Wayne Embry’s first move as the Toronto GM was to unload Jalen Rose’s hefty contract. He traded Rose to the Knicks in exchange for Antonio Davis’ expiring contract. But this trade isn’t about either player. The Raptors are desperate to keep Chris Bosh and need to be under the cap this offseason, so they can find a big body to protect their franchise player.
ESPN columnist Marc Stein says that Nene is the prime suspect.
Denver’s injured power forward/center will be a restricted free agent this summer and a target for any team with salary-cap space, with Chicago and Atlanta already known to be interested. But the Raptors just added themselves to the short list of clubs that might be able to put forth an offer that the Nuggets deem too rich to match or (more likely) forces Denver into a sign-and-trade & especially if Embry can follow through on his efforts to move swingman Eric Williams before the Feb. 23 trading deadline.
Even if Nene can’t be lured north of the border out of Denver, having significant cap space is vital as the Raptors try to start over around Bosh. They need to make a splashy acquisition or two to convince Bosh that he would be wise to sign a long-term extension before next season, and cap room makes the Raps a contender for not only Nene — whom doctors expect to recover fully from his Opening Night knee tear — but perhaps sharpshooting free agent-to-be Peja Stojakovic, a move that would be well-received by Toronto’s expansive Serbian community as well.
Toronto has been so bad for so long and the main reason is that they have been unable to keep their star players (Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady). Nene is very talented and would be a great running mate for Bosh. He’s not getting much playing time behind Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin and his agent has said the Brazilian big man wants a starting gig.
