Queen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
Queen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
Raptors land Unseld as first ever Head Coach
By Jon Hammond
The Raptors made a big splash today before ever stepping on the court as they came to terms with Wes Unseld on a four year deal to make him the franchise's first ever head coach. Unseld coached with the Bullets most recently.
Unseld led the Bullets to the NBA Finals in two of the past four reas, winning the championship in 93 and losing this past year. Unseld and Bullets management agreed to part ways mutually as Unseld hoped to be more involved in personnel decisions. The deal with Toronto includes a Co-GM title.
Unseld played in the league for 13 seasons before retiring after the 1980-81 season. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.
"It's certainly a great honor that the management and ownership chose me to get this franchise started." Unseld said at a small press conference. "I am very much looking forward to the process of building and molding the team."
The Raptors also announced that former Celtic Kevin McHale will be joining the staff as an assistant coach.
By Jon Hammond
The Raptors made a big splash today before ever stepping on the court as they came to terms with Wes Unseld on a four year deal to make him the franchise's first ever head coach. Unseld coached with the Bullets most recently.
Unseld led the Bullets to the NBA Finals in two of the past four reas, winning the championship in 93 and losing this past year. Unseld and Bullets management agreed to part ways mutually as Unseld hoped to be more involved in personnel decisions. The deal with Toronto includes a Co-GM title.
Unseld played in the league for 13 seasons before retiring after the 1980-81 season. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.
"It's certainly a great honor that the management and ownership chose me to get this franchise started." Unseld said at a small press conference. "I am very much looking forward to the process of building and molding the team."
The Raptors also announced that former Celtic Kevin McHale will be joining the staff as an assistant coach.
Queen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
The U of L legend 
Queen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
Was surprised to land a real coach, especially one with so much success in the years I simmed leading up to it.
Queen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
Unseld & McHale 
Already touching the hard cap lol
Already touching the hard cap lolQueen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
Raptors, Grizzlies complete expansion draft
By Jon Hammond
The Raptors kicked off the expansion draft by taking former Duke point guard Bobby Hurley. Hurley was drafted by Houston with the 11th pick in the 1993 draft. In two seasons with the Rockets he averaged 11.9 points per game and 3.2 assists per game while playing 24.8 minutes per game.
"It's exciting." Hurley said. "To be that first guy in is pretty cool. Historic really."
The Grizzlies followed up the Hurley pick with a pair of selections, taking Pooh Richardson and Eric Piatkowski.
The Raptors were then back on the clock for two picks. Young forwards Brian Grant and Bryon Russell were selected.
"Definitely a focus on youth. Guys with potentially high upside." Unseld said of the Raptors strategy coming into the draft. "Then maybe look to add some veterans later."
Grant was drafted by Cleveland and averaged 4.0 PPG and 4.9 RPG in his lone season there. Russell was with Chicago and Milwaukee for his two seasons in the league, averaging 4.3 PPG and 1.1 RPG.
Vancouver took Randy Brown and Lucious Harris with their next two selections.
Toronto stuck with youth for their next pick, grabbing Harold Miner. Miner was drafted by Phoenix with the 17th pick in the 1992 draft. In three seasons he put up increasingly better numbers each season, averaging 9.4 PPG last year.
Then the Raptors grabbed their first veteran in Stacey King who was the Bulls sixth overall pick in the 1989 draft, he has played his entire career with Chicago until now. After averaging 8.9 PPG and 4.7 RPG as a rookie his numbers have tailed off. His career averages thus far are 6.5 PPG and 3.7 RPG.
Vancouver then selected Antonio Lang and Don MacLean.
Toronto then added big man Corie Blount from Philadelphia and shooter Jon Barry, formerly with the Magic.
Next off the board were Jim McIlvaine and Eric Riley to the Grizzlies.
Forwards Monty Williams (Nets) and Xavier McDaniel (Celtics) were Toronto's eighth and ninth picks.
Sam Cassell and Chris Smith then went to Vancouver.
Guards Johnny Dawkins (Bullets) and James Robinson (Jazz) were the Raptors next picks.
Lindsey Hunter (Clippers) and Chris Whitney (Heat) rounded out the Raptors picks, giving them a total of 13 players.
With some players selected having expiring contracts it remains to be seen who will actually make the Raptors opening day roster but we now know what they're starting with for personnel.
By Jon Hammond
The Raptors kicked off the expansion draft by taking former Duke point guard Bobby Hurley. Hurley was drafted by Houston with the 11th pick in the 1993 draft. In two seasons with the Rockets he averaged 11.9 points per game and 3.2 assists per game while playing 24.8 minutes per game.
"It's exciting." Hurley said. "To be that first guy in is pretty cool. Historic really."
The Grizzlies followed up the Hurley pick with a pair of selections, taking Pooh Richardson and Eric Piatkowski.
The Raptors were then back on the clock for two picks. Young forwards Brian Grant and Bryon Russell were selected.
"Definitely a focus on youth. Guys with potentially high upside." Unseld said of the Raptors strategy coming into the draft. "Then maybe look to add some veterans later."
Grant was drafted by Cleveland and averaged 4.0 PPG and 4.9 RPG in his lone season there. Russell was with Chicago and Milwaukee for his two seasons in the league, averaging 4.3 PPG and 1.1 RPG.
Vancouver took Randy Brown and Lucious Harris with their next two selections.
Toronto stuck with youth for their next pick, grabbing Harold Miner. Miner was drafted by Phoenix with the 17th pick in the 1992 draft. In three seasons he put up increasingly better numbers each season, averaging 9.4 PPG last year.
Then the Raptors grabbed their first veteran in Stacey King who was the Bulls sixth overall pick in the 1989 draft, he has played his entire career with Chicago until now. After averaging 8.9 PPG and 4.7 RPG as a rookie his numbers have tailed off. His career averages thus far are 6.5 PPG and 3.7 RPG.
Vancouver then selected Antonio Lang and Don MacLean.
Toronto then added big man Corie Blount from Philadelphia and shooter Jon Barry, formerly with the Magic.
Next off the board were Jim McIlvaine and Eric Riley to the Grizzlies.
Forwards Monty Williams (Nets) and Xavier McDaniel (Celtics) were Toronto's eighth and ninth picks.
Sam Cassell and Chris Smith then went to Vancouver.
Guards Johnny Dawkins (Bullets) and James Robinson (Jazz) were the Raptors next picks.
Lindsey Hunter (Clippers) and Chris Whitney (Heat) rounded out the Raptors picks, giving them a total of 13 players.
With some players selected having expiring contracts it remains to be seen who will actually make the Raptors opening day roster but we now know what they're starting with for personnel.
Queen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
oh these rosters are ugly already 
Queen City Hoops - Toronto Raptors Expansion
Expansion draft post updated. More details to come.