bargnani should have a nice season, improving on the last, but it’s not exactly out of nowhere. Jason Kapono is going too late in most drafts. Particularly if you need three-pointers, he has to be drafted. Jose Calderon is a nice deep sleeper in the event Ford goes down.

HoopsAddict.com: You replied to my email at 10 AM on a Saturday morning. What kind of hours do you keep?

Loomer: It’s funny. I used to keep track of my hours before taking this job (“I’m exhausted, I’ve worked 52 1/2 hours this week”). I’m sure my wife keeps track, but it’s all a part of the daily fabric of my life now. I go into the office Monday through Friday, but the job doesn’t stop there. Since we have a very strong international audience, people read our content, play our games, and use our stats 24 hours a day. Because of that I need to check in regularly to make sure everything is working and updated properly. This doesn’t mean that I’m up at 3 AM every night, but I do occasionally “work” some late nights. When I’m home, the laptop is always on (even if I’m away from it), and when I’m out of the house the Blackberry is always on me. On one hand, you can say that I’m working 80% of my waking hours, seven days of the week. On the other, I hardly see it as work. It’s challenging and exhausting at times, but incredibly rewarding. It also helps keeping things into perspective by reminding myself: “I work for the NBA. My job revolves around fantasy sports. I am not working in insurance.” It’s easy to keep a smile on my face.

Thanks again to Jon for the interview. Be sure to check out his Pre-Season Blog on NBA.com.