The Charlotte Bobcats are in Toronto Wednesday night to take on the Raptors and not to sound like someone who is stuck on "coulda, shoulda, woulda," but how good would T.J. Ford look in a Toronto uniform tonight particularly if Jason Richardson doesn't play?

Richardson is recovering from knee surgery so Charlotte coach Larry Brown has been going with the two lightning quick "water bugs" in the backcourt, playing D.J. Augustin and Raymond Felton together. Ford's replacement, Jose Calderon, has had issues keeping his man in front of him his entire career and though his hamstring might not be 100 per cent, he has always had issues stopping dribble penetration. Calderon is seeing more front-line players this season as a starter which is magnifying the problem.

The other issue is Toronto having to work for scores with no easy baskets coming their way regularly. The Raptors are last in the NBA in fastbreak scoring.

- It's interesting that the New York Knicks have decided to approve the deal with the L.A. Clippers in spite of the issues with Cuttino Mobley's health. It would probably be too tough to find another deal that allows them to have the current salary cap flexibility for the 2010 free agent class, a.k.a. the "LeBron and another sweepstakes". But it's not just James that is on the shopping list starting July 1, 2010. Check out this impressive list of potential signees.

- The business side of things has not been lost on LeBron as you read here. Nike will launch their new ad campaign for James tomorrow. Me, I still like the old commercials with the James family (remember young LeBron, wise LeBron, cool LeBron?)

- I can't say I blame Raptor GM Bryan Colangelo in saying the league has to do something about enforcing the tampering rules. If they don't it is going to get crazy out there with teams that have salary cap space sending wink, wink, nudge, nudge messages for the next 19 months. New York will probably be the worst culprit but others are sure to enter into the mix.

- Caron Butler was so upset at the firing of head coach Eddie Jordan in Washington that he didn't speak to the media. But he has moved on, referring to interim head coach Ed Tapscott in the same light as president elect Barack Obama.

- Club basketball and AAU hoops have been great because they give kids a place to play and improve during the off-season, but the negative side is that some feel a sense of entitlement because of people showering them with what at times is unearned praise. There is nothing like the "tell it like it is attitude" of Charles Barkley. I agree with one thing: The NBA has many younger guys that have not yet truly learned how to play because they have come into the league early. It has also hurt the college game as players leave early to go to the NBA.