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Wednesday, September 22, 1999Raptors seeking little assistanceGrunwald negotiating with Muggsy Bogues
"Negotiations have been ongoing,'' said Grunwald, who is scouring the free-agent market for a veteran backup for Alvin Williams. Bogues, 34, visited Toronto last month and met with team executives. A 12-year veteran, the 5-foot-3 Bogues is among the NBA's career leaders in the assist-to-turnover ratio, a key statistic for point guards. Bogues would provide the Raptors with an ability to push the ball up the court. He also shot well last year for Golden State, making 53% of his shots from the field in the final 19 games of the season. The Raptors open training camp Oct. 5 and basically are set on their roster, assuming they sign Bogues. It's expected that Bogues, who is represented by agent David Falk, will make the NBA minimum of about $1 million US, based on his years of service. Meanwhile Grunwald spoke yesterday with Marc Cornstein, the agent representing first-round draft pick Alek Radojevic, and soon expects to sign the 7-foot-3 Yugoslavian. Under the NBA's rookie scale, Radojevic will earn a salary of $1.2 million this season. NET RESULT: Raptors president Richard Peddie wouldn't divulge figures, but said the team lost money in the lockout-shortened 1999 season. "Let's just say the lockout cost us money,'' Peddie said of the privately operated franchise. "By the same token, the lockout provided us the chance to keep Vince Carter, control costs, make the playing field balanced and allow teams to stay together. Long-term, it was a good investment for Toronto.'' Last week, the San Antonio Spurs announced they absorbed a $12-million loss, despite winning the NBA championship for the first time in team history. Peddie, meanwhile, said he is close to announcing a contract extension for Grunwald. "It'll happen sooner rather than later,'' Peddie said. ON THE SHELF: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joe Smith will miss up to seven weeks after surgery on his left foot. Smith fractured the foot in a pickup game at UCLA last week. He is expected to miss all of training camp, but the team hopes Smith will be ready for Minnesota's season opener against Sacramento on Nov. 5 in Tokyo. BRIEFLY: The Detroit Pistons have acquired veteran point guard Derek Harper from the Los Angeles Lakers for the rights to rookie guard Melvin Levett. -- with files from AP
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