http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...Basketball/home<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Raptors may not be done MICHAEL GRANGE From Tuesday's Globe and MailJuly 9, 2007 at 10:37 PM EDTThe Toronto Raptors did most of their work early in the free agent process when they reached an agreement with small forward Jason Kapono on July 1, but indications are there is more to come.According to two league sources the team is expected to make an offer to Indiana Pacers big man Maceo Baston, a restricted free agent who could help Toronto shore up their rebounding and shot-blocking."They're working hard towards getting that done," a source said."There's a connection with Baston and Anthony Parker [who played together for Maccabi Tel Aviv] and I think they'll be successful in signing him to an offer sheet at least." Having used their mid-level exception to sign Kapono ? a three-point shooting specialist from the Miami Heat ? to a four-year contract worth about $24-million (all figures U.S.), the Raptors have only the biennial exception to add to a frontcourt rotation behind incumbents Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Rasho Nesterovic, Jorge Garbajosa and Kris Humphries.The Raptors are hopeful a two-year deal for about $3.8-million will be enough to pry Baston away from the Pacers, who would have 15 days to match any offer.According to Mark Bartelstein, Baston's agent, the Raptors are one of several teams that have expressed interest in the player, who appeared in only 47 games for the Pacers last season.The New Jersey Nets and Seattle SuperSonics have also made calls.Baston averaged 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.4 blocked shots while playing only 8.6 minutes a game for Indiana after returning to the NBA following a successful seven-year stint in Europe, which included consecutive Euroleague titles in 2004 and 2005.In his last season with Maccabi in 2005-06, Baston averaged 13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and one block while shooting 66.1 per cent from the floor in Euroleague play.He turned down big money to try his luck in the NBA again, signing a deal with the Pacers for the NBA minimum of $744,551."We talked to several teams and we'll make a decision by the middle of the week," Bartelstein said."The Raptors are doing a great job turning around the franchise."Raptors president Bryan Colangelo refused to comment on negotiations with Baston. Teams aren't permitted to officially sign players until tomorrow.If Baston does reach a deal with the Raptors it will likely mark the end of their off-season shopping, as the club is over the projected salary cap and nudging the NBA's luxury tax threshold.One possibility, however, would be if the Raptors were able to reach a sign-and-trade agreement with the Miami Heat, for example, involving Kapono.In that scenario the Heat would sign Kapono on behalf of the Raptors and then trade him to Toronto for contracts of equal value.The result is the Heat would get something in return for a player that was leaving regardless and the Raptors would still have the mid-level exception to use on another player if they chose.One player who will come off the Raptors books is shooting guard Morris Peterson.The veteran free agent seems to have narrowed his choices down to New Orleans or Utah as the clubs he'll sign with after playing all seven years of his career in Toronto.Peterson is the odd man out with the Raptors after the club acquired Carlos Delfino in a trade with the Detroit Pistons and targeted Kapono in free agency.Peterson was in Utah yesterday, meeting with the Jazz coaching staff and executives."Some of the big free agents like Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Chauncey Billups have done their deals already, so I think it's going to start picking up for a lot of other free agents still out there," Peterson said."A lot of teams have contracts with their first-round picks done, too, so they can really start focusing on free agency."I don't have any other visits set up right now and I've got my basketball camp [today] back home in Flint, so I'm ready to find a comfortable fit wherever that may be for the next step in my career."If Baston does end up in Toronto it will be for the second time in his career.The former University of Michigan star played 16 games with Toronto in the 2002-03 season before signing a free agent deal to play with Maccabi.With files from Associated Press</div>This is stupid because im not giving up 4 million to aquire a possible prospect. Were already pushing the MLE and this is looking to be the last deal of the season for the Raptors.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jul 11 2007, 06:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...Basketball/homeThis is stupid because im not giving up 4 million to aquire a possible prospect. Were already pushing the MLE and this is looking to be the last deal of the season for the Raptors.</div>He's a little old to call a prospect.
Yeah, but in a way he still is a prospect...he's only played 2 fragmented NBA seasons and from his play overseas he has potential to do pretty well with good playing time. The Raps didn't give it to him a while back, and neither did the Pacers this past season. He's an athletic big in the mold of Stromile Swift and Kenyon Martin.
Maceo Baston is a decent player, he's not a prospect - he fits the dale davis mold with a little better attitude
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 12 2007, 02:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Maceo Baston is a decent player, he's not a prospect - he fits the dale davis mold with a little better attitude</div>You might wanna explain, because I don't quite get the comparison...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (noballer07 @ Jul 12 2007, 04:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You might wanna explain, because I don't quite get the comparison...</div>A great rebounder, defender. Hasn't got much O but is strong around the basket with the ball. And as far as I know, he has a better attitude than Dale Davis. The two are pretty comparable
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jul 12 2007, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>A great rebounder, defender. Hasn't got much O but is strong around the basket with the ball. And as far as I know, he has a better attitude than Dale Davis. The two are pretty comparable</div>Yeah, but you can't throw alleys to Dale Davis, neither was he an athletic big man. He's more of a rebounder and Baston is an above the rim type 4.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (noballer07 @ Jul 12 2007, 04:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, but you can't throw alleys to Dale Davis, neither was he an athletic big man. He's more of a rebounder and Baston is an above the rim type 4.</div>Dale Davis was athletic enough. The outcome of how they play is similar. Lots of rebounds, a couple blocked shots, and a couple points in the paint
I don't really think that this guy is worth. the chnces of him being a start a few years from now are very slim and 4 million is too much to give to a guy like him so I would say to pass on him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Strike3 @ Jul 12 2007, 04:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't really think that this guy is worth. the chnces of him being a start a few years from now are very slim and 4 million is too much to give to a guy like him so I would say to pass on him.</div>He's 29 years old.
yeah this is pretty pointlessI'd rather save it to bring back pape because pape is a fan favorite get it snap crackle pape rice crispies ;-)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRob-50-Forever @ Jul 12 2007, 11:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Isn't Sow playing for the Suns summer league team?</div>He is and has no future with our team nor does Slokar or Peterson. Baston is a because type a guy maybe with minutes he can bring something in the right system. Everywhere he has had a chance to play he has been said to be off the charts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MosDefinitely @ Jul 19 2007, 09:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So whats the deal did Indiana offer him a contract or is he Toronto bound?</div>He's in Toronto, the Pacers did not match
