<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Toronto Raptors are the first NBA team to acknowledge interest in signing Utah Jazz restricted free agent guard Keith McLeod. But the Raptors also expressed doubt that the Jazz would allow McLeod to move to another team and would instead match an offer sheet for him. The Web site Hoops World on Sunday quoted Toronto GM Rob Babcock as saying he's had "discussions with Keith's agent," but he added, "right now all indications are is that they (Jazz) would match, although that may change later on. He's somebody that we have checked in with, and he's somebody that's on our list."</div> Source
I don't know what Babcock has up his sleeve by being interested in restricted free agents who will most likely be retained by their former teams. I do know that he is looking to send a message out to Alston, but what he's doing is not improving the team, and just making it look like he's trying to add more talent to the team. It's about time we looked at some free agents who actually have a chance of coming here, like Earl Watson and Damon Jones.
I don't think we have money to get Watson or Jones anymore, I know Watson wants about $2.5 million a year, and I'm not sure about Jones, but likely in the $3 million range too.
Maybe Babcock wants to put pressure on the Jazz to spend their money earlier than they want. He forced Paxson to sign Duhon earlier than he wanted, and with Utah being another team trying to add a PG, Babcock can take them out of the free agent market by forcing them to re-sign McLeod. At the same time it sends a message to Alston, as Trip mentioned. I'm not sure who the actual target is, but a player under the radar has been Jay Williams.
I think we do need a point guard to back up Skip But honestly i dont want McLeod I have no idea how Celedron will be and raps should have a PG that will be an effective backup My top choices are; Watson or Jay William
If what shapecity says is true, then Babcock is being really clever about this. Kinda killing two birds with one stone. Smart move IMO .
i really like this kid, he's way better than duhon in my books. babcock should have extendend the duhon contract to mcleod instead, remember the jazz are notorious spend thrifts.
I don't know much about McLeod; never seen him in action. I have high hopes for Calderon and hopefully, he can be another Tony Parker and maybe better. As for free agent PG's, we definitely should try and get Earl Watson - that dude is a winner.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know what Babcock has up his sleeve by being interested in restricted free agents who will most likely be retained by their former teams.</div> I think this quote (Babcock's) was slightly taken out of context. The article claiming Babcock admitted to speaking with McLeod's agent was written by Darren "The Sniper" Andrade on Hoopsworld.com on Aug 28th. Source Before that Darren "The Sniper" Andrade wrote an article SUGGESTING The Raptors LOOK at Keith McLeod since losing out on Duhon. That article was written August 16th. Source Since it is the same writer who suggested and then also claim the Raps are interested, I would believe that Babcock's comments were more of a "Yah, we looked into, but I don't think so..." kinda comment instead of a "We are interested in McLeod and persuing it" I think it was "fabricated journalism" more than anything.
We can't get him unless he suddenly turns into a minimum-salary guy," Babcock said yesterday on the phone from Minnesota. "And regardless, I'm sure Utah wants to keep him. "We had expressed some interest in him, sure. I'm not trying to hide anything. We spoke with his agent. But he falls directly into that category where we determined we don't have enough money left to make a serious bid."
