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Joining us at dinner were Raptors assistant general manager Marc Eversley, Knicks head of West Coast scouting Mark Hughes and Madagascar's national team coach Angel Manzano, a Spanish import who finds himself with one of the toughest basketball-related jobs in the world. Angel led much of the conversation as he regaled us with story after story of what it's like to try revamping one of the world's weakest national basketball programs. When Angel arrived to coach the men's senior team two years ago, he had no facilities, no shoes, no uniforms. In fact, he didn't even have uniforms for the 2011 Afrobasket championship taking place in his adopted home country until he pulled some strings with a U.S.-based uniform maker to send him 25 reversible jerseys on the house. And per diem for his players? Angel managed to get them a whopping $1.50 US per day ... during tournament play only. SB Nation

New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Marc Eversley 

In other NBA front office news, the Raptors are assembling a list of candidates to work alongside assistant general manager Marc Eversley under team president Bryan Colangelo. Toronto is believed to be seeking someone with international scouting experience to replace Maurizio Gherardini, whose contract expires June 30. CBSSports.com

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Maurizio Gherardini, Marc Eversley 

Could it be that an otherwise dreary 22-win season has been the setting for a double-cross worthy of the bloodiest Shakespearean tragedy? Could Eversley be engineering a backstabbing coup? The answer, multiple NBA sources will tell you, is a resounding no. Eversley, 41, has carved out a reputation as a hard-working Colangelo loyalist who one day hopes to climb higher in the NBA ranks, but it’s well understood around the franchise that he currently wouldn’t be in line to succeed Colangelo as GM. In a league in which relationships are currency, crossing Colangelo, an NBA lifer whose father, Jerry, is one of the game’s most influential and respected power brokers, would amount to self-induced career bankruptcy Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Marc Eversley 

To the contrary, sources say Eversley, who declined to comment, has made good-faith attempts to sell Colangelo’s rebuilding plan on Silvestri, who is said by sources to have voiced disdain for both Bryan Colangelo’s record and his nepotistic advantages. And Eversley isn’t the GM’s only in-house supporter. Larry Tanenbaum, the club’s minority owner and chairman, is a Colangelo fan. Richard Peddie, the CEO, has voiced affirmation for Colangelo’s rebuilding efforts. Still, Silvestri and Teachers’ hold sway at 40 Bay St., and so the regular season will end Wednesday night with many of the club’s key suits staring at foggy futures. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Marc Eversley 

Colangelo, who refused comment on his contractual status, is proceeding the only way he can: As though he’ll be around beyond this season, even though he can’t say he will be. “Looks dysfunctional,” is the way one rival NBA executive assessed Toronto’s current state of affairs. “Cruel,” is how another NBA source termed it. Indeed, with the possibility of a lockout looming this summer, this figures to be a difficult off-season for out-of- work executives and coaches and scouts. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Marc Eversley 

The #Raptors have announced Basketball Operations Promotions for Marc Eversley & Alvin Williams: http://bit.ly/dnq2Rl #nba Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Marc Eversley, Alvin Williams