CAN - Canada expect to add Bonner, Magloire for FIBA World Championship

TORONTO (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Canada are wasting no time in preparing for next year’s FIBA World Championship with coach Leo Rautins excited about the likely additions of San Antonio Spurs big man Matt Bonner and the Miami Heat’s Toronto-born center, Jamaal Magloire.

Bonner, who hails from New Hampshire in the United States, played for the Toronto Raptors from 2004-06 and has apparently taken the necessary steps to acquire Canadian citizenship.

His wife is a Canadian and he spends much of the close-season in Canada.

Bonner was so excited about Canada’s qualification for Turkey that he contacted the members of the team while they were in Puerto Rico last month finishing fourth at the FIBA Americas Championship.

"He's jacked,” Rautins said to the Toronto Sun.

“He's completely pumped and waiting to play. It's going to happen, and we're anxious to have Matt. He's a high-character guy who's committed to the game. And for the international game, he is multi-faceted. He can play at the three, four and five spots."

As for Magloire, Rautins said: "He's a physical beast. He has an edge to him and he has no problem cracking you on the side of the head if that needs to be done."

FIBA