HoopsHype.com Rumors

Final details of precisely who will be at the camp are being kept under wraps by Canada Basketball officials, but sources say it will include a wide-range of promising Canadian talent. It will be much like the American model developed in the mid-2000s in the United States when former Phoenix Suns executive Jerry Colangelo began a process of getting long- term commitments from the top NBA players that ultimately led to 2008 and 2012 Olympic golds and a 2010 world championship. “We’ll explore the American model for sure,” Nash said when he was appointed. “I think they’ve done a phenomenal job under Jerry and obviously I have a great relationship with Jerry so I hopefully can learn a lot from him.” Toronto Star

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Canada 

Ryan Wolstat: Despite his move to Portland, word is Canada Basketball will name Jay Triano head coach of the senior men's team next Thursday afternoon. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Jay Triano, Canada 

What Canada Basketball wants from Nash is for him to develop a family attitude around the team, make it impossible for people to say no when they are asked to play because it’s a good and fun environment. The camp will do that, it’ll let the players start to get to know each other on and off the court; a journey they hope ends with a solid finish in Rio four years hence. Oh, and I’m hearing that they’re thisclose to naming a head coach and Jay Triano, if not a lock for the gig, is certainly high on the list. Toronto Star

Coaching, Jay Triano, Canada 

Steve Nash, in his role as general manager of Canada’s senior men’s basketball team, is bringing together 20 or 25 of the country’s top prospects for a camp in Toronto that starts around Aug. 22. I’m told the college kids, the teens and the NBA guys are supposed to be around for the better part of the week in what’s a very important first step on the trip to get the team to the 2014 worlds in Spain (Boss? I’m going, right? Right?) and then the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Toronto Star

Steve Nash, FIBA, Canada 

Bonner, in Toronto this weekend to promote the NBA’s 3X tournament, reiterated his ongoing to desire to be a Canuck. “It’s been over three years,” says Bonner, of the bureaucratic marathon. “I love it here, and it’s important for me to get my Canadian citizenship and contribute to the country.” Toro Magazine

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, Canada 

The New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors will play a preseason game in Montreal as part of the NBA’s Canada Series. Detroit and Minnesota will play in Winnipeg in the other game announced today by the league. The Knicks and Raptors will meet Oct. 19 at the Bell Centre. The MTS Centre will host the Pistons-Timberwolves matchup on Oct. 24. Newark Star-Ledger

New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Canada 

Canadian basketball great Steve Nash has been named the new general manager of Canada's men's national team. The announcement was made Tuesday morning by Basketball Canada at a news conference at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto Globe & Mail

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

Eric Koreen: Maurizio Gherardini will stay on board, Nash says. Twitter

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada, Maurizio Gherardini 

The details are sketchy right now but there is strong speculation swirling at the moment that Canada Basketball could be close to making a major announcement regarding its Men’s National Team. Steve Nash may be taking over as the “General Manger” of Team Canada. It would be a role similar to what Steve Yzerman (and, previously, Wayne Gretzky) has served for Hockey Canada. This move has been swirling in the rumor mill for weeks (if not months) and it is apparently closer than ever. FAN590

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash will likely take the same type of executive director role with Canada Basketball that Wayne Gretzky assumed with Hockey Canada in the lead-up to the 2002 Olympics. Wayne Parrish, Canada Basketball's president and CEO, said Tuesday that he's had conversations with the Victoria-raised Nash, the Phoenix Suns star who is still playing at a high level at age 38, about being an "overseer or executive director" for the national senior men's team as it points toward the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. "I very much hope that there'll be a day, somewhere down the road, where we'll be able to tap Steve on the shoulder and he'll be at a time in his life and his career where it makes sense for him," said Parrish. Times Colonist

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

"[Nash's involvement] would be a tremendous thing for the sport in Canada, a tremendous thing for our success internationally as we count down to Rio in 2016 and 2020," said Parrish. "I feel pretty good thinking Steve will in some way be part of the mix as we move forward." Times Colonist

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

The time is not now, but it will soon arrive, likely once this summer’s Olympics are put to bed, for Triano to lead what many believe is the golden age of Canadian hoops, when so much homegrown talent is either playing in the NBA or is knocking on its doors. The buzz among basketball’s circles, at least in Canada, is that Triano will succeed Leo Rautins as national team head coach. It should be clearly pointed out that nothing is official, but unofficially all signs are pointing to Triano leading a new wave of talent that features Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph with a pool of talent so deep that it would be foolish to start naming all the names playing in U.S. prep schools or at big- time NCAA programs. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Jay Triano, Canada, Leo Rautins 

Ray Richardson: Weird visa situation for Ricky Rubio. Had to go to Canada today to make sure visa paper work is in order to work in U.S. Will join team Wed Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Canada 

Andrea Bargnani, in an interview with La Stampa, said that he is getting the Canadian citizenship, considering the political and economic moment which Italy is living. Bargnani also confirmed that next summer will be joining the Italian National Team for the Qualification to Eurobasket 2013 in Slovenia. Sportando

Toronto Raptors, Italy, Andrea Bargnani, Canada 

"I am getting the Canadian citizenship" said Bargnani. "During the lockout there was the chance for me to sign with Roma but the negotiation was never concrete. The hurdles were the insurance and my salary. I read few times that my Italian agent spoke with few teams, but I don't have anymore an Italian agent. Sportando

Toronto Raptors, Italy, Andrea Bargnani, Canada 

Rumours have been swirling for weeks in the Canadian basketball community that Triano and good friend and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash were the leading candidates to helm the program going forward. When contacted by the Toronto Sun recently, Triano was hesitant to express interest, but didn’t rule anything out either. “It’s pretty vague right now, I don’t know,” the ex-Raptors coach said of his plans, before adding he was “interested to see where the direction of the program is headed.” Toronto Sun

Steve Nash, Coaching, Jay Triano, Canada 

The organization would also love to get Nash involved again and Nash appears to be playing along a bit. He has been exchanging messages via Twitter with various up-and-coming Canadian players, including first-round picks Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph, point guards Myck Kabongo and Kevin Pangos and Andrew Wiggins, considered the best Canadian prospect since Nash himself. “I would love to have him involved in this program in whatever way makes sense to him at whatever point makes sense to him. It would be a very significant step forward for the entire program,” Parrish said. Toronto Sun

Steve Nash, Canada, Tristan Thompson, Cory Joseph 

Monroe texted the Red Rocket soon after the National Basketball Players Association decertified this week, asking if he would consider playing elsewhere. Bonner, who was vice-president of the union, replied 'Possibly. I will definitely consider it.' telegraphjournal.com

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, Lockout, Canada 

Monroe went on to report that the 6-foot-10 San Antonio Spurs forward told him he had an in with the NBL's Halifax Rainmen - a friend who runs the team. That prompted this Facebook response from the Mill Rats: "The writer made an error and said the Halifax Rainmen where it should have read the Saint John Mill Rats." telegraphjournal.com

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, Lockout, Canada 

Jamario Moon: Everybody........No I did not sign with the Quebec Kebs....only goin to workout Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Jamario Moon, Lockout, Canada