SLO - Raptors snap up Nesterovic

TORONTO (NBA) - Slovenian center Rasho Nesterovic has joined the Toronto Raptors after being traded by the San Antonio Spurs.

As part of the rebuilding being carried out by new Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo, Nesterovic headed north in exchange for forwards Matt Bonner, Eric Williams and a 2009 second-round pick.

The latest deal will allow the Raptors to slide over Team USA international Chris Bosh from center to his natural position of forward. Bosh also has been negotiating a long-term contract with the Raptors.

Nesterovic, 30, comes to the Raptors halfway through a six-year, $45 million contract he signed with the Spurs in July 2003. The 7-footer struggled in San Antonio, averaging 6.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in three seasons with the club.

In eight seasons overall, Nesterovic has averaged 7.0 points and 5.7 rebounds in 548 career games.

Nesterovic joined the Timberwolves in May 1999 from Italian club Virtus Kinder Bologna. He averaged 13.5 points, shooting .653 from the field, 6.2 rebounds and 1.42 blocks for Kinder Bologna.

He appeared in two games with Minnesota, collecting eight points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes.

It is the second trade in less than two weeks that Colangelo has pulled off. On June 8, he acquired forward Kris Humphries and center Robert Whaley from the
Utah Jazz for center Rafael Araujo.

Colangelo and the Raptors also own the first pick in next week's NBA draft.

The 2005 NBA Executive of the Year with Phoenix, Colangelo was lured to Toronto in February. He has the task of trying to turn around a team that went just 27-55 this past season.

In Bonner and Williams, the Spurs add depth. However, the bigger move was ridding themselves of Nesterovic's contract.

The 6ft 10in Bonner, who has an outside game, has averaged 7.3 points in his first two seasons, both with the Raptors.

"We are excited about the additions of Eric and Matt," Spurs general manager RC Buford said. "Matt is a big who who has the unique ability of knocking down the outside shot and will help us spread the floor. Eric gives us a steady veteran presence and some added depth at the forward position."

Williams, 33, is an aging veteran who has failed to play more than 34 games in any of the last three seasons. He averaged a career-low 3.3 points in 28 contests last season.

PA Sport