Fan Duel Toronto Raptors

Morning Coffee July 16

Fanhouse "I am real excited [about Toronto]," he said. "I can’t wait to get started, get out there and live and get the feel for everything. I think that was the best situation for me. I told everybody the day before I got drafted. I told my mom and [everyone] I wanted to go to…

Fanhouse

"I am real excited [about Toronto]," he said. "I can’t wait to get started, get out there and live and get the feel for everything. I think that was the best situation for me. I told everybody the day before I got drafted. I told my mom and [everyone] I wanted to go to Toronto. And I got picked by Toronto."
DeRozan has emerged as one of the more impressive players in Summer League. At 6-foot-7, he has the legitimate size for a small forward, but his athleticism and length make him a matchup nightmare. Just ask Phoenix’s Taylor Griffin, who had to defend DeRozan on Wednesday.

NBA.com

Raptors vs Suns Hilights

NBA.com

The official paperwork was not in the Pacers’ hands until Monday, which gives them until next Monday to decide what to do with the sheet. The Raptors signed Jack to a four-year deal worth $20 million. In Toronto, he’d back up incumbent starter Jose Calderon. Last season, Jack and T.J. Ford split the starting point guard job for parts of the season but Ford was expected to be the starter next year.

"My owner’s coming into town next week to talk about it," Bird said by telephone. "And coach (Jim O’Brien) is coming back, too. We’ll talk about it. We have five days left."

Wonderday

DeRozan had a sensible answer for NBA.com when asked what the players could do to entice Bosh to re-up.

“We have to win. A player like Chris Bosh, all he wants to do is win.”

We go back to the question: how much have the Raptors improved? It’s a question with a subtext…will it be enough to entice Bosh?

I am beginning to think so. For one thing, the looming clouds in the economy and the first backslide in the salary cap in 24 years will put the brakes on what was expected to be a full-court press for talent in 2010. Dwyane Wade has signaled a return to Miami and the glut of talent beyond LeBron James (the list might include Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Richard Jefferson, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Redd and Tyson Chandler) suddenly might have a dampening effect on the market.

Bosh, unlike James, has never indulged in “what-if” scenarios, the city and lifestyle seem to work for him. Most importantly, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo has built a team with the potential to win 50 games.

Las Vegas Review Journal

It has been nothing but bad news for USC basketball lately. After DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett announced intentions to turn pro, the Floyd scandal broke.

It appears DeRozan’s one-and-done move was the right one, and he confirmed as much. "I don’t regret anything," he said.

DeRozan, drafted ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors, has been one of the most impressive players in the summer league. He scored 20 points Wednesday and made the winning layup to lift the Raptors to a 74-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns at Cox Pavilion.

CCTV

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Baron Davis and Jose Calderon from the Toronto Raptors went to Changsha, central China’s Hunan province. Davis gave some signed gloves to the fans, and was busy filming what he’d seen in China with a DV camera.

The two stars also went to Hunan University to greet students. They watched China’s traditional lion dance, and put on the finish touches to the lions’ eyes, a Chinese custom meaning they are very important guests. They’ll next fly to Shanghai, the last stop of their Chinese tour.

Pro Basketball News

As for Raptors first-round pick DeMar DeRozen … the 6-7 forward is looking good with averages of 16.3 points on 47 percent shooting through four games. He’s had two games of 20 points and another of 15, displaying a real know-how when it comes to getting to the basket and finding ways to put the ball in it once there.

ESPN

DeMar DeRozan is far more polished than advertised. He uses his quickness to build his game. As Mike Moreau said in David Thorpe’s twitter thread, "Demar DeRozan really comes off the curl with speed, balance and elevation-very controlled. Will come off a decade’s worth of pindowns."  He also rarely takes a bad shot — uncommon among rookies and in Summer League, and particularly uncommon among rookies in Summer League.

Fan590

Alvin Williams – The former Raptors fan favorite joins Prime Time Sports to talk about his new role as an assistant coach with the team. Williams also talks about the transition away from his playing days and the newest Raptor, DeMar DeRozan.

Courtside

International reports claim Carlos Delfino is seeking $5 million a season, too much for the Raptors. Delfino must be delusional if he thinks he can get that kind of money on the open market in this economic climate.