<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The NBA has pushed back the start of its free agent signing period, but the extra time may not help Matt Bonner reach a deal with the Raptors. Kenny Grant, Bonner's agent, said yesterday three other teams have called to inquire about the Red Rocket, who is a restricted free agent. Bonner, a fan favourite, and the Raptors reportedly are not close on a potential salary figure.</div> http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Basketbal...141117-sun.html Could be the Sun just making a big deal out of nothing, but I wouldn't be too surprised if he doesn't come back. With Bosh, CV, Sow, and possibly Slokar when he comes back from Europe, I don't see how Bonner could fit into our future plans. If another team offers him a contract similar to Brian Scalabrine's, then I'd say he's as good as gone.
Although i will miss Bonner if he leaves...i wish him all the best wherever he goes. He's a hustler, a very hard worker, and a great shooter who would be a quality pickup for whoever grabs him.
That's really bad news. He might seem like an unimportant player, but we need his shooting, rebounding, and most of all his hustle. If his agent has proved his market price, then Babcock should bite the bullet and pay him the money. I don't understand the logic in letting Bonner and Marshall go. We don't have a replacement for Bonner, and he should be a part of our future. I know some people have mentioned Slokar as a cheaper alternative, but take away his shot and he can't bring the rebounding, defense, hustle and toughness that Bonnner has. If we let him go, we're gonna regret it for sure.
The only problem is that there a lot of teams intrested in him, and this just going to turn out like JYD and AD, they did the same things, except better then bonner without the shot, but we overpayed them both, and we all know how that went.
since our major weakness isn't PF, i think it would make more sense to do a sign and trade in this pt of time, and get some values from bonner, probably for 1-2 2nd round choice(s), then we won't have a log jam in our roster, and we don't need to overpaid.
We can't let Bonner go... HE'S THE RED ROCKET! He is such a boost off teh bench and 1 of the few bright spots on our team last year. He was a diamond in the rough, and he provided great shooting, and big plays when we needed him... He can't leave us... he takes the TTC everyday!
Teams are obviously interested in him, but Bonner has only talked with the Raps. He wants to be here, and it's not like he's asking a ridiculous amount of money. It's a lot, but it's not enough severely handcuff us in the future. He's deserves something around 1-2 mill a year.
Matt Bonner done with the Raptors. I thought they liked him. They even let him represent them at the NBA's Draft Lottery.
I will be VERY disappointe dif he leaves. Not only is he a fan favourite, he helps alot. I will be very disappointed if Babcock lets Bonner go without a fight.
Bonner should stay but I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves though. He's a fan favourite and he's kinda like the custodian for what he does. Good luck to wherever he goes though, that is of course if he doesn't want to stay in Toronto.
Imagine loosing Marshall and Bonner, what a huge blow, what a huge loss in 3 point shooting. I hope my man Joey Graham will make up for it and have a significant impact in a starting role on the Raptors next season. And if C Vill can get play time because of these losses I hope he will make the most of it.
I like the sign & trade idea that wvsw! brought out. Let's just see what kind of money the other teams offer to him and then we can find out if his agent is bluffing or not. Babcock will match if it's under $2 million per year, but if it's over that then it's not worth it. I think it's more because of his agent that Bonner and Babcock aren't coming to terms. It was the agent that didn't allow Bonner to play in summer league because he wasn't signed, but Pape Sow played under the same circumstances. It's his agent that's doing all the talking about what this team is doing and that team is doing. If Bonner really wants to be here, he'll just fire his agent and sign a new agent who is willing to bite the bullet.
There's a common understanding among most GM's that players won't play in the summer league without a contract, and Bonner's agent has done nothing wrong. Ukic is doing the same thing with his contract. If CVill or Graham didn't have a contract, I doubt they would play in the summer league either. In this case, the Babcock is responsible for making sure Bonner gets a fair contract. It seems like he's trying to lowball his agent, or that he doesn't think that he'll grow as a player.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting R_ChutneY:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a common understanding among most GM's that players won't play in the summer league without a contract, and Bonner's agent has done nothing wrong. Ukic is doing the same thing with his contract. If CVill or Graham didn't have a contract, I doubt they would play in the summer league either. In this case, the Babcock is responsible for making sure Bonner gets a fair contract. It seems like he's trying to lowball his agent, or that he doesn't think that he'll grow as a player.</div> 1. Ukic didn't play because he wanted to play for his home country's national team. 2. Sow played without a contract, and so did Slokar. 3. That's why I said Babcock will wait and see what kind of offers Bonner's agent gets from other teams. Babcock already extended qualifying offer for Bonner and will be able to match if the price is right.
Am I the only one who doesn't really care if Matt leaves and that Bonner can't do anything else but shoot? I know "everybody loves him" and "he rides the TTC", but can you guys think of any other reason to keep him other than for his shooting and his hustle? Probably the only reason why he got to hit so many shots was because he was open more than half the time and the fact that he got so many open looks was probably because the other teams just thought "he was another white guy". His defence is below average, he can't create his own shot, his rebounding is somewhat poor compared to other power fowards and he doesn't have that many post moves. If he asks for more than 2-3 million I'd just let him go. In my opinion, he's just another Pat Garrity. I'd be a big blow to our three point shooting, but I think of it as a good thing. We'd usually jack up a lot of threes, and although we make most of them, it's not very good to live and die by the three. We have plenty of power fowards (Bosh, Charlie, Slokar, Sow), to take Bonner's place, although none of them are quite as effective shooters.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting asdf:</div><div class="quote_post">Am I the only one who doesn't really care if Matt leaves and that Bonner can't do anything else but shoot? I know "everybody loves him" and "he rides the TTC", but can you guys think of any other reason to keep him other than for his shooting and his hustle? Probably the only reason why he got to hit so many shots was because he was open more than half the time and the fact that he got so many open looks was probably because the other teams just thought "he was another white guy". His defence is below average, he can't create his own shot, his rebounding is somewhat poor compared to other power fowards and he doesn't have that many post moves. If he asks for more than 2-3 million I'd just let him go. In my opinion, he's just another Pat Garrity. I'd be a big blow to our three point shooting, but I think of it as a good thing. We'd usually jack up a lot of threes, and although we make most of them, it's not very good to live and die by the three. We have plenty of power fowards (Bosh, Charlie, Slokar, Sow), to take Bonner's place, although none of them are quite as effective shooters.</div> You're not alone in that sentiment. Toward the end of the season, when the scouting report of Bonner got around to almost every team in the NBA, opposing defenders came out to get a hand in Bonner's face and he struggled mightily. He can hit the open J, but aren't there about 229 other guys who can as well? Keyon Dooling was reportedly offered a $3 million / season contract by the Magic and he is a better player than Bonner. Different position, but is a better player nevertheless. Besides, we already have enough shooters on the roster in Alston, Peterson and Rose. It's about time that we get players that actually suit their positions and not play reversed offense by having the PF/C camp out in the perimeter for a 3 pointer and the guard post up in the paint and demand the ball like he's the next Shaquille O'Neal.
^vinkanaddy, u know what, we could actually post ukic and the CV can dish the ball in lol. then we'll hvae the most dangerous inside outside game. at the end of the day, bonner should get what he's worth and not overpay him bcoz he's a fan favorite and a hustler, JYD is a very good example. no doubt all the raps fans want to keep him, but 1 think has to be clear: at the right price
Ukic.. post up? They don't go together man. He'll get broken in half by the likes of Payton and Billups. I was referring to Donyell Marshall and Matt Bonner camping outside for the three and Jalen Rose posting up inside like he's a Shaq.
Come on now, why so harsh on Bonner. That dude proved himself to us and became a fan favourite... we need some of those you know. I love the man and how brings a sense of simplicity to the game... he doesn't have that droptop Corvette or bling, he's a simple man who plays the game of basketball for the love of the game.
