SI: Raptors Hire Babcock, Embry and English As New Management Team.

Raptors reload
Toronto to hire Timberwolves' Babcock as new GM
Posted: Friday June 4, 2004 5:58PM; Updated: Friday June 4, 2004 6:08PM


Two league sources have told SI.com that the Toronto Raptors will hire Minnesota Timberwolves' vice president of player personnel Rob Babcock as the team's next general manager. Joining Babcock in the Toronto front office will be NBA Hall of Famer Wayne Embry as the assistant general manager and former player Alex English, who will serve as the club's new director of player personnel. The team is expected to formally announce the moves on Monday.

Babcock will arrive in Toronto after spending 10 seasons with the T'wolves, the last two of which he served as general manager Kevin McHale's top assistant. Prior to becoming a team vice president, Babcock spent eight years as the club's director of player personnel and two as a scout. Embry, a four-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Royals, became the first black general manager in the league when he was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972.


Babcock was one of five candidates short-listed by the Raptors several weeks ago when the team began the process of replacing longtime GM Glen Grunwald, who was fired at the end of the season. Babcock was considered the favorite of Jack McCloskey, who served as Detroit's general manager during their back-to-back title seasons in 1989 and '90 and has been serving as the chief consultant to the Raptors during the GM hiring process. One of two finalists for the position, Babcock's chief competition for the post was Jeff Weltman, assistant GM of the Denver Nuggets. The other three executives under consideration were Philadelphia'a Tony DiLeo, former NBA player Len Elmore and Portland's Mark Warkentien, who was considered one of the early favorites and had the support of several within the Raptors organization.

When the team hesitated to hire either Babcock or Weltman after both had been interviewed a second time two weeks ago, speculation arose that the team was going to move in a different direction and possibly pursue John Hammond, the assistant general manager of the Detroit Pistons. Hammond, however, told associates in the NBA last week that he had not been contacted by the Raptors and did not expect to be a candidate for the job. Rumors also suggested that Hall of Famer Julius Erving, a favorite of Raptors star Vince Carter, was also being considered for the post. Raptors insiders, however, claim that Erving was never a candidate, although the team was interested in speaking with him about taking on a secondary role with the team.

While Toronto initially appeared to be searching for a more celebrated candidate with a stronger personality, Babcock became an option when the team was able to surround him with well-known NBA names in Embry, considered one of the most respected general managers in the league before he left the GM ranks five years ago, and English, the NBA's 11th all-time leading scorer, who served as an assistant coach with Philadelphia 76ers this season.

One of Babcock's first dutires will be to hire a coach to replace Kevin O'Neill, who was fired after the season. The Raptors' new GM will also need to decide the fate of Carter, who was sidelined for 33 games by a left quadriceps tendon strain and a strained right knee last season and has frustrated some within the organization with his failure to take charge of the team. If Carter were to be traded, it would most likely happen on NBA draft night, in conjunction with other moves. This year's draft is expected to be highly volatile; a number of players and draft picks could be traded.

Hiring Babcock should bring some order to what has been an embarrassing, month-long search process. The Raptors hope that hiring two front-office men as respected around the league as Babcock and Embry will allow them to move forward quickly.


Sports Illustrated senior writer Ian Thomsen covers the NBA beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to SI.com.

 

I would appreciate opinions on Babcock and Embry, and I suppose even English, or just general thoughts about the choices.

 

KD: Thanks!

 

I know he had asked for Erving to be at least interviewed, which did happen. At this point anything on his reaction would be speculation. I have heard that some within the organization fear he might be ticked off, but no one has said he actually is, and they did meet his request to at least talk to Dr. J. He's never really been an ultimatum kind of guy; just wants to see real progress and is tired of carrying the team. Was initialy unhappy they didn;t trade the no.4 pick last year ( not as a reflection on Bosh) because he wanted immediate help, but was soon saying it was ok, and later said that Bosh is going to be special and that the two of them make for a bright future.

Erving and Carter are neighbours, so it's understandable that he;d pull for him, but whether he;d go so far as ask for a trade is something I simply don;t know.

 

It's not really the ownership that's a problem. I myself don't like Peddie, their President, who is sort of a meddler that doesn't know basketball. For example he hired Kevin O'Neal over Grunwald's objections, and then when things didn't go well and O'Neal and Grunwald could barely stand each other, he fired Grunwald, siad he;d leave it to the new GM to decide O'Neal's fate, and then fired him a little bit later.

But the owners, particularly Tanenbaum are pretty good IMO.

Agree about trading Carter; not sure it's all time low, as he played very well last year, especially second half, but it's not a good time. Carter, Bosh, this year;s draft pick, Rose, Marshall...that's a pretty good group for now, and Bosh, Carter and hopefully someone like Devin Harris makes for a very good future. Only way i trade Carter, unless he asks for a trade, is if he continues to be lax about off season conditioning and injuries result.