March 2005 Toronto Raptors Wiretap

Do Raptors Have A Deal For Mr. Rose?

Dec 30, 2005 5:52 AM

This whole Raptor-Knick, Rose-Hardaway-draft pick thing got a whole lot murkier this week.

As anyone with Internet access knows, the talk of trading Toronto's Jalen Rose for New York's Penny Hardaway is still hot, with the stumbling block apparently being the Raptors' aversion to tossing in a first-round pick in the deal.

The big benefit for the Raptors would be about $17 million (U.S.) salary cap relief next summer; Hardaway is hardly going to turn into a regular rotation guy with the Raptors.

If the pick would be Denver's, which Toronto got in the Vince Carter trade a year ago, news that Marcus Camby of the Nuggets is out indefinitely after surgery on his finger clouds the issue greatly.

With Kenyon Martin bothered by a bad knee, Nene out for the season probably after a knee operation and now Camby on the shelf for a while, the Nuggets will be hard-pressed to hang on and make the playoffs in the Western Conference, which would give the Raptors two lottery picks next June.

If Jalen Rose rumours aren't enough on their own, he's also now linked to Ron Artest and his imminent departure from Indiana.

Yesterday, it was Rose to the Lakers, either Devean George or Slava Medvedenko to Toronto along with Austin Croshere from the Pacers.

It's not likely to happen, according to Raptor sources; just the next in a long list of Rose rumours.

Toronto Star

Tags: Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Talk Of Bosh Departure Premature

Dec 27, 2005 3:31 AM

In a recent interview, Chris Bosh admitted he does think about where he might be playing in future years and acknowledged putting down permanent roots in Toronto is something he would relish. If the conditions were right.

"I do think that far ahead," Bosh said. "You look at a lot of the great players in the NBA who played for one team and it's a good thing. You keep your feet planted and you develop a long relationship with everybody in the organization."

It's a tribute to his ability that Raptor fans are already wringing their hands over the fate of the club's outstanding young power forward.

Speculation has run wild recently over whether Bosh will jump ship when his contract expires following the 2007-08 season.

Many NBA insiders believe it's a given that Bosh will leave Toronto when he has the chance, given the chaotic state of the team in recent years. The Raptors have not qualified for the playoffs for the past three years and have the worst record in the NBA (6-21) this season. Interest around the league in the 21-year-old is sky-high. Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was recently fined $25,000 US for violating the NBA's anti-tampering rule when he publicly expressed interest in Bosh.

Bosh, however, said that speculation on his departure following the 2007-08 campaign is premature, adding he would love to stay -- if (and it's a big if) the team begins to turn the corner in terms of improving on the court.

"It's all about progress," he said. "You can always say, 'We're getting better. We're getting better.' But unless you really see it, unless you see the rookies coming along, to start to get a feel for the NBA, it's a totally different thing."

London Free Press

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Mo Pete Set For Milestone

Dec 26, 2005 6:31 PM

When a reporter pointed out to Morris Peterson that he will tie the injured Alvin Williams atop the Raptors' career games list tomorrow night, lockermate Aaron Williams jumped into the conversation and blurted out, "Mr. Raptor."

Seems like a fair nickname for a guy who has managed to stick around with the revolving-door franchise since the Raptors selected him 21st overall in 2000.

Peterson, who has struggled to find consistency at times but has elevated his game recently, will tie Alvin Williams when he plays his 417th game tomorrow on the road against the Detroit Pistons.

He'll become the sole leader in the career-games department on Wednesday when the Raptors play host to the Atlanta Hawks at the Air Canada Centre.

"It is surprising," the swingman said. "That's something you don't really think about too much. I just go out there and play hard every game."

Toronto Sun

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Rose Thinks He's On Way Out

Dec 25, 2005 5:52 AM

Jalen Rose is not going anywhere just yet.

But the struggling Raptors swingman feels it may be a matter of time before he is dealt as his team has had discussions with the New York Knicks and, possibly, the Los Angeles Lakers about Rose.

In an e-mail to the New York Post that appeared in yesterday's editions, Rose said, "I feel something will happen soon ... Then back to the States."

Rose wouldn't go quite that far when talking with Toronto reporters before a game against the San Antonio Spurs last night, but the highest-paid player on the team feels it might make sense for the Raptors to ship him out.

"It just comes with the territory," Rose said when asked about the rumours, which started last season and continue to this day. "Obviously, the opportunity I'm getting minutes-wise and things of that nature, it probably haven't been that way for me as a player since the late 1990s. If you're looking at it from that factor, probably it would suggest that something may happen.

"But who knows? Like a lot of people say, who would trade for me? Nobody wants me."

Toronto Sun

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Knicks Interested In Rose

Dec 23, 2005 1:08 PM

If the Raptors want to eradicate Jalen Rose's $16.9 million salary next season from their cap, they have but one viable option: Furnish the Knicks with the Nuggets' No. 1 pick stashed from the Nets' shoplifting of Vince Carter, along with Rose's Canadian passport for rising free agent Penny Hardaway.

Yes, the Lakers have interest in Rose, who turns 33 on Jan. 30. That's a confirmed fact.

There might even be another team or two intrigued by the 6-8 swingman's cultured skill to score, pass and make plays. That's an unadulterated guess.

Yet, according to a know-it-all scrutinizing Rose's relocation odds, there isn't a reckless NBA owner other than James Dolan willing to burden his bulging books with a contract that would cost currently luxury-tax capsized Camp Cablevision $33.8M.

Still, as hopeless as the stammering Knicks look, and as depressed as their fans are, and as desolate as the Garden may become if their 6-18 record gets any shoddier, not even a filthy rich dunce like Dolan is going to hemorrhage that much currency for a player Isiah Thomas ran out of Indiana with Travis Best (reaping Ron Artest, Brad Miller, Ron Mercer and Kevin Ollie in exchange) unless the first-round pick is packaged.

Don't get me wrong; it's not as if the Raptors are uncompromising. A Toronto source reveals the pick is on the table, but not without limits: "The unanswered question is how deep into the draft will it be protected from year to year."

NY Post

Tags: New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Isiah Picks Up Pursuit Of Raptors' Rose

Dec 22, 2005 4:42 AM

The Knicks' on-again, off-again pursuit of Jalen Rose may be on again. Brendan Suhr, Isiah Thomas' top lieutenant, scouted the Raptors Monday when they were in Orlando. A day earlier, Knicks scout Walker D. Russell watched the Raptors play the Sixers in Toronto.

Rose has been on the Knicks' radar for two years, but it's unlikely that Toronto would trade the veteran because his contract expires next summer. Another possibility is point guard Mike James, who was a backup for Larry Brown when the Pistons won the title in 2004. Brown has talked about acquiring a point guard in order to move Stephon Marbury to shooting guard.

New York Daily News

Tags: New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Mitchell And Babcock Are Safe

Dec 21, 2005 1:47 PM

Sam Mitchell and Rob Babcock can breathe easy, knowing their boss plans to let them do their jobs for the rest of the season.

When asked if the jobs of the Raptors coach and general manager are safe for the rest of the year, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. president Richard Peddie said yesterday, "Our process is to evaluate everybody at the end of the year."

Despite calls for heads to roll in Raptorland from fans and rumours circulating about potential successors for Mitchell or Babcock with the team's record sitting at a league-worst 5-20, Peddie is not about to make any rash decisions. No matter the circumstances, Peddie doesn't see the benefits of making changes in mid-season.

"There are a smaller pool of people without jobs," Peddie said. "I'm just not a fan of it (making a mid-season change). Philosophically, I don't believe in it."

Peddie won't delve into specifics when asked about his goals for the rest of the season. He simply said he expects the team to show improvement.

"With the drafting (of Charlie Villanueva and Joey Graham) and the trades (specifically bringing in Mike James for the unpredictable Rafer Alston), the hope is to be better at the end of the year than the start of the year," Peddie said. "And I hope we're dramatically better because we were so horrible at the start."

Of course, with the playoffs a distant dream, MLSEL is left with one option.

"We're selling hope," Peddie said. "I admit that."

Toronto Sun

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Jackson Fined For Comments On Bosh

Dec 15, 2005 10:23 PM

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was fined $25,000 U.S. on Thursday for comments he made to the Star about Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh.

Jackson publicly expressed the Lakers? interest in Bosh, in violation of the NBA?s anti-tampering rule, Stu Jackson, the NBA?s senior vice-president of basketball operations, announced.

Prior to the Lakers? Dec. 8 game at Toronto, Jackson told the Star his team should have some room to sign some free agents next season, and mentioned Bosh as a player of interest.

?There are some that will be available in the year following that you obviously have to take a look at and this kid here is one of them,? Jackson said. ?Chris Bosh, obviously everybody?s going to be interested in and we think he?s become quite a talent.?

Toronto Star

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Artest To Canada?

Dec 15, 2005 11:24 AM

You can add Toronto to the list of rumoured destinations for Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest.

A rumour making the rounds last night had the Pacers badboy and second-round pick Erazem Lorbek going to the Raptors for Morris Peterson, another roster player (potentially Matt Bonner) and a first-round pick in 2006.

The salaries are close enough for a potential deal. Peterson and Bonner make a combined $6.3 million US, while Artest, who demanded a trade earlier this week, makes $6.8 million. Teams can trade players signed during the off-season (as was Bonner) beginning today.

Lorbek is playing professionally in Italy.

Pacers general manager Donnie Walsh has said he is going to insist on a trade that makes sense in the long-term.

Raptors GM Rob Babcock has said he would move a first-round pick (the team has two next year) if he could improve his club.

Toronto Sun

Tags: Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Mitchell's Mad As Raps Lose Again

Dec 15, 2005 1:32 AM

As the frustration mounts and the losses pile up and the same maddening mistakes are repeated by professionals who should know better, Sam Mitchell's patience is wearing thin.

It almost broke last night.

Calling out his players ? and in particular rookie forward Charlie Villanueva ? Mitchell blasted the soft mental nature of his team after another loss, this a 105-94 capitulation to the Chicago Bulls before 16,169 increasingly disturbed Air Canada Centre fans.

"The disappointing thing for me is at some point, somebody in the locker room should say something to each other," Mitchell said after the Raptors allowed the Bulls to shoot an astonishing 58 per cent from the floor.

"The coaches are on them, but at some point they're going to have to understand this is their basketball team and they have to take ownership of it. Somebody in the locker room has to say something and guys have to be able to accept it when they say it and go out and play; that's what teams do."

Villanueva, meanwhile, bore the brunt of Mitchell's outburst. The coach limited the rookie forward to just eight minutes, ticked off about his lackadaisical defensive effort while equally displeased with Villanueva's preparation.

"Every now and then the young guys have to understand it's a privilege to play, not a right," said Mitchell. "He (Villanueva) needs to pick it up and not just in games.

"We're committed to playing the young guys but it doesn't mean I have to play them every night. You have to come to practice and I feel you're not working, I'm going to cut your minutes."

Toronto Star

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Raptors Might Dangle Top Picks

Toronto Star

Ukic Suffers Kidney Injury

Toronto Sun

Lakers Keen On Bosh

Toronto Star

Williams Undergoes Surgery

ESPN

Surgery Possible On Alvin Williams' Knee

The Toronto Star

Mitchell Lets Raps Get On Each Other

Toronto Star

Carter's Ankle Not Serious

Yahoo!

Carter Injures Ankle Against Raptors

Fox Sports