March 2003 Toronto Raptors Wiretap

Toronto to get in on Harvey deal?

Dec 23, 2003 9:12 AM

On Sunday, we first reported that Magic forward Donnell Harvey would be traded to the Phoenix Suns inexchange for forward Robert Archibald and Phoenix's 2004 second-round pick.

Today, the swap will take place but the Toronto Raptors are rumored to be trying to acquire Archibald from Orlando. It is not clear what they are offering but if they are offering anything, it's probably a second-round pick.

The trade was delayed until today because Harvey signed with the Magic on Sept. 23 and couldn't be traded for three months.

Bob Young of the Arizona Republic

Tags: Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Hill close to signing with Toronto

Dec 18, 2003 8:55 AM

Kurt market shifts
The Toronto Raptors are moving closer to signing free agent forward Tyrone Hill, according to a league official, and Hill could be available when the Knicks face the Raptors tomorrow.

New York Daily News

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Bulls, Raptors await approval on trade

Dec 15, 2003 11:01 PM

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls are on the verge of reacquiring Rick Brunson from the Toronto Raptors for Roger Mason Jr. in an exchange of reserve guards.

The Bulls initially said Monday they had made a trade that required only the players passing physicals. Chicago then said the trade had not yet been granted league approval, but the two teams had ``seriously discussed'' a deal.

Brunson is averaging 1.3 points in three games this season and 2.5 points for his seven-year career. Since going undrafted in 1997, the 6-foot-4 guard has been with five teams, including the Bulls in the 2002-03 season.

The 6-5 Mason, drafted in 2002 by the Bulls in the second round, has appeared in 20 games in two seasons, averaging 1.7 points. He has been on the injured list with a strained left groin since early November.

The Raptors and Bulls recently completed a six-player trade that sent Jalen Rose to Toronto for Antonio Davis.

Associated Press

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Bulls, Raptors exchange guards

Dec 15, 2003 2:53 PM

The Chicago Bulls today acquired guard Rick Brunson from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard Roger Mason, Jr.  This trade is conditional upon both players passing their physicals.

Brunson has made 193 appearances throughout his seven-year career, averaging 2.5 ppg, 1.8 apg and 1.0 rpg.  This season, he has averaged 1.3 ppg through three appearances as a Raptor.  In 2002-03 with the Bulls, the 6-4, 190-pound guard averaged 3.5 ppg, 2.1 apg and 1.1 rpg in 17 games.  Since going undrafted in the 1997 NBA Draft, Brunson has toured with five different teams, including his second tour of duty with the Bulls.

Mason has appeared in 20 career games in his two seasons with the Bulls and has averaged 1.7 ppg.  This season, he averaged 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg and 1.0 apg in three games.  Mason has been on the injured list with a left groin strain since November 7, 2003 and has missed Chicago?s last 17 games.  The 6-5, 200-pound guard was selected by Chicago in the second round (31st overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft.

bulls.com

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Mason preparing for trade

Dec 12, 2003 11:33 AM

Roger Mason Jr. did not travel with the Chicago Bulls to play the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. The Bulls are allowing him to prepare to be traded to the Toronto Raptors on Monday for Rick Brunson.

"John Paxson said he will not be deterred by recent comments and reports that Brunson was a negative influence on the Raptors."

This all but confirms the rumored Mason Jr. for Brunson deal.

Chicago Sun-Times

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Vince no longer alone

Dec 10, 2003 11:00 PM

TORONTO (AP) Vince Carter isn't the only scoring threat in Toronto anymore. Suddenly, the Raptors have several other offensive options to chose from thanks to their big trade with the Chicago Bulls.

And it shows. They won their first five games after acquiring Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall and Lonny Baxter, averaging 100 points after scoring an NBA-worst 78 before the trade.

``It's amazing how things have changed,'' said coach Kevin O'Neill, whose team is no longer on pace to break the record-low set by the post-Jordan Bulls of 1999, who averaged only 81.9 points.

``We don't just have good scoring, we have good shooting. By that I mean, guys that can penetrate and kick and make plays for each other.''

It's quite a turnaround for a franchise that started this season 8-8 and went 24-58 last year.

Rose, Toronto's new starting point guard, and Carter are attracting double teams, leading to open shots for Marshall, Alvin Williams, Morris Peterson and rookie Chris Bosh.

With more space to operate, Bosh has flourished as the starting center, averaging 14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 37 minutes despite being undersized at 6-foot-10 and 228 pounds.

He's even being mentioned with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony for rookie of the year.

``It's pretty early, but I'd love to be in that race,'' said the 19-year-old Bosh, who against Seattle had 22 points and tied the club's rookie rebound record with 16 grabs.

``The trade has gone better than expected,'' he said. ``I'm thinking when trades happen, you have to kind of start over, and find your team again, find what kind of style of team you are, but we've looked pretty good. We have an identity now.''

But it's Williams and Peterson who appear to have benefited the most from the Dec. 1 trade that sent Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams and Chris Jefferies to Chicago.

Alvin Williams, who moved from point guard to shooting guard, is averaging 11 points and can now focus on making open jumpers. And Peterson doesn't have to create his own shot.

``I think everybody now gets to play their role, and be who they are,'' Carter said. ``Mo Pete is a flat-out 3-point shooter.''

Peterson made four open 3-pointers to help the Raptors pull away in the fourth quarter of their victory over Seattle on Dec. 7. A driving Carter assisted on three of them.

In the revamped Raptors' first win over Philadelphia on Dec. 2, Carter recorded a career-high 12 assists and 21 points. Marshall scored 27 points and Rose added eight assists, despite not practicing with their new team yet.

``I don't think we could have asked for much better,'' Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said. ``It's been good from the won-loss perspective, but also from the perspective of putting points on the board. It's a little easier on the eye to watch.''

The next night against Boston, Carter collected 10 assists and 21 points while Marshall scored 21 in the victory that gave Toronto a franchise record of 17 3-pointers.

``Glen Grunwald has really put together a team that's very, very difficult to guard,'' Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. ``I thought our team really competed their guts out. I don't know if anybody could have beaten them shooting the way they did.''

Two nights later in Atlanta, and then again Tuesday against Cleveland, Carter, Marshall and Rose each scored at least 20 points to help push the Raptors to 13-8, the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference.

Grunwald admits his team is undersized without Davis and Jerome Williams. Marshall is 6-foot-9 and is more of a perimeter threat, and Baxter is just 6-foot-8.

``It's certainly a concern, but at the same time hopefully we can deal with it,'' Grunwald said. ``There's been a lot of teams that have been successful without a true center.''

Not everyone is convinced, though, that the new Raptors will be able to sustain their momentum.

Among them, two former Raptors, whose new team has gone 1-3 since the deal. Davis, who had been a strong defensive presence in Toronto, questions whether his former team will play defense after the honeymoon period ends. Williams believes Toronto's lack of size might become an issue in the playoffs.

``When they beat the Lakers, then I'll take notice,'' he said. ``You can be hot for one, two possibly three games. But when you talk about playing seven games with one day in between, jump shots get old. They don't always fall.''

Rose, on the other hand, is optimistic and feels rejuvenated with his new team. He raves about Carter's unselfishness and how it took two months to get four wins with Chicago, but just a week to do that in Toronto.

``Not only are we good players, but we all get along well,'' Rose said. ``We're humble guys in this locker room. We understand that we're playing well right now, but we have a long way to go.''

Associated Press

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Ty Hill to Toronto; trade off?

Dec 5, 2003 10:34 AM

The rumored trade between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors that would send Roger Mason Jr. to Toronto for Rick Brunson might not happen after all.

Apparently, the Raptors are interested in signing forward Tyrone Hill, who was recently waived by the Miami Heat, and could have to cut Brunson before the trade rumored to take place on December 15th happens.

Chicago Sun-Times

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Ex-Rap Jefferies says good riddance to Brunson

Dec 5, 2003 7:01 AM

Little used forward Chris Jefferies said he was excited to be out of Toronto, mainly because there was a cancer inside the dressing room. "Everybody there was cool. I liked everybody except one person, and I heard he was cut," Jefferies said yesterday.

The former Fresno State star forward was referring to Raptors backup point guard Rick Brunson, who is no longer with the team.

General manager Glen Grunwald is currently exploring ways to rid the team of Brunson's contract.

Jefferies, who was traded to the Chicago Bulls last week, said Brunson, who played very little but was said to be a favourite of coach Kevin O'Neill, brought nothing to the organization or the team and got on people's nerves.

"I don't see why he was there in the first place," Jefferies said. "Because it wasn't really like he was helping the team at all.

"I had lot of feelings about that, as did a lot of people, not just me. A lot of the other guys."

Jeffries really should pick up a copy of the Chicago Tribune because K.C. Johnson has been writing all week that Brunson will be joining the Bulls as soon as he is tradable, the Raptors receiving seldom used point guard Roger Mason Jr. in return.

Toronto Sun

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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NBA Today

Dec 4, 2003 3:00 PM

Chicago at Philadelphia (7 p.m. EST). Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams play their second game with the Bulls after their trade from Toronto.

STARS

Wednesday

_ Voshon Lenard, Nuggets, had 26 of his career-high 38 points in the first quarter of Denver's 117-109 win over Golden State.

_ Cuttino Mobley, Rockets, had a season-high 32 points in Houston's 107-101 overtime victory over Utah.

_ Sam Cassell, Timberwolves, scored 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, leading Minnesota to a 92-79 win over Phoenix.

_ Baron Davis, Hornets, had 27 points and 12 assists as New Orleans topped Orlando 106-91.

LOSING, AND LOSING

Orlando's losing streak reached a franchise record-tying 17 in a row after a 106-91 setback to New Orleans on Wednesday night. The NBA record for consecutive losses in one season is 23, set by the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1995-96 and matched by Denver in 1997-98.

ROAD WOES

Cleveland lost its 33rd straight road game with a 90-80 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. The losing streak is the third-longest in NBA history _ behind Sacramento's 43-game streak during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons, and New Jersey's 34-game drought in the 1989-90 and 1990-91 campaigns.

TRADE

Bonzi Wells was traded by Portland to Memphis on Wednesday for guard Wesley Person and a conditional 2004 first-round draft pick. Wells, averaging 12.2 points, was stripped of his co-captaincy and suspended two games earlier this season for cursing at coach Maurice Cheeks.

DIALING LONG DISTANCE

Toronto set a franchise record by hitting 17 3-pointers in a 105-95 win over Boston on Wednesday night. The Raptors, averaging a league-low 79 points a game, broke the previous mark of 15 3-pointers set on Nov. 10, 2001, at Utah.

SLUMPING SPURS

San Antonio shot just 3-for-17 in the final 12 minutes and dropped its fourth straight game on Wednesday night, 90-86 to the Los Angeles Lakers. At 9-10, the Spurs have not been below .500 this late in the season since 1996-97 _ before the team drafted Tim Duncan.

WINNING NUGGETS

Denver won its fifth straight and moved into a tie atop the Midwest Division with a 117-109 win at Golden State on Wednesday night.

MAKING STRIDES

Memphis improved to 9-8 with a 96-93 win over New Jersey on Wednesday night, the latest the Grizzlies have been over .500 in a season since entering the league in 1995-96.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Tim Duncan, returning from a one-game suspension for pushing a referee on Saturday, finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds in San Antonio's 90-86 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. ... Stephon Marbury had 32 points in Phoenix's 92-79 loss to Minnesota.

SIDELINED

Philadelphia center Marc Jackson will undergo surgery to repair a fractured left ring finger on Thursday, sidelining him indefinitely. Jackson broke the finger in the first two minutes of Tuesday's game against Toronto.

SPEAKING

``When you have a team that's lost 17 or 18 in a row, they've got to win one somewhere. You don't want it to be you,'' _ New Orleans guard David Wesley after the Hornets extended Orlando's losing streak to 17 games Wednesday night with a 106-91 win over the Magic.

Associated Press

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Wednesday's NBA Capsules

Dec 4, 2003 2:00 AM

TORONTO (AP) Donyell Marshall and Vince Carter each scored 21 points and the new-look Toronto Raptors set a franchise record with 17 3-pointers in a 105-95 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Alvin Williams added 18 points and Chris Bosh had 16 for the Raptors, who reached a season-high in points.

The Raptors went 17-for-24 from behind the arc, breaking their record of 15 3-pointers on Nov. 10, 2001 at Utah.

Toronto, averaging a league-low 79 points per game, improved to 2-0 since acquiring Marshall, Jalen Rose and Lonny Baxter from Chicago for Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams and Chris Jefferies. Paul Pierce had 23 points for the Celtics, who have lost three straight and seven of nine.

Pistons 87, Heat 73

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Mehmet Okur had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Ben Wallace added 10 points and a season-high 21 rebounds.

Okur started in place of Elden Campbell, who was excused to attend a family funeral. Detroit won its fourth straight and sent the Heat to their fifth straight road loss.

Richard Hamilton had 18 points for Detroit, which had all five starters in double figures. Miami's Lamar Odom led all scorers with 22, but made just 11 of a career-high 31 field-goal attempts.

Wallace had 20 rebounds in a game for the first time this season after doing it 16 times last year. Wallace (six) and Okur (five) also combined to block 11 shots.

Grizzlies 96, Nets 93

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) James Posey and Pau Gasol scored 19 points apiece and the surprising Memphis Grizzlies took advantage of three mistakes by Jason Kidd down the stretch.

Lorenzen Wright added 14 points as Grizzlies won their third straight on the road and handed the Nets their fourth straight loss overall and their sixth in eight home games.

With a record of 9-8, this is the latest in a season the Grizzlies have been over .500.

The Grizzlies played their second straight game without point guard Jason Williams, who is sidelined with back spasms. They also were without Bonzi Wells, who was acquired in a trade from Portland earlier in the day.

Associated Press

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Rose becomes Toronto's starting point guard

Associated Press

Rose no troublemaker

Toronto Sun

Rose unhappy with ``bash-work'' preceding his Bulls departure

Associated Press

New Raps check in

Toronto Star