These are my links for June 5th through June 9th:

• Colangelo News Conference: Pt. 1 – June 9, 2009 – NBA Videos and Highlights –
• Chaun’s Raptors and NBA blog: Kapono traded to the Sixers for Reggie Evans – I really like this trade. JK wasn’t doing much for us, and Reggie Evans brings toughness that are lacking.
• Court Surfing – The Jonny Flynn Show – While the six guys working out gave their all on the court and Jrue Holiday's star also shone, there was one standout once the ball stopped. Flynn mesmerized, drawing in media, coaches and team personnel alike, bringing laughter and smiles to whomever he spoke with.

  Joking about "basically being a Canadian" by growing up in Niagara Falls, dropping a throwback reference to the Damon Stoudamire/Marcus Camby era and then saying he felt like he was the perfect fit for the Raptors.

  This is a guy who will take whichever uniform he is handed and will wear it well.

  He's got a personality that will enable him to stick out in a draft class like this, where everything is wide open and so many players are lumped together in the rankings.

• Raptors notebook: Bosh’s decision does not change Colangelo’s mindset – Posted Sports – "I was asked, ‘Does this change your position on Chris Bosh?' Not at all. Not whatsoever. I still intend to build this team as if Chris is the cornerstone. I have no intention to shop Chris Bosh. We're going to go into this season and see what happens. If a trade at any time makes itself available, whether it's before the season, leading up to the trade deadline or in a sign-and-trade situation next year that makes sense, we'll pursue it."
• Hoops Addict » What Could Have Been: 2003 NBA Draft – 4th – Toronto Raptors

  Original Pick: Chris Bosh, F, Georgia Tech
  New Pick: Same

  Still makes the most sense.

• Trade: Kapono for Reggie Evans « nbaroundtable – Excellent trade for the Toronto Raptors. They reduced their salary committments, added a superior player, and filled a need. It’s hard to see the Raps doing any better in a Kapono trade than what they’ve done here.

  As for Philadelphia, it’s a decent trade. They gave up someone of small value and acquired someone of small value … improving their overall balance in the process, because they desperately do need more three point shooting.

• Chicago Bulls Blog: Should the Bulls Move up for Gerald Henderson? – So I asked Henderson why he’d come to Chicago when he’s most likely a top 10 pick. The rumors are there’s almost no chance he falls beyond Charlotte at No. 12 and Toronto at No. 8 has a lot of interest.

  So Henderson didn’t have to break from a busy schedule of workouts. And he didn’t have to say nice things about Chicago because he doesn’t have to impress the team with the No. 16 pick.

  But he really would like to play for the Bulls.

• RaptorBlog.com J-Nilla to the Illadelph – Aside from the toughness and rebounding help Evans brings, his contract expires at the same time as Kapono's (in 2010) and offers a savings of around $2.5 million total. Whether he's the second or third PF on the team, I don't expect he'll average more than 15 minutes per game in Toronto because he's one of the worst offensive players in the NBA, so you're essentially playing 4-on-5 on that end when he's on the floor. Of course, Kapono is one of the worst defensive players in the league, so you could say it evens out.
• Hoops Addict » Toronto Deals Kapono To Philadelphia For Evans – Bryan Colangelo didn’t waste any time in dealing Jason Kapono this summer.

  The once heralded free agent acquisition failed to find a comfort zone in Toronto so it comes as no surprise that he was dealt this summer, the only thing that will surprise Raptors fans is that Colangelo was able to trade Kapono so quickly and that he was able to a player in Reggie Evans who will be a great fit for this franchise.

• Raptors acquire forward Reggie Evans from 76ers |Toronto Sun – Evans has ranked in the top-10 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes in each of the past six seasons, leading the league in 2006-07 at 19.7. He finished seventh in the NBA last season with an average of 15.3.

  Evans has grabbed 20+ rebounds on three occasions, with a career-best 21 versus Charlotte on February 5, 2005. He collected a career-high 19 defensive rebounds against the Raptors on March 10, 2006.

  The 6-foot-8, 245-pounder has appeared in 514 career regular season games with 270 starts. He owns career averages of 4.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 19.6 minutes. He has seen action in the postseason four times, averaging 4.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 17.1 minutes in 27 games.

• Trade Alert: 76ers Get Shooter, Raptors Get Mean | Bleacher Report – Hardly in the NBA do you see a trade which benefits both teams, but this one does. For the 76ers, they get what they lacked by acquiring a sharpshooter to spread the floor for Elton Brand, who is returning from his second major injury in back to back seasons.

  On the flip side, the Raptors get some toughness up front, which they lacked with Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. Evans has always been known for gobbling up every possible rebound.

• Courtside – Kapono for Evans official, good move for both sides – Negatives:

  - Trading within your own division is always risky. Philadelphia and Toronto should both have similar records next year and will be fighting for the same playoff spots. Kapono upgrades Philadelphia in its weakest area. Philly only has one significant weakness – outside shooting. With Elton Brand back, Kapono could be a deadly weapon for the Sixers. However, he won't be a starter.

  - The frontcourt is now mighty crowded though.
  Probably spells the end of Pops Mensah-Bonsu coming back. Nathan Jawai and Kris Humphries are on the ropes.
  Rasho likely replaces Jake Voshkul. O'Bryant probably comes back.

• The Phanatic Magazine: Sixers get their shooter – Evans (6-8, 245) just finished his seventh NBA season and his second with the Sixers. In 79 games with seven starts last season, he averaged 3.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game. Evans has ranked in the top-10 in rebounds per 48 minutes played in each of the past six seasons.

  “I want to thank Reggie Evans for his contributions to the team for the past two seasons and we wish him only the best," Stefanski said.

• Why the Kapono to Philly trade is good for the Suns – Bright Side Of The Sun – With the Raptors losing the outside shooting of Kopono they have an even bigger hole at the two guard position.

  Last season they mostly ran with Anthony Parker who's a nice defensive 2 but did not deliver enough of a punch from the wing. Plus, he's an unrestricted free agent. That leaves the Raptors right now with back court of Jose Calderson, Roko Ukic and Mr. Marcus Banks.

  This team NEEDS Jason Richardson. JRich and Caldron are a great pairing with Jose's naturual inclination to distribute the ball and JRich's natural inclincation to shoot the ball and Jose is a better on ball defender then Nash so JRich wouldn't be as exposed playing with the Raps.

• Raps swing Kapono for Evans deal – Sportsnet.ca – "Reggie Evans will certainly add an element of toughness to our team," Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo said in a release. "He has very good rebounding and defensive instincts, addressing two areas where we have underperformed."
• 76ers trade Evans for 3-point shooter Kapono | Delawareonline.com – “We are very excited to add one of the league’s most prolific 3-point shooters in Jason Kapono,” general manager Ed Stefanski said in a press release. “We feel that this move addresses our goal of improving our shooting from the perimeter.
• TheStar.com | Raptors trade Kapono for Reggie Evans – Evans, a 6-8, 245-pound power forward, is considered one of the more physical players in the league. Toughness is an aspect of the game Toronto has been lacking for years.

  While he's not an offensive threat – averaging just 3.3 points per game last season with the Sixers – his rebounding average of 4.6 boards in just 14 minutes per game should earn him some playing time with Toronto.

• Raptors Deal Kapono For Evans – Evans, a 6-8 power forward, averaged 14.4 MPG with 4.6 RPG and 3.3 PPG over his 79 games last season with seven starts. In 2007-08 he started 61 games averaged 23.2 MPG and 7.5 RPG. While he does not have a great offensive game, he brings energy and strong rebounding.

  He makes approximately $5-million per over the next two seasons

• FAN590 – Kapono Traded To Philly – Kapono Confirms Trade – We texted Jason Kapono … he’s at charity golf tournament right now.

  He confirmed that he has indeed been traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was told about the move yesterday.

• Doug Smith’s Raptors Blog – Kapono Trade – Just a quick heads-up while I write the quick story but the Raptors have made a trade, league sources tell me.

  Jason Kapono's gone to the Philaelphia 76ers for Reggie Evans.

  Now, off to figure the financial repercussions; will be back with a story in a little bit.

• Kapono going to Sixers – The Globe and Mail – Bryan Colangelo said one of his goals this off-season was to make his team tougher. He just did, the Globe and Mail has learned.

  According to NBA sources the team is expected to announce this afternoon a deal sending sharp-shooter Jason Kapono to the Philadelphia 76ers for bruising forward Reggie Evans.

• khandor’s sports blog » Where for art thou, Saviour, in Raptorville – After 3.5 seasons at the Raptors’ helm, it should now be clear for others to see that the few NBA Experts who claimed that MLSE actually hired an “average” GM to run its basketball operation, in the aftermath of dismissing Rob Babcock [i.e. another less-than-stellar GM, in his own right] … if the actual goal was to become a championship calibre team in the not-too-distant future … were, in fact, 100% correct.

  None of which is to say that Bryan Colangelo is, either, incompetent or should be fired anytime soon but, rather, only that:

• khandor’s sports blog » Who should be on the radar for the Raptors in the 2009 NBA Draft – If Toronto chooses to trade down [from No. 9, overall], on June 25, into the latter half of the 1st Round and/or the 2nd Round:
• Courtside – GTA stars Tristan Thompson, Cory Joseph invited to world tournament; Raps second rounder coming over? – In other news, Greek papers are reporting that the Raptors are serious about bringing over combo forward Georgios Printezis this season if buyout details with Olympiacos can be worked out.
  Printezis would be a gritty addition to the bench.
• Sports Radio Interviews » Blog Archive » Shawn Marion Hates The Cold –
• NBA draft and free agency rumors: Jordan Hill slipping, Ron Artest to Greece and more – Hill has a lot of upside, picked up the game late, and still averaged 18.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game for a NCAA tournament-caliber team in a power conference. He has long arms and a great reach, and he can jump out of the gym. The only concern from his combine numbers is a lack of lateral quickness. He’d be a good fit for the Bucks at #10 and even the Raptors at #9, though Toronto might be interested in finding a banger so that they can move Chris Bosh to power forward full time.
• The Hoops Report | 2009 NBA Mock Draft: Extended Version – 9. TORONTO: DeMar DeRozan 6-6 211 SG/SF Fr. USC
  The Raptors need a wing player who can penetrate and get to the rim. With DeRozan still on the board, he would be a wise choice. The pick would come down to DeRozan and Gerald Henderson. Either one could be a reincarnation of Vince Carter, something Toronto fans would like to see.
• Alonzo Mourning, Chris Bosh, Jamario Moon….and more – Peninsula is Mightier – The latest Chris Bosh news, in case you had not heard, is that he will not be extending his contract with Toronto and will test the free agent waters come July 1st, 2010. As you can imagine, they are pretty pist off in Toronto…but isn't this exactly what anybody would've expected? Even putting myself in a Raptor fans shoes…if Dwyane Wade came out tomorrow and said he didn’t want to talk anything about a new contract until next summer, that’s no surprise. That is just what basically every other pro-athlete would do. Now in the Raptors case, Bosh hasn't come out and said he plans to stay in Toronto as Wade has done with Miami…but still, there is no new twist to the story. No surprises…just closure.
• Toronto Raptors Could Be Very Busy Making Headlines on Draft Night 2009 : T.O. Sports – Don’t sleep on the idea that the Raptors will trade out of the lottery in exchange for a mid-first rounder if they feel they can get as good a value at a later pick while shedding a bad contract like Banks or Kapono in the process.

  They would open themselves up to the possibility of signing one or two very good free agents and would be doing so in a market where there are few teams which can compete with the money the Raptors can spend.

  Whatever happens on Juna 25th, it is certain to be one of the most important days of the year for the Raptors who may be very busy or may simply end up doing nothing at all.

• The Love is Gone | Dime Magazine – Remember when all Raptors fans were in love with their team, specifically Chris Bosh? These days not so much.

  There’s been a definite backlash against Bosh this past year, partly, we’re sure, out of frustration because their team was so disappointing this past season. It appears that the realization that Bosh is most likely best-suited as a second option on a good team has made him a focus of fans’ ire.

• YouTube – Chris Bosh – ESPN First Take Discussing 2010 and CD DVD Deal –
• Chisholm: Looking ahead to the Raps in 2009-10 – The easiest way to start to get clarity to the picture of the forthcoming Raptor squad is to look at the absolutes with an aim towards whittling down the variables.

  First and foremost are the cornerstones: Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon. Despite rampant speculation and inferences from all corners, Chris Bosh will be a Raptor when the new season tips-off. Those three are the anchors for the coming year year, and so putting a unit around those three that maximizes their strengths and mitigates their weaknesses is going to be priority number one.

• Dino Nation Blog: Bosh Thoughts And Finals – If 29 other teams know that Bosh is going to become a free agent, how much would they be willing to give up for a very good rental player for a year? My suggestion would be nothing close to the true value of a Chris Bosh. We all saw the terrible trade that was made to get rid of Vince Carter. Bryan Colangelo would never make a trade that bad. However could even he, make a trade that would match the value of a Bosh? My answer to that is no. This is one of the reasons why I would make the focus to build a better team and a team that Bosh would like to be a part of moving forward.
• The Money: Chris Bosh’s Extension « nbaroundtable – Ergo, under a $60 million cap, the difference in the two contracts is about $35 million.

  Thoughts

  Chris Bosh will only pass up that type of money if he is appalled with the direction and future of the Toronto Raptors (in other words, Bryan Colangelo).

  I use a strong word like appalled purposefully, for emphasis of how strong Bosh’s negativity needs to be … because if Bosh is only somewhat concerned about Colangelo’s running of the club I cannot see him passing up that type of money.

• Doug Smith’s Toronto Raptors blog – That play for Lee? Sam Mitchell drew it up years ago. – It was what we shall forever call The Sam Play, a lob to the most unlikely guy on the floor, almost exactly the same play Sam Mitchell drew up for T.J. Ford the night the refs blew the timing in Atlanta and it would have been a spectacular end to a rather boring Game 2 of the NBA Finals if Lee had been able to finish.

  Kobe was impressed.

• RaptorTalk: Bosh’s Star Will Always Shine Brightest In Toronto – Brian responded by saying that he knew of no other fans who fall in love with their players like Raptors fans do. He went on to say that Chicago fans revered Michael Jordan in a manner which was beyond comparison – but James felt that the love that (then Toronto Raptors) Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady received surpassed by light years anything he had seen in the NBA except for Air Jordan.

  Brian went on to say, “if Vince or T-Mac were to ever leave Toronto, they would never be as popular or enjoy the complete fan adoration that they receive in Toronto.” Reflecting back on that statement, Brian was spot on!

  And that brings us to Steve Simmons’ point. Should Bosh leave the Raptors, he will discover that wherever he lands, he will not enjoy the celebrity status he gets north of the border.

• 2009 NBA Mock Draft 1.0 | Bleacher Report – 9. Toronto Raptors- Tyreke Evans

  The get a two guard who is a great ball handler, Evans has a great wingspan and has progressed on his jumpshot.

• Team Needs: Atlantic Division | NBADraft.net – The biggest question with the Raptors involves Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. Most believe that they do not mix well because both would rather face the basket than play with a defender on their back. Bosh is the franchise player, but Bargnani is a former #1 overall pick who, despite lots of criticism, is only 23 years old and has raised his averages every year (15.4 ppg last season). With lots of teams clearing cap space to make plays at the big names on the free market in 2010, it's not out of the question for the Raptors to let Bosh go, use their money elsewhere, and try to develop Bargnani as their go-to guy.
• No summer off for Cavs’ front office – CantonRep.com – The dream scenario is prying Chris Bosh away from Toronto. The Cavs would need some luck to make this happen since the Raptors will be letting their fans know they can’t keep one of the NBA’s top young players in their city. But it is starting to become clear that the Raptors face a tough challenge to keep Bosh. Perhaps the Cavs will have karma on their side for all of the draft-pick giveaways during the days of Ted Stepien nearly 30 years ago and this will be the late return for not being able to draft James Worthy.
• Cavalier attitude bad sign – BostonHerald.com – The Cavaliers, who have out-performed Nadia Comaneci in a willingness to bend over backward for their star, have to wonder if there are any other stops to pull out for James.

  The answer – and we’re talking about satisfying James, not in terms of moves that could guarantee a trip to the Finals – may be taking shape in Toronto.

  Chris Bosh announced last week that he won’t sign an extension with the Raptors this summer, thus setting up free agency in the summer of 2010.

  With one season at $15.7 million left, Bosh isn’t especially tradeable, though the contracts of Ben Wallace ($14 million) and Zydrunas Ilgauskas ($11.5 million) would at least help make the numbers work.

• Doug Smith’s Toronto Raptors blog – Jalen Speaks The Truth – So I’m wandering outside over to Starbucks, hugely disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to see Jalen spread his unique brand of early morning cheer, when this big old Range Rover-ish thing pulls up, the door opens and there’s he is, all his Jalen Glory, sunglasses on, cellphone at his ear, big smile. Seems he’d been at a doctor’s appointment – even had the band-aid in the crook of his elbow where they took some blood – but was stopping by for his breakfast.

  After stopping to have a picture taken with some passersby, he sees a familiar face, big hug, handshake, a ‘how are you?’ and then he gets right to the heart of the matter.

  “How are they going to fix that mess north of the border? Bringing back Delfino going to be their big move of the summer? What’s that?”

  And then he’s off, up the stairs to hang out.

• Hoops Addict » Flynn Would Mend Some Broken Hearts – In fact, in many ways watching Flynn brought back a flood of memories of the first face of the Raptors: Damon Stoudamire.

  What does bringing up Stoudamire have to do with mending the hearts of Raptors fans? If anything, the mention of the first player to break the hearts of Raptors fans should only bring up doom and gloom as fans start to worry about their current franchise player, Chris Bosh, bolting town next summer.

  While Flynn and Stoudamire are both pint-sized point guards known to make fans cheer in delight over their heroics on the court, the difference is Flynn seems unlikely to break their hearts like Stoudamire did when he demanded a trade out of the city.

  “Toronto, being right over the border from where I’m at in Niagara Falls, basically makes me a Canadian,” Flynn joked while flashing his trademark smile. “It would be nice to come here to play because my family would be close and could come to see me play.”

• NBA Rumor Mill: Celtics Shopping Rondo & Allen, Rasheed a Cav & Bosh Wants Out of Toronto | Sculu Sports Blogs – I know this, the Raptors should try to trade Bosh as soon as possible. It beats the alternative of watching him walk out the front door with nothing in return. I don’t see any reason Bosh would stay in Toronto. He is never going to get the publicity he longs for if he stays up North. Does anybody in America really follow the Raptors, honestly?

  On another note, the Raptors can change their team name any time they want now. It was an unbelievably shortsighted move to name them the Raptors. Yeah it was cute for a while right after Jurassic Park. But the name is as played out as a Nelly CD. Let’s move on to bigger and better things. Chris Bosh is. Sorry, but it’s true.

• Sports And The City: Deep Thoughts – Chris Bosh isn't signing an extension with the Raptors this summer. If you're surprised, you're probably not very bright. He wants to be a free agent, and he wants a max contract. I can't blame him. I'd want the same.

  I'm not exactly a basketball aficionado. I don't know much, but I do know that Bosh is not worth $130 million over six years. I can't imagine Bryan Colangelo thinks he is, either.

  Whether he's traded this summer or departs via free agency, Bosh will go do down as the second-best Raptor ever. It's been swell, CB4.

• NBA: It’s Better to be Terrible Than Mediocre in the NBA. « Trueball – 4) Toronto Raptors: Chris Bosh – After the trade of Vince Carter, Bosh became the franchise player and soon after led the Raptors to the 3rd seed in the East in ‘07 and in ‘08 the Raptors returned to the playoffs. Bosh is the main reason for the Raptors success but the team has not taken the next step because the front office hasn’t surrounded him with the necessary talent.
• Bosh would be an upgrade, but don’t bank on it Morning Journal – As many fans realize, he would be a perfect candidate for the Cavs' front court, which needs a major overhaul. He could move in at power forward next to center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. During crunch time, Bosh can shift over and play the "5" spot.

  But before anyone gets too excited about the possibility, it's going to be extremely difficult to pry Bosh loose from the Raptors. The Cavs just don't have a ton of assets.

  In the best-case scenario, the Cavs could deal forward/center Anderson Varejao (in a sign-and-trade), guard Delonte West and contract fodder for Bosh. The Raptors might even want a draft pick.

  That's a very steep price, of course, for a player who could become a free agent after one season.

• Time for Cavaliers to assess the situation -The Modesto Bee – Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors already has said he won't sign a contract extension this offseason. He's the guy the Cavs have targeted to join James in 2010 in their dream scenario.

  Perhaps the Raptors would trade Bosh this offseason. It would take a lot, but why wait, and, more important, why allow him to go to a team like the Chicago Bulls, where he would torment the Cavs for years?

• Terry Pluto’s Talkin’ … Cavs looking at Anthony Parker? – Cleveland, OH Sports Blog – Keep an eye on Anthony Parker, a free agent. He's a legitimate 6-6, an above-average defender who has shot between 39 and 44 percent from 3-point range over the last three seasons with Toronto. He's a 11.8 scorer for the Raptors, 13.5 points while averaging 39 minutes in 11 post-season games. The Cavs tried to sign Parker in the summer of 2006 when he came back from playing overseas, but were out-bid by Toronto. The only downside is he'll he 34 on June 19. But he's considered a durable player who has missed only two games in the last two seasons.
• Sportspolymath: NBA Mock Draft – 9.

  Toronto
  Raptors

  Jordan Hill

  PF

  Arizona

  It’s pretty obvious Chris Bosh will either be traded or leave on his own accord in a year or less, so Hill falling makes him a must take for Toronto. Having him play next To Bargnani will soften the blow when Bosh leaves, which seems inevitable

• ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd Urges Chris Bosh to Sign With Cleveland in On-Air Interview | Sports Fan Goods – On Thursday, Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh, a free agent in 2010 and the subject of some trade rumors, appeared on ESPN Radio’s “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd. And if it makes you upset whenever anyone urges LeBron James to sign with New York, then you can feel for Toronto Raptors fans on this one.

  Naaaaaaaaah.

  Here’s a transcript from Cowherd’s interview with Bosh, which can be heard here:

• Chris Bosh: Wade-NBA-extension-Winderman — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com – Good for Chris Bosh. He took a stand. There will be no extension this summer, the Raptors power forward declared last week. Instead, his next contract move will come at the July 1, 2010 start of free agency.
• Where in the World is Chris Bosh? Back in the T dot… – Chris Bosh was back in Toronto today, promoting his new iPhone app. Apparently this new app will have Bosh's latest stats, pictures, videos and off court updates.
• Jonny Cash – Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician – The Raptors have the ninth pick in the draft and though they might not have point guard as the top priority on their checklist, they brought in Jonny and five other players to workout. On Brent Axe's radio show, Mike Waters felt as though this was more of a base-covering move rather than a serious look at Flynn. No worries, plenty of teams seem happy to take him.

  Chris McManus over at WAER Sports put together a list of NBA comparisons for the trio of SU players entering the draft. He sees Jonny as a Rajon Rondo/Chauncey Billups-combo. High praise, though Jonny has much more of a propensity for showing up when it matters most than Billups. (Does it tell you everything you need to know about me and my knowledge of the NBA that I don't even know who that guy he compares Paul Harris to is?)

• High on Holiday? – Raptors HQ Recaps the June 5 Workouts – RaptorsHQ.com – Attending the workouts this year has been a fantastic experience.

  Unlike last year, where at times we only got to see small pieces of the workout action, this year the media has been able to see the Raptors' staff run prospects through a whole gamut of drills. Yesterday was a prime example of that as Franchise and I soaked in almost an hour of action before getting to conduct some interviews.

  Watching these guys battle it out in drills does two things. First, it gives us a great opportunity to see how certain players match-up.

  Second, it makes you realize that while these work-outs really are just a small piece of what goes into evaluating a player, there is still a lot that can be learned.

• YouTube – Chris Bosh Bobblehead – Double Double –
• Hoops Addict » Hoops Addict Podcast: NBA Draft Preview –
• Iavaroni joins Raptors | Toronto Sun – His tenure as head coach in Memphis was short-lived, but Iavaroni is certain to give the Raptors a shot in the arm.

  "Passion and a real sense for detail," Triano began when asked to list some of the attributes Iavaroni will bring to the coaching table. "He is unbelievably detailed with his approach."

  Iavaroni will be spending a lot of time on the defensive end, where the Raptors were exposed far too often this season.

• TheStar.com | Defensively challenged Raptors get new guru – "My background has been player development and that's what we need here," the 52-year-old said in a telephone interview after working out a handful of draft prospects at the Air Canada Centre yesterday.

  Iavaroni's been an assistant or head coach for 11 years in the NBA – working with such defence-minded bosses as Mike Fratello and Pat Riley – and was known as an intense defender during his seven-year playing career.

  Even with the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns, a team for whom instant offence was a mantra, there was a sense the Suns at least paid a little bit of attention to defence, primarily so they could get the ball back quickly and get going on offence.

  "If you want to have an up-tempo and a fast pace, then there has to be a great emphasis on getting back and there has to be a great emphasis on defence," said Iavaroni.

• Iavaroni joins Raptors coaching staff – The Globe and Mail – English is the only returning member of last season's coaching staff. An NBA Hall of Famer, English has mentored the Raptors big men.

  It appears that Gord Herbert, the former Canadian national team player from British Columbia, added to the staff last season and Mike Evans, who has spent two years on the Raptors bench, will not be returning.

• Raptors announce coaching changes – Iavaroni is something of a marquee hire for the Raptors, especially considering that this will be Triano's first year as a permanent head coach in the league. The 52-year-old spent 10 years as an assistant in the league, most notably five seasons under Mike D'Antoni and current Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo in Phoenix.

  His first shot as a head coach in the league, with Memphis, was a misfire. But he certainly has a reputation and ample experience.

  "I'm a head coach with not a lot of experiences as a head coach," Triano said. "So it's nice to have somebody who has had that experience and has been where I am right now."

• Niagara Gazette – BASKETBALL: Jonny Flynn works out for Toronto Raptors – Following the workout, Flynn told reporters he’d enjoy being selected by the team based closest to his Niagara Falls home.

  “Toronto being right over the border from where I’m at, Niagara Falls, I’m basically a Canadian,” said Flynn, flashing his resplendent smile. “It would be nice to come here, and be close, so my family and friends can come up and see me play.”

• Toronto Raptors; 10 Prospects | Bleacher Report – The Toronto raptors have the ninth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and its clear that they need to resolve their issues at the wing but recent news has shown that raptors like the Blair, Daye, Evans, and Derozan but there should be more choices for the raptors at number 9, its unilikely that they go big but in the NBA anything can happen and the lottery. Last year Lopez and Bayless took a nose dive and it's most likely that someone in the top 5 projected mocks will fall down.These are 10 prospects who I like at number 9.
• Flynn’s Toronto try-out : Sports : WSTM NBC3 – Flynn seems to be more and more likely to become a lottery pick after an impressive NBA Draft Combine showing last week. Teams like the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards have shown interest in the point guard, and there's also talk that the Sacramento Kings would be well served to pick Flynn at # –.
• It’s Time for the Toronto Raptors to Break Open the Piggy Bank | Bleacher Report – With Bosh out of the lineup Bargnani was averaging 15.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg, pretty close to his season averages.

  Yet, he only shot 35 percent from the floor and 27 percent from beyond the arc. For Bargnani to be effective he needs to be able to defer to Bosh, who will in turn get Bargnani his shots.

  When Bosh was injured Toronto was 2-3, the wins coming against the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves, and a healthy San Antonio Spurs (a mystery even to me, they were in the midst of an eight-game road swing though).

  Losses came against the Hornets, Cavs, and an ugly loss to the Memphis Grizzlies (78-70 Grizz).

• Bryan Colangelo: A Case of Impatience and Missed Opportunities | Bleacher Report – I attribute much of his problems to a case of tunnel-vision and failing to see the big picture.

  If every GM thought as he did, there would be no optimism in Oklahoma City and no hope surrounding a once-troubled Blazers franchise.

  It was puzzling that he re-signed Sam Mitchell and thereby stunted the growth of Andrea Bargnani. It was even more puzzling that despite realizing that his team had just been annihilated by New Jersey’s wing players, he over-paid to sign an atrocious defender in Jason Kapono.

  He passed on a potential Gerald Wallace for T.J Ford swap because he had concerns about Wallace’s health, and followed by adding a first rounder and an expiring contract to acquire a less talented, higher-paid, less durable Jermaine O’Neal. Hindsight may be 20-20, but wasn’t it obvious that the Raptors desperately needed an upgrade from Jamario Moon?

• Hoops Addict » In The Scrum With Alex English – Alex English talked with the media Friday afternoon about being back next season, what the process of resigning with Toronto entailed, what his role with the team will be next season, being comfortable with Jay Triano after working with him the past five seasons and he joked about his dislike for playing against Marc Iavaroni back when they were both playing in the NBA.
• Hoops Addict » In The Scrum With Jrue Holiday – Jrue Holiday talked with the media after his workout in Toronto about how his workout against Jonny Flynn went, why he didn’t want to dodge playing against another top tier point guard, what he learned playing alongside Darren Collison last season, why he decide to leave UCLA to enter the draft and a host of other topics.
• Hoops Addict » In The Scrum With Jonny Flynn – Jonny Flynn talked with the media after his workout in Toronto about the draft being full of talented point guards this year, he joked about almost being a Canadian because he was born and raised in New York and he explained why he would love to play for Toronto.
• Hoops Addict » In The Scrum With Toronto Raptors Director Of Player Personnel Jim Kelly – Toronto Raptors Director Of Player Personnel Jim Kelly talked with the media this afternoon about the high number of quality guards in the draft this year, the “game” involved in getting specific players in for workouts and the possability of Toronto drafting a player they haven’t brought in for a personal workout.
• DC Pro Sports Report NBA Mock Draft 1.0 – DC Pro Sports Report – 09. Toronto Raptors: SG DeMar DeRozan [USC]: He fits what De-Raptors de-need in de-backcourt and he's just an immense physical talent who shouldn't fall any de-further.
• FAN590 – Audio From The Workouts – I said I’d be back with some info from Friday’s pre-draft workouts at the ACC (with Jrue Holiday, Jonny Flynn, Chase Budinger, Damion James, Alade Aminu, and Goran Suton) … so here ya go …
• Point guards work out for Raptors, opting not to duck each other – Posted Sports – "That's not what we do," Holiday said. "That's the point of playing basketball, playing against the best players."

  "That's basketball," Flynn added. "That's what you live for. A guy like me, a competitor, I live for going against the best players. If I get beat, then hopefully I'll see him somewhere else. But that's the nature of the game. If you can't get hyped up to play against the best, then you shouldn't be playing."

  Nonetheless, it happens frequently during draft season. The Raptors, who pick ninth and whose major need is for a swingman and not a point guard, should not be too adversely affected.

  But for the teams in the market for a point guard, or at least a guard who can play with or without the ball, things could get a bit dicey. In addition to Flynn and Holliday, Ricky Rubio, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Ty Lawson and Eric Maynor are all point guards with a shot to be selected in the top 20. And they are not all co-operative.

• khandor’s sports blog » Two possible draft picks for the Raptors – Danny Green [OG/SF], as someone who fits into this category … available to the Raptors SHOULD they decide to follow the advice of this corner and trade down from the No. 9 slot into one of the lower positions of the 1st Round, or even into the upper part of the 2nd … in an effort to add at least 2 quality [i.e. athletic & skilled, with good upside and solid character traits] players in place of just 1 [perceived to be of a higher calibre among the first 10 picks].
• Hoops Addict » What Could Have Been: 2002 NBA Draft – 20th – Toronto Raptors

  Original Pick: Kareem Rush, G, Missouri
  New Pick: Juan Dixon, G, Maryland

• Toronto Raptors – What they’re saying | Searching For ’93 – Poor Raptor fans. I’m not sure that I can include myself in that group anymore. Seriously. I’m wearing a body-brace made of apathy and indifference. Has there every been a team with less charisma? What about likable players? (I count two.) Then there’s the jarring dearth of athleticism? Well… We must have a bevy of playoff experience… What’s that? We don’t? (Kapono and Marion – if he stays – are the only relevant players on the roster who have been past the first round.)

  I cannot think of a roster in the entire league that I wouldn’t change places with. The Sacramento Kings are the singular (and rather remarkable) exception. If anyone would like to test my mettle, you know where the comments section is. Or, you can Skype me at “stephenamell” and we’ll hash things out. Come prepared.

• 9. Raptors select DeMar DeRozan | 2009 NBA Mock Draft: Post Combine Edition – Toronto brought their franchise from nothing to something by drafting prospects with amazing athletic ability (Tracey McGrady and Vince Carter) and it's time they do it again.

  It looks like Toronto will be losing Anthony Parker and Shawn Marion this year and Chris Bosh next—DeRozan will help bridge the gap between the present and the future.

  At the Draft Combine, DeRozan leaped 38” inches and measured-in with. It's just a matter of if he is the next McGrady, Carter, or Darrius Miles, because the potential is there, including a developing three point shot.

• Chuck Swirsky Blog – Simple: Kobe beat Dwight – ESPN Chicago – Will Toronto General Manager Bryan Colangelo keep Bosh knowing he can pay him more than any of the other twenty-nine clubs or be pre-emptive and not risk the chance of Bosh leaving?

  Players want that sixth year in the contract. The money is too great to pass on. In the event Bosh isn't traded this year, the Raps have three choices for next off season: (1) They can resign Bosh; (2) do a sign and trade and receive compensation in return; (3) lose Bosh without any compensation.

  The last option would be the worst-case scenario for the Raptors. Undoubtedly teams will call the Raptors and probe to see if Colangelo will deal him. So far the answer has been "no."

• RUMOR: Warriors and Raptors had a Marco Belinelli – Joey Graham deal in place – Golden State Of Mind – I still don't buy that Belinelli belongs in this league, but it's not a given that Graham gets a second NBA contract either. Neither player is even an average quality NBA player or has a high hoops IQ, but at least the athletic Graham gives the Warriors a little more size and cuts down their glut of poor to mediocre ranging guards. Truth be told, the Warriors aren't going to get much at all for Belinelli straight up. Unless the Warriors are taking back a bad contract, I'd be suprised if Belinelli could even net them a future 2nd round pick straight up.

  This isn't a huge deal and I'd doubt it would have changed much about that horrendous WE SUCK 29 win season, but if this is true I'm curious why the Warriors killed off the deal.

• Is Chris Bosh ‘For Sale’? | The Hoop Doctors – If people think about it, even if Bosh were to walk and sign elsewhere, is that such a horrible thing for the Raptors? Like when V.C was traded to the Nets for what in present terms adds up to Joey Graham? The trade did include Eric Williams (Traded with Matt Bonner to Spurs for Rasho Nesterovic) Aaron Williams (Traded to New Orleans for cash or a second round pick- I forget) and Alonzo Mourning ( Bought out by Raptors and signed by Heat and won an NBA Championship Ring). It was a low point in Raptor history no doubt. Mighty Mouse and T-Mac also had checked out of Toronto in recent past.
• NBA At 2: No More Bosh Rumors – Basketball News & NBA Rumors - – No matter what Bosh still gets more money from Toronto than he can from any other team, so even if he plays out his contract, opts out next summer, and wants to go to another team, he will get more cash in a sign-and-trade deal than he would from signing with another team outright.

  Unless we hear otherwise from Bosh himself or from Colangelo, there is really no reason to pursue Bosh trade scenarios or to perpetuate rumors.

• Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap: For the Jazz, It’s Just Not That Simple | Bleacher Report – Perhaps the most interesting option may be Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors. Bosh stated recently that he will not sign an extension with the Raptors this summer and would rather become an unrestricted free agent in 2010.

  The Raptors are not likely to just let Bosh walk away a year from now with nothing in return. A sign and trade of Boozer to Toronto for Bosh is very intriguing. Toronto gets something for Bosh. Bosh gets to go to a playoff team and play alongside one of the best point guards in the league. The Jazz get a top tier power forward with the potential to re-sign him in 2010 or go hunting through the greatest free agent class in memory.

• Jonny Flynn works out for Toronto Raptors – Orange Basketball Blog on syracuse.com – Anyway, in a refreshing display of openness, the Toronto Raptors broke from pre-draft tradition this morning. The team issued a mass email to announce a workout today for several draft prospects.

  Syracuse's Jonny Flynn is one of six players working out today at Toronto's Air Canada Centre. The others are UCLA's Jrue Holliday, Arizona's Chase Budinger, Texas' Damion James, Georgia Tech's Alade Aminu and Michigan State's Goran Sutton.

• Doug Smith’s Toronto Raptors blog – We almost traded Joey…. – From the Water Under A Bridge department, found out last night the Raptors had a deal done with Golden State last season that would have seen them ship Joey Graham to California for guard Marco Bellinelli.

  It was so done that Bellinelli was almost on his way to the airport to come to Toronto and told friends he was being traded.

  And then the Warriors backed off and killed the deal.

• Raptors retain English, add Iavaroni to coaching staff – "I am very excited to continue working with Alex and to add Marc to the staff," Triano said in a statement. "They share our philosophy on the direction of the team, yet possess different skill sets that will be valuable to me."
• The Associated Press: Raptors hire Iavaroni as assistant to Triano – The Raptors have hired former Memphis Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni as an assistant to Jay Triano and are parting ways with assistants Mike Evans and Gord Herbert.

  The Raptors also announced on Friday that Alex English will return for his sixth season with Toronto, his eighth as an NBA assistant. English, who played 16 seasons in the NBA, is the 12th leading scorer in league history and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

  Iavaroni was an assistant in Phoenix, Miami and Cleveland before taking over Memphis on May 30, 2007. He was fired on Jan. 22, 2009, following a 13-26 start.

• Raptors Shore Up Coaching Staff – Toronto Star – Iavaroni brings some experience and intensity to the staff, English was well-respected by the players and his co-workers and, most important, Jay feels comfortable working with both of them.

  It does mean Mike Evans is gone, and that's too bad because he's a really good guy, and they still have to finalize things with Micah Nori and Eric Hughes, which I presume they will.

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• Dino Nation Blog: Coaching News- Ivaroni and English Are In – In perhaps one of the worst kept secrets in Raptors history. Mark Ivaroni will be an assistant for the Toronto Raptors. No details on if the Raptors had to give the Grizzlies any cash. They were trying to shake down MLSE for a few hundred grand. But according to Doug Smith in the Toronto Star it is a done deal for Ivaroni. Also Alex English will be back as well. Alex is a great man and I have to be honest when the talk was he was going to be out it made me feel bad. But no need to be as he will return. Mike Evans appears to be the guy with out a seat.
• Raps Ink Iavaroni – RaptorsHQ.com – The Raps coaching staff is starting to take shape with it being reported that the Raps announcing have added Marc Iavaroni to this season's staff. It also looks like Alex English w
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  ll be back as well.

  With ties to Colangelo during his time with the Suns and having been a "special consultant" late this season, the Iavaroni hire is not that surprising.

• Pre-Draft Workouts for Friday, June 05, 2009 – RaptorsHQ.com – It looks like BC and co. structured this run this morning to have a big, a wing and a potential point guard option ready to go 3 on 3, which hopefully should make for some good viewing this morning.

  Without any more delay then, let’s take a look at each of the six players who are scheduled to participate later this morning in evaluations:

• Dino Nation Blog: Let The Drama Summer Begin. – But if you put down your pitch forks and calm down for just a second. If you are the agent for Chris Bosh. Why would you not take this course of action. What happened today is not a ticket out of town for Chris Bosh. In fact in his interview on Hoops he said he likes Toronto and he said that the city has been good to him for 6 years he has been here. Why there is this massive panic to trade Chris Bosh before he leaves has never made any sense to me. It makes even less sense than the stories and comments that T.J Ford was this bad dude that was the problem with the Toronto Raptors. When are people going to chill out and relax about these things. I have read little to nothing positive about the Toronto Raptors since the season ended. A guy that was one of only 3 players in the NBA to record a 20 and 10 season is suddenly not worth having out of fear he is going to walk away? It is crazy.
• khandor’s sports blog » Where will Andrea Bargnani rank in the Eastern Conference next season, as a Center? … You Make The Call – It seems as though a certain segment within Raptorville is, once again, suffering from grotesque “delusions of grandeur”, regarding the actual ability and hoped for improvement of Andrea Bargnani [C, 7-0, 250, 2006 No. 1 Overall Selection] this off-season.

  i.e. According to Doug Smith, in a segment on PrimeTime Sports [FAN590] yesterday, a legitimate case can be made that Bargnani might qualify as the 2nd Best Center in the Eastern Conference [EC] over the course of the 2009-2010 season.

• Where Could Stoudemire Go? Five Possible Homes For Amar’e This Summer – Celtics 17 – Once again, there were rumors during this year's trade deadline that Stoudemire could be heading to Toronto in exchange for Bosh, but the rumors fell apart hours before the deadline hit (like all others did).

  Stoudemire could be the perfect partner with Jose Calderon, who, like current Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, is very effective in the pick-and-roll and open court game, which Stoudemire thrives in.

  The Raptors may not immediately become contenders after this move, but they would certainly have a chance of making the playoffs.

• Hoops Addict » What Could Have Been: 2001 NBA Draft – 17th – Toronto Raptors

  Original Pick: Michael Bradley, F, Villanova
  New Pick: Kwame Brown, C, High School

  I think a major reason that Brown never developed was the pressure of being the top pick in a draft. Combine that with what I’m sure was constant ridicule from Jordan and Brown really had no chance. Send him to Canada to learn to get tough from Antonio Davis, an elder Hakeem Olajuwon and a grinder that was Jerome Williams. You never know…

• Chris Bosh May Want a Max Contract, But It Won’t Likely Come From the Raptors | Bleacher Report – The Raptors went from Atlantic division champions to squeezing into the playoffs to being a lottery team, and it seems Bosh is the same player throughout.

  The only season they truly had success, Bosh not only was not being asked to create, but also not being asked to carry the offense in the clutch; that was TJ Ford's job.

  Therefore, if the Raptors were eliminated in New Jersey, it wasn't only because Bosh was being stopped by journeymen centers like Mikki Moore and Collins, but because TJ Ford isn't the type of talent who can successfully carry an offense.

• Offside Friday — More NHL for T.O. … Bosh staying? | Toronto Sun – There was some hysteria over a story or two yesterday that suggested that pending free agent Chris Bosh was finished in this town after next season.

  The Raptors star played down the talk last night on The Fan.

  He suggested that some people were putting words in his mouth.

  "I'd say the odds are good (he would be a Raptor beyond next season)," Bosh said.

  "I like it here, that's what people don't understand. I like it here … Toronto has treated me well."

Related posts:

1. Toronto Raptors Linkage for June 12th through June 13th
2. Toronto Raptors Linkage for June 3rd through June 4th
3. Toronto Raptors Linkage for June 14th through June 15th
4. Toronto Raptors Linkage for June 16th through June 19th
5. Toronto Raptors Linkage for June 14th from 07:47 to 08:39