It appears that they're going to get their big man replacement for McDyess from Toronto. That's one less option for GS to dump one of their big men. The link is too long to post, but if you want it, I can post it. Here's the story: waymoresports.com > Home Raptors, Nuggets talking trade Oct. 8, 2001. 02:00 AM Toronto could give up an extra big man for scorer or point guard Doug Smith SPORTS REPORTER As he looks to divest himself of some excess big men, Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald has contacted a familiar trading partner. Sources with both teams confirm Grunwald has had discussions with the Denver Nuggets about a size-for-shooting swap that now carries a much larger sense of urgency for the Western Conference club. With Antonio McDyess facing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left knee that could sideline him for three months and the Nuggets already suffering from a lack of size, Denver could definitely use one of the extra centres and power forwards the Raptors currently have in camp. And Toronto could use either Denver small forward Voshon Lenard, a three-point shooter would could provide some scoring off the bench, or one of the two young point guards — Omar Cook and Kenny Satterfield — Denver got in the second round of last June's draft. What the Raptors are dangling is uncertain. They have a plethora of tradable big men, including power forward Brian Skinner and centre Eric Montross. Toronto would have to package at least two players to obtain Lenard, who is in the final year of a contract that pays him slightly more than $4.2 million (U.S.) this season. But they could get either of the point guards, each of whom will make the minimum salary of just over $300,000, for much less than either Skinner or Montross. Lenard would provide more scoring off the bench, while either point guard would appease coach Lenny Wilkens, who'd like a young third-stringer for emergencies behind Alvin Williams and Chris Childs. The Raptors and Nuggets were involved in a six-player deal last January, with Keon Clark, Mamadou N'diaye and Tracy Murray coming to Toronto for Kevin Willis, Alek Radojevic and Garth Joseph. That deal was consummated by Grunwald and Denver's Dan Issel; Grunwald has been speaking with new Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe this time around. Interestingly, the Nuggets had a scout at Friday's Raptor-Minnesota pre-season game in Billings, Mont. The Raptors may have been showcasing Skinner and Montross, both of whom played large amounts of the second half of the 125-92 loss, with neither standing out. Wilkens, meanwhile, spent most of yesterday's three-hour practice at the Air Canada Centre hammering home the need for communication between the team's defenders. It's something the coach has had to do regularly despite the veteran nature of his roster. "Yes, you have to keep reminding them all the time," said Wilkens. "It's a help defence all the time (that the Raptors play) so (they've) got to tell the other guy where the screens are coming from." Under new rules this season that eliminate illegal defences, teams are expected to slough off screens and play something akin to a zone but defenders chasing opponents to screens need to know when to ease off. "Tone (Antonio Davis) is good at that, Hakeem (Olajuwon) has to get used to what we're doing," said the coach. "Whoever the back guy is (in a screen and roll) has to let the other guy know."
