Hank from North Charleston, South Carolina: When you called Raptors’ games did you have a chance to talk ball with Alex English?
Chuck: I can see you must be a Gamecocks fan. Alex is a class, class act. He’s a man of dignity, grace and character and can talk plenty of ball. I’m surprised South Carolina didn’t dial him up when they had a coaching vacancy this off season.
Seja from Toronto: Chuck, I miss your daily blog on raptors.com but I am glad to see you’re writing on the Bulls web site. I really think the two teams could hook up in one “sick, wicked and nasty” trade.
Chuck: You never say never and listen to everyone. I do believe the Raps will attempt to upgrade their wing position and add grit to their front line. Bryan Colangelo is a tremendous basketball executive and has the respect of everyone in the NBA.
The Toronto Raptors will resume player workouts on Friday in preparation for the 2008 NBA Draft, set for June 26. Among those working out for the Raptors are: forward Darrell Arthur, 6-foot-9; 225 pounds, Kansas; guard Tyrone Brazelton, 6-foot, 180, Western Kentucky; forward James Gist, 6-foot-9, 235, Maryland; guard DeMarcus Nelson, 6-foot-4, 200, Duke; and centre David Padgett, 6-foot-11, 230, Louisville. Toronto owns the 17th selection in the 2008 NBA draft.
I wouldn’t make a Crawford trade. I think his presence will cost the Raptors as many points defensively as he creates offensively, not just because of his weak defense but because the Raptors don’t have enough top notch defenders around him so he compounds an already present weak point for the team.
I also think his contract adds pressure to Colangelo finding an immediate top notch swingman over the next 12 months and if he fails during those 12 months, the Raptors will be in a scary position of mediocrity pinning all their hopes on Bargnani becoming a star to bail them out.
After working out for the Toronto Raptors last week, it looks as though there could be a chance the Michigan native plays his rookie season for an NBA team within driving distance of his family and friends. When Neitzel was at the Air Canada Centre for pre-draft workouts this week, Hoops Addict was able to talk with him about this opportunity as well as how his pre-draft workouts are going so far. The introspective athlete provided some honest and candid answers during our chat.
Instead, people like Maurizio Gherardini were left to sing Del Negro’s praises. Gherardini is the Raptors assistant GM who served as general manager for Benetton Treviso, which Del Negro helped lead to the 1992 Italian championship.
“He’s very fundamentally sound, knows the game and how to relate to teammates and the community,” Gherardini said by phone from Italy. “In Treviso, he became an untouchable idol and is remembered as one of the most significant players in franchise history.
“He’s a very likable and bright guy who is clever at establishing relationships with players. He’s got a great sense of humor. But I only know him as a player.”
Indeed, even Gherardini offered little insight into what Del Negro’s coaching philosophy might be. That the point guard and 11-year NBA veteran is coming from the Suns, though, suggests he’ll emphasize an up-tempo style and all but ensures the Bulls will use the No. 1 pick in the June 26 NBA draft on point guard Derrick Rose.
In 2004, Access Magazine called Chris Bosh a “reluctant superstar.” In April 2007, just last year, Bosh was called “a reluctant self-promoter” by the one and only New York Times. Oh my, how times have changed.
Bosh is all grown up. He’s a superstar, and he’s not afraid to let people know it. If appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as a guest correspondent means you have arrived, well, Bosh has arrived.
Nicolas Batum has several strengths on the basketball court that have allowed him to shine on the international stage. He exhibits impressive finishing ability when shooting and has a strong mid-range game. Nicolas is extremely aggressive when playing perimeter defense and powerful when cutting to the basket. His most remarkable part of his game is his transition play. These are just some of the reasons why many NBA teams would like to add Nicolas Batum to their rosters.
NBC Sports has listed Nicolas Batum as No. 16 on their mock draft and believe that he will be drafted by the Toronto Raptors. Yet, collegehoopsnet.com placed him as No. 15 in their mock draft and have predicted that Nicolas Batum will be becoming part of the Phoenix Suns.
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Whenever I see Gherardini being mentioned in the news (which seems to be happening more and more frequently), it makes me wonder if he’s doing it just to get his name out, or if the organization is letting him make more “appearances” to give him more public exposure.
I think it’s only a matter of time before he gets his own gig.
VDN has a long association with a number of very good basketball coaches and has been a key member of some highly successful NBA teams.
As a head coach in the NBA, I would not expect his teams to be “Full Throttle” on offense, like the Phoenix Suns, but to be well-balanced, like the current San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls of yesteryear.
A very interesting hire by John Paxson.
khandors last blog post..Junior goes yard for #600