Bonner Needs a New Nickname... The Raps have their Italian Job?... Out of Town Brown is Out of a Job...

With no TTC... or Mr.Sub for that matter... Matt Bonner's going to need a new, hopefully better, nickname.

The Red Rocket just won't do in LoneStar state. Unless it's in reference to the space he, in theory, will provide for Duncan.

But that's bad. So bad, it needed italics just to make sure you got it.
(But then again... the nickname itself was always considered brutal through these eyes anyway.)

As you know by now... Matt Bonner has been shipped away with malcontent, Eric Williams, to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Rasho Nesterovic.

In another swift move by Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors now have their first true center since before Hakeem's Dream Knees gave out on him... Dare we go as far back as Camby to find the last quality center on the Raptors? (I'm maintaining that Antonio Davis was still a PF, despite his all-star year coming at the 5)

Now, Rasho is a quality center. He's not great. But he's good... at what the Raptors need from him. Size, defense, and reliability. Rasho is as solid as a rock. Standing 7', 250 lbs, the man can just plant himself in the paint and block (if not alter) shots. He comes with a salary calling for 7+, 7+ and 8+million in the three remaining years on his contract.

Considering the dollars doled out for big men... I figure that to be managable, seeing as how this guy's won a championship ring, played with fellow star-studded big men (Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett... and Sam Mitchell, for that matter), and can more than handle letting his power forward (Bosh) shine.

Heading the other way... the Raptors find a new home for the cranky E-Will... but lose the fan-favorite in Bonner (not to mention a 2nd round pick for 2009 (which I originally read to be that of New Orleans/OK (c/o Aaron Williams trade)).

But as we all know, you've got to give something up to get something in return.

Just ask Pizza Pizza, who will now have the ever-cheery Sam Mitchell doing a promotional stint instead of the recently departed Red Head.

Don't worry kids... Sam Mitchell really loves you.

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So the Toronto Sun reported that Benetton Treviso General Manager, Maurizio Gherardini, could be named the Raptors' assistant GM as early as today.

Very quick work, considering it was just 2 nights ago that Treviso won the Italian Serie A title.

Vacation is for the weak...

The Raptors' 2nd round draft pick of last year, Uros Slokar, plays for Gherardini's squad... as does Andrea Bargnani (as if you haven't been beaten over the head with that knowledge yet).

I am convinced Bryan Colangelo is a master of this NBA draft game. His smokescreens are thicker than a slice of texas toast. I have absolutely no idea where he's leaning with the top pick - which, obviously, is exactly what he wants.

What *I* want, is now more unclear than ever. I like the idea of LaMarcus Aldrige (assuming the Raps keep the top-pick). He's a very skilled big-man, with hometown connections to Bosh... but the more I read about Bargnani... the more I fall in love with the idea of the Italian donning "Toronto" on the front of his jersey.

Diverse 7-footers don't come around often... and having 3 near-seven footers (Bosh, Charlie, AB) with different skill-sets is all too tantilizing. But you could say the same with Aldrige. Different talents... same size (near seven feet, if you're with me).

I know Rasho's a tower... but I'm talking about the forward positions here.

The prospect of playing any combination of the 3 of them simultaneously also leads to some salivating.

So, while I'm still not sure what I want... I do know that something good will happen either way.

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Finally, the drama surrounding the Knicks coaching staff has come to an end. Larry Brown has been fired after one miserable season... replaced by Isiah Thomas. The man everyone loves to hate. The man who made the Knicks roster even more convoluted than seemingly possible.

The only thing I can say about this is... not only should it have been done months earlier... but it should have been done with more class.

Thankfully, at least, we won't be bombarded with 5 different versions of the same "Larry Brown won't talk to us... Zeke won't talk to us" stories coming out of New York.

Now it'll just be which coach gets fired so that "Next Town Brown" can take over, and start the destruction again.