<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Mitchell close to new deal with Raptors, sources sayMay 18, 2007 04:30 AM DOUG SMITH Sports ReporterSam Mitchell is closer today to returning as head coach of the Raptors than he was when the season ended.According to league sources, talks between Mitchell's agent and Raptor president and general manager Bryan Colangelo are progressing well enough that a framework is close to being in place for a deal that could be finalized next week, keeping the 43-year-old with the franchise he's coached for the past three years.The head coach, whose contract expires on June 30, was a guest during ESPN's broadcast of the Detroit-Chicago playoff game last night and sounded optimistic that he'd return to Toronto with a new contract, saying he expected to return to the team he led to a division championship this season.It was the most emphatic he's been about his future since leading Toronto to its first post-season berth in five years.Colangelo maintained his long-held stance of not commenting on the specifics of negotiations with his coach but said last night he remains "optimistic" that Mitchell would return.</div>I guess his deal is around 4-years $16 MIL, averaging out to 4 MIL a year. That's a steal considering he lead this team to the playoffs and was a great coach for only $4 MIL. Doc Rivers just got a one year $5MIL extension for leading the Celtics to the 2nd worst record in the NBA
It would be great if we had Sam Mitchell back. 4 Mil a year is definitely a steal for the reigning Coach Of The Year. That's why Bryan Colangelo won Executive of The Year. Every move he makes ends up being good in the long run.
Im still confused to why people would even think to have Sam Mitchell fired. Its not like he did a bad job in the reg. season and then did worse in the playoffs..he did extremely well in the reg. season and gave it his all on a no playoff experience team. I think its even ridiculuos on the thought of him being fired. He was C.O.Y for heaven sakes, how many times in history has a C.O.Y been fired the next year?
His X's and O's aren't that great but what he does have is 1 good year with the teams respect so I also really don't get the concept of getting a new rookie coach..if he can do this in one season imagine how good we will be in 5?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Im still confused to why people would even think to have Sam Mitchell fired. Its not like he did a bad job in the reg. season and then did worse in the playoffs..he did extremely well in the reg. season and gave it his all on a no playoff experience team. I think its even ridiculuos on the thought of him being fired. He was C.O.Y for heaven sakes, how many times in history has a C.O.Y been fired the next year?</div>I hear ya RaptorsFan, I was wondering the same hting myself when I was hearing those rumors on sports radio and in magazines. I could be mistaken but doesn't he clash with some players? that's the only sane reason to fire that guy. He's done a great job in Toronto.
Report: Mitchell Agrees To New Contract With RaptorsThe Canadian Press reported on Friday that NBA coach of the year Sam Mitchell has agreed on a new contract with the Toronto Raptors. Done deal, considering how Toronto has stuck by him despite the ridiculous media accusations of him being a terrible coach....I'm glad he returned the favor.
Good for Tornto and Mitchell for the reasons BCB just said. This team has a really bright future. Bargnani was really turning it on at the end of this season, another guy who had ridiculous media accusations thrown at him. Toronto will be a beast in the Atlantic division for years to come.
The accepted deal was a three-year, $12-million US contract with performance bonuses and an option for a fourth year.
