He's been described as a problem child and a locker room malcontent. He's been recognized by the community where he lived for his numerous off-court charitable works and by the writers who cover the NBA as an all-around good guy.

So he's affable. No, he's mercurial. One thing is for certain: Jalen Rose is not answering his cell phone.

Even a very careful listen to his voice mail greeting provides little insight: "Please leave a message after the tone," a voice, presumably his, says. "Only God can judge. Either love me, or leave me alone. Holler."

The lithe, 6-foot-8 point guard-slash-small forward arrived in Toronto late last night.

``It wasn't a total nightmare,'' Rose said of the trip from Chicago, surrounded by luggage as he waited to check into his temporary home at a downtown hotel. He was joined by Donyell Marshall and Lonny Baxter, also dealt to the Raptors by the Bulls.

``We're excited about a new start here in Toronto. We understand they have some great sports fans here,'' said Rose, who's joining his fourth NBA team in 10 years.

Marshall said the trade rumours were a little tough to take.

``It was harder for me because I have four kids,'' Marshall said of the trade speculation.

This morning, Rose, Marshall and Baxter will undergo physicals, meet their new teammates, practice under head coach Kevin O'Neill and then leave for Philadelphia, where they meet the Sixers tomorrow night.

And when the NBA league office makes it official today, Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald can finally explain why Rose was the centrepiece of one of the most significant trades in Toronto basketball history.