Raptors offseason: Twitter & News thread.

[Tmath]

I thought I'd make a thread where we can put all Raptors related news into one thread. There are many updates that may not really be thread worthy, so feel free to put them in here.

[Tmath]

gary washburn @GwashNBAGlobe
The #Raptors have asked for permission to speak with #celtics asst. Tyronn Lue for position on Dwane Casey's staff, according to Danny Ainge

[Tmath]

At long last, it appears the fate of Bryan Colangelo will be resolved.

There are those who believe a decision will be made official by as early Monday.

Unofficially, Colangelo’s option year is expected to be picked up, a route many in basketball circles had anticipated in the days leading up to the Raptors’ season finale.

In the absence of an official announcement, there’s been no shortage of speculation surrounding Colangelo and the path new top dog Tim Leiweke wants to take a basketball franchise that has missed the post-season for five straight springs, a first for a team that has only advanced beyond the first round only once in its existence.

Leiweke’s ties in Los Angeles with Phil Jackson raised the spectre of the Zen Master surfacing in Toronto, a connection that keeps getting revisited each time Jackson’s name gets mentioned with any opening around the NBA.

Whether it’s New Jersey, where ex-Raptors assistant P.J. Carlesimo was told his services were no longer required, whether it was in Detroit, where the Pistons turned to Jackson as a consultant to address the team’s coaching vacancy.

On the weekend, Jackson’s name was being linked with Seattle.

Cache aside, it’s hard to glean what exactly Jackson would bring to the Raptors in this rumoured scenario that would see Jackson serve as president.

What the Raptors franchise needs is clarity in the executive suites and results on the hardwood, not exactly the hallmarks that have characterized the club in recent years.

With the NBA’s pre-draft camp set to open in Chicago on Wednesday, the process of connecting the dots is in full swing.

Bell CEO George Cope, who is said to be on Colangelo’s side, was knee deep into CRTC hearings involving the Astral-Bell merger deal.

Leiweke is only beginning to understand the landscape he inherited, but this big-thinking executive must realize no name, regardless of stature, can turn the Raptors overnight.

It’s why the decision to give Colangelo one more year seems so logical that it’s laughable why nothing has been done.

In Boston, Celtics president Danny Ainge told reporters the Raptors had sought permission to speak with assistant Tyronn Lue, who has been out of the NBA long enough to distance himself from players, but at the same time maintain a pulse on today’s modern player.

One of the many issues surrounding the Raptors last season was communication.

Many felt there was a disconnect between the coaching staff and the players, an issue that led to dysfunction.

Lue played the point, a position that was handed over to Kyle Lowry once Jose Calderon was dealt in the three-team deal that landed Rudy Gay.

Colangelo made it abundantly clear in his media availability following the Raptors’ season that Dwane Casey would be back, assuming Colangelo would be back.

All along, it seems there was an understanding that changes to Casey’s staff would be initiated.

What remains to be seen is what becomes of Johnny Davis, who first became Casey’s assistant when Casey got his first head coaching gig in Minnesota.

Changes were inevitable in Raptorland and there’s a growing sense that some concrete news will become official this week.

The Raptors closed out their season on April 17.

A week later, Leiweke came to town with visions of greatness for every MLSE property.

But Leiweke must realize there are so many misconceptions and legitimate issues of running an NBA franchise in Canada that any wasted day serves no purpose.

The annual gathering in Chicago brings together every team executive.

Draft-eligible candidates get tested and are interviewed, but it’s also an occasion for the seeds of trades to get planted.

Andrea Bargnani’s name is certain to get floated, despite his declining stock.

It would be prudent if Colangelo and his team were the ones gauging whatever interest may exist or exploring all options in moving the Raptors forward.

Colangelo is very much like Leiweke in that he thinks big and is extremely competitive.

But he first must be given a mandate, even if it is for one more year.

Link: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/11...-colangelo-now

[Saddler The Gr8]

what i expected to happen...and if the team sucks next year him and Casey can gtfo.

[Six-8-TheWizard]

I expected this and its probably the right move. I feel pretty indifferent though honestly

[mike_noodles]

Ewww... I guess the saving grace is that there are no picks for him to waste anymore this year.

I hope that if the option is all, that they put the cuffs on him regarding future draft picks, unless it's for a superstar type of player, not average/slightly above average players.

[SA5195]

Eww BC's going to be back

[BALLER R]

I have no problem with it. A new GM isn't gonna fix this Roster in one season anyways. So let them play it out let these guys have a full season together. The worst that will happen is that we suck. Which would actually be a good thing come draft time. Best case we're good and we make the playoffs. In between all that is we stay the same. Casey and BC would be gone anyways. So I'm fine with that.

[Tmath]

Ryan Wolstat ‏@WolstatSun 35m
If you listened to @FriedgeHNIC HNIC interview last week with Leiweke, Leiweke was talking like BC will be guy.

[deaner]

I don't have an issue with BC coming back.. It's his tie to Casey for next year that makes my stomach turn. We need a better coach than the coal miner. Please don't waste another year with a bottom 5 coach.

[Eagles4Lyfe]

Good, can't wait to see what gems he pulls of this offseason. Exited to be a Raps fan next season

[Raps08-09 Champ]

Obvious BC will be back. Wonder if they'll still pursue Jackon though.

[Bramaca]

As long as they don't give BC an extension. I also hope that he is prevented from giving Gay an extension.

[Tmath]

TORONTO — It has been nearly four weeks since the NBA season ended, and over two weeks since the fate of Bryan Colangelo was placed in the hands of Tim Leiweke, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s new superstar CEO. It appears to finally be on the verge of a conclusion.

Leiweke confirms a decision is imminent, but denies one has been reached. One source familiar with Leiweke’s thinking says the chief executive is leaning toward replacing Colangelo, and that a decision could be announced as soon as Monday. But reached Sunday afternoon by email, Leiweke said, “I have not gotten to a decision and I need to get board interaction so I think it is still up in air. That said, he may not want to be here if he does not get a long-term commitment. A lot will happen in the next few days.”

Sources say the board representatives for Rogers and Bell, led by BCE chief executive officer George Cope and Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed, have ceded the decision to Leiweke, who has NBA ties dating back to his days as the president of the Denver Nuggets until 1995. Rogers and Bell each own 37.5% of MLSE, and have agreed to vote as a bloc; neither is believed to be in favour of retaining Colangelo, but in this case they are not making the final call. Leiweke, the former CEO of sports giant AEG, is in charge.

It is not believed that Colangelo would balk at a one-year commitment, though it would serve as a convenient fallback for both parties in the case of separation. Leiweke has been in contact with Phil Jackson, but that is not yet seen as a likely scenario for either party, in part because Jackson is engaged to Los Angeles Lakers executive vice-president Jeannie Buss. Instead, Leiweke says Jackson is merely one of several NBA figures who is providing him with advice.

Link: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/...aled-his-fate/

Who do we believe lol?

[deaner]

I absolutely believe that article.

I personally think BC has the weekend to think over an offer from MLSE. There will be big changes and its up to him if he wants to be part of the change... Probably a lesser role such as president only with Jackson or someone else being the advisor/visionary.