Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun: "The Raptors also were hoping to work out 7-foot power forward JaVale McGee, but, according to Kelly, the Nevada star couldn't make it to Toronto because of passport issues, although there have been reports that his mother will not allow her son to work out for teams that pick lower than 12th in the draft."
Which is really interesting when juxtaposed with the second article:
Kerry Eggers of The Portland Tribune: "The Trail Blazers aren't in the market for a center or a power forward, so it would seem as if Thursday's workout session with Nevada center JaVale McGee and Alabama power forward Richard Hendrix was pretty much a waste of time. Not so, Portland coach Nate McMillan said. 'When you're in our situation (the 13th pick of next Thursday's NBA draft), you take the best talent available, no matter what the position,' McMillan said. 'That's what we'll do.' And Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard has hinted that if the Blazers use their pick, they might dabble in the 'futures' market, meaning a player such as McGee could get some consideration."
Hmmmmm.... Mama McGee won't let her baby boy work out for teams below 12, eh? Last time I checked, we're below 12. It would seem Mama McGee just didn't raise her boy to be a Raptor.
Ouch.
Personally, if I were Mama McGee I'd work out for Toronto in a hearbeat. For one, he'd get to play against Bosh all day long. For another, he'd be in a really nice city that doesn't have a lot of the racial issues (at least, I am not aware of them having those issues) that a lot of other cities in the US have. For a third, the Canadian dollar is very strong right now, so it's not like it was before where getting paid in Loonies was a major penalty.
But to each their own. I'm sure that Raps fans can comfort themselves by knowing they're still a huge free agent Mecca (according to Jason Kopono).
