Although most teams in the league are going to try to low-ball Toronto on their offers for Ford, their obvious need for a more high profile swingman may lead to a deal Ford. Word on the street is that the Knicks are looking to offer up shooting guard Jamal Crawford and possibly one of their rebounding big men, if the Raptors will send them TJ Ford and one or two expiring contracts. Apparently the Knicks are currently collecting expiring contracts wherever possible so they can make a run at Lebron James in 2010 when he becomes a free agent.
On a lighter note another rumor that may be a bit more far fetched as it would require a couple of “if this happens”, then “this could happen” type situations. There is a rumor circulating that the Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo is trying to get his hands on Richard “Rip” Hamilton to fill their lack of scoring power at shooting guard. What do the Raptors have to offer Detroit? Not too much, but they do have some attractive expiring contracts.
Building on his YouTube-earned reputation as one of the NBA’s quirkier stars, Bosh was on assignment in Boston to interview players ahead of last night’s series opener.
He asked a variety of goofy questions, and the players were surprisingly game. He got Lakers centre Pau Gasol and Celtics big man Glen Davis to reveal which Sex and the City character they relate to most, and grilled Lakers sharpshooter Sasha Vujacic on his rumoured relationship with hotel heiress Paris Hilton.
as the latest workouts at the Air Canada Centre concluded yesterday afternoon, the team’s brass was satisfied that a couple of intriguing possibilities had answered a question or two about themselves.
For Chris Douglas-Roberts of the Memphis Tigers, it’s difficulty shooting from long range; for Brandon Rush of the Kansas Jayhawks, it’s proving that he’s fully recovered from a serious knee injury.
Jim Kelly, Toronto’s director of player personnel, came away feeling better about both players after seeing them up close.
“I liked the composure of Rush on the floor, I liked the competitiveness of Douglas-Roberts,” said Kelly.
“This (workout) shouldn’t be the end-all, it shouldn’t raise a guy up to take him and it shouldn’t knock a guy down not to take him, (but) I think we learned something about his shooting ability, about his competiveness … (watching) up close,” Kelly said of the 6-foot-7 Douglas-Roberts.
Of Rush, who blew out the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee while doing a pre-draft workout a year ago, gave every indication he’s fully recovered.
“I think he’s even stronger right now,” said Kelly. “I think his weight is up maybe nine pounds since the end of the season and he’s carrying nine strong pounds on him now. I think he looks very strong and he’s very fit.”
Rush, the brother of NBAer Kareem Rush (who was a Raptor draft pick traded along with Tracy Murray for Chris Jefferies and Lindsey Hunter in 2002), knows that questions about his knee will dog him until he’s eventually drafted.
“They bring me in kind of early for X-rays, pull on it, stuff like that, just to see how everything’s going in there,” the 6-6 swingman said. “And every time it happens, they say it’s perfect.”
Not only does Rush’s wingspan, beyond seven feet, give the crafty Douglas-Roberts fits, Rush also has some good trash-talk ammunition. His Kansas Jayhawks beat Douglas-Roberts’ Memphis Tigers in April’s NCAA championship game.
“I try not to ever bring it up,” Douglas-Roberts said Thursday, in town to workout for the Raptors. “He has the bragging rights right now.”
On Thursday, it appeared Rush got the better of his counterpart. Neither is a terrific shooter, but Rush’s defensive ability looked to separate the two.
Jim Kelly, Toronto’s director of player personnel, had kind words for both players, but was impressed at Rush’s athletic ability, considering he tore his anterior cruciate ligament just more than a year ago.
“I think he’s even stronger right now,” Kelly said. “I think his weight is up, maybe nine pounds since the end of the season. He’s carrying nine strong pounds on him. I think he looks very strong, and he’s very fit.”
“Off the court, we’re cool. We’re friendly,” Douglas-Roberts said. “We’re going to get to know each other. We already knew one another prior to this. But when you get on to the court, it is bad blood. No friends. Kansas and Memphis.”
Video – Interview with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Chris Bosh
This pick could net them a very solid, NBA player, as here are some of the 17th overall picks in recent drafts: Danny Granger (2005), Josh Smith (2004), Desmond Mason (2000), and yes, our very own Rasho Nesterovic (1998). However, it could also net them a bust, like these players picked 17th overall: Zarko Cabarkapa (2003), Cal Bowlder (1999), and the last time the Raptors had this pick Michael Bradley (2001). So as you can see, it’s a crap shoot and this pick will be a key to improving this team in the offseason with their limited salary flexibility. Here’s a few players that I think could help the Raptors:
Also, Bosh mentioned his Xbox gamertag (“XBOSHLIVE”) and encourages his fans to add him as a friend. But be warned, when Hot Boy asks if he plays online, Bosh had this to say:
“Yeah, and and umm you know, it’s a funny story about that is, you know sometimes, most the times I play – but I don’t chat. Like I play, I don’t chat. Umm because, uhh everybody can’t, everybody’s not mature for that.”
You hear that Xbox Live users – it’s time to grow up!
I find the whole situation a shame in a lot of ways. The Raptors position of strength as ultimately turned into a weakness in just one short year. It is hard to say what the overall impact of trading Ford will be for this team without knowing what the Raptors will get in return. There is no doubt that if the Raptors can get a second star player to help Chris Bosh that would mean more for this franchise than Ford and Calderon combined. That being said are any of the names you see, that guy, in a Ford trade that is rumoured to be out there? I am not sure I have see that name myself.
As much as I love Calderon, how good would Mr. Big Shot Billups — who lead the Pistons to two NBA Finals and was MVP in their 2004 NBA Finals win over the Lakers — look in a Raptors uniform again (he had a brief stint with them in 1998)? Sure the veteran Billups is getting up there in age, but when healthy he’s still one of the best point guards in the league, and playing with Chris Bosh (who’s currently a NBA Finals correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) could make them a lethal combo. Another guy who might fit right in with the Raps would be feisty 6 foot 10 Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace, who is also apparently up for grabs. The Raps are soft, and Wallace (while yes, a distraction from time to time) would bring a toughness to this team that’s been missing here since the Charles Oakley/Antonio Davis days.
He looked comfortable on camera, holding his own in his exchange with Leno. Asked which team he’d bet on to win the NBA championship, he responded: “Just see what Charles Barkley’s doing, who he’s betting on, and just do the opposite.”
And apparently inspired by the story of a Red Sox shirt being buried beneath the Yankees’ new stadium, Bosh hid a Raptors jersey in the depths of Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden.
“Let the curse begin,” he said.
But the second half was what we have been used to around here since November. The Celtics defended, allowing only 37 second half points, and rebounded (26) like they were playing the Toronto Raptors.
“It means a lot, it really does, but I swear I do it for my teammates,” Tucker said when asked how he felt being named the Post’s season MVP.
“These guys come in every day, making sure to give me the ball when I need the ball and making big shots when they need to step up. These guys are unbelievable, man. People said we couldn’t do it because we’ve got a lot of young Israelis, and these guys are unbelievable, man. Unbelieveable. It’s all about them.”
The man who made the number four shirt his own over the 27-game regular season and the two games of the Final Four said he never expected to win such accolades when he arrived in Israel from the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
“You can’t think about that kind of stuff. I just come out and pour my heart out, put it on thon the line and see what happens,” Tucker said.
“Sure, once you get here in September, you think about winning it all. You prepare and condition during the year to win it all. We worked hard all season to get to this point, and we got chance to win it.”
The former Texas star then explained his attitude.
“We know that once we get in between those court lines, we turn around and become animals. You have to be an animal. It’s not about just making shots but doing all the little stuff: rebounding, getting on the floor, hustle plays.”
Actually legitmately, truly funny. I was shocked. Sure the guy had produced some low budget pseudo-comical skits in the past but tonite Bosh was showing off the chops. I guess Leno hired the Raptors franchise to provide some comedic Q & A from the Finals participants and Bosh killed it. He was throwing out some hilarious original questions, busting guys about short shorts, Sex and the City, and random skullets.
Though this is undoubtedly great for the present Raptors’ situation, this kind of exposure has me concerned. It was probably the first time millions of Americans were introduced to Bosh and he killed it. Would a budding national figure spend his prime in Canada, removed from mainstream American media?
University of Memphis swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts has rebuffed the Grizzlies’ requests to visit FedExForum for an individual draft workout.
The Griz own the fifth and 28th picks in the first round of the June 26 NBA draft.
Douglas-Roberts is projected to go late in the first round. ESPN.com has the Detroit native going 27th to New Orleans while NBAdraft.net slots Douglas-Roberts at No.22 with Orlando.
“(Players) take a projection of a range they think they will fall in the draft, and they tend to concentrate on those teams,” Griz general manager Chris Wallace said Thursday. “I’ve got no problem with drafting a guy who doesn’t work out. It happens all the time.”
With me being in Boston, I had the oppurtunity the check out the Red Sox play at the world famous Fenway Park last night. It was the craziest sports atmosphere that I’ve ever seen and I’ve been to some spectacular events. The reason I say that is because it was a cold and rainy Wednesday night against the Devil Rays, a non-rival team, and the place was packed!
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Chris Bosh on Leno was very funny. That author was right as he absolutely killed it.
Rasho and Joey for Rip. Done and done.
We’ll throw in Maceo for Maxiell.