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We wouldn't bet against Phil Jackson in anything -- he seems like one of those infuriating people who's good at whatever he tries -- but the Raptors seem to be casting against type in their reported pursuit of Jackson as their team president. Jackson's strengths as a coach are well-known, but as a president, he's something of an untested quantity. Pat Riley has found success with the Miami Heat in a similar role, but we'd imagine that Jackson would be far more amenable to simply coaching -- if there's a coaching job for him to take, that is.

• alhakeem34: "I hope Jackson comes to Toronto. We've been waiting for a respectable team in Canada for years."
• dave374000: "Jackson is a credible name, but has no real credibility as a president or GM. He is great at managing great players, but there are no great players in Toronto (and I'm a Raptors' fan). His greatest asset to the Raptors would be attracting real stars ... and Rudy Gay's contract pretty much makes that impossible."
• shibby8199: "Toronto is a great city and deserves to have a good team but when the best player is demar derozen then Phil isn't going to bother"
• CSTRealeven: "It's amazing how many people don't realize how major of a city Toronto is."
• TennyBrendy: "Here's a thought...why doesn't Phil just become the head of USA basketball? He would have the high profile job, plus the opportunity to work with all the games biggest stars. And he could cross off olympic medal from his list."
• robkaos: "I can see Phil taking this job if the right head coaching job doesn't appear. With Colangelo, Leiweke and Jackson you have three upper echelon type minds and Toronto is a nice city. Jerry West worked in Memphis of all places, so I don't think Toronto is beneath Phil."

Join the conversation or respond by signing in or creating a profile and blogging.

Will Phil Jackson coach again in the NBA?

•  
  52%
  Yes
•  
  48%
  No

(Total votes: 23,200)

The Grizzlies, who've been looking to shed payroll without damaging their postseason chances too much, are on the verge of completing a trade that would send Rudy Gay to Toronto, Jose Calderon to Detroit and multiple pieces to Memphis, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Fans were mixed on who got the best of the trade, and whether the 26-year-old Gay was worth the contract that pays him $16.5 million this season.

• nmsadler: "It's funny to watch these people who don't watch the Grizzlies criticize this trade. Just because Rudy is the best on the team in 2k13 doesn't mean he's ACTUALLY the best on the team. He's not. He's a great guy, and he's good...but not the heart fo this team."
• bpete00: "Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani... Quite possibly the most over rated, overpaid, underachieving trio in NBA history. Thanks Colangelo."
• crillbill: "I dont think Memphis was comfortable entering the playoffs as such a high seed. This should help."
• hoopsfreak91: "The Grizzlies will be just fine. Remember when they made a run in the playoffs a few years ago without Gay? Who knows? They might do so again with the assets they've picked up."
• ccgagnon365: "I honestly think the Pistons are winners here. Trade away an expiring player/large contract and a below average SF for Jose Calderon. There will be a second trade coming shortly... "

Some NBA players, including multiple members of the Grizzlies, took to Twitter to react to the big trade.

naaaaawwww b

— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) January 30, 2013

Wow

— Mike Conley (@mconley11) January 30, 2013

WoW. I'm speechless.

— Tony Wroten (@TWroten_LOE) January 30, 2013

Wow that was 1 crazy trade today. Are you serious Rudy Gay is right there under KD, Lebron, Kobe, and Melo. #badtrade

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 30, 2013

Join the conversation or respond by signing in or creating a profile and blogging.

We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)

Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)

Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)

Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)

• Vote: Would Barcelona be a more attractive free-agent destination than Toronto?
• Rank 'Em: Is the NBA sending two of its worst teams to London?

Many of the NBA's best and brightest will gather in London for the 2012 Olympics. Until then, basketball fans in England are stuck with the Nets and Raptors. Twice. Basically, David Stern is offering his equivalent of Justin Bieber as the opening act for for Bob Dylan. At least the Brits still get the Lakers in the preseason.

Stern's announcement that the Raptors and Nets will play two regular-season games in London stokes the fires of European expansion. And how crazy is the idea, really? A flight from Newark to London isn't that much longer than the corresponding flight from Newark to Los Angeles (granted, the time involved gets a little more daunting if you talk about places like Mikhail Prokhorov's town).

Will we someday watch LeBron James announce he's taking his talents to the Riviera?

“

The only stupid decision Stern made was sending 2 games overseas in the first place. At least it's the Raptors and Nets, 2 teams Americans could care less about @ the moment, he got that part right I guess. And at least the games are back to back so the road trip isn't as demanding on the players. Sending the Lakers, Celtics, Heat, Suns, Magic or any other team we love to watch would be a slap in the face to Americans who made the league and game in general what it is today.

” -- xrobologyx

“

Brilliant idea! This will absolutely work because the Brits know nothing of basketball! I mean, we know nothing of soccer and certainly aren't smart enough to figure out when Europe is sending us garbage club teams instead of the real deal.../sarcasm

” -- biiiiiiigbaaaaaabay

• Chat: John Hollinger takes your questions on the NBA playoffs, 12 ET
• Vote: Is John Wall or Evan Turner the ultimate lottery prize?
• More from ESPN.com: NBA Draft Blog breaks down early-entry myths

Playing around with the NBA Lottery Mock Draft gizmo this morning, the Grizzlies came up with the second pick on our first try. We mention this not to justify all the hours we spend on that page (unless it helps) but because the Grizzlies have a 0.6 percent chance of winning the lottery -- slimmer odds than the Raptors face at 0.7 percent.

Despite the disappointment Raptors fans must feel this morning after missing out on the playoffs on the season's final night, should they actually be celebrating?

Sure, we all remember Dikembe Mutombo laying on the floor after his Nuggets stunned the top-seeded Sonics or the Warriors celebrating after knocking off the top-seeded Mavericks, but that's because those things so rarely happen. If you're a Raptors fan, aren't you better off rooting for the ping-pong balls to give you Turner or John Wall than hoping the current Raptors win four games against the Cavaliers?

“

it's like when the cavs needed the raptors to win their final game in 2005 to make the playoffs.....they would have had to play detroit and would have likely gotten swept....the raptors lost, and it saved the cavs the embarassment....this is kind of the same scenario.....raptors got off easy by not having to play the cavs.....the bulls wont have it so easy

” -- nobbomber

“

I really really wanted the Bulls to make the playoffs...not because I thought they had a shot vs. the Cavs, but because I think the fact that they are a "playoff team" with all this money to spend makes them look like a better choice for free agents than all the other teams with lots of money to spend this offseason...

” -- bulls49ersdodgersfan

“

the raptors will have the worst record in the nba next season..bosh isnt coming back.

” -- malcolm3000g

It's just like the census, only this one is fun and doesn't come in the mail. And nobody from FOX News or MSNBC will yell at you about it. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2010 MLB survey
2009 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 1)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (Overall: No. 7)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 16)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 23)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (Overall: No. 24)

Take part in the 2010 NFL survey
2009 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Overall: No. 3)
2. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 14)
4. Tennessee Titans (Overall: No. 15)
5. New England Patriots (Overall: No. 19)

Take part in the 2010 NBA survey
2009 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 5)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 9)
3. New Orleans Hornets (Overall: No. 12)
4. Houston Rockets (Overall: No. 17)
5. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 18)

Take part in the 2010 NHL survey
2009 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Overall: No. 2)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 4)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 6)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 8)
5. St. Louis Blues (Overall: No. 10)

Lakers fans are understandably excited about the new season, and the defending champs are a popular choice to repeat among bloggers in the ESPN.com community.

"I've never been more excited for the opening of any season, any sport," blogs kurtnaphansen. "The combination of being on the heels of the Lakers winning the NBA championship, of all the trash talk from Cavs, Celtics, Magic, Spurs and even Blazers fans, and of a very new interesting development with the addition of Sheed to Boston, Shaq to Cleveland and Artest to LA."

Below are fan blogs and predictions about the season, which tipped off this week. Click through to respond. If you don't already have an ESPN profile, create one now and start blogging.

More fan blogs

Fan pictures

In the immediate aftermath of the team's most recent championship, SportsNation was split as to whether or not the Lakers were favorites to repeat. But when the Cavaliers made their big move, literally, by adding Shaquille O'Neal to the mix, popular support swung in favor of LeBron James' team.

So what impact does Ron Artest have on things? Well, voters still think Artest would fit better alongside LeBron and Shaq, but it's no longer a contest for the top spot.

By a better than 2-to-1 margin, it's the Lakers for two.

And Artest's combustible past aside, voters not only think Dennis Rodman was more of a handful for Phil Jackson; they think a current member of the Lakers is more of a chore.

• It was a relatively quiet long weekend, although Hedo Turkoglu did his best to create some dramatic fireworks. SportsNation isn't buying that Toronto's Turkish community or Turkoglu's comfort level with the Eastern Conference had much to do with his apparent reversal after reaching a verbal agreement to sign with the Blazers. They also aren't convinced pairing Turkoglu with Chris Bosh makes the Raptors a playoff team.

• Vote: Jason Kidd's decision to stay and Rasheed Wallace's relocation
• Groups: LA Laker Haters | Celtic Pride CHAMPIONS! | Portland Trail Blazers Nation

“

Great job hedo you went from playing for an elite team in the east to nearly playing for an up & coming portland squad to playing for a lottery team? The raptors will flirt with .500 at best and hedo can watch the playoffs from his cosmopolitan house enjoying the extra $$$ he has accepted for losing!

” -- bos411

“

well i think the hedo deal was worth it for toranto yeah they have no shot at winning the whole thing but they are trying to put fans in the seats making the playoffs do that and hedo proved he is a playoff performer against the CAVS but when it comes down to it great pick up by the raptors

” -- blackmatt86

• Rank: Put your own spin on the draft by ranking the classes

SportsNation is not impressed with Rodrique Beaubois or Ahmad Nivins. The former is a French point guard and the latter a 6-foot-9 forward from Saint Joseph's who averaged better than 19 points a game as a senior. They're also the only members of the Mavericks' draft class that SportsNation voters ranked behind that of the Magic. The only problem? The Magic didn't make any picks Thursday night. Now that's a tough crowd.

• Draft Winners: Wolves and Spurs. Voters decisively shouted down concerns about the Wolves taking back-to-back point guards, ranking the team's effort behind only that of the Clippers. The Spurs didn't pick until the second round, but landing DeJuan Blair moved them all the way to fourth in SportsNation's rankings.
• The Nation thinks both Rubio and Flynn start; Minnesota not so sure.
• Draft Losers: Nets and Raptors. Fans panned the Nets for taking Terrence Williams. The No. 11 pick netted the team a ranking of No. 20 on the night. That was still better than the Raptors, who turned No. 9 pick DeMar DeRozan into a No. 22 ranking from De-voters. Curiously, neither was viewed as the biggest lottery reach.
• The good news is there may be a team worse than the Nets next season.

“

Rubio is exactly what is wrong with the nba. If a player comes out of the nba with the fancy dribbles and no jump shot, they would diss him as a street baller. I have Yet to see a shooting highlight from mr. rubio. not one jump shot.

” -- doodieoutlaw

“

I guess I'm not as smart as I thought I was. This Blair thing has me puzzled. I remember thinking that the Dorsey kid from Memphis was a stud also. I haven't seen him play in a game yet.

” -- adeeblack

NO. 8: NEW YORK KNICKS
Much as their fans might like them to try, the Knicks can't actually turn in a draft card with LeBron James' name. So while the faithful wait for that saga to play out after next season, the team will have to look for pieces to fit Mike D'Antoni's system. One approach would be the player least like Eddy Curry.

• If Chad Ford's worst-case scenario unfolds, SportsNation says take Flynn.
• Take your own shot at ranking this year's class of point guards.
• Knicks draft conversation | Fan groups: Knicks Fan Club | New York Sport Teams

“

PANIC!!!!!!! HIDE THE BABIES!!!!! SCREAM!!!!! THE T-WOLVES NOW OWN THE 5,6,18 and another pick I think in the 1st round!! If they keep 2 pics in the top 10, then our hopes of landing an impact player at 8 are lost. Walsh must trade Lee and/or Nate for picks amd trade down and get Maynor. Or send Lee and the #8 to TOR or PHO for Bosh or Amare. I'm officially worried now...

” -- SeeWhyDee211

NO. 9 TORONTO RAPTORS
The good news for the Raptors is that with the NHL draft set to get underway Friday, they could draft Rafael Araujo again and nobody in town would notice until at least Monday. Check that; Chris Bosh would notice. And at this point, Bosh is the guy the franchise ought to most intent on pleasing.

• Chris Bosh is not with the Raptors for the long haul.
• Was keeping Jay Triano as coach the right move? Flip a coin.
• Raptors draft conversation | Fan groups: Toronto Raptors

“

Raptors should trade down and draft sam young. NBA ready and very underrated. I think he would be a nice compliment for bosh and bargs.

” -- randall-mike

NO. 10: MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Chad Ford assured SportsNation chatters there was a method to the seeming madness of trading Richard Jefferson for a Champions Tour defender in Bruce Bowen and some warm bodies, but we'll believe it when we see it. Getting somebody to high five Andrew Bogut on the free throw line would be a start.

• Need for point guard trumps center, shooting guard.
• If Rubio, Curry and Evans are gone, Jonny Flynn tops wish list.
• Bucks draft conversation | Fan groups: Milwaukee Bucks Fans | Wisconsin Cheeseheads

“

Anyone else think its a joke that Thabeet is rated so much higher than Blair? Am i the only one that watched Dejuan Blair physically manhandle Thabeet like he was a whiny little boy. I would rather take Blair any day.

” -- DiablosFury2