Matt Bonner to Play for Canada in 2010

Dr. J. Naismith · 09-11-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toronto Sun

The Red Rocket will be wearing red and white at the world basketball championships next summer.

Canadian men's coach Leo Rautins said former Raptors forward Matt Bonner almost certainly will have his paperwork completed in time to play for Canada at the 2010 worlds in Turkey.

Bonner, who started 67 games for the San Antonio Spurs last season, has taken the necessary steps to acquire Canadian citizenship. He married a Toronto girl and spends much off the off-season in Canada. Rautins said that almost immediately after the Canadian team qualified for the 2010 worlds last week in Puerto Rico, team officials began receiving text messages from Bonner.

"He's jacked. He's completely pumped and waiting to play," Rautins said. "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."

Bonner, from Concord, N.H., was a fan favourite during his two seasons with the Raptors (2004-06).

Rautins added that Toronto native Jamaal Magloire, a centre with the Miami Heat, is also on board to play at the worlds. Magloire has been criticized in the past for not playing for the national side during his time in the NBA.

"He's a physical beast," Rautins said. "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."

The inclusion of Bonner and Magloire would give Rautins three NBA players on the national team, joining Heat forward Joel Anthony.

Rautins said he has total faith in Toronto's Jermaine Anderson to carry the load at point guard if Steve Nash doesn't join the team. Anderson played the game of his life in leading Canada to a 80-76 win over the favored Dominican Republic last week in a game that put Canada into the worlds.

Source - Bonner is 'jacked' about playing for Canada | Basketball | Sports | Toronto Sun

**Acie** · 09-11-2009, 11:52 AM

Isn't one of Bonner's grandparents Canadian?

**fancylad** · 09-11-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acie

Isn't one of Bonner's grandparents Canadian?

i've heard the same.

It's good to know that Magloire wants to join the sqaud now that he's irrelavent.

BRAY88 · 09-11-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acie

Isn't one of Bonner's grandparents Canadian?

Yes his grandpa is from newfoundland and his wife is from canada

Nites · 09-11-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fancylad

i've heard the same.

It's good to know that Magloire wants to join the sqaud now that he's irrelavent.

Magloire doesn't deserve to play. I don't care whether we need him or not.

DuCa00795 · 09-13-2009, 10:16 PM

This is great news. If Nash would come back and Rautins would bring Dalembart back I think we would be one of the top. Too bad that will probably never happen lol.

Dark Knight · 09-13-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuCa00795

This is great news. If Nash would come back and Rautins would bring Dalembart back I think we would be one of the top. Too bad that will probably never happen lol.

If we could get those 2 back, and maybe get Grant Hill (Canadian wife) We would be set.

Nash
Rautins
Hill
Bonner/Anthony
Dalembert

VanCity · 09-15-2009, 05:34 PM

this doesn't really matter.......Canadian basketball is irrelevant right now....and with the talent we have right now its not gonna go anywhere.....we can only hope that the young Canadian talent in the American universities will help the Canadian team once they get drafted.....

BRAY88 · 09-15-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A00715890

this doesn't really matter.......Canadian basketball is irrelevant right now....and with the talent we have right now its not gonna go anywhere.....we can only hope that the young Canadian talent in the American universities will help the Canadian team once they get drafted.....

I beg to differ all u need to do is read this article and maybe study the grassroots program and all the impressive canadian coming out, canadas mens team should be considerably improved and ready to compete in the next few years

Link
SLAM ONLINE | North Pole Heating Up

VanCity · 09-15-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRAY88

I beg to differ all u need to do is read this article and maybe study the grassroots program and all the impressive canadian coming out, canadas mens team should be considerably improved and ready to compete in the next few years

Link
SLAM ONLINE | North Pole Heating Up

oh i agree with....but what iam saying is that the national team is irrelevant right now.....given couple of years, we can make some noise.....but we still need our young talent to develop.....we don't have the privilege of having great veteran players on our team....and i think that's a major problem......a guy like Matt Bonner helps but hes not a good enough player to lift our program to the next level....so its still gonna be irreverent, at least IMO, until they prove that they can compete with the good teams......

Nites · 09-15-2009, 11:44 PM

What are team needs is a good post player who is tall and athletic. Joel Anthony is undersized and his offensive game is very limited in the post. Kendall has no skill in the post and Young is too undersized and isn't athletic enough. Now if you exclude these 3 players we pretty much have no one who can score in the paint. So with the addition of Bonner we just set our inside game another step back.

**Acie** · 09-16-2009, 10:20 AM

Gee, a good post player who's tall and and athletic...doesn't that sound like something 75% of teams in the NBA need?

And please explain how adding an NBA veteran with Championship experience is a bad thing?

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09-11-2009, 11:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
Acie is landry fields forever Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 20,418 Representing:	Isn't one of Bonner's grandparents Canadian?

09-13-2009, 10:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
DuCa00795 is back Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Maratimes Posts: 2,452 Representing:	This is great news. If Nash would come back and Rautins would bring Dalembart back I think we would be one of the top. Too bad that will probably never happen lol.

09-15-2009, 05:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
VanCity is pounding the rock! Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3,855 Representing:	this doesn't really matter.......Canadian basketball is irrelevant right now....and with the talent we have right now its not gonna go anywhere.....we can only hope that the young Canadian talent in the American universities will help the Canadian team once they get drafted.....

09-15-2009, 11:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nites is the real deal Can't knock the Hustle Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 11,667 Representing:	What are team needs is a good post player who is tall and athletic. Joel Anthony is undersized and his offensive game is very limited in the post. Kendall has no skill in the post and Young is too undersized and isn't athletic enough. Now if you exclude these 3 players we pretty much have no one who can score in the paint. So with the addition of Bonner we just set our inside game another step back.

09-16-2009, 10:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
Acie is landry fields forever Administrator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Living in a van down by the river Posts: 20,418 Representing:	Gee, a good post player who's tall and and athletic...doesn't that sound like something 75% of teams in the NBA need? And please explain how adding an NBA veteran with Championship experience is a bad thing?