Sam Mitchell was hired by the Raptors signing a three year deal.  It remains unclear whether the Raptors will attempt to piece back together their team around Vince Carter, or attempt a rebuilding process.

Three weeks after hiring a new general manager, the Raptors fired scouts Craig Neal, Walker D. Russell and Randy Wilkens on Monday.

Raptor general manager Rob Babcock announced that Norm Goodman, Jim Kelly, Steve Young and Bob Zuffelato will remain with the staff.

"We appreciate the work Craig, Walker and Randy have done for our franchise over the years and their professional assistance with this year's Draft during this interim period," Babcock said.

One second he's evaluating talent on the Bobcat's roster, the next he becomes the Raptor's new head coach while still on the job in Charlotte.

According the Toronto Sun, the Raptors had chosen Mitchell over Seattle SuperSonics assistant Dwane Casey and Detroit Pistons assistant Mike Woodson. The paper said an announcement on the hiring could be made on Tuesday.

"The Raptors have nothing to announce on the coaching search at this time," Toronto spokesman Jim LaBumbard said.

With the 39th pick, in the second round, the Raptors selected 6-foot-10, 223-pound Spanish centre Albert Miralles, who played last season in Italy.

According to a team source, the Raptors were involved in trade talks with Miami in which Miralles would be sent to the Heat in exchange for Pape Sow, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward from Cal State Fullerton. Sow was selected by Miami with the 47th pick.

As for their first round pick, Babcock, who plugged a hole in Toronto's undersized front line by choosing Araujo -- the rookie is the fourth heaviest Raptor of all time -- later pleaded for patience from the Toronto basketball fans.

"All I expect from the fans is that they have an open mind and that they give not only Rafael Araujo, but myself, the new coach and everybody an opportunity to prove that we're not just talking words," Babcock said.

"We're going to get out and do what we plan to do, and that's play basketball the right way."

Toronto Raptors general manager Rob Babcock says that the only way he would consider trading a player who wants out is if it's an excellent deal for his team.

Babcock did not explicitly confirm that Vince Carter has asked to be traded but the indications to this effect are strong.

"My feeling is, if the player demands to be traded, it doesn't mean you trade him," Babcock said. "I have to do what's best for this basketball team. If the best thing is to trade the player, and I can make our team better, then certainly I'll look at that. But if that's not the case, I'm not going to trade the player."

Rightly so, Babcock expects a player under contract to ... play under his contract ... and to do so at the highest level possible.  Otherwise, maybe that player shouldn't have signed to play under that contract in the first place.

"This is a professional league and if a player is under contract, he should honor the contract, which means you play hard and give your best effort," Babcock said.

Regarding whether Carter has requested a trade, Babcock said, "I've had discussions with his agent, but I'm not going to comment on trades or no trades."  

Babcock talked with Carter recently and the two appeared to be on the same page.  The subject of a trade never came up.

Babcock also said that many players and other people around basketball will say and do emotional things but that this must be taken with a grain of salt.  He implied that a cooling off period could change someone's mind.

GM Rob Babcock is earning his new Raptors paycheck, and then some.  In the next few weeks, he may have earned the salary of his full contract term.

It?s madness up in Toronto these days with the swirl of trade rumors, the Draft rush and a head coaching search.

Meanwhile the Charlotte Babcots will decide whether to take Alvin Williams, Lamond Murray or Milt Palacio off Toronto's roster in the expansion draft.

Philadelphia sports talk radio said that Allen Iverson for Vince Carter was in the works but this speculation later turned out to be false.

With the AI rumor shoved aside, Babock worked out Draft prospects, then raced back to Toronto to interview Detroit Pistons assistant coach Mike Woodson.

As for the Draft, Peter John Ramos is on the target list.  He is a 19-year-old and possible long-term project who has spent the last four years playing in Puerto Rico's pro league.

There is no real argument, this editorial says:  The Raptors must jettison Vince Carter.

Carter reportedly did not respond to telephone messages left by new Raptors general manager Rob Babcock, reason enough to ship him out of town says the writer.

Getting proper value for Carter will be the difficult part of course.  And this is an unwelcome burden and distraction as the Raptors hunt for a new head coach and a good pick in the June 24 Draft.

But it's obvious to this reporter that Vince must go.

Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo is downplaying the apparent interest of the Toronto Raptors in interviewing him for their vacant head coaching job.  

On Monday, Izzo told two radio stations that he wanted to stay at MSU.  

Izzo can earn over $6 million through the 2005-06 season at MSU.

Mike Woodson, an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons, has been contacted by the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors about possible interviews for their vacant head-coaching positions.  

Woodson has logged eight seasons as an NBA assistant, and was interviewed twice each by the Sixers, Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks last off-season.

Woodson and Seattle Sonics associate coach Dwayne Casey could be the leading candidates to fill the Raptors? position, according to sources.

"He's a great coach," Pistons head coach Larry Brown said about Woodson.

There is an apparent disconnect between the Toronto Raptors and Vince Carter and the latest issue with Raptors? ownership passing over Julius Erving for the general manager spot may only be the tip of the iceberg.

The Raptors? new braintrust must come to some conclusions on whether it makes sense to keep Carter around.

New Raptors general manager Rob Babcock, the man who was chosen over Carter?s preferred candidate, Dr. J, met the media yesterday in Toronto.  And of course he was flooded with questions about the possibility of trading Vince Carter.

Babcock said that no player in the NBA is completely untradeable, but Babcock added that he has no intention of trading Carter.

When Babcock was asked what he would do if Carter called him to request a trade, Babcock said that he wanted Carter to be open-minded about the situation.

"I would ask Vince to take a look at who we hire as a coach, what we're going to demand of our players, what kind or organization we'll have,? Babcock said.  ?Hopefully he'll see we're not just blowing smoke, that we're going to put it into action."

Carter?s love for Toronto is genuine, but if he calls off the relationship first, there will be hurt feelings.  Still, maybe both sides should ask themselves if this is a match that actually is worth keeping alive.