HoopsHype.com Rumors

Sonny Weems: Some people ask me about the Raptors. Well, Toronto is not my team. They don't mention me in their future plans or anything like that. A couple other NBA teams are really interested in me and that's what I'm looking for. I'm not just focused on Toronto because you read articles about the team and my name never comes up. I'll just focus on finishing this season and find the best possible team. I have some overseas teams also interested, but my main goal is going back to the NBA. If it's not possible, I'll stay in Europe. HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Sonny Weems, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Carter played with the Heat from 1999-2003, and is now with his sixth NBA team in 13 seasons. But his days of returning to Miami as a player are winding down. "Probably one year and then I'll start coaching," Carter, 36, said of his plan to retire after next season and become an NBA assistant. FOXSports Florida

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Anthony Carter 

"Me and George have been talking about it for the last two years about me coaching with him, so I'm looking forward to that experience and that challenge," Carter said. "I've been talking to Sam Cassell (of Washington) about how it is, and with Tyronn Lue with Boston. Those are guys who I played (against)." FOXSports Florida

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Anthony Carter 

Bryan Colangelo talked about Andrei Kirilenko and Wilson Chandler as possible roster additions during the first quarter of the Toronto Raptors – Washington Wizards game on February 3rd, 2012 at the Air Canada Center. Canada.com

Toronto Raptors, Free Agency, Bryan Colangelo, Andrei Kirilenko, Wilson Chandler 

Since this is Toronto, every silver lining has its cloud. It’s a matter of time before fans begin to fret that Bargnani will become the latest all-star who wants to venture south once he’s proven himself. When I try to pin him down on this point, Bargnani does not use weasel words or get surly. He points out the flaw in the question. “I don’t think it’s fair to ask me if I want to leave one day, because I think I’ve demonstrated the opposite,” he says. “I think it’s pretty clear that I’d like to stay in Toronto.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Andrea Bargnani 

Messina still figures largely in his imagination. The Italian had him at Benetton Treviso for three crucial years between the ages of 18 and 20. No mentor has had a greater impact. While his game has changed since, Bargnani’s demeanour was cemented as a teenager. “All the stuff you can do here in college, the celebrating, that’s not allowed. If you do something like this” — and here he mimes the familiar gesture of pounding a fist to the chest — “you’re done. That’s really, really bad. So I got used to not doing it. I was very close to crying more than one time when I was young with that coach.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Andrea Bargnani 

This curious immunity to peer pressure has been a double-edged sword during his career, with the sharpest end often held out defensively. “Criticism has two sides,” Bargnani says. “Most of the time it just comes here” — and he points to his right ear — “and goes out here” — the left ear. “It doesn’t change a minute of my life. But if it comes from one of the few people I care about, the people you can count on one hand, it really changes me.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Andrea Bargnani 

Despite the apparent stability in Toronto, speculation persists among rival front office sources that team president Bryan Colangelo remains uncertain of his future with the team. CBSSports.com

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

As with the Petrie situation, I'm dubious. The imminent removal of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan component of the ownership group bodes well for Colangelo, who was not held in high regard by key members of that group. The remaining power broker, chairman of the board Larry Tanenbaum, has long been a Colangelo supporter. My read on Colangelo's situation is that he's comfortable with ownership's perception of the plan to shift to a defensive mindset under coach Dwane Casey and that he assuaged any concerns by welcoming former Sixers and Nets executive Ed Stefanski into the front office. I don't see any major upheaval on the horizon. CBSSports.com

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

The Miami Heat marketing & business department sent the newsletter below to fans through their email database. The messaging was exceptionally witty, creative and well written. However, the shots taken at the Cavaliers and Raptors might need to be addressed. The copy goes into the fact that many personal relationships end after the holiday season, which seamlessly flows into promotion for the Heat’s upcoming home games against the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers. “Win-Win-Stop-Whining, getting over an ex can be tough, a way to get over your former flame.” The not-so-subliminal messaging here takes aim at the 2010 summer free agency when the Raptors lost Chris Bosh and the Cavaliers lost LeBron James to the Miami Heat. The email was targeted to Heat fans, and the messaging was lighthearted and comedic. We are posting it because some people might think otherwise. IamaGM.com

Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors 

Due to the lockout and the late start of the NBA season, Bryan Colangelo had not had a chance to see and talk live with top prospect Jonas Valanciunas since last summer. Toronto’s president and general manager rectified that situation recently by having productive meetings with Valanciunas, Lietuvos Rytas head coach Aleksandar Dzikic, its owner and Lithuanian national team head coach Kestutis Kemzura. “It was just more than anything, an expression that all of our interests are aligned. We want what’s best for Jonas, want him to be as prepared as possible to make the best possible entrance into the NBA,” Colangelo said before his Raptors took on the Celtics on Wednesday night. “Everybody now is certainly on the same page.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Jonas Valanciunas 

“We had a chance to learn a little bit more about the situation, which is always good. Bridge a little bit of communication between all the parties, which is equally important when the buyout is concerned (the Raptors will buy Valanciunas out after Rytas concludes its season) … more than anything, making sure everybody had the same vision and I think that is very much the case.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Jonas Valanciunas 

When Wilson Chandler returns from China in the next few weeks, he will be a restricted free agent. The Denver Nuggets can match any offer that Chandler receives, but that won’t stop the Toronto Raptors from pursuing the 24-year-old. Toronto is expected to make a large offer to Chandler, according to multiple sources close to the situation. The Raptors will have to wait for the Chinese Basketball Association’s season to end before they can attempt to sign the small forward. Chandler’s team, Zhejiang Guangsha, is on pace to make the playoffs, which means he won’t be available until Zhejiang is eliminated from the postseason. HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Free Agency, Wilson Chandler, China 

Don’t be surprised if the Lakers surface in connection to Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon. It’s widely known that the Raptors would like to trade Calderon, and they very nearly did before Charlotte backed out of a deal at the last minute at last year’s trade deadline. Now they’re very specifically looking for a starting small forward or a deal that gets them closer to one, and the Lakers could prove to be the team that helps the Raptors in that regard. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Jose Manuel Calderon 

The Raptors are shopping. They’d like to pick up another draft pick or two, but the real need is at Small Forward. Sources close to the process say the Raptors plan to make life hard on the Denver Nuggets with regards to restricted Wilson Chandler. Wilson is waiting for his clearance from China after dominating in the CBA. HoopsWorld

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Wilson Chandler, China 

You can safely assume, meanwhile, that the Raps feel the same way. Sources with knowledge of Toronto's thinking say that the team is not just going to give Calderon away, especially when he's back to supplying a typically efficient 10.6 points and 8.7 assists nightly, but I'm told that the Raps are indeed open to moving him. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Jose Manuel Calderon 

You'll recall that they already did agree to trade him to Charlotte in the summer of 2010 in a Tyson Chandler deal that the Bobcats ultimately backed out of. Now? Sources say that the Raps, if not outright shopping Calderon, have let it be known they're willing to listen, since he's no longer regarded as their long-term answer at the point. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Jose Manuel Calderon 

That's because shedding Calderon's nearly $11 million salary for next season would be another step in the reset that began with Bryan Colangelo's drafting of Jonas Valanciunas in June and the hiring of the defensive-minded Dwane Casey as the new coach. It's an open secret north of the border that the Raptors, as much as they've loved Bargnani's increased production and honest attempts to try harder on D under Casey, won't be heartbroken if their 2011-12 record nets another prime pick in the next draft. The biggest obstacle to a Calderon deal between now and the March 15 trading deadline is that the Raps would surely want a point guard in return, which would appear to rule out teams looking for point guards -- like the Lakers and Knicks -- unless a third or fourth team joins in. Another option for Toronto, if shedding Calderon's salary is needed for cap space this summer, is merely releasing him via the amnesty clause in the NBA's new labor agreement since the Raps didn't use it before this season. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Jose Manuel Calderon 

The Toronto Raptors announced this morning that Andrea Bargnani will be sidelined indefinitely withi a strained left calf. Bargnani missed 6 games from the Raptors line up prior to returning on Tuesday of this week; helping the Raptors beat the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz on the back to back. FAN590

Toronto Raptors, Injuries, Andrea Bargnani 

But the 7-footer re-injured his calf late in that Jazz game and left the arena that evening on crutches. In fact, in the locker room in Utah, Bargnani himself speculated that the injury felt “much worse” this time and that he’d be “out for a while”. However, the MRI conducted in Denver on Thursday revealed no structural damage. After team doctors and trainers and other specialists reviewed the results of Bargnani’s tests they determined that he’ll be “treated symptomatically” and the team announced that their leading scorer would be “sidelined for an indefinite period of time”. FAN590

Toronto Raptors, Injuries, Andrea Bargnani