Linkage for Jul 24 9am through Jul 26 7pm:

• The Croatian’s Summer Vacation: Roko Ukic Q&A at CroHoops.com
• Toronto Raptors and Rasho Nesterovic
• Raptors Bring Back a Familiar Face : T.O. Sports

• YouTube – Quincy Douby – Brooklyn Kid MIX by MISIEK
• YouTube – Marcus Banks 42 points
• YouTube – Patrick O’Bryant ‘07-’08 Highlight Reel
• YouTube – Antoine Wright Highlights
• YouTube – Devean George Mix
• Will Wright be the right fit in Toronto? :The AltRaps Blog
• She In The Key: Welcome Home, Rashcoe Jenkins
• YouTube – Bargnani and Belinelli Vs Canada
• Hoops Addict » Nesterovic Returns To The Nest Sorry to burst the bubble of some Raptor fans, but this pretty deal much kills any chance of the team resigning fan favourite Pops Mensah-Bonsu. The team has one roster spot remaining but that will like be used on a wing player such as Carlos Delfino or Linas Kleiza. With Nesterovic now back in the mix he will be the backup centre behind Andrea Bargnani and along with that duo, Chris Bosh, Reggie Evans and, gulp, Patrick O’Bryant, the Raptors are now set in the front court.
• Raps bring back a familiar face « That’s what I’m saying, guy… Nesterovic is the perfect second unit big man — he doesn’t demand the ball on offense but can step up and hit the open shot when necessary, plus rebounds and plays strong enough D. In short, you certainly don’t lose anything with him on the court, especially with other big men on the floor looking to score (Bosh and Bargnani). Also, it’s always good to bring in guys that want to be here — even after the trade to the Pacers, Nesterovic kept his place in Toronto and made no secret of where he wanted to play.
• Rasho back in Raptor Red :The AltRaps Blog Rasho will never be an offensive juggernaut, but his one-on-one defense is something the Raptors sorely lacked since O’Neal was traded away to Miami for Marion. Where Rasho struggles is obviously in mobility. He doesn’t have quick feet and is very slow to rotate as a help defender. I’ve heard that he’s lost a step since last time he played here, so it’s going to be imperative for the Raptor bigs to do their job and not let their man continually blow by them to the hoop. Bargnani has improved slightly in this area in the last year (still a ways to go), and I still think Bosh really needs to focus on his defense to become a really solid force down low.
• Price of Winning: What the Blue Jays Can Learn from Raptors’ and Leafs’ Spending : T.O. Sports The Raps haven’t been penny-pinching much either. After smuggling SF Hedo Turkoglu out of Portland in a burlap sack full of gold doubloons, they signed C Andrea Bargnani to a five-year, $50 million contract.

  It didn’t stop there, as the Raps then decided to outbid the Indiana Pacers by luring in PG Jarrett Jack with $20 million over four years.

  Now that’s what I call impoverished. Did Bryan Colangelo perform an Ocean’s Eleven-style heist to pay for these players? Should I call Vegas and tell them I know who robbed the Bellagio?

  The Raps and Leafs have two things in common: They’re both owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, and they both really sucked last year.

• Why are the Toronto Raptors so European? Do Americans want to play there? « NBA inside & other stuff Another question is do Americans want to sign in Canada? No they do not. It hurts the Raptors that they are in another country. A good example of this is Steve Francis in the 1999 NBA draft, in tears after hearing he was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies. He demanded a trade and never played for the Grizzlies. And the Vancouver Grizzlies folded and moved to Memphis. What I mean is most Americans think Canada is a joke, even though its actually a great country. But no way Lebron James(the best player in the world) signs with the Toronto Raptors!!! Its CANADA!!! Nike would never allow it. I mean imagine Michael Jordan signing with the Toronto Raptors, back in the day. That would be crazy!!! Or course it matters a lot if the team actually wins or not.
• Mediocre Forever – A Toronto Raptors Blog: The Raptors, Desired?
• YouTube – Chris Bosh – Caribana Friday At Lobby Ultra Exclusive
• Nesterovic agrees in principle to Raptors deal, agent says – NBA – CBSSports.com Basketball
• Foot on the Line: Season in Waiting – Evaluating Andrea Bargnani
• Nesterovic returns to Raptors: agent
• Minimizing maximum deals : FoxSports.com Photo Gallery
• ShamSports.com: The world’s ugliest NBA website: Summer league round-up: Toronto Raptors
• Charles Oakley wants to be NBA assistant coach : InsideHoops
• One Rasho Down, One Delfino to Go – Raptors HQ
• Blog Talk BayHawk: Summer League Teams in Review: Toronto Raptors I can't praise Douby's performance enough. He's a talented individual, and I think he's a more mature player at this stage of his career than he was coming out of Rutgers. It also didn't help being stuck in Sacramento where the revolving door of coaches through off any chance for consistency. I like his chances of sticking in Toronto this season or else catching on with another NBA club.

  As for the others, it'll be interesting to see how the Raptors utilize the relationship with the BayHawks this season. Hopefully they'll follow more in the mold of the Cavs and be open to development assignments and less like the 76ers who seemed very unconcerned with their Erie affiliation last season. In any case, welcome aboard Toronto. Summer League is fun, and hopefully the rest of the year will follow suit.

• Rasho’s back… and on sale! « Beware The Claw Throughout the media, bloggers and friends alike, the people I’ve spoken to and read were all in agreement that they wanted to see Rasho return to Toronto, a place he really didn’t want to leave in the first place.

  Three reasons I LOVE this deal for the Raptors:

• The Worst Raptors Team Ever:Worst Players to Rock a Raps Jersey | Bleacher Report while we wait a while for those two roster spots to be filled and the Season to start and while my amigo and also arch nemesis Micheal Malcolm decides to name the best raptors squad ever. Why not do the complete opposite just to see if we can piss him off?

  So, like mike's article we'll put the position, then the name, and why. While including honourable mentions. But, we'll see if we can't be a little bit creative with it as well. Let's get this started

• GBN: Say Hello To The Newest Raptor Radoslav Nesterovic | Bleacher Report With a front court of Rasho, Bosh, Barney, Evans, POB(i made an acrostic poem for patrick it's Poo On Bricks)are suited up front and ready to go. Which unless Pops Mensah-Bonsu is a actually working real hard on becoming a SF his already slim chances of returning to the ACC as a Raptor are none.

  Negotiations that have been going on with another former raptor Carlos Delfino since July 1st continue. No, word on whether they are any closer to retaining the argentinian. But, he now gets his wish of being the #1 target on the raptors free agency list.

• Colangelism: The New Faith Of Toronto | Bleacher Report And Bryan "theMangelo" 's latest move is one that is minor, yet major at the same time. Bringing in former Toronto Raptor Rasho Nesterovic by using the Bi-Annual Exception, for a 1 year/1.9 million dollar deal is great. He loves Toronto and is an under-rated defender. He's a steal for the Raptors and is a great backup.

  Also, these moves make Chris Bosh happier too. He was excited with the Hedo Turkoglu signing, and he was calling Turk encouraging him to sign aswell. Also, him and Jarrett Jack were teammates at Georgia Tech.

  The off-season is not even half way over, and it's a safe bet that there will be a few more tweaks made by the Raptors General Manager before the Raptors first game. And it wouldn't be a surprise if another big signing was made either.

• Toronto Raptors and Rasho Nesterovic sequel makes sense Nesterovic also upgrades a defense that gave up 102 points per game in 2008-09. Former coach Sam Mitchell loved how he provided weakside help for teammates. Next season, current coach Jay Triano will expect the veteran to foster a get-stops mentality.

  He’s cheap insurance. Bargnani has had health issues and struggles with consistency, while Bosh could get traded before hitting free agency next summer. If necessary, Nesterovic, a former starter, could step in for either and log heavy minutes.

  The old is new again in Toronto. Like his previous run with the Raptors, Nesterovic will be a success.

• Bosh’s manager denies laughing at Knicks, too – Knicks Blog The manager, Hadi Teherany, and Bosh both say they were laughing at the idea the question was asked, not the subject of the question itself.

  "He was simply laughing because the caller said that out of no where, it was NOT a reaction to going or playing for the Knicks," Teherany's Twitter page says.

  "We both love and respect NYC, the fans, and the mecca of Basketball. Be clear."

  "I swear the media writes up stories and accusations when it's a slow sports day. Rediculous. (sic)"

  Bosh's Twitter page says: "I always laugh it off when people ask me to come to their cities. I wasn't laughin' because it was the Knicks."

• Raptors sign Nesterovic to one-year deal worth US$2M The move cements the team's front court, where Reggie Evans was the only credible backup to starters Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani. Now, the team has a 7-foot veteran to throw into the game on those inevitable nights when Bargnani faces foul trouble. Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo has just one move left in an off-season during which in which he has added rookie DeMar DeRozan and veterans Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Antoine Wright, Devean George, Evans and Nesterovic. Negotiations with former Raptor Carlos Delfino are continuing.
• Raptors, Nesterovic agree to deal – The Globe and Mail It will be the big Slovenian’s third season with the Raptors. He played in Toronto in 2006-07 and 2007-08 before being traded to Indiana last summer as part of the multi-player trade that brought the Raptors Jermaine O’Neal. Nesterovic, 33, averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds for the Pacers last season, playing in 70 games and making 19 starts while shooting 51.3 per cent from the floor.
• TheStar.com | Rasho back where he wants to be Rasho Nesterovic is coming back to his adopted hometown.

  The veteran centre, who spent two seasons with the Raptors before being traded to Indiana a year ago, has agreed in principle to a one-year deal worth about $1.9 million (U.S.), the so-called biannual exception to the NBA's salary cap.

  The move comes as little surprise since president and general manager Bryan Colangelo has long held that the 33-year-old 7-footer is exactly the kind of solid veteran the team covets in a second unit role.

  The deal also works moneywise for the Raptors, who retain any financial flexibility they will have at the end of next season.

• Courtside – Seems like Rasho’s back, what does it mean? Plus Andre Miller is a Blazer
• Rasho Returns To Raptors « nbaroundtable
• Dino Nation Blog: Rasho Return A Done Deal
• Toronto Timeline: Chris Bosh brings glamour to the suburbs – Posted Toronto
• TSN – REPORT: NESTEROVIC AGREES TO 1-YEAR DEAL WITH RAPTORS
• Rasho Nesterovic will be a Toronto Raptor, again – Posted Sports
• Doug Smith – Rasho Deal Is Done
• SLAM ONLINE | » Heslip, Grassroots on Fire
• Toronto Raptors Fan Hosts All-Star Chris Bosh in Driveway Hoops Match-Up
• Mediocre Forever – A Toronto Raptors Blog: Follow Up Post- Carlos Delfino talked this morning on 1 reason why he might not be a Raptor
• Toronto Raptors should sign Joey Graham | Toronto Sports Media Blog
• Bosh and Jack Go Back – HOOPSWORLD
• Ranking the New-Look Raptors in the East – Raptors HQ
• Grading the 2009 Free Agent Signings – Part 1 – HOOPSWORLD
• Dino Nation Blog: Fun For Friday