<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font face="Times"><font size="6">Raptors begin pursuit of free-agent guard Hudson </font></font><font face="Times"><font size="4"><font color="#000000">Player's rep says Toronto `intriguing' Veteran has ties to new GM Babcock</font></font></font> <font face="sans-serif"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">DOUG SMITH </font></font></font><font face="sans-serif"><font size="1"><font color="#000000">SPORTS REPORTER</font></font></font> <font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">Rob Babcock wasted no time making a call about a veteran NBA point guard and found the interest was mutual. One of the first people Babcock contacted when general managers were able to start courting free agents at midnight Wednesday was the representative of Troy Hudson, the 28-year-old guard from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The call was warmly received. "Toronto is intriguing," Bill Neff, Hudson's agent, said yesterday. "It's a team that could use a point guard, apparently." Hudson is one of Babcock's key targets in the two weeks that general managers can woo free agents before being allowed to sign them beginning July 14. Outside of Steve Nash, the Dallas Mavericks guard who yesterday signed a five-year, $65 million (U.S.) deal with the Phoenix Suns, Hudson is considered the second-best pure point guard on the market. The 6-foot-1, seven-year NBA veteran appeared in only 29 games because of injuries last season and averaged 7.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. But his ability to push the ball and his familiarity with former Minnesota front-office executive Babcock makes a fit in Toronto seem natural. However, the Raptors won't be the only team after Hudson and the Timberwolves, who have the aging Sam Cassell on the roster, are sure to make a pitch to keep Hudson as they try to challenge for an NBA championship. The Toronto roster may be intriguing to a point guard but it's years away from being a legitimate NBA title contender. "There are very targeted teams after him," said Neff. Among the other point guards who have piqued the Raptors' interest are Rafer Alston of the Miami Heat, who washed out in a short stint with Toronto two seasons ago, and Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers. Neff said he didn't expect a quick resolution to the discussions with various teams. Many franchises are drooling at the chance to put a package together to lure Kobe Bryant and until that shakes out, there won't be many promises made ahead of July 14. "I'm only in a hurry to get Troy the best opportunity," said Neff. "I think it's going to move at a glacial pace at first. But Toronto has a chance."</font></font></font> </div> Read the rest here: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...ol=970081562040 I thnk this is just the logical next step in the free agency for toronto. I liek the fact that they might be pursuing Rafer(although this sucks cuz I wnat his authentic and have to order soon). But I have concerns with lal the leftover bulk we have, like Lammond Murray.
this should be top priority for raps. he's just what the article says...a pure point guard. and he can score. exactly what we need. its no secret how hyped i am on hudson...i think he's exactly what we need, and id be SUPER stoked to see him come aboard
i really think the raptors should get him, and hopefully will. we need a pure PG that can contribute and he's probably the top prospect, hopefully things will work out for the raps and they'll get him.
I posted an article a couple days ago saying that he was supposed to go to Minnesota or Utah. I'd like him here, but there are 3 other teams that want him. Good to here that Babcock knows who to look for, as it said hes looking at Rafer Alston and Fisher, hopefully we can get one of the three. Fisher wants Houston I heard.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thefranchise3:</div><div class="quote_post">I posted an article a couple days ago saying that he was supposed to go to Minnesota or Utah. I'd like him here, but there are 3 other teams that want him. Good to here that Babcock knows who to look for, as it said hes looking at Rafer Alston and Fisher, hopefully we can get one of the three. Fisher wants Houston I heard.</div> yea, i wouldnt be surprised to see fisher go to houston. rafer would be nice if we dont get hudson. too bad we had to let him go for a season, and couldnt have just held onto him in the first place. that way we could be focusing our attention to a center, instead of both a c and a pg nother thing i was thinkin...if vince isnt traded and openly asking for one, thats not going to attract free agents. im sure a pg would want to play along side vince
This was out a few weeks ago, that the raps were going to go after T-Hud (dumb nickname) if they didn't draft a point with their 8th pick. Mitchell and Babcock do have Minny connections so that should be an advantage. Hopefully the Vince saga doesn't screw everything up, and changes Hudson's mind on TO.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dj_premium_plus:</div><div class="quote_post">yea, i wouldnt be surprised to see fisher go to houston. rafer would be nice if we dont get hudson. too bad we had to let him go for a season, and couldnt have just held onto him in the first place. that way we could be focusing our attention to a center, instead of both a c and a pg nother thing i was thinkin...if vince isnt traded and openly asking for one, thats not going to attract free agents. im sure a pg would want to play along side vince</div> holy, we couldnt resign alston because he wanted more then the league minimum. the only reason we even got him in the first place is because it was mid-way through the season and he had no where else to go, so he's desperate to sign with any team at any price just to paly
hudson would be an exceptional pickup, he provides us with something we have lacked since damon left.
I think Damon was overated, he was on a brutal team. But I do like the idea of Troy Hudson. I like him because of last years TWolves vs Lakers series.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ADubb20:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Damon was overated, he was on a brutal team. But I do like the idea of Troy Hudson. I like him because of last years TWolves vs Lakers series.</div> You mean 2003 Playoff series versus the Lakers. In Basketball terms, when you're talking about last year, around this time, you're reffering to the past season which just concluded. Just felt like pointing that out. We all know what you're talkin about.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting McGrady^1:</div><div class="quote_post">i am sorry if i am wrong, but i always thought troy hudson was a shoot-first pg</div> He is...but a good shoot first PG, with good PG Skills...For a comparsion, think Chauncey Billups or a right handed younger Nick Van Exel...that's how I look at it
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting vinsanity03:</div><div class="quote_post">holy, we couldnt resign alston because he wanted more then the league minimum. the only reason we even got him in the first place is because it was mid-way through the season and he had no where else to go, so he's desperate to sign with any team at any price just to paly</div> Actually I Thought Rafer wanted to resign with Toronto.... but Richard Peddie didn't want him back... so he let Rafer go.... T-Hud or Fisher would be nice to aquire... but too many teams are interested in them... and it will be hard for Raptors to aquire them or just one
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting vinsanity03:</div><div class="quote_post">holy, we couldnt resign alston because he wanted more then the league minimum. the only reason we even got him in the first place is because it was mid-way through the season and he had no where else to go, so he's desperate to sign with any team at any price just to paly</div> rafer said himself he wanted to re-sign with toronto
^just to clarify, it was Richard PEddie who said we didn't want him? And yes, I know it was well known knowledege that Hudson would be sought after by Babcock, but I felt this was a pretty good article.
Hudson is a great player, you don't have to worry about him hoggin the ball, or not passin the ball enough, can't stress this enough, he's the pure PG, gotta have him. :thumbsup:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting nkwu:</div><div class="quote_post">^just to clarify, it was Richard PEddie who said we didn't want him? </div> apparently yea
Yo B-flame ill give you a Jalen Rose Avy cause you have McGrady^1's. Im just startin to make them but that'll give you one that's not stolen. I think we should keep Williams because he is and asset to our team when he's healthy. If we trade him we'll definetly not get full value because we are getting the value based on him being injured.
