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When an issue became too complex, D'Antoni would brush it off with a smile then assure Gheradini everything would be fine. "He has a philosophy, a way of thinking," Gheradini explained. "He'd tell me, 'Remember, Maurizio, there are no problems, only solutions.'" It's a mindset D'Antoni will likely lean on heavily as he navigates through the choppy waters and intense heat that comes with coaching the Lakers. "He'll do fine." Gheradini said. "He's very, very well prepared and suited for that job." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Maurizio Gherardini 

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

Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash, Canada, Maurizio Gherardini 

His Eurocup’s numbers show that he did a great job (11.3 ppg., 64.1% 2FG, 7.9 rpg., 1.6 bpg., 16.9 index) and of course the Toronto Raptors that have his NBA rights are watching him and waiting to sign him this summer, as team vice president Maurizio Gherardini clarifies to Eurohoops.net. “Yes, our plan is to sign him this summer as we hope he can be a key piece of our core group of young talented players, a very nice piece for the future of the Raptors”, he says and he doesn’t mind if he has to wait a little more, because of Valanciunas’ commitment to Lithuanian National Team that will compete in FIBA pre- Olympic tournament in Venezuela and probably in the London’s Olympics: “We do not have any objections as we understand how much any player in the world would like to do whatever it takes to represent your country with the National Team and, in this specific case, to make it to the Olympic Games”. EuroHoops.net

Toronto Raptors, Maurizio Gherardini, Jonas Valanciunas 

Maurizio Gherardini, Toronto’s senior vice-president at the start of last season, will have new duties — based in Europe, according to a source — and senior director of scouting Jim Kelly will also have a new job description. Both were given one-year contract extensions last summer, after Colangelo had decided to add a new face to the team’s hierarchy. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Maurizio Gherardini, Ed Stefanski 

The Toronto Raptors are bringing back assistant general manager Maurizio Gherardini for at least another season. The team issued a short statement on Thursday saying Gherardini, who also acts as the club’s vice president, has had his contract extended to next season. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Maurizio Gherardini 

According to Italian newspaper La Tribuna of Treviso, Maurizio Gherardini expects to be re-upped by the Raptors. His contract is slated to expire on Thursday night but apparently, negotiations are in progress. Gherardini joined the Raptors in June of 2006, becoming the first European to hold a senior management position in the NBA. He has shifted from vice president and assistant general manager to senior vice president, basketball operations. London Free Press

Toronto Raptors, Maurizio Gherardini 

In addition to Colangelo’s extensive history with European basketball, the Raptors ace in the hole might just be Maurizio Gherardini. Gherardini, the Raptors senior vice-president of basketball operations, is considered one of the brightest minds and administrators in the history of European basketball having built Benetton Treviso into a European power before jumping to the NBA. The problem is Gherardini’s contract is up at the end of the month and it is not known if he’ll be around to help the Raptors through this. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Maurizio Gherardini 

Colangelo was speaking on Thursday after CBSSports.com reported that the Raptors were seeking a replacement for Maurizio Gherardini, the vice president of basketball operations whose contract expires June 30. Colangelo disputed the report, saying that while he has yet to address Gherardini’s future — “I’d like to have (Gherardini) back,” he said — the search for new blood isn’t a push to fill a soon-to-be-empty office. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Maurizio Gherardini 

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 

At his season-ending press conference, Colangelo strongly backed head coach Jay Triano and a source confirmed late Tuesday that it is almost a certainty that Triano and his staff will return. Senior vice president Maurizio Gheradini also needs to either be re-upped or let go before mid-June, though his fate is far less clear. Colangelo said now that his situation has been resolved he expects everything else to be decided in the next few weeks. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Jay Triano, Maurizio Gherardini 

Raptors’ vice president and assistant general manager Maurizio Gherardini will also be without contract after June 30. It is quite possible Gherardini will want a new challenge after five years under Colangelo. Regardless, Gherardini is one of the most powerful men in European basketball, someone you do not want to unnecessarily agitate. National Post

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Maurizio Gherardini 

Raptors vice-president Maurizio Gherardini says the year in Greece completely revamped Kleiza’s game. “He is a more complete player,” Gherardini said, having seen Kleiza in the five games Lithuania played at the FIBA world championship. “He works more at both ends of the floor and I think he has learned more to use his game mixing the inside and outside better. As much as he counts on his three-point shot, he works his man close to the basket. He’s mixing things up in a more consistent way.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Linas Kleiza, Maurizio Gherardini 

“Basketball is the most important thing in Lithuania, more than anything else,” said Maurizio Gherardini, a long-time follower of the international game and now managing director of Canada’s national teams. “Basketball is not only the sport, basketball is life philosophy, it’s religion. They are all basketball people, they know the game, they are all coaches, they are all players, you feel and smell basketball everywhere. So every time you have an international competition, you have thousands of Lithuanians coming, wherever the competition is. “It’s not just sport . . . it’s a country that found a way to present itself to the rest of the world from it.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Maurizio Gherardini, Lithuania