Rasho Nesterovic Traded

by David Pincus
2006-06-22

So the first real basketball news following the Finals is the Spurs trading Rasho Nesterovic to the Raptors for Matt Bonner, and a future second-round pick. It isn’t earth-shaking news but it’s an odd trade for the Raptors to make early in the offseason.

For San Antonio the deal works. Rasho’s minutes were diminished last year and his PPG totals were low. Gregg Popavich didn’t have the confidence to play him in the final minutes of games. Bonner and Williams don’t seem like the guys who’d get heavy minutes with San Antonio, not with the depth the Spurs have.

Toronto had needed a Center for a little bit. Antonio Davis and Aaron Williams didn’t work and Chris Bosh started at Center at the end of the year. Nesterovic displayed a good low post game when he was in Minnesota (that had been shelved since the Spurs never went to him). It’s possible that Canada could be just the place for Rasho.

The real reason for the trade is the 3yr-$23 million contract Nesterovic has that San Antonio wanted to let go. It’s the first move Bryan Colangelo has made for the team (unless you call moving Rafael Arraujo a transaction). I know the thought process is “so what, it’s only Rasho Nesterovic.” But after what he did in Phoenix, I’d say we should give Colangelo the benefit of the doubt when concerning uncertain players.