Up One, Down Another

Philly.com recently reported that Sixers centre Samuel Dalembert could be well on his way toward playing for the Canadian national team. While born in Haiti, Dalembert spent most of his childhood in Montreal and has apparently expressed a desire to officially be a basketball Canadian. The effects for Dalembert are obvious; he gains the ability to play internationally and to represent our fair White North. For the Sixers, it means he could be tired for the upcoming season even if he'll be in awfully good shape. As a rather cynical Canadian basketball fan, I'm inclined to believe that it doesn't do a whole lot to change the FIBA world.

Dalembert's a nice shot-blocking pivot but he doesn't have a varied offensive game. Canada's team needs a lot and a go-to scorer is usually a good place to start. Dalembert's field-goal percentage is great but other than a single baby hook, all he's got are put-backs and dunks. His 0.8 assists per game aren't scaring anyone.

Even so, this would be a great addition if only because Canada's Olympic team is so desperate for talent. Ever since Steve Nash's retirement a few years ago, the team has been virtually devoid of top-echelon players and Dalembert would certainly count as one. In that sense, in the way that he'd be our franchise player, this is definitely a good thing. Too bad Team Canada doesn't have about six or seven more of them.

In other news, career Raptor Morris Peterson has departed for the New Orleans Hornets, where he's slated to start at shooting guard. Despite a lacklustre '06/'07 campaign that saw him average only 8.9 points per game, he inked a deal worth $23 million over four years.

It seems like destiny that Mo should become a Hornet. Three years ago, they tendered him a $15 million, three-year offer sheet that the Raptors matched. The Hornets have had interest in Peterson ever since and they've always seemed to have a hole somewhere on the wing, meaning that Peterson's always been something of a good fit there. He should complement flashy point sensation Chris Paul well.

I think we'll all miss Mo a little and it'll certainly be strange to see him in a different uniform but it's not so sad. We still have Parker and now we have Kapono, both of whom figure to matter more to our plans. Besides, $6 million per, while not necessarily in the Rashard Lewis school of monetary madness, is a little much for him, don't you think?