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Colangelo denies D'Antoni pursuit

Michael Grange, May 13, 2008 at 3:16 PM EDT

Just a quick note: Raptors president Bryan Colangelo would would like to make clear that he did not seek permission to speak with newly-minted Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, contrary a report out of Chicago this morning. "There is no accuracy to that whatsoever,' he said. "I don't know where that came from."

Two NBA sources confirmed last week that Suns owner Robert Sarver had explicitely denied D'Antoni permission to speak with the Raptors while allowing him to negotiate with the Chicago Bulls and the Knicks, a move precipitated by Sarver's unwillingness to be seen as doing Colangelo -- the former Suns general manager -- any favours.

Colangelo has been adament that Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell - who has three years left on his contract with the Raptors -- will be back to coach the team next season.

Also: Congrats to Jamario Moon, who was named to the NBA's all-rookie second team.

Here is the release:

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday forward Jamario Moon has been named to the 2007-08 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Moon becomes the ninth player in team history to receive all-rookie honours, joining Damon Stoudamire (1995-96), Marcus Camby (1996-97), Vince Carter (1998-99), Morris Peterson (2000-01), Chris Bosh (2003-04), Charlie Villanueva (2005-06), Andrea Bargnani (2006-07) and Jorge Garbajosa (2006-07). 

Moon, a former NBA D-League player, signed with Toronto following a free agent tryout camp during the summer of 2007. In 78 appearances the Goodwater, Alabama native set team rookie records for games started (75) and defensive rebounds (392). Moon ranked first among all NBA rookies in steals (1.03), second in blocks (1.38), third in rebounds (6.2), fourth in minutes (27.8) and 10th in scoring (8.5).

Moon becomes the seventh player in team history to receive NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours for his performance in January. He was selected to participate in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Sprite Slam Dunk during the 2008 All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. Moon scored 13 points and grabbed three rebounds during 19 minutes in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and finished third in the Sprite Slam Dunk contest. Moon followed up his performance in New Orleans by scoring a career-high 17 points February 20 versus Orlando. He led the team in rebounding 20 times during the season and had 25 games with a double-digit scoring total.

And here is the rest of the All-Rookie team total. No doubt Chris Bosh agrees with Al Thornton making the first team:

Kevin Durant of the Seattle SuperSonics and Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks highlight the 2007-08 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team. Horford, the only player unanimously voted to the first team, finished with 58 points. Durant, winner of the 2007-08 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year award, received a total of 57 votes. Rounding out the T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team are Houston's Luis Scola (53 points), the Los Angeles Clippers' Al Thornton (48 points) and Seattle's Jeff Green (43 points). 

The T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of Moon, Memphis' Juan Carlos Navarro (24), Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young (23), Detroit's Rodney Stuckey (22) and Houston's Carl Landry (18).

 

  1. andy c from Canada writes: unless there is an inside joke i'm missing i dont know of any Al Thornton playing in the NBA
  2. Brian S from Toronto, Canada writes: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/al_thornton/index.html
  3. Garry S from Canada, Canada writes: Perhaps because Thornton had a highlight reel dunk over Bosh during the season?
  4. Gus M from Canada writes: What do you think, Grange? Colangelo denies it, but wouldn't he have to? Otherwise what would be the message to Sam?
  5. Larry Boutilier from sydney, Canada writes: ......
    The Pistons showed everyone how to neutralize the Magic's Howard,
    Turkoglu and Lewis. I hope the Raptors were taking notes.
    Howard showed a lack of courage against determined defense.
    We need a real man like Wallace.
  6. D D from Canada writes: Larry...that was completely out of left field...but ok...agreed...As for the D'Antoni thing...it's getting tired...he's signed with the knicks and is headed for a nightmare (see Larry Brown), he wouldn't have improved the Raptors anyway and frankly the Raps need to make the improvements on the court, not the sidelines.
  7. andy c from Canada writes: another diffrence between the pistons and the raptors is that if bosh gets in foul trouble guarding howard he has to sit or play howard less agressevely. because the pistons do not rely on one person to carry the bulk of the scoring load like the raptors the pistons can roll wallace, mcdyess, ratleif and maxiell on howard with each of them knowing they can play howard aggressive because someone one the bench is ready and able to defend howard.
  8. chris h from Canada writes: D D you are crazy if you don't think D'Antoni would've improved the Raptors. They have the perfect roster for his system. High screens with Bosh and Calderon, surrounded by 3-point shooters. Phoenix won 62 games in 04-05 doing exactly that with Nash and Amare, JJ, Q, and Marion outside.

    I was pulling for that so hard.

    And he'll fare way better in NY than Larry Brown. Larry Brown hates young players and is notoriously hard to get along with. Most players I think would love to play for D'Antoni.
  9. Gus M from Canada writes: "Most players I think would love to play for D'Antoni." -- Except for Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson.
  10. Toby Maloney from Canada writes: I'm in agreement with the comment about changes on the floor vs. sideline. Let the coache and manager breathe a little, redevelop the team, make some choices. We can agree and disagree and make suggestions but firing the coach is a bit overdone, this isn't the Maple Leafs.
  11. chris h from Canada writes: "Except for Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson. "

    That's just patently untrue sir. Joe Johnson's beef was with management. He was offended by their contract offers on numerous occasions. Nothing to do with D'Antoni.

    Marion's an insecure headcase who was also pissed he hadn't been offered a gargantuan extension, although I don't think he actually cares who he plays for so long as his numbers get better. Hell he left to play for Pat Riley on the worst team in the league. That's like choosing to go a military boarding school instead of remaining at home.
  12. Gus M from Canada writes: No answer from Grange. Does that mean that Colangelo would have to say that no matter what, but Grange can't speculate on that publicly?

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