<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Raptors are considering the merits of a 24-year-old Lithuanian who, the club concedes, has served time in prison for his involvement in a gang rape. Kristof Lavrinovic, a 6-foot-10 centre who plays in Russia's top professional league, told two European media outlets yesterday that the Raptors are prepared to offer him a contract when the NBA's signing period begins July 14. "Toronto presented me with a contract," Lavrinovic told a Russian sports Web site, a claim he reiterated in a Lithuanian newspaper. "But according to NBA rules I can't sign until (July 14)." Raptors interim general manager Jack McCloskey said that, while the Raptors are among a number of NBA clubs who "have some interest" in Lavrinovic, they have yet to make him an offer. "He's getting ahead of himself," McCloskey said by phone from his home at Skidaway Island, Ga. "We can't (sign him right now) and we're not sure we're going to."</div> Read The Rest
I personally don't see anything wrong with this. You have to be a little hesitant signing him, knowing the fact that he was a rapist. But if the guy could play, why not let him? He's human, and he made a mistake. I would give him shot.
Yea he ganged rape someone, which is pretty sick and disgustin, but I think if he has putten it behind him, is truley sorry for it, let him play. It is normal for stuff like this to happen in the NBA.
When I read this in the mornin' yuesterday I didn't like the idea. I know its hard to find a quawlity big man, but should we sign him soonm? no. Wait to see what happens during the offseason, and if it looks real crappy , then sign him.
IMO I don't think it's a good idea. Even in the weak Eastern Conference, a 6'10 Centre isn't good which means Bosh would still have to play Centre. If we get him to his natural position at Power Forward, he could be averaging a double double this season or next.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">the question i have, is he better than nate huffman?</div> Or Greg Foster?
Anything and everything for the team right? I've always despised people like him, but if it could really help the team and whether or not he's changed, that would affect on whether I would want him chosen. The size would be something you need, the Raptors lack that. So I say go for it. It'd take a load off of Bosh if we were to play him at C instead and played Bosh at PF
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">Or Greg Foster?</div> i like greg foster, he can hit the open jupm shot. his skills have declined throughout the years but the raptors didn't commit a long term contract to him unlike nate huffman.
forget it. i dont want this sicko on the team. gang rape? thats disgusting you guys think its okay to have a convicted gang rapist on our team? what kind of message does that send to the community? i want to be proud of my team. i cant be proud of a convicted gang rapist i want the raps to win as much as anyone, but at what cost? i for one am willing to draw the line at some point...and this guy certainly isnt a star thats gonna come on our team and drop 20 and 10. what kind of world do we live in, where a man can violently violate another human being, potentially scar them for life, and then become somewhat of a celebrity and extremely wealthy? and its a complete joke that some of you are comparing this to jason kidd. have you any idea of what rape does to a person. its not even in the same ball-park as a slap to the face.
its not like he's gonna rape the other players in the team, so i dont see anything wrong with signing him.
well the raptors need some toughness and if a convicted felon is the dude thats going to provide them with that then so be it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tommahawk:</div><div class="quote_post">its not like he's gonna rape the other players in the team, so i dont see anything wrong with signing him.</div> Well said. I think Toronto should give the guy a chance, but at least try him out once or twice before making a decision.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lavrinovic is averaging 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds this season, making an impressive 48 per cent of his shots from behind the international three-point arc, which, at 20 feet, six inches, is more than three feet closer than the outermost point of the NBA line.</div> At least give him chance to prove himself on and off the court.
i hope we can do better than that...i really hope so if we sign him, he should be either starting or coming off the bench as centre...i'd really like to see more of a bosh, marshall, moiso roatation going next season
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">well the raptors need some toughness and if a convicted felon is the dude thats going to provide them with that then so be it.</div> How is getting a convicted felon gonna add toughness? <font color="red"><strike>Is he gonna stick his penis out and tell the refs and players to suck it?</strike></font> Or get his "gang" to rape shaq to stop him? If I were playing a convected felon I would want to wipe his face all over the court. dj_premium_plus: what kind of world do we live in, where a man can violently violate another human being, potentially scar them for life, and then become somewhat of a celebrity and extremely wealthy? ------- Very well said, I agree 100%. <font color="red">EDIT:We all know what he was convicted of,there is no reason to use graphic descriptions such as that to make a point. ~Dre</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">well the raptors need some toughness and if a convicted felon is the dude thats going to provide them with that then so be it.</div> so he's tough because he got busted for gang rape???? fix yourself up FOR REAL!! gang rape is a cowardly crime, commited by a sicko with deep rooted mental issues, and was most likely abused as a child. (i took sociology classes in uni, i know what im talking about). get a clue! just because someone is convicted of a crime, does NOT make them tough. that is easily the most moronic comment i have EVER read on this board. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting tommahawk:</div><div class="quote_post">its not like he's gonna rape the other players in the team, so i dont see anything wrong with signing him.</div> what if he gang raped your sister or mother? how would you feel about it then?
I don't mean to sound shallow, or cynical, but I would be highly doubtful that many NBA players haven't engaged in such actions. Not that it makes it right, but this guy wouldn't be the worst of the worst in the L...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting RiverspoonJones:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't mean to sound shallow, or cynical, but I would be highly doubtful that many NBA players haven't engaged in such actions. Not that it makes it right, but this guy wouldn't be the worst of the worst in the L...</div> Maybe not to that extent, but on the whole it may well be a hypocritical view to single this guy out. Just because someone hasn't been convicted, doesn't make them clean.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">(i took sociology classes in uni, i know what im talking about). get a clue!</div> Perhaps you should have spent more time in class then, because PSYCHOLOGY, not sociology, is the study of your "deeply rooted mental issues". However, if you're looking to figure out how societal ills might have played a role in the rape, then sociology would serve you well. Regardless, According to my math, he commited this crime, depending on the length of court proceedings, well after the age of 18. Mistakes happen and people should be afforded 2nd chances. However, I think it sends a very poor message to the female population of Toronto to bring in a convict rapist from another country. Not only do we have far too many of those type of individuals from our own respective countries to deal with, but there would also be alot more ways to get a clear idea of his "rehabilitation", were he incarcerated in Canada or the US. The fact that he only spent 2 years in jail for rape tells me either 1 of 2 things: 1. The judicial system in his country is a joke. 2. He wasn't the one who actually raped the women, but was there and possible participated in holding her down, etc. The latter still isn't even remotely acceptable, but given that it was his brother that was involved in the issue, there could have been some pressure on him in that regard. I'd be more inclined to afford a 2nd chance to someone who was a party to something horrible because he made the mental error of being pressured to do something by his brother than I would someone who actually perpetrated the act of rape itself. Again, neither is acceptable, but in the heirarchy of ills, it's easier to deal with.
