http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/ Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1086603031397&call_pageid= 969907729483&col=970081562040 Jun. 7, 2004. 12:58 PM Babcock lands Raps GM job CANADIAN PRESS The Toronto Raptors finally have a new general manager. Rob Babcock was officially named the Raptors' GM at a news conference on Monday. He'll be joined by a couple of Hall of Famers. Wayne Embry was named special adviser to the GM while Alex English is the new director of player development/scouting. "This has been a goal of mine for a long time," Babcock said. "For me personally, this is a really great day." The decision comes after nine weeks of searching and interviewing by the Raptors following the firing of longtime GM Glen Grunwald April 1. Jack McCloskey has served on an interim basis since. Babcock, 52, has spent the last two seasons as Minnesota's vice-president of player personnel, helping team president Kevin McHale build a team that had the best record in the league this season. He also spent five seasons as the director of scouting for the Denver Nuggets before joining Minnesota. Babcock was among the five candidates granted interviews initially by the Raptors. It was widely reported that NBA legend Julius Erving was also a candidate. But with the NBA draft less than three weeks away and the chance to attract anyone else dwindling, the Raptors decided to give the job to a lifelong NBA front-office employee with close ties to McCloskey. "I have a very simple basketball philosophy," said Babcock. "And that is, it's a game. Yes it's a business but it's a sport. And in order to be successful in basketball . . . you have to play it as a team and the team values you have are extremely important." Babcock has a big job ahead of him. In addition to the upcoming draft, he inherits a team with only seven players under contract and far over the salary cap already. He also has to hire a coach and figure out who the Raptors will expose in the coming expansion draft. While Babcock admitted time is tight, he said he has been getting ready for the draft with Minnesota, although he'll have to brush up on potential first-round picks since the Timberwolves won't be selecting a player in the first round. "When you're in the NBA, you're preparing for the draft all the time," said Babcock. "Is the timing a little tough? Yes. "But, I know several of the people that are here and they've been working very hard. It's a matter of just coming together and meshing." Babcock said he's not concerned that the Raptors' reputation has taken a hit following the highly criticized GM search. "I don't see it as a tattered image at all," said Babcock. "I see it as a very strong organization. They're financially stable, they want to win a championship and they want to give the GM the tools to do that." Babcock also added that he sees Raptors star Vince Carter as a player "we can build around." "He's had a lot of different coaches over the past couple of years," he said. "It's difficult when you keep changing styles and systems. "We plan to have continuity." Carter had openly backed the hiring of Erving. Embry and English bring a wealth of experience to the Raptors. Embry is a former president and chief executive officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers. While he's been in semi-retirement since leaving the Cavs after the 2001 season, he was the team's general manager for 13 years and president for two. English played 16 seasons in the NBA, scoring 25,613 points. He's worked as an assistant coach and scout with the Atlanta Hawks and spent last season as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. --

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