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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. National Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Phil Jackson, Bryan Colangelo, Owners, Jeanie Buss, Tim Leiweke 

Leiweke and Colangelo met somewhere other than Toronto almost two weeks ago, and sources say Colangelo was informed that Leiweke would have final say on all basketball decisions until a decision was made. Colangelo presented his plan to the MLSE board on Tuesday last week, and the meeting ran for three hours; it was a pre-planned meeting, however, and included Leiweke. National Post

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Tim Leiweke 

Ryan Wolstat: As Zic wrote, all signs pointing to Colangelo's option getting picked up. Has been zero indication of anything else happening. Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

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. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

The Raps, though, still have yet to announce a decision on the fate of current team president Bryan Colangelo after Colangelo made a presentation to the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment board Tuesday to urge his bosses to pick up the 2013-14 option on his contract. One source briefed on the process expects Colangelo's fate to be formally announced this week in advance of the annual Chicago pre-draft camp. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

Bryan Colangelo made his case to stick around on Tuesday. The Raptors president/general manager met with new Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president/CEO Tim Leiweke and the board at the ACC to review the season that was and to outline why the final option year on his contract should be picked up. It is expected that a decision on Colangelo’s future will be made in the not-to-distant future, though nothing was revealed on Tuesday. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Tim Leiweke 

Ryan Wolstat: Getting close to decision day for MLSE on Bryan Colangelo. He has a meeting tomorrow with assorted big-wigs. Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

Jeff Zillgitt: Leiweke on Colangelo: "I'm clearly not the best one to make this decision. That said, the board is leaning on me to make a recommendation." Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Tim Leiweke 

Before Leiweke's hiring Friday, sources told ESPN that the Raptors were strongly considering retaining Casey and Colangelo. There's no question his presence throws their futures into immediate doubt. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

However, sources say there has been no appetite at the MLSE board level to replace either Colangelo or Casey. Instead, it appears the franchise will continue to attempt to force round pegs into square holes and hope for the best. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Coming off a 34-48 season that was ruined by a 4-19 start and make marginally tenable but a strong finish, Colangelo offered an impassioned defence of coach Dwane Casey. “I can absolutely tell you that coach Casey and I get along in a way that most coaches and management people do: We challenge each other.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

And with Casey also entering a final, guaranteed year of a three-year deal, until something is said with finality, questions will abound. “I’m anticipating that will be resolved in the next two or three weeks,” Colangelo said of his future. “If I am back, there is no question who the coach will be. Dwane Casey is the coach.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Kevin Nielsen: Colangelo says he will find out over next 2-3 weeks if he will return. Says Casey will be his coach if he does. Twitter @KNielsenSN

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

Dwane Casey knows change is inevitable from one season to the next in the NBA. It’s just part of the game. But there is one change Casey hopes doesn’t come to pass. “I want Bryan back,” Casey said of Raptors president and GM Bryan Colangelo who does not have a contract past July. “Bryan hired me here. I don’t want to go into another year with a new general manager. Change is part of the NBA but I’d much rather have Bryan back, a guy I’ve worked with and been with. We know each other and I know he knows what we’re looking for, what we’re trying to do.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Bryan Colangelo categorically denies he made any attempt to fire coach Dwane Casey during the NBA season. In a text message response to columnist Steve Simmons, who reported in Wednesday’s Toronto Sun that Colangelo had tried to oust Casey during the season, the Raptors general manager wrote: “Your speculation about me trying to fire DC this year is absolutely false. Your ‘insiders’ are not accurate.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

There is no question the coach and the GM haven’t been in complete agreement on all fronts this season, but that can be said for every other coach/GM relationship in the league as well. The two have been together for two seasons and Casey, who has a year remaining on his own deal, would like to see it get to three. “He’s done a good job of taking big steps, of getting assets and pieces of a core together. I’d like to finish it out, and I’d like to do it with Bryan.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

There are those in and around the organization convinced that a Colangelo return would mean the end of Casey’s tenure in Toronto regardless of the remaining year on his deal. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Of course, these are the same people who are convinced the two men stopped talking to one another midway through the season. On that front, we can unequivocally state they are wrong. While the vast majority of whatever meetings the two men conducted over the course of the year have come behind closed doors, there have been at least three times in the past two weeks when the doors to the gym opened at the conclusion of practice and the GM and coach were locked in conversation. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

As Colangelo and his team look at how to improve the Raptors in hopes of making their return to the playoffs next season, they will have to first decide whether or not they want to trade or buy themselves into the draft. Barring a miracle at the draft lottery, the Raptors won’t have a pick. “We gave up a protected first (1-3) for Kyle Lowry and our second in the Rudy Gay trade, so realistically we may have to sit this one out,” says Colangelo. “Given the underwhelming depth and strength of this draft and the fact that we are currently developing three promising rookies in Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross and Quincy Acy, we are not overly concerned about that. If there was ever a year to not have a pick, this is the one. Having said that, if we move up in the lottery and end up with a top pick, we do like a few guys on the board.” HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

Once the draft plays out, Colangelo does have some specific things he’ll be looking for in free agency and via trade over the offseason. “Very clearly, veteran presence and leadership will go a long way in rounding out our very young nucleus,” says Colangelo. “We can certainly add some mental and physical toughness to our mix too. A full training camp will obviously help everyone, but I do really like the talent level of the young core we have in place. Of course, we need to add a piece or two to the mix, but we should get appreciably better with our efforts of growing organically.” HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Free Agency, Draft, Trade, Bryan Colangelo