The Toronto Raptors have made it official. Bryan Colangelo is their new president and general manager.
The Raptors aimed for the top in hiring Colangelo, the NBA's 2005 executive of the year after the retooled Phoenix Suns won a league-high 62 games. The 40-year-old Colangelo spent 17 years with the Suns, the past 11 as general manager. In the 2004 off-season, he lured Canadian guard Steve Nash away from Dallas, and Nash went on to earn Most Valuable Player honours that season.
"I'm ready to branch out," Colangelo said during a news conference Tuesday. "I've got 15 very good years behind me with respect to what's gone on in Phoenix and my participation there . . . This is just the next step in what I hope to be a long and fortuitous career."
Colangelo steps into a favourable situation in Toronto. He will have salary cap room, roster spots, a good draft pick and a budding young star in Chris Bosh.
"There's just so many positive things about the opportunity that Wayne (interim GM and team adviser Wayne Embry) has established in terms of the cap flexibility and the ability to look at free agency in a different light and perhaps explore trade opportunities to acquire the necessary pieces," said Colangelo. "It's not unlike a team we had in Phoenix a couple years ago."
Via Slam! Sports
Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns
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If the Toronto Raptors' efforts to coax Bryan Colangelo from the Phoenix Suns as their new president and general manager have been successful, they'll likely find out this morning.
Sources in Phoenix said the month-long courtship between the club and the National Basketball Association executive of the year has been completed, and it's up to Colangelo to choose.
"I can't imagine this going on beyond [Monday] morning," a source close to the Suns' executive told The Globe and Mail last night. "I anticipate that there's going to be a resolution."
According to a Raptors source: "It's a real tough decision and it's Bryan's to make, one way or the other."
Sources said that Colangelo was in communication with both Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum and the Raptors' interim general manager, Wayne Embry, a close family friend of Colangelo, over the weekend as the Suns' imposed deadline of tomorrow looms nearer.
Via Globe and Mail
Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns
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Feb 26, 2006 11:32 AM EST
Though his old Celtics team is one potential suitor, especially with Danny Ainge set in the offseason to go looking for a second or third scoring option to complement Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak, Mike James wants to remain a Raptor.
“They’ve shown that they like me, and want me,” he said. “I would really like to go back.”
At a price, of course. James is reportedly looking for better than mid-level money - $6 million or more.
But Toronto made its first show of faith by not dealing James at Thursday’s trading deadline, at a time when the guard and his expiring contract was in heavy demand.
“We’re trying to find a way to keep him here,” said coach Sam Mitchell, who is not an easy man to please.
Via Boston Herald
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Raptors Feb 2006 Archive
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The Globe and Mail | Feb 25, 2006
According to a Phoenix source, Bryan Colangelo is expected to decide by the end of this weekend whether to pursue the Raptors' position or remain with the Suns.
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Journal Times | Feb 24, 2006
For the past several days, rumors have been circulating around the NBA was that the Bucks were considering dealing veteran center Jamaal Magloire, whose contract expires after next season and who is expected to seek a "max'' deal.
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East Valley Tribune | Feb 23, 2006
According to sources in Toronto, Raptors management is “excited and optimistic” that Bryan Colangelo will soon become their team’s next president and general manager.
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Toronto Sun | Feb 23, 2006
Eric Williams has made it no secret that he desperately wants the Raptors to send him elsewhere while Mike James is hoping the team decides not to trade him.
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Arizona Republic | Feb 22, 2006
Since Robert Sarver purchased the team in 2004 with Bryan Colangelo getting his own stake, there was talk of Suns management committee member Steve Kerr (an investor and consultant) becoming GM.
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East Valley Tribune | Feb 20, 2006
Bryan Colangelo met with representatives from the Toronto Raptors about their vacant general manager job.
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CNNSI.com | Feb 16, 2006
Basketball's Dennis Rodman says he wants to return to the NBA at age 44.
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New York Daily News | Feb 16, 2006
Antonio Davis exchanged the perfunctory hugs and laughs with several of his former Knicks teammates, but that didn't preclude him from reiterating his refrain about the disarrayed organization that shipped him away earlier this month.
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SI.com | Feb 11, 2006
A nasty rumor is circulating around the league -- I've heard it from two NBA executives -- that Raptors coach Sam Mitchell was seen laughing at the news of GM Rob Babcock's dismissal.
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New York Daily News | Feb 8, 2006
Knicks coach Larry Brown voted for all five Pistons starters to make the East All-Star team and at least three - Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace - made it as reserves, according to a league source.
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The Star | Feb 8, 2006
The decision to move Charlie Villanueva to small forward was done for one major reason — it was the only way he was going to start for the Raptors.
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Toronto Sun | Feb 7, 2006
Antonio Davis was en route to Toronto last night, ready to make his return to the Raptors.
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The Star | Feb 7, 2006
Four days after being acquired by Toronto from the New York Knicks in a deal for Jalen Rose, a first-round draft pick and cash, Antonio Davis is expected to join the Raptors for what amounts to a 34-game denouement to his 13-year NBA career.
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The Star | Feb 7, 2006
Alvin Williams is facing yet another watershed moment in his struggle to play in the NBA again.
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Arizona Republic | Feb 7, 2006
The Suns have granted the Raptors permission to talk to Bryan Colangelo about their vacant GM post, but so far Colangelo appears content in Phoenix.
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CBC Sports | Feb 6, 2006
Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh was named the NBA's Eastern Conference player of the week on Monday.
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Canadian Press | Feb 5, 2006
Antonio Davis will honour his contract to play in Toronto, Raptors interim GM Wayne Embry said Sunday.
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Toronto Sun | Feb 5, 2006
After meeting with Antonio Davis and coach Sam Mitchell yesterday in the wake of the trade that sent Jalen Rose and a first-round pick to the New York Knicks for the veteran centre, Raptors interim general manager Wayne Embry said he is cautiously optimistic the ex-Raptor will report early next week.
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AP | Feb 4, 2006
"He's a professional and he's going to honor his contract," said Sam Mitchell. "He's the president of the players' association, he's going to do the right thing."
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Chicago Sun-Times | Feb 4, 2006
It looks as if Antonio Davis will be available soon, which means it's possible he may yet return to the Bulls.
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ESPN | Feb 3, 2006
With the Raptors new found cap space, they may be targeting Nene, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
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ESPN | Feb 3, 2006
The Raptors have traded Jalen Rose and a first-round pick to the Knicks for Antonio Davis.
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TSN | Feb 3, 2006
Chris Bosh would like to see James stay in Toronto and is hoping to express his opinion to the organization soon.
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NY Daily News | Feb 2, 2006
With three weeks left before the trading deadline, Isiah Thomas figures to be looking to make a move.
