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Montross likely to retireNo one associated with the Raptors is happy about it, but Eric Montross might have to retire this summer. The whispers in basketball circles have grown louder in the past week or so that Montross, a 7-foot centre and one of the most likable players in the NBA, is edging closer to calling it quits because of his badly injured left foot. "Very sadly, that's definitely a possibility," Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald said yesterday. "But it's something we'll deal with when the time is right." Montross, 31, injured his foot in the spring of 2002 when he was stepping over a baby gate at home, and he has not played since. Countless doctors have been consulted and countless treatments have been tried, but Montross' foot stubbornly refuses to heal. He has been diagnosed as having a stress reaction to a micro-fracture in his talus bone, but there have been differences of opinion even on that basic front among medical personnel. Montross has two years remaining on his contract, which will pay him $2.96 million US next season and $3.2 million in 2004-05. An insurance policy would help the Raptors pay the remainder of Montross' pact if he retires, as is occurring with another injured Raptors centre, the unofficially but unequivocally retired Hakeem Olajuwon. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Carter officially added to U.S. Olympic squadVince Carter is joining the United States Olympic basketball team with the full blessing of his employers. "I think it's great," Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald said yesterday after Carter was named as a replacement for Kobe Bryant on the U.S. team for an Olympic qualification tournament in Puerto Rico next month. "I think it'll be really good for him." Carter, a star on the American team that won the 2000 Olympic gold medal, joins a dozen high-profile NBA all-stars on the team expected to easily grab one of three Games berths at the 10-country qualification tournament Aug. 20-31 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's been expected for weeks that Bryant would not be able to play this summer because of off-season operations on his shoulder and knee — and he's also got an Aug. 6 court date in Colorado to deal with felony sexual assault charges. Carter was unavailable yesterday but said he's "honoured" to rejoin the American team in a statement released by USA Basketball. He will be with the team for an Aug. 10-18 training camp in New York and an exhibition game Aug. 15 against Puerto Rico before the qualifying tournament. The United States and Argentina, world championship silver medallists, are heavy favourites for two of the spots in the tournament, which includes Canada. Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, General Basketball Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Raptors set to take plunge into NBA free agent poolThe Raptors are seriously considering signing free-agent guard Anthony Peeler in a move that would hasten the departure of Lindsey Hunter from Toronto. Team and NBA sources told the Star yesterday that Peeler, 32, could be signed as early as today or tomorrow. Hunter would be bought out of the final year of his contract so the Raptors could make the move. Peeler, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds and an 11-year NBA veteran, played in all 82 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves last year, starting 39 and averaging 7.7 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. He also played in all six of Minnesota's playoff contests, averaging 4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. The acquisitions of Sam Cassell and, to a lesser extent, Latrell Sprewell, means much less opportunity for Peeler to play in Minnesota. League sources say he is also coveted by the New Jersey Nets, who could use a shooter, albeit streaky in Peeler's case, to come off the bench. Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Raptors Jul 2003 Archive
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