Raptors Expected To Extend Invite To Tabuse

Raptors Expected To Extend Invite To Tabuse
13th September, 2005 - 6:20 am
Toronto Star- Omar Cook is not going to get a chance to reprise his role as a third-string Raptor point guard.

The team has decided not to invite Cook to training camp which begins early next month, and is expected to offer an invitation to Yuta Tabuse, a 5-foot-9 guard who last season became the first Japanese-born player to play in an NBA game.

Cook, who spent the final two weeks of last season with the Raptors, did little in a stint at the summer leagues to warrant a chance to make the team again, general manager Rob Babcock said yesterday.

"He did a good job for us but that's not the direction we want to go," Babcock said of the 6-foot-1, 23-year old Cook, who averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 assists per game in five games with Toronto last season.

According to league sources, the Raptors are going to have Tabuse on hand when camp begins Oct. 4 at Brock University in St. Catharines.

"I have talked to his representatives, he is someone we are considering," said Babcock.

Tabuse spent most of last season on the roster of the Phoenix Suns but appeared in just four games. The 24-year-old has also played in the ABA with the Long Beach Jam and is a former rookie of the year in the Japan pro league.

However, Tabuse isn't about to be handed the third-string job in Toronto. Babcock said he expects to invite two or three guards to camp, all without guaranteed contracts, and let them fight it out for a roster spot behind incumbent Rafer Alston and rookie Jose Calderon.

That will be the only fight for a job in camp, though, since the Raptors already have 14 players with guaranteed contracts and the most they can carry is 15.

"We're not going to bring in a lot of people; we'll probably have 17 or 18," said the GM.

Yes ! I would like it if Yuta Tabuse played for the Raptors. He will be a fan favorite when he was with Phoenix. Everytime he stepped on the court the crowd would be cheering.

I saw videos of this guy and he is amazing...
A little bit of Boykins??

Good luck Yuta!

he's a little small, and i can't say i watched any of his games but i think he'll be good. Certainly will attract some international viewers. Though i would prefer Jay Williams.

At least, they would sell a lot of jerseys as the Suns did last year when Tabuse was with the team.

The Raptors needs fans badly so tapping into the Japanese market will be a big boost. Tabuse isnt good enough for the league but Toronto could use his marketing capabilities, I mean at least they can start selling Raptor jerseys outside of Toronto again.

He is good enough. He might be on the short side but he is like a poor man's earl boykins. Lighting fast, can shoot, drives good, and a good passer.