HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Saint John Mill Rats could have an NBA player under contract by the beginning of next month. Ian McCarthy, general manager and team president, said Friday the team is also in contact with "three to five other NBA" players will interest in the Mill Rats. "There is at least one player who has said he'll sign Oct. 1 if he's not back in the NBA or signed a significant deal overseas," McCarthy said. telegraphjournal.com

Free Agency, Lockout, Canada 

The plan would be to pair the NBA mystery man with Anthony Anderson, creating a formidable backcourt in Saint John. The 5-11 Anderson led the team in scoring last season at 19.05 points per game, earning first-team Premier Basketball League honours. "Coach (Jaren Jackson) is comfortable with Anthony playing shooting guard because of his scoring ability despite his size. So we're looking to pair them together to replace Dwuan (Rice)." telegraphjournal.com

Free Agency, Lockout, Canada 

Saint John isn't the only NBL team making NBA noise. The Halifax Rainmen have scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Monday to announce to a player signing team president Andre Levingston describes as "undoubtedly the largest in franchise history". With the current labour strife in the National Basketball Association, the fledgling Canadian league has been courting NBA players as an alternative to Europe. "I've been trying to get it out of Andre but he's playing it pretty close," McCarthy said. "I just know that it is an NBA player." telegraphjournal.com

Free Agency, Lockout, Canada 

“This is my country, and this is my program that I spent 13 years in, and I’d like to be a bigger part of it.” The declaration by a multimillion-dollar NBA all-star point guard, Steve Nash, sounds sincere and convincing. But as Canada’s men’s team sits on the Olympic sidelines for the third consecutive Summer Games, it’s time to reassess the system that produces would-be Olympians. Toronto Globe & Mail

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

“I wanted to consider playing this summer. But the truth is I was rehabbing an injury all summer and couldn’t have played regardless,” Nash said Tuesday as he pressed the buzzer at Toronto’s stock exchange to kick off trading. The spectacle was planned for the launch of a new “functional beverage” called Liquid Nutrition. Advertising says it’s infused with vitamins and supplements, which sounds like everything an Olympics-bound sports team needs – with the exception of providing an actual berth in the Games. Toronto Globe & Mail

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

The team also wound up losing coach Leo Rautins, who went out with a bang, saying that playing for Canada didn’t have the cachet it once did. “We need to unify,” Nash said. “We have so many players not playing, including myself, though I retired [from national duties] about seven years ago. We have a lot of young players, but we have a long history of a fractured scene in Canada Basketball. We’ve got to find a way to unify and feel a sense of pride for this program. “That’s the first step, get on board with a sense of pride. … Second, we’ve got to develop players; and then we’ve got to build chemistry with the current players.” Toronto Globe & Mail

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

NBA star, Steve Nash is in Winnipeg and has a full day scheduled on Monday. He is here to add a prestigious Winnipeg award to his two-time MVP honour. Nash is scheduled to accept the St. Boniface Hospital's 2011 International Award Monday evening. Nash has used his celebrity as a basketball player to be an advocate for children's rights, health and education. On Monday morning, Nash will tour the St. Boniface Hospital research foundation to learn about all the work being done at the facility. CTV Winnipeg

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

Several notable Canadian hoopsters bypassed the Olympic qualifier, including 2011 NBA overall No. 4 draft pick Tristan Thompson, but it’s Nash who has borne the brunt of the criticism because of his senior standing. That has led to a few unkind headlines across the country as Nash’s pristine Canuck rep has had some of the shine rubbed off it. Province columnist Tony Gallagher penned a piece: “Did Nash dash Olympic hopes?,” noting that Sidney Crosby “would have been absolutely ripped apart by the media in this country” if he bowed out of Winter Olympics play for Canada in hockey. A Toronto tabloid went even further with the sarcastic headline: “Thanks a lot, Nash!” Times Colonist

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada 

Canada has found it impossible — for reasons ranging from prior commitments to NBA contractual issues to the inability to rush through citizenship issues for ex-Raptor Matt Bonner — to field its best team. It was an issue that cost the squad dearly going against some other national team programs chock full of the country’s best. “We play against the best in the world … we compete with what we have,” said Rautins. Toronto Star

Matt Bonner, Canada, Leo Rautins 

“We have to, in our country, look at playing for the national team as an honour and something that is very special,” said Rautins. “As Jack Donohue (the iconic long-time national team coach) used to say: ‘There are two ways to represent your country, in war and in sports.’ “I would love to get to the point where we have all our guys and everybody available playing. I think it would be special for them and special for this country.” Toronto Star

Canada, Leo Rautins 

Andy Rautins: (1/2) I want to say hats off to the coach.. my father. I Love You more than words can express. Twitter

New York Knicks, Coaching, Canada, Andy Rautins, Leo Rautins 

Andy Rautins: (2/2) Our gratitude for what you have done and sacrificed for #teamcanada is indescribable. Thank you for everything.. it's been a pleasure. Twitter

New York Knicks, Coaching, Canada, Andy Rautins, Leo Rautins 

Eric Koreen: Maurizio Gheradrini, at home recovering from hip surgery, calls Rautins "an axis of Canadian basketball." Hopes he can stay on. Twitter

Coaching, FIBA, Canada, Leo Rautins 

In the wake of crashing out of the FIBA Americas, the Canadian men’s national basketball team is looking for a new head coach. In the post-game conference call that followed Canada’s 91-89 loss to Panama on Thursday, Leo Rautins announced he would be stepping down as head coach of the program. With the loss, Canada’s hopes for a spot in the 2012 London Olympics basketball tournament were extinguished. “I think personally at this point to continue the things that need to be done, I’ve made a decision that this team needs a new voice in the locker room,” Rautins said. “It’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to. “I’ve gotten a great deal of support within the organization. I think the players have given me everything I’ve asked.” National Post

Coaching, Canada, Leo Rautins 

Andy Rautins: Frustrated been a long tournament.. Still not over tho.. Broken nose w/e i'll be good for tomorrow.. #neverlosefaith Twitter

New York Knicks, Injuries, Canada, Andy Rautins 

Nash said that if he knew the lockout would delay the start of the season, then he could have played for Canada at the FIBA Americas tournament in Argentina this month, which serves as a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. Ironically, as Nash was holding court in Vancouver, the Canadians were in the middle of losing an important game to Puerto Rico in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Toronto Globe & Mail

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, FIBA, Lockout, Canada 

Nash hasn’t played for Canada since 2004, saying that the demands of the NBA season make it too difficult to commit to the national team in the summer. “It’s a shame that now we have a lockout, and potentially, I could’ve played,” he said. “But I didn’t know if the lockout was going to go on this long, I didn’t know how fit I would’ve been at that stage. … It just wasn’t feasible.” Toronto Globe & Mail

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, FIBA, Lockout, Canada 

Andy Rautins, who led Canada with 18 points, suffered a broken nose and a slight concussion, and his status is up in the air. National Post

Injuries, Canada, Andy Rautins 

Bonner was a fan favourite in his two seasons in Toronto (2004-'06), nicknamed the “Red Rocket” for his red hair and the fact Toronto public transit, which bears the same nickname, was his main means of transportation. The would-be Canadian said there couldn't be a better time to play for Canada, with the ongoing lockout threatening to ground the upcoming NBA season. “That would be sweet,” Bonner said of playing this week in Argentina. He'll be keeping a close eye on how Canada is faring. “Absolutely, I know all those guys, it's a great group of guys and they work hard,” said Bonner. Toronto Globe & Mail

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, Lockout, Canada 

More than two years into his quest for Canadian citizenship, Matt Bonner remains grounded by red tape. So the former Toronto Raptors forward will have to watch with fingers crossed as Canada's men's basketball team bids this week for a berth in the 2012 London Olympics. And then he can only hope he receives his passport in time to suit up next summer if the Canadians do qualify. “I'm just kind of waiting and hoping,” Bonner said in a phone interview. “It's just one of those things. It's hard to talk about because it's kind of a bummer for me. I just wish it would go through so I could represent the country.” Toronto Globe & Mail

Toronto Raptors, Matt Bonner, Canada