link to article TORONTO (AP) -- Rafer Alston wants an apology and he's not sure he wants to stay with the Toronto Raptors. The point guard and coach Sam Mitchell argued after Alston was benched in the first quarter of Tuesday's loss against Cleveland. Alston didn't come out of the dressing room for the second half and was seen crying as he was escorted to the team bus by security during the fourth quarter. Alston had just returned to the Raptors on Thursday, following a two-game suspension the team gave him after he stormed out of practice last week. ``When I walked out of practice the other day I was man enough to apologize, man enough to say I made a mistake. Somebody better be man enough to say they made a mistake,'' Alston said before Wednesday night's game versus Milwaukee. Alston was adamant he did nothing wrong when he argued with Mitchell during halftime on Tuesday. He started against the Bucks and had 16 points and seven assists in the first half. ``I did absolutely nothing, anything. If I did I wouldn't be playing,'' he said. Asked if he's happy in Toronto, Alston said: ``That remains to be seen.'' When told Alston wanted an apology, Mitchell said: ``I don't know who that is directed to.'' Mitchell met with Alston earlier Wednesday, but Mitchell wouldn't divulge any details. Mitchell acknowledged he's harder on his point guards because of the responsibility they have. Mitchell has criticized Alston for shooting too much. The Raptors are 1-8 when Alston scores 20 or more points. Alston has been in trouble before. During a loss to Boston on Dec. 3, Mitchell told Alston to get off the bench after he received a technical foul. Mitchell benched Alston for the rest of the game and didn't start him the next game. Alston was so upset, he threatened to leave the team and quit the NBA altogether before later backtracking. Toronto general manager Rob Babcock says the team is working with Alston to help him rein in his emotions. The Raptors signed the 28-year-old to a six-year contract worth between $27 million and $30 million this past summer. Alston was a second-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 out of Fresno State but spent his first season on the NBA's suspended list because of legal problems. --------------------------------------------------------------------- He averages just over 7 assists per game. You think he would be a good fit for the team or is he too much of a lose canon?
I dont see him fitting under JVG. Plus he has a big contract which is the original reason the Rockets didnt get him this summer.
If he fit in with SVG then that's an endorsement. So did he not? 'cause I'd do Lou/DM - Mo/Barratt...
LMAO!! That's hilarious! I'm pretty happy with our current team..they seem to be flowing Donyell Marshall would be great though
he seemed to have fought real hard to make it into the league, got into stan's favor, and got a nice contract. that i'll give him. he even tried to be a leader amidst the vince turmoil now if it's sam mitchell, or not, the last thing jvg needs is a powder keg
personally, I think that Mitchell is a prick and needs to learn alot about how to deal with egos. Although I have never been a fan of streetball play, I will admit that Alston has a nice NBA game. With that said, he needs to grow some testicles, quit crying, and right his situation in Toronto. I would pass.
I'm starting to wonder if Rafer was the guy that started the whole Vince turmoil... he's been the only player on the raptors that has been against Vince from day one.
Nah, don't really need him right now. The guy has just turned into a cancer this year and he just signed a brand new contract with them. The guys are playing well right now and playing a lot better as a team, Alston wouldn't help any of that. But DMarshall would be a great addition to the team.
before the season began I'd have said "Absolutely! Let's get him!". However, I find it very suspicious that after being a model citizen for his ungauranteed years in the NBA, he's suddenly gone berserk now that his money is gauranteed. Now all of a sudden he has an attitude. That's a hell of a coincidence. I think he just doesn't give a s*** now that he's got his big deal. At least he's still playing well though. I feel for teams that give big deals to people who just quit on them after they get the money.
Do we really need someone else to take the PG position? Isn't Sura enough? Why mess up the chemistry that we have now?
we dont need a guy who "doesnt know if he's a good fit for this league"... on my fantasy team, yes. on the houston rockets, no.
His latest troubles with the coaching staff makes him questionable but, man, he is putting up some great numbers. He has had a ton of double-digit assist games and can still score when needed. Last night he had 14 pts., 12 ast. Averaging 7 ast. on a mediocre team is nothing to scoff about for sure.
NO - Sura is our man. Alston would want to start and for the kind of money the kid is making, he should start. Bringing him here and starting him ahead of Sura would IMO cause disruption and chemistry problems, I'd play the hand out until after the draft and my wish would be to see if we could get someone in the draft that could back up Sura and bring along to eventually be the starting PG.
Eric Williams hates Raefer, and he's not the only one in the locker room that feels that way. I wouldn't take him. Too much thickheadedness in him. The extreme version of what so many people hate about Steve. Evan
