March 2006 Toronto Raptors Wiretap

Raptors High On Spaniard

May 31, 2006 6:16 AM

According to the Spanish sports publication Marca, the Raptors have made overtures about signing free agent Jorge Garbajosa, a 6-9 Spanish forward. NBA officials who have seen the 28-year-old play make it sound like he'd be a great fit.

According to the Toronto Star, Garbajosa is said to be a tough inside presence despite his height and could also be able to stretch defences with three-point shooting ability. He's not a true NBA centre ? more along the lines of the undersized Kurt Thomas of the Phoenix Suns ? but he could do some of the dirty work under the basket to take some of the pressure off the likes of Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva.

Toronto Star

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Raptors Reportedly To Sign Jorge Garbajosa

May 31, 2006 12:47 AM

According to a reputable Spanish website, the Raptors are in talks to sign Euroleague star Jorge Garbajosa.

Garbajosa is the star of the Unicaja basketball team.

It has been widely speculated that Bryan Colangelo plans on making the addition of international basketball players a priority.

The deal is speculated to be in the range of $12 million over three years.

Marca

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Raptors Sending Out Strong Signals For Williams

May 28, 2006 3:33 PM

The Toronto Raptors are sending out strong signals that they'd like to get UConn's point guard Marcus Williams, according to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News.

Even if the Raptors traded down to number four, it would be considered a reach by some NBA observers, but Bryan Colangelo has been known to take a gamble on a player too early if he thinks he's the right fit.

New York Daily News

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Nine-Figure Deal Would Likely Be Needed To Lure Wallace Out Of Detroit

May 28, 2006 12:10 PM

In all probability, Ben Wallace?s agent, Arn Tellem, will be negotiating for a four-year deal for his client this summer.

If the Pistons elected to give Wallace a full maximum, they could pay him as much as $132.5 million over six years.

The most any other team could pay him over six years, possibly Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto or Charlotte, would be roughly $126 million.

In reality, a competing team may be able to lure his away with a package just over $100 million.

Detroit News

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, NBA

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Toronto Has Agreement In Place With Gherardini

May 27, 2006 2:11 PM

According to two separate sources, Maurizio Gherardini, the general manager of Benetton Treviso, Italy's top professional basketball club, has already agreed to join Bryan Colangelo's basketball front office in Toronto.

Gherardini will be the first European to hold a senior basketball position with an NBA club.

An official announcement could come as early as next week.

"It is a done deal," one Italian source with close ties to Gherardini said yesterday in an e-mail message.

"He's waiting [for] the end of the Italian season to make it official, but there's no doubt he's coming to Toronto."

Globe and Mail

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Agent May Try To Get Aldridge To Chicago

May 25, 2006 10:37 AM

Arn Tellem is representing Texas product LaMarcus Aldridge. Sam Smith is reporting that he will work to get Aldridge to the Bulls.

Tellem has been close with the Bulls and the team bought out his client Tim Thomas, a move that has increased his impending value on the free agent market tremendously.

Chicago Tribune

Tags: Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA NBA Draft

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Bosh Thinks Raptors Need A Banger

May 25, 2006 10:27 AM

As the Raptors send a group to Europe to scout Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh went on the air and expressed his opinion on what the Raptors need.

"He can really shoot the ball, but like I said before, I think we have plenty of talented big guys who play the finesse four spot," Bosh told the Fan 590 AM on Thursday. "I think we need to get more of a banger."

Colangelo has said that Bosh will be allowed to give input in the process.

"If we can get a big guy who is not going to look for many shots, who just wants to set screens ... and control the paint, that would give us a lot of flexibility," Bosh said.

Toronto Sun

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Raptors Send Scouts To Watch Bargnani

May 24, 2006 9:49 PM

A day after winning the top pick in the draft lottery, the Toronto Raptors dispatched coach Sam Mitchell and senior adviser Wayne Embry to Italy to scout forward Andrea Bargnani, the Associated Press is reporting.

General manager Bryan Colangelo and team owner Larry Tanenbaum have already scouted Bargnani, a 7-footer who plays for Benetton Treviso.

"I'm not certain we would be sending Sam and Wayne to Italy if we had the No. 5 pick," Colangelo said Wednesday.

Colangelo also mentioned Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge, Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison, Washington guard Brandon Roy, Connecticut forward Rudy Gay and LSU forward Tyrus Thomas as candidates for the No. 1 pick.

ESPN

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With Raptors' Needs, Aldridge May Be No. 1 On List

May 24, 2006 3:26 AM

"We need a one [point guard] or a five [center]," Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo told ESPN.com as he made his way to the NBA's Secaucus, N.J., studio before winning the Draft Lottery, giving Toronto the first overall selection this June.

Based on need, the player who makes the most sense is Texas sophomore center LaMarcus Aldridge according to ESPN's Andy Katz, although Colangelo says there are more options for his team than just Aldridge.

"I think there are about five or six names that could be there," Colangelo said.

Colangelo said the two locks on the Raptors are Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva, two forwards. Picking Aldridge would form a formidable frontline and give them a solid shot-blocking frontline.

ESPN

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA NBA Draft

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Toronto Wins Lottery

May 23, 2006 7:52 PM

Bryan Colangelo's good fortunes have followed him to Toronto, as the Raptors will have the first selection in June's NBA Draft.

Prior to the lottery, Colangelo stated multiple times that the Raptors intended to keep their draft options open, leaving the possibility of trading the pick.  During the post-lottery interview, Colangelo reiterated the sentiment that the club has multiple needs.

The NBA Draft Lottery results are as follows.

1.  Toronto Raptors
2.  Chicago Bulls
3.  Charlotte Bobcats
4.  Portland Trailblazers
5.  Atlanta Hawks
6.  Minnesota Timberwolves
7.  Boston Celtics
8.  Houston Rockets
9.  Golden State Warriors
10.  Seattle SuperSonics
11.  Orlando Magic
12.  New Orleans Hornets
13.  Philadelphia 76ers
14.  Utah Jazz

Following is the order for the remainder of NBA Draft 2006:

15. Milwaukee (To New Orleans/Oklahoma City)
16. Chicago
17. Indiana
18. Washington
19. Sacramento
20. Denver (To New York via Toronto and New Jersey)
21. LA Lakers (To Phoenix via Atlanta and Boston)
22. LA Clippers (To New Jersey via Denver and Orlando)
23. New Jersey
24. Memphis
25. Cleveland
26. Miami (To LA Lakers)
27. Phoenix
28. Dallas
29. San Antonio (To New York)
30. Detroit (To Portland via Utah)

Click 'Read' if you're not happy with the results and want to see an alternative scenario.

RealGM

Tags: Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA NBA Draft

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Babcock Could Return To Wolves Front Office

Pioneer Press

Keady Out In Toronto

Toronto Star

Raptors Work Out Williams, Colangelo Keeping Options Open On Draft

The Star

James Says Houston Is His First Choice

Houston Chronicle

Varejao Says Araujo Needs A Change Of Scenery

Toronto Star

Paul, Villanueva, Bogut, Frye And Deron Named To All-Rookie Team

Press Release

Raptors To Wear New Uniforms In 2006-2007

The Toronto Star

Magloire Likes Milwaukee Doesn't Want To Be Dealt To Toronto

Journal Times