Raptors Trade Rumors

" This is by no means a dump Calderon campaign, but the fact remains that Calderon is more coveted around the NBA than Ford. Calderon is a piece the Raptors must explore in trade scenarios to fill the many holes exposed this past season. Calderon might even fetch that 20-point-a-night player to complement Bosh. One thing is certain -- Ford won't. "

"Toronto President Bryan Colangelo ran off to scout in Spain this weekend, insisting that Sam Mitchell will coach the Raptors next season. Mitchell has been mentioned as a candidate for the Knicks' coaching job because of his ties to team president Donnie Walsh. "

"Avery Johnson's name has been added to the Knicks' ever-growing list of coaching candidates. A source close to Donnie Walsh said the Knicks' president is targeting several head coaches and assistant coaches of playoff teams to interview but that he will not make contact with any of them until their respective seasons end. Johnson, though, became available yesterday, when he was fired less than 24 hours after the Dallas Mavericks were eliminated by New Orleans in five games. "

"This is what Knick president Donnie Walsh was waiting for. The Knick coaching search revved up yesterday as Dallas fired Avery Johnson and the Suns reportedly planned to ax Mike D'Antoni. The developments gave lead candidate Mark Jackson serious competition, with Walsh interested in talking to Johnson and D'Antoni, if the latter becomes available, according to sources. The news justifies Walsh's decision not to rush into hiring Jackson, with three Coach of the Year winners, including Raptor coach Sam Mitchell, possibly on the market, too. "

"Avery Johnson was fired by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, and Mike D’Antoni clung loosely to his job in Phoenix — their fates underscoring that success is no guarantee of security for N.B.A. head coaches. The Mavericks fired Johnson a day after his team was eliminated from the playoffs by the New Orleans Hornets. The Suns also lost their first-round series, to the San Antonio Spurs, amid widespread reports that D’Antoni would be replaced."

"With two years and $8.5 million left on his contract, D'Antoni is unlikely to be fired. If he returns, it could be with concessions to change. But there is also the possibility that he leaves of his own accord, especially with a perceived lack of support - and interest from New York and Chicago, both of which have vacancies. There is also the chance Toronto President Bryan Colangelo fires Sam Mitchell to hire the coach he brought to Phoenix from Italy."

"Yesterday, Mitchell was asked about speculation about his job security and the possibility that if Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, a Colangelo favourite, were to come available in the wake of a Suns first-round ouster, would the domino effect be felt in Toronto?"

"T.J. Ford made it clear he isn't happy to be job-sharing with Jose Calderon at point guard. He concedes Calderon “is probably a starting guard in the league,” but Ford wants the Toronto job."

" Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo gave his head coach, Sam Mitchell, a resounding endorsement yesterday. Sort of. Rumours have been blowing hard the past few weeks that if the Raptors lost in the first round of playoffs to the Orlando Magic -- which they did -- Mitchell would get fired in the off-season. "

" The Raptors are doomed to years of Leafesque mediocrity unless general manager Bryan Colangelo makes a daring move or two in the off-season. And one of those moves has to involve Andrea Bargnani. The Raptors either have to trade the big Italian and get something valuable in return, which would be difficult given his rather mediocre season."

" T.J. Ford made a point yesterday of wanting to start at the point. The point Jose Calderon hammered home was that he wants to play for a winner, regardless if he starts or is asked to come off the bench. "

"Ford, in essence, said he thought things were fine between the two men, that he "definitely" thinks he'll be back in Toronto and that the two can co-exist with the job-share – provided, of course, he is the starter and Calderon is the backup."

"President and general manager Bryan Colangelo finds it "absolutely ludicrous" that there would be suggestions he's going to fire Mitchell and replace him with Phoenix head coach Mike D'Antoni, who is still actually working for the Suns."

"There's also the possibility that D'Antoni might initiate the separation. Two team sources said D'Antoni has grown weary of the grind and the expectations and could take a year off or move to another team and get a fresh start. Say, for example, Toronto, where he would rejoin Bryan Colangelo."

"With two years and $8.5 million left on his contract, D'Antoni is unlikely to be fired. If he returns, it could be with concessions to change. But there is also the possibility that he leaves of his own accord, especially with a perceived lack of support - and interest from New York and Chicago, both of which have vacancies. There is also the chance Toronto President Bryan Colangelo fired Sam Mitchell to hire the coach he brought to Phoenix from Italy."

"T.J. Ford watched the Raptor season end from a seat on the bench, the player once thought to be an integral part of the franchise's long-term future reduced to being a spectator. It may have been a moment of foreboding, or it may have been nothing more than a decision by coach Sam Mitchell to let Jose Calderon try to steal a victory."

"Was that T.J. Ford's last game in a Raptors uniform? Ford doesn't think it was, but he's not discounting the possibility either. Ford was the first Raptor to talk with the media when the Raptors dressing room opened following last night's season-ending loss to the Orlando Magic."

" Despite the remaining two-year, $4M per obligation and the Raptors' second straight playoff appearance - and 41 wins despite the full-season absence of starting small forward Jorge Garbajosa, T.J. Ford missing half the year due to neck damage and Chris Bosh being unavailable for franchise-player duty for 15 games (another six to get back in shape) - Mitchell reportedly is in job jeopardy. Should Mike D'Antoni bear the brunt of the Suns' annual playoff eviction by the Spurs, the prevailing suspicion is Colangelo will pick up his faithful Phoenix companion on the short hop. "

"So there's that. But the crux of the buzz, really, is this: If you asked Colangelo, in a fantasy-league hypothetical, who he'd pick to coach his dream team, Mike D'Antoni would be in the conversation, and probably at the top of it. And for the first time since Colangelo arrived in Toronto more than two years ago, D'Antoni, the Phoenix Suns coach, may well be available this off-season."

"While Mark Jackson is expected to talk to the Bulls Wednesday, Sam Mitchell may soon pose the largest threat to Jackson's lead candidacy for the Knicks' job."

"Let's connect the polka dots. No sooner does Larry Brown resign his vacuous vice president's job - or whatever title it was - with the 76ers than the 32-50 Bobcats turn Sam Vincent into Sam Vincent van Gone... If my conclusion-jumping is off target, the Grizzlies' presidency and coaching jobs are there for the scoop should Brown want them. Again, he was never in Bulls GM John Paxson's interviewing equation, which has expanded beyond Rick Carlisle... Yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Mike D'Antoni could wind up in Toronto with former Suns exec Bryan Colangelo should Phoenix make him the designated scapegoat for its playoff failures and Sam Mitchell be fired by the Raptors."

"Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors president and general manager, spent some time defending Mitchell to various media types before the game. He said, essentially, that Mitchell had absorbed far too much heat for the Game 1 loss; that Bosh's call-out of the coaching strategy was a product of frustration with the loss, not with the coach; that speculation about the coach's future was unfair."

"Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo launched an informal, typically low-key, but quite impassioned defence of his head coach, Sam Mitchell, yesterday, suggesting that the travelling Toronto media has been too hard on his bench boss during these early days of the Eastern Conference playoffs."

"Mitchell is tough-minded and thick-skinned, and an intuitive communicator who can make his points in a roar or at a whisper, depending on the situation. He's not afraid and could very well be a successful NBA head coach when he leaves the Raptors. But that day is looming closer, it's hard not to conclude."

"If Walsh waits long enough, the field of qualified candidates could grow in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the playoffs. Dallas Coach Avery Johnson could be in jeopardy if the Mavericks lose their first-round series to the New Orleans Hornets. The same goes for Flip Saunders in Detroit and Sam Mitchell in Toronto... Walsh could reach out to three other assistant coaches who interviewed in Indiana last year: Brian Shaw of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person of the Sacramento Kings and Johnny Davis, a former Pacers assistant now with the Memphis Grizzlies."

" For the second year in a row, Sam Mitchell is coaching for his job. Only this year, the circumstances are completely different. "

"As stated from the giddy-app, Billy King and Mark Jackson are the common sense choices to become GM and coach... Sources say Scott Skiles is being romanced by the Bucks and Grizzlies. . . . Rick Carlisle appears to have a clear path to the Bulls. . . . P.J. Carlesimo's future with the Sonics is real shaky; too many players aren't fond of him and none are named Latrell Sprewell. . . . Should the Raptors, losers in 13 of last 20, get bounced in the opening round, Sam Mitchell, word has it, could be in jeopardy with two years left on his deal."

"Darrick Martin won't be on the court for the remainder of the season, but he has not made the decision to hang up his sneakers just yet. Martin, who is expected to clear waivers today and accept an off-court position with the Raptors says he has not closed the door on playing completely."

"Maybe only time will allow us to put Wednesday's high-drama Raptorland lineup shuffle in true perspective. Maybe it was the turning point of a season still to be salvaged. Maybe it was a one-off highpoint in an otherwise unredeemable campaign. Or perhaps it'll be best remembered as the night T.J. Ford and Rasho Nesterovic, the newly inserted starters, at point guard and centre, respectively, commenced a season-ending showcase for window-shopping NBA general managers. "

"Portland management apparently is not thrilled with its point-guard situation and apparently will try to sign Calderon, a restricted free agent, in the off-season, but Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo has made it known that he will match any offer for Calderon."

"Woodson is close to Larry Brown, who was said to be in Atlanta recently, raising speculation about Brown going to Atlanta in some role... Perhaps the biggest restricted free agent this summer will be Raptors point guard Jose Calderon. The Raptors say they'll match any offer and probably must with T.J. Ford's uncertain health, but figure the Bulls to be among a dozen teams chasing him."

"In that case, the Heat could make an all-or-nothing run at Toronto's Jose Calderon, with the Raptors expected to match any outside offer for the restricted free agent. The unrestricted choices at the position include the less tempting likes of former FIU star Carlos Arroyo, former Dillard star Keyon Dooling, Tyronn Lue and Beno Udrih."

"Calderon is a restricted free agent at season's end and GM Bryan Colangelo has made it known he will match all offers. But the question remains: Will Calderon be content to come off the bench once Ford is healthy? Or, for that matter, will Ford be happy coming off the bench?"

"The Raptors have a problem that the Knicks can only pray to have one day: two starting-caliber point guards. Jose Calderon is a restricted free agent this summer and GM Bryan Colangelo has said he will match all offers. T.J. Ford began the season as the starter but lost his job to Calderon after suffering a neck injury two months ago. "

"Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo confirmed yesterday that the club is not interested in picking up Toronto native Jamaal Magloire, who was waived by the New Jersey Nets on Friday."

"Anthony Parker will be in the last year of his deal. So will Jorge Garbajosa. Rasho Nesterovic, too. Throw in Jamario Moon and Maceo Baston and Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo will have roughly $12-million (all currency U.S.) in expiring contracts to barter with."

"Juan Dixon was walking through the Toronto Raptors' dressing room before the game as curious as everyone else about his near future. "Hear anything?" the little-used shooting guard wondered... The Raptors have made inquiries to Golden State about the availability of small forward Mickael Pietrus, but those talks weren't generating much heat yesterday."

"The Raptors, meanwhile, also are working the phones in advance of this afternoon's trade deadline. There were rumblings last night that Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo has been talking with his Golden State Warriors counterpart, Chris Mullin, about sending Juan Dixon and Joey Graham to the Bay Area for swingman Mickael Pietrus."

"The expendable guys, meanwhile, just don't tantalize. Rasho Nesterovic, a big playoff-tested body at $8 million a year for this season and next, is probably a little too expensive to draw real suitors. Juan Dixon, though Dixon would surely be amenable to a move and the club will try to grant that wish, is attached to an expiring deal that likely isn't worth enough ($2.9 million) to bring back a team-changing contributor."

"Bryan Colangelo was rebuffed in one attempt to land a veteran frontcourt player for the stretch run of the NBA season. Multiple league sources said last night the Raptor president and general manager tried to pry 32-year-old Joe Smith from the Chicago Bulls before today's 3 p.m. trade deadline."

"Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo would love to make a move for a bruising big man, but with just little-used forward Joey Graham and the expiring contracts of Juan Dixon ($2.55 million US), Carlos Delfino ($1.868 million), who the club would like to keep, and Darrick Martin ($770,610) up for grabs, the Raptors will be in tough to do anything of substance."

"Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo has been doing his usual job checking with other teams on a regular basis, but the chance of the Raptors doing something significant is remote. They could fiddle with the end of the roster – Juan Dixon would welcome a move and has let Colangelo know so – but that doesn't mean a trade is coming. "

"I had a trade idea and wanted to know if you thought it would work. The Cavs send Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown, and Cedric Simmons to Toronto and get Rasho Nesterovic and T.J. Ford. We actually save Toronto money, improve its starting five, and fill its need for rebounding off the bench. Shannon could be the Raptors' future or just trade bait. "

"I believe the Bulls need a good PG and the Raptors need a solid SF. Would a Ford for Nocioni or Deng deal make sense to you? ... Shouldn't the Bulls go after Jermaine O'Neal as their primary target? ... How is Elton Brand's recovery is coming along and what would it take to get him for the Bulls if at all possible."

"In recent days, I have asked people in a position to know about speculation of interest from Phoenix and Toronto in Andre Iguodala and interest from Cleveland in Gordan Giricek. In each case, I have been told there is nothing there."

"Do you think there's any way the Bulls might be able to swipe Jose Calderon from the Raptors this summer? He's a free agent and they've already invested so much in T.J. Ford... With it looking more and more clear that Boylan isn't really doing that much to warrant keeping the head coaching job next season, a few of us were floating around some possible names for coaching candidates. One name that came up was Stacey King... I'd say yes if Kevin Garnett were available. You don't do it for Pau Gasol, Baron Davis, Allen Iverson, Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko or Jermaine O'Neal, the 'stars' who could opt out or be available."

" The Boston Celtics apparently have decided not to pursue veteran guard Damon Stoudamire, according to espn.com. The 34-year-old former Raptor will be free to sign with any team at 6 p.m. today after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns are thought to be most interested in his services. "

"The Celtics appear to be taking their time on Damon Stoudamire. At their current rate, the Celts may run out of time... According to league sources, the Celts are checking out other possibilities and it’s believed they may have interest in another player, thought to be Sam Cassell of the Los Angeles Clippers... Goodwin acknowledged his client has interest in the Celtics, as well as San Antonio, Phoenix, Toronto and Denver, but time is of the essence."

"Damon Stoudamire will soon be free to choose another NBA team to play for. Whether it's Boston or Toronto remains to be seen."

"Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley can't guarantee where Damon Stoudamire will end up. In agreeing to an amicable contract buyout that will become official Monday, Heisley made certain of this: The 13-year veteran point guard now has an opportunity to move on."