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**CrookedJ** · 05-19-2006, 08:44 AM

Haven't been posting much lately, just too damn busy getting married on June 3

Still been lurking though . . .

Saw some good articles this morning:

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/teams/report/TOR
A report on rumored iring of new asst. Gm Mauricio Gherardini

Quote:

Colangelo has been busy on both fronts. He was in Europe for the EuroLeague Final Four scouting players and meeting with Benetton Treviso executive Mauricio Gherardini, who sources say has a good chance at being hired as Colangelo's No. 1 lieutenant.

There is also a brief Raptors season report in the above article.

And the from the STAR

Quote:

Gene Keady is out as a Raptors assistant coach and there's every reason to expect it's just the first move in a front-office shakeup as president and general manager Bryan Colangelo puts his own stamp on the franchise

Jack McCloskey, a consultant to the team who has been with Toronto since the Isiah Thomas era, will not be retained since he had such close ties to former general manager Rob Babcock and was also a steadfast supporter of the drafting of Rafael Araujo.

Norm Goodman, who was the high school coach of former Raptor general manager Glen Grunwald and who has been a part-time scout for years, will be given his walking papers, while the likes of former European scout Steve Young and Mario Fournier, who did some scouting for Toronto in Europe, are also to be shown the door.

It's expected the team will announce, perhaps as early next week, that Mauricio Gherardini, the well-respected boss of Benetton Treviso of the top league in Italy, will join Toronto as Colangelo's assistant general manager.

I wondered how much longer McCloskey could be pinned as the guy to blame for Hoffa, and yet still keep him around.

Gherardini is the manager of Bargnani's team. I've also been wondering if these Euro connections will help with a potential buy out of Splitter - we may have an inside track on that.

butr · 05-19-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrookedJ

Haven't been posting much lately, just too damn busy getting married on June 3

Still been lurking though . . .

Saw some good articles this morning:

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/teams/report/TOR
A report on rumored iring of new asst. Gm Mauricio Gherardini

There is also a brief Raptors season report in the above article.

And the from the STAR

I wondered how much longer McCloskey could be pinned as the guy to blame for Hoffa, and yet still keep him around.

Gherardini is the manager of Bargnani's team. I've also been wondering if these Euro connections will help with a potential buy out of Splitter - we may have an inside track on that.

Same anniversary for me. Planning weddings suck. I hope you get your money back.

I'm glad Jack M is out.

**ballocks** · 05-19-2006, 09:41 AM

i'm a little disappointed with the keady 'firing'- or whatever it was. i always saw him as being a valuable ingredient on the bench. maybe he just wanted to be with his family ("i want to go home!!!") but you'd wonder why they didn't just say that if that were the case. maybe they will, it's still early.

not that it's a guarantee but man, i can't help but laugh at the apparent pursuit of andrea bargnani. again, this may have nothing to do with that alone, but i think the chances are better than 50/50 now. can't call it a coincidence in my world.

i know bryan's probably going to say something along the topic of the european leagues becoming the next oasis of nba talent- and gherardini having an edge in that market- and that would be a valid point, but i mean... could've looked all over the continent for an assistant gm who would've brought the same thing to the table. on the other hand, if you wanted bargnani specifically, you wouldn't have had as much of a choice. "i want consensus in the draft room." i'll think you'll get it now, bryan.

very interesting news no matter how you look at it.

peace

**CrookedJ** · 05-19-2006, 09:53 AM

I got the impression from the article that Keady leaving more on his own - he only had a contract for last year anyway. I want to see him replaced by several assitant coaches - we need more one on one time with our young guys in practice. No press relese yet, just this article - so the official reason may come soon.

Gherardini has been interested in moving to the NBA before, and appearantly was on the short list for the Charlotte Bobcats when they joined the league.

Is this move a step towards the "three headed" lineup of Bosh / CV / Bargnani? Would that be a good idea? I mean they'd have issues defensively, but what teams could guard all three of those guys at the same time?

**speedythief** · 05-19-2006, 11:12 AM

Ok, McCloskey out, Young out, Goodman out, Fournier out, whatever.

But Gene? That sucks. Gene was one of the better 'development' guys we had. He was the coach that worked the closest with Villanueva this year, according to Charlie, so obviously he had a nice impact on him.

I wonder how secure Kelly and Zuffaletto are once the draft is done?

trick · 05-19-2006, 11:47 AM

You think Gene took the hair jokes to heart?

Good going Bosh

shookem · 05-19-2006, 12:04 PM

I wasn't sure why Keady was hired in the first place or what he did for the Raptors, so I'm really not bothered being unclear as to why he's leaving. meh, he certainly has a great basketball mind but it wouldn't be the first time a college icon couldn't cut it in the NBA.

Gherardini is a smart dude with a good eye for talent. Hiring him wouldn't be saying we want Bargnani but saying we want clout in Europe (similar to what Dallas has done in Africa). Besides, the Raps could do worse than Andre in this draft. Gherardini also has Slokar on his team so the guy picks up on NBA talent. I'd be very happy he got an assistant GM job.

narrator · 05-19-2006, 12:46 PM

I'm with you, Shookem: Gherardini would be a good hire because he has a proven eye for talent. If this give the Raptors a leg up on Bargnani in particular and European players in general, so be it.

I'm glad Colangelo is cleaning house. He needed to. The Raptors, with the new direction in Colangelo, need to sweep out the past ASAP to bring in a new attitude. I was never a fan of the Keady hiring (I don't know what he brought to the table) and I think it was short-sighted. The Raptors need to hire an assistant coach who will specialize in defense. They need to learn proper rotations, zones, etc. and clearly Mitchell isn't the man for that.

Mitchell's going to be on the hotseat now, methinks.

aizn · 05-19-2006, 01:24 PM

jim kelly needs to b fired as well. but good then Jack M was fired

pmac34 · 05-19-2006, 05:26 PM

as long as we get rid of Mitchell and our scouts Im happy.
I wouldnt mind Sam being a lead assistant though. He has worked extremely well with Charlie and Bosh's development

Team Mao · 05-19-2006, 06:52 PM

It looks more and more like the Raptors are going to be Colangelo's Euro experiment. The Gherardini signing has a lot more to do with his knowledge of other euro players who could fit in to the lineup than Bargnani in my opinion.

I think in a few years, we might even see a lineup that is about 50-50 euro-american. There's already talk of Vujcic and Garbasjosa being on BC's radar, we've got Calderon, it's seems to be a given that Roko is coming over, BC's hard over Bargnani. Plus, he's been quoted in different articles praising the international style of play and saying how Toronto is a good destination for international players.

Hopefully, it will work out well for us.

**madman** · 05-19-2006, 08:14 PM

hmm ok i dont get the keady deal, hopefully he stays around as something else, but he was definetly a good addition

**ballocks** · 05-19-2006, 10:56 PM

haven't seen it posted anywhere, hasn't gotten much press today:

http://www.tsn.ca/nba/news_story/?ID=166364&hubname=

it's the explanation we need. feel bad for gene, man. something about this story just breaks my heart.

peace

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