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Do Raptors Have A Deal For Mr. Rose?
As anyone with Internet access knows, the talk of trading Toronto's Jalen Rose for New York's Penny Hardaway is still hot, with the stumbling block apparently being the Raptors' aversion to tossing in a first-round pick in the deal. The big benefit for the Raptors would be about $17 million (U.S.) salary cap relief next summer; Hardaway is hardly going to turn into a regular rotation guy with the Raptors. If the pick would be Denver's, which Toronto got in the Vince Carter trade a year ago, news that Marcus Camby of the Nuggets is out indefinitely after surgery on his finger clouds the issue greatly. With Kenyon Martin bothered by a bad knee, Nene out for the season probably after a knee operation and now Camby on the shelf for a while, the Nuggets will be hard-pressed to hang on and make the playoffs in the Western Conference, which would give the Raptors two lottery picks next June. If Jalen Rose rumours aren't enough on their own, he's also now linked to Ron Artest and his imminent departure from Indiana. Yesterday, it was Rose to the Lakers, either Devean George or Slava Medvedenko to Toronto along with Austin Croshere from the Pacers. It's not likely to happen, according to Raptor sources; just the next in a long list of Rose rumours. Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Talk Of Bosh Departure Premature
"I do think that far ahead," Bosh said. "You look at a lot of the great players in the NBA who played for one team and it's a good thing. You keep your feet planted and you develop a long relationship with everybody in the organization." It's a tribute to his ability that Raptor fans are already wringing their hands over the fate of the club's outstanding young power forward. Speculation has run wild recently over whether Bosh will jump ship when his contract expires following the 2007-08 season. Many NBA insiders believe it's a given that Bosh will leave Toronto when he has the chance, given the chaotic state of the team in recent years. The Raptors have not qualified for the playoffs for the past three years and have the worst record in the NBA (6-21) this season. Interest around the league in the 21-year-old is sky-high. Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was recently fined $25,000 US for violating the NBA's anti-tampering rule when he publicly expressed interest in Bosh. Bosh, however, said that speculation on his departure following the 2007-08 campaign is premature, adding he would love to stay -- if (and it's a big if) the team begins to turn the corner in terms of improving on the court. "It's all about progress," he said. "You can always say, 'We're getting better. We're getting better.' But unless you really see it, unless you see the rookies coming along, to start to get a feel for the NBA, it's a totally different thing." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Mo Pete Set For Milestone
Seems like a fair nickname for a guy who has managed to stick around with the revolving-door franchise since the Raptors selected him 21st overall in 2000. Peterson, who has struggled to find consistency at times but has elevated his game recently, will tie Alvin Williams when he plays his 417th game tomorrow on the road against the Detroit Pistons. He'll become the sole leader in the career-games department on Wednesday when the Raptors play host to the Atlanta Hawks at the Air Canada Centre. "It is surprising," the swingman said. "That's something you don't really think about too much. I just go out there and play hard every game." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Raptors Dec 2005 Archive
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This whole Raptor-Knick, Rose-Hardaway-draft pick thing got a whole lot murkier this week.
In a recent interview, Chris Bosh admitted he does think about where he might be playing in future years and acknowledged putting down permanent roots in Toronto is something he would relish. If the conditions were right.
When a reporter pointed out to Morris Peterson that he will tie the injured Alvin Williams atop the Raptors' career games list tomorrow night, lockermate Aaron Williams jumped into the conversation and blurted out, "Mr. Raptor."