Raptors Trade Rumors

Chris Bosh to possibly consider Heat?
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November 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"The next stop on the Miami Heat's 2010 free-agency tour might just have an interested applicant, after all. In advance of the Heat's Friday's game in Toronto, Raptors power forward Chris Bosh, an impending free agent, was ask by AOL's Fanhouse about the possibilities of playing alongside Dwyane Wade next season in South Florida. "Anything is possible, I guess," Bosh said. "I guess that seems to be an attractive place, you know, playing with Dwyane and playing in Miami and everything. I guess if they had the right chemistry, the right guys, that they could persuade guys to get there. But we'll see.""
Raptors claim Pops off waivers
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November 18
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Toronto Raptors defended the Suns' prolific pick-and-roll by switching on screens, having relatively good success with the strategy. With small point guards, that was not an option for the Rockets, who would not want to force Aaron Brooks or Kyle Lowry to have to match up against Amar'e Stoudemire. The Rockets, however, have allowed center Chuck Hayes to switch defensively, including in games last season against the Suns. "We feel comfortable with Chuck on anybody," Shane Battier said. "Three-fourths of the world is covered by water. The rest is covered by Chuck Hayes." The Rockets don't switch on pick-and-rolls and usually "show" on screens, but don't trap. "Assistant coaches always ..."
Turkoglu almost joined Suns in 2004
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November 16
Arizona Republic
 
"Steve Nash and Joe Johnson in the backcourt and Amaré Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Hedo Turkoglu up front. It sounds like an NBA "Where Amazing Happens" commercial cast from four teams, or maybe even an All-Star collection if Turkoglu ever gets his credit. It nearly was the Suns' 2004-05 starting lineup. Things still turned out well in that 62-20 season, with the Suns signing Quentin Richardson instead of Turkoglu, who was an Italian dinner away from securing a future with the Suns and then-General Manager Bryan Colangelo in 2004. Turkoglu and Colangelo now are with the Toronto Raptors. In July 2004, Turkoglu was a 25-year-old free agent who had been a part-time starter in San Antonio. ..."
If LeBron James, Dwyane Wade stay put, New York Knicks may target Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson
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November 12
New York Daily News
 
"If the Knicks find themselves struggling to woo LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who can become free agents next summer, they'll likely turn their attention to the players such as Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson, who are expected to headline the next tier of potential free agents at season's end. Regardless of how much money the Knicks will have to spend, there's no guarantee of landing a superstar given the state of the franchise, and because James grew up in Ohio and Wade appears to be staying put in Miami - on Tuesday Heat owner Micky Arison said he had "every indication" that Wade wants to finish his career where it started. And while Bosh isn't the same caliber of player, he has already and ..."
Foot injury leaves Evans baffled and bewildered
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October 18
Toronto Sun
 
"The known piece that was Reggie Evans has morphed into the great unknown. Evans, who is well known for his post defence and toughness, doesn't know when he'll be able to rejoin his Raptors in the wake of a foot injury. Evans doesn't know how he got hurt during last week's loss to Boston in Hartford and has yet to watch game video to determine the exact cause of the mishap. All Evans knows is that he won't be playing in today's pre-season home finale against the same Celtics and neither will he be in uniform when the Raptors close out exhibition play on Friday in Sioux Falls, S.D., against the host Timberwolves. Evans doesn't know if he'll be available for team's regular-season opener ..."
Ultimate tweener aims to contribute
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September 29
Toronto Sun
 
"The future of Marcus Banks as a Raptor is as clouded as his role on the team. Banks admits he can get moved, but insists he's paying no attention to the gossip. "If it's in the best interest of the Raptors organization to make a move, then that's what they've got to do,'' Banks said yesterday on media day. "I'm not going to worry because it's out of my control. All I worry about is helping this team." But how and in what capacity?"
Having stars on light duties 'perfect'
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September 29
The Globe and Mail
 
"It's starting, but where to start? The Toronto Raptors haven't had an official practice yet and their two best players are either hurt (Chris Bosh) or just plain tired (Hedo Turkoglu), and both are likely unavailable for the hard part of training camp that starts in Ottawa today. Still, it was as if someone set off a sunshine bomb when the team's key figures came out to meet the media before boarding their Air Happy Times charter yesterday afternoon on their way to a week of two-a-days at Carleton University."
Trade rumours link Raps, Mavs
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August 20
Toronto Sun
 
"Just when it appeared Byran Colangelo's makeover of the Raptors was over, comes word that the GM isn't done. Talk is the Raps are keen on sending Marcus Banks to Dallas for Matt Carroll in a swap of guards which, in effect, amounts to a salary dump by the Mavericks."
So long, Carlos and Roko
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August 17
Toronto Star
 
"Just when you thought it was safe to think the Raptors were done, they're not. Details are a bit sketchy at the moment, but according to league sources, they are about to finalize a trade that could send swingman Carlos Delfino and point guard Roko Ukic in a two-for-two deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. Young big man Amir Johnson is headed to Toronto but the other component of the deal remains unknown. It's unclear when the deal will be official but it could be done as early as today or tomorrow. The financial aspect of the deal will be felt at the end of next season. If the deal is two-for-tw and the final player added is not waived, it will fill out Toronto's 15-man roster and spell the end ..."
Sources: Raptors nab Belinelli
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July 29
Yahoo! Sports
 
"The Toronto Raptors' intrigue with running a European-modeled franchise advanced again with a trade for Golden State guard Marco Belinelli, NBA sources told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday night. The Raptors will send Devean George to the Warriors. Belinelli, an Italian guard, was a favorite of Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo prior to the 2007 draft when the Warriors selected him with the 18th pick. Belinelli averaged nearly nine points a game for Golden State last season. He joins fellow Italian Andrea Bargnani on the Raptors roster."
Raptors jump at chance to bring in Jarrett Jack
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July 13
Toronto Star
 
"The Raptors have set their free-agent sights on the kind of combo guard general manager Bryan Colangelo covets; one who comes with the added bonus of being a former teammate of Chris Bosh. Jarrett Jack, a five-year NBA restricted free agent from the Indiana Pacers, who played with Bosh at Georgia Tech, will get a four-year offer sheet from the Raptors, according to team and league sources. Financial details of the pact – which the Pacers have seven days to match from the time Jack officially signs it – were not immediately available. The 25-year-old Jack made just over $2 million (all figures U.S.) last season, but to ensure a legitimate shot at acquiring him – and because they have a ..."
Source: Cavaliers have interest in Toronto Raptors forward Joey Graham
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July 12
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Should the Cavaliers fail to land the "stretch-four" they've been seeking, another player they have some interest in is free agent small forward Joey Graham, according to an NBA source. Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry could not be reached on Saturday night to confirm the team's interest. Graham, 27, has spent his entire career in Toronto after the Raptors made him the 16th pick in the 2005 draft out of Oklahoma State. The 6-7, 225-pound Graham is a strong defender who averaged 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 19.8 minutes in 78 games with the Raptors last season. He shot 48 percent from the field but only 18 percent from 3-point range. His twin brother Stephen, who played 13 games with the ..."
Might this keep Bosh in town?
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July 10
Toronto Sun
 
"One of the first to reach out to Hedo Turkoglu was Chris Bosh. The two had a brief phone conversation, but the moment left an impression with the newest Raptor. "When I heard his voice, I was nervous,'' Turkoglu said. "Then I was happy to hear him welcome me." Turkoglu's presence will be welcome because he is that offensively gifted. And it may even persuade Bosh to stick around beyond this season. General manager Bryan Colangelo has positioned his team brilliantly in a climate where money is tight. The team has three roster spots and can, in theory, use a "Bird Exception" to sign Carlos Delfino, a player it covets, the league's mid-level exception of roughly $5.8 million US and the ..."
Complicated Marion deal close
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July 9
Toronto Sun
 
"As first reported by multiple sources, including the Sun's basketball blog late last night, the Raptors are on the verge of completing a mega-deal that will restore much-needed depth to the team's roster. Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo worked long and hard yesterday on a deal that would send free agent forward Shawn Marion to the equally diligent Dallas Mavericks. The teams needed to add more parties in order to get all the details to work under the NBA's salary cap. The final deal, expected to be finalized in a trade call this afternoon, breaks down as follows: The Raptors send Marion, who sources say will get a five-year, $39 million US contract, to the Mavs, along with Kris ..."
Varejao agrees to 6-year deal with Cavaliers, who add 6-6 free-agent guard Anthony Parker
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July 9
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Cavaliers have made their big moves in free agency. After making a splash by trading for Shaquille O'Neal, the Cavs have come to terms with one of their core players and are close to adding a key piece. The Cavs have agreed on a new contract with forward Anderson Varejao, agent Dan Fegan said Wednesday. In addition, a league source said the Cavs have come to terms on a deal for free agent guard Anthony Parker. He could complete the that deal within the next few days. Varejao, the team's versatile big man who became a starter last season, is set to get a six-year contract that could be worth as much as $50 million. Much as with the contracts the team signed with Delonte West and ..."
Dallas Mavericks trade for Marion, source says
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July 9
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Mavericks finally pushed the ball over the goal line, scoring big by trading for Shawn Marion from Toronto. An NBA source said Wednesday that the deal for the 6-7 swingman will happen and that a trade call with the NBA office had been set up for today. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the deal will go through today. Details weren't completely known. But it's a sure thing that Jerry Stackhouse is the principal piece moving from the Mavericks to Toronto. But it is likely he will move on from there. Stackhouse will be an unrestricted free agent when he is bought out by the team that eventually ends up with him. That team, which is believed to be either Memphis or Oklahoma City, will ..."
Colangelo hustles to free cap for Turkoglu
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July 8
Toronto Star
 
"That Hedo Turkoglu is coming to the Raptors is not in doubt; the timing remains an issue. The Raptors will officially introduce their most significant free agent signing in years either today or tomorrow, depending on how president and GM Bryan Colangelo does in creating extra financial flexibility in a move or two he's still trying to make. According to NBA sources, Colangelo spent most of yesterday trying to facilitate any number of sign-and-trade transactions that might benefit Raptors' players who leave by allowing them a larger starting salary and greater annual raises. In order to clear enough cap room to finalize the five-year, approximately $53 million (all figures U.S.) deal ..."
Agent: Bargnani gets extension
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July 8
ESPN.com
 
"Hedo Turkoglu is on the way and it appears that Andrea Bargnani will also soon have his long-term future secured with the Toronto Raptors. Bargnani's agent, Leon Rose, told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that the Raptors -- who later this week will officially sign Turkoglu away from Orlando -- have reached an agreement in principle on a contract extension for the 7-foot Italian, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Raptors in the 2006 draft. The deal, according to NBA front-office sources, would span five seasons starting in 2010-11 and earn Bargnani an estimated $50 million. Rose declined to discuss contract specifics, but Bargnani was with Raptors officials to formally sign the contract at ..."
Mavericks' Stackhouse must wait a bit longer for trade
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July 8
Dallas Morning News
 
"While the Mavericks tried Tuesday to iron out details of a trade for Shawn Marion that still looks shaky at best, Jerry Stackhouse faced the reality that if this isn't the deal that sends him into free agency, it isn't far away. He's come to grips with the idea that his time with the Mavericks is done. He had four solid seasons and one that was forgettable after last season was wrecked by a foot injury that kept him off the court. So what now? Stackhouse said he's looking on the bright side of things. Whenever he's traded, the team that gets him will buy out his contract before Aug. 10. Stackhouse will pocket $2 million and search for a new team. The waiting is the hardest part. "I ..."
Mavericks in trade talks for Toronto's Marion
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July 7
Dallas Morning News
 
"The Mavericks' search for offensive help could lead to Shawn Marion, once a dynamic force for Phoenix whose production has tapered off in recent seasons. The Mavericks, according to a league source, are involved in trade talks with Toronto, which is trying to shed salary to make room for free agent Hedo Turkoglu. Marion, 31, also is a free agent, but a sign-and-trade of the 6-7 forward would allow the Raptors to perhaps take back Jerry Stackhouse, whose contract is $7 million for next season - but only $2 million of which is guaranteed. The Mavericks have had casual interest in Marion for some time, but it was not known how far along talks had advanced. Several reports Monday night ..."
Otis: Magic will not participate in Hedo sign-and-trade with Raptors
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July 5
Orlando Sentinel
 
"NBA teams can start signing free agents such as Hedo Turkoglu on Wednesday, but there's no shot-clock on how long the courting period can last this summer. Clubs can take up until the start of the season, actually, to sign players. And while the Orlando Magic do not figure to take that long in filling out their roster, the process might take some time as they hunt for bargains in a cost-cautious market. The Magic are braced to lose Turkoglu, the 6-10 small forward who apparently --- and we now stress apparently --- has agreed to sign with the Toronto Raptors after jilting the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Various media outlets had reported that Turk had agreed to sign with the Trail ..."
Raps setting their sights on Knicks' big man Lee
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July 2
Toronto Star
 
"The Raptors are widening their NBA free-agent search that now includes one of the more intriguing players on the market. Capping a whirlwind 24 hours to open the negotiating period, league sources say Toronto is trying to obtain David Lee, an energetic rebounder who is a New York Knicks restricted free agent. The sources couldn't say whether the move on Lee would be a straight offer or whether it would be a sign-and-trade transaction with any of Toronto's current free agents. Lee's name is added to a list that began with Charlie Villanueva – who ultimately signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Detroit Pistons – and Denver's Linas Kleiza, a solid if unspectacular part not in the ..."
Raptors facing free-agent quandary
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June 30
Toronto Star
 
"With one move made and another that wasn't, the Raptors sent a couple of messages yesterday as they get ready to enter the NBA free agency waters. The team extended a qualifying offer to Pops Mensah-Bonsu that was little more than a bookkeeping move to give themselves some frontcourt protection but did not offer the same to Joey Graham, which makes it almost certain he won't be back with the team. For Mensah-Bonsu, the qualifying offer is for slightly more than $1 million (all figures U.S.) with absolutely no guarantees, making it highly unlikely he'll sign it. But because they made the offer, the Raptors retain the right to match any offer he gets as a restricted free agent, protecting ..."
The Raps' chosen five
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June 24
Toronto Sun
 
"Sounding thoroughly confident, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo approached the podium yesterday and in his final public statement regarding the draft until the picks actually are made, announced that "unless something crazy happens or a trade happens" the Raptors will be selecting one of five players tomorrow night with their No. 9 selection. Just don't ask Colangelo which one. He admitted yesterday that even if all five were still on the board when the Raptors make their selection, they still haven't decided on a selection. "It may be right down to the last minute," Colangelo said. "There could be a raging debate in the conference room about all sorts of things." In no particular order, the ..."
Raptors extend offer to RFA Delfino
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June 17
Sportsnet.ca
 
"The Toronto Raptors announced they have extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent guard-forward Carlos Delfino. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. In accordance with the league's collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its rights of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent it must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal in favour of the NBA team for which the player last played. Delfino played last season in Russia with BC Khimky Moscow in the Russia-A Superleague. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds ..."
Gamble will workout for Toronto
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June 15
Buffalo News
 
"Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris aren't the only former Niagara Falls High players receiving workouts in the NBA. Greg Gamble, a four-year starter at UB, will workout with the Toronto Raptors tomorrow, according to both Bulls coach Reggie Witherspoon and Falls assistant Sal Constantino."
Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh interested in playing for Miami Heat
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June 14
Miami Herald
 
"The Heat's interest in Chris Bosh apparently is mutual. A friend of the Toronto power forward said Bosh has interest in playing for Miami, which would love to add him via trade this summer or free agency in 2010. Bosh assuredly will dismiss any report linking him to another team because he doesn't want to upset the Raptors and doesn't need to decide his future for 13 months. But the friend said playing in Miami appeals to him. With Bosh announcing he will test free agency in 2010, a competing executive who spoke to Raptors president Bryan Colangelo said Toronto appears open to considering offers for Bosh and likely would consider a package that includes Michael Beasley -- if the Heat ..."
Raptors acquire forward Reggie Evans from 76ers for Jason Kapono
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June 9
Toronto Sun
 
"The Toronto Raptors traded guard-forward Jason Kapono to the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday for forward Reggie Evans. "Reggie Evans will certainly add an element of toughness to our team," Raptors president Bryan Colangelo said in a release. "He has very good rebounding and defensive instincts, addressing two areas where we have underperformed." Evans, a seven-year veteran, has averaged better than 6.5 rebounds in five of his NBA campaigns, with a career best of 9.3 per game (12th in the NBA) in 2004-05 with Seattle. He also averaged 7.9 rebounds during a four-year span from 2004-08. Evans has ranked in the top-10 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes in each of the past six ..."
Chris Bosh starts waiting game. Will Dwyane Wade, LeBron James follow?
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June 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 columnist Ira Winderman
"A weekly look at five talking points that have the league buzzing: 1. Bosh: Let's talk in 2010. Good for Chris Bosh. He took a stand. There will be no extension this summer, the Raptors power forward declared last week. Instead, his next contract move will come at the July 1, 2010 start of free agency. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have not been nearly as definitive, even though it is unlikely either would entertain an extension when they become eligible this summer, with July 12 the first day Wade could close such a Heat deal and July 18 the first day a Cavaliers extension agreement could be reached with James. The reality, though, is Bosh's preemptive statement preempts nothing. If ..."
Raptors' Bosh suggests he'll opt for free agency
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June 5
Toronto Star
 
"Chris Bosh, the Toronto Raptors all-star, suggested strongly today that he will forgo signing a contract extension this summer, setting himself up to be among a historically stacked NBA free agent class next year. "(When) I signed a three-year (extension in 2006)... I had a goal in mind, and that was to put myself in the best position (in 2010) ... I'm thinking I just want to stick to my goal, stick to what I was doing," said Bosh. "That's a part of the plan ... I just want to address things (after) next season. There's a reason why I did things the way I did them back then.""
Busy Bosh preparing for free agency
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June 5
Toronto Star
 
"Chris Bosh spent part of yesterday as the celebrity drawmaster of a noted thoroughbred race. It got him thinking about NBA horses and how he'd like to be one. "Pau Gasol, 260 (pounds); Dwight (Howard), 2 billion pounds; Andrew Bynum, 2 million pounds," said Bosh, listing off the approximate loads of key heavyweights in the NBA's ongoing championship series. The rail-thin Raptors all-star is listed at a generous 230 pounds and yesterday he told reporters that he'll be spending part of his off-season trying to get bigger and stronger. Not that he has time. So far this spring, Bosh has announced his hand in a CD-DVD deal and an iPhone-iTouch application. He is Twittering and Facebooking and ..."
Warriors loaded at wing, but still looking?
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June 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Anthony Morrow, the league's most accurate three-point shooter last year, was concentrating on a series of agility drills with strength and conditioning coach John Murray on Thursday. The Warriors' wing, though, had to wonder what was happening on the other court at the team's Oakland facility. Two days after Louisville wing Terrence Williams said the Warriors are interested in selecting him in the June 25 draft, they worked out another wing, USC freshman DeMar DeRozan on Thursday. The Warriors will also evaluate Louisville wing Earl Clark and Wake Forest's James Johnson as part of a six-player workout Saturday. Arizona power forward Jordan Hill will work out individually next Friday. It ..."
Alvin Williams jacked up to rejoin Raptors
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June 2
Toronto Star
 
"Alvin Williams played an integral part in the greatest success the Raptors have known and he wants the chance to help return the franchise to that level. The iconic point guard – whose clutch deciding-game jumpshot clinched the only playoff series Toronto has ever won, a five-game set against the New York Knicks in 2000 – is in line to join Jay Triano's staff as an assistant coach for skills development, bridging the Raptors' past and future. "It's just a great opportunity," the 34-year-old Williams said in a telephone interview yesterday. "I just feel like I've been away from the game so long and I want to get back involved in NBA basketball.""
Common agent, common bond for Wade, Bosh?
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May 31
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 columnist Ira Winderman
"A weekly look at five talking points that have the league buzzing: 1. Not doubting Thomas. It is no coincidence that Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Raptors forward Chris Bosh, to the dollar, hold similar contracts. Wade will earn $14,410,581 in 2009-10. So will Bosh. Both can opt out after the coming season. Or both could earn $17,149,243 in 2010-11. Such is the measure of having the same agent, in this case Chicago-based Henry Thomas. While an amiable sort, Thomas also tends to remain low key to the point of reticence. When it comes to the two following a similar free-agent path, he leaves the talking to others. So Dwyane, for all the renewed speculation about a Wade-LeBron free-agent pairing ..."
Raptors' Triano closing in on lead assistant
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May 21
Toronto Star
 
"As Jay Triano tries to piece together his first Raptors coaching staff, he's finding the most important thing is striking a balance – strong voices but not dominant ones, strong personalities but ones that won't lose sight of the overall message. "You can't have too many voices," Triano said yesterday. "We need to challenge each other, yes; but we all have to have the same basic philosophies or it won't work." With NBA-wide speculation rampant that Triano will eventually hire former Memphis head coach Marc Iavaroni as his lead assistant, no one connected with the Raptors would confirm even that contact between the sides had been made. Iavaroni, who spent a week in Toronto near the end of ..."
Selecting at No. 9 just fine for Raptors GM
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May 20
Toronto Sun
 
"Secaucus, New Jersey has been good to Bryan Colangelo before, but at first glance, one would say not last night. Colangelo went into last night's NBA draft lottery with the ninth pick overall based on his team's 33-49 record and came away with the same slot in the draft. Colangelo, though, looked at the broader picture and came away enthused with what transpired. "I have been in this situation before where I was sitting at the table and ended up not moving back or away from the No. 9 selection and ended up with some success there," Colangelo said on a conference call from Secaucus. "First with Shawn Marion and the second time with Amare Stoudamire. The fact that no team behind us jumped ..."
Fate of Raptor assistant coaches to be assessed as contracts expire
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May 12
Toronto Star
 
"One of the first tasks facing Jay Triano as head coach of the Raptors is determining the fate of men who used to be co-workers. The contracts of every assistant coach – guys who worked side-by-side with Triano under former coach Sam Mitchell – expire next month and creating a new staff becomes the immediate priority. Triano gave no hint about his leanings after being named the seventh head coach in the team's 15-year history, leaving the fate of full-fledged assistants Alex English, Mike Evans and Gord Herbert up in the air, along with assistant coaches for basketball development Eric Hughes and Micah Nori."
Triano to be named head coach
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May 11
Globe and Mail
 
"Jay Triano has had the interim removed from his title with the Toronto Raptors. General manager Bryan Colangelo announced that Triano will be confirmed as the NBA team's head coach Monday afternoon at a 1 p.m. ET news conference at the Air Canada Centre. The Niagara Falls, Ont., native will receive a three-year contract and becomes the seventh head coach in the team's history. Financial terms of the contract aren't being released by the club. Triano took over the coaching duties on an interim basis last December after Colangelo fired Sam Mitchell. The Raptors' record under Triano was 25-40, although they were 9-4 in their final 13 games while missing the playoffs. "Despite some difficult ..."
Trading Beasley for Bosh could be Heat's wisest move
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May 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 columnist Dave Hyde
"When Pat Riley said signing Dwyane Wade was the top priority this offseason — "Absolutely," the Heat president said Wednesday — that's all I needed to hear about Michael Beasley's future. Start packing. Enjoy Toronto. Sorry it couldn't work out, because watching you grow would have been fun. That's why part of me hates to write this: Trading Beasley for Chris Bosh this summer becomes the safest, smartest, simplest move for the Heat to make. Maybe it's even the best move, though it's not the one with the biggest upside. This all will take some explaining and connecting of dots. Let's start here: This is about Wade, not Beasley. Wade drives the franchise. Wade sells the tickets. Wade is the ..."
Magloire a fit for Raptors
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May 4
Toronto Sun
 
"The Heat went down in flames yesterday, burned in Dixie as one of the NBA's most puzzling playoff series came to its merciful end. From the ashes of Miami's Game 7 flameout to the host Atlanta Hawks emerges the riddle that remains Jamaal Magloire. The Big Cat turns 31 in a fortnight after failing to turn heads on the hardwood. No one can say with any degree of certainty how much game the Toronto native has left because he hasn't been given any consistent minutes for quite some time. There are those in the NBA who would argue that he hasn't earned them, that Magloire has taken a step back in each of the seasons following his breakout offensive year in 2003 when he averaged a career-high ..."
Colangelo meets with Triano
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April 22
Globe and Mail
 
"Toronto Raptors president Bryan Colangelo wasn't just being polite when he hinted broadly about removing the interim tag from head coach Jay Triano. The two men met yesterday for the first time since the Raptors' disappointing 33-49 season ended a week ago. There was no expectation that the two would emerge with a contract signed, but those around the NBA club suggest it's only a matter of time. "My gut feeling is yes [hiring Triano] is what he Bryan wants to do," one source said. "I think for now he wants to spend some time with him, develop the relationship, but it's where he's leaning. What he said [on Monday] was not just talk, it's the truth." On Monday, Colangelo praised Triano for ..."
Raptors GM has big plans
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April 21
Toronto Sun
 
"Bryan Colangelo wants Jay Triano to coach, retain an affordable Shawn Marion, more toughness, depth behind Jose Calderon, the return of Carlos Delfino and starter Anthony Parker to switch to a bench role. The Raptors general manager can have a big say in all these issues, but one thing he can't control is what franchise player Chris Bosh will do in the next 16 months. The shadow of July 1, 2010, already was clouding Colangelo's rallying call yesterday at the Air Canada Centre. "I had a very good conversation with Chris the other day in Chicago in our formal exit interview," Colangelo said. "We didn't talk about the future, we talked about some of the things we experienced this year (a ..."
Colangelo: Raptors will get tougher
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April 21
Toronto Star
 
"No more Mr. Nice Guys. As Bryan Colangelo enters an off-season of change, even though he's unable to predict today how substantial that change will be, he made it glaringly apparent the one thing he needs to address is the Raptors' level of toughness. "We are too nice, we are too nice as a group. Collectively, the group is too nice," the team's president said in a wide-ranging, hour-long state of the franchise session yesterday. "That's not to say you've got to go out and get bad guys (but) when you step on the court, you better have some fight. I think some of the guys were saying you better have some dog in you." And that's more pitbull than poodle."
See ya, Shawn
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April 17
Toronto Sun
 
"Shawn Marion is sticking around for an extra four or five days, but it very likely could amount to nothing more than an extended farewell. Marion plans to visit Canadian vacation hotspots such as Niagara Falls -- we're assuming he's sticking to the Canadian side but it's never safe to assume anything where Marion is concerned -- and Montreal over the next few days. "I heard Montreal is crazy up there," Marion said, "so I'm going up there too. You can follow me on tour." The things a guy can do when he doesn't have the playoffs to worry about. Marion was one in a succession of Raptors who were subjected to year-end interviews by the local media yesterday as the team wrapped up a ..."
Free agent Marion seeks a winner
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April 15
Toronto Star
 
"Shawn Marion really dislikes talking about the coming summer and what he might do, where he might land, how he might get back to playing basketball on a team with short-term aspirations greater than sneaking back into the playoffs. He gives the standard answers about weighing options and talking to his agent and concentrating solely on the end of the regular season, as all veteran free-agents-to-be seem to do. But when it's pointed out to Marion that he's finally going to have a say about his future, able for the first time in his professional life to choose where he works, his eyes get a bit wider, his voice a bit brighter."
Bosh shrugs off 2010 talk
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April 8
Toronto Star
 
"This has been far from the best year of Chris Bosh's NBA life and he knows the tumult isn't going to end when the season comes to a close next week. In fact, that's when the fun – and fun may not be quite the way he'd describe it – is really going to begin. Bosh's future with the Raptors has become the topic of near-daily discussion in the media and among the fans, with some people wondering if it'd be best for GM Bryan Colangelo to trade the 25-year-old, four-time all-star rather than deal with Bosh's free-agent status, which kicks in on July 1, 2010."
Raptors star can't escape N.Y. media
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April 5
Toronto Star
 
"It was the last time Chris Bosh would face The Beast on its own turf, and the monster was hungry. Three of its tentacles awaited him in the Raptors' locker room prior to yesterday's game at Madison Square Garden. Before long, eight of them were picking at Toronto's star player. True to form, Bosh parried every thrust. He took what The Beast – New York's unrelenting sports media – gave him and fed it nothing in return. He had played the game masterfully and so The Beast retreated, still unsure of what Bosh will do 14 months from now when he becomes a prized free agent in 2010."