GM plans shopping spree

Raptors must wait until after ’ 06-07 to buy free agents But will Mitchell still be around to coach Toronto?

Rob Babcock has positioned himself to make a huge splash 18 months from now: he’ll have money and roster spots galore to go out shopping as an NBA general manager putting the finishing touches on his franchise remake. But will he have a coach? Sam Mitchell, trying to turn a young, inexperienced, small roster into something that can be competitive every night, will have his contract expire after the 2006-07 season, just when Babcock will be out from under more than $20 million ( all figures U. S.) in salary obligations and ready to make a splash in the free agent market. And while there are those in the organization who privately think the contract disparity is unfair — Babcock has a year longer left on his deal than Mitchell has on his — there seems to be no move towards changing things.

“ If we execute this plan, I’m very confident we’ll be around for a long time,” Babcock said in a recent interview. “ Right now, we’re not concerned about his contract or my contract. You focus on (the team improving) and the contract stuff will take care of itself.” One of the problems, however, is that the plan has changed since Mitchell was hired to a three- year deal worth about $4 million. No one could have foreseen the franchise taking a step back this season — younger, smaller, more inexperienced than last year — and while the losses pile up on Mitchell’s record, the general manager can look forward to making the moves he wants either through trades or in the off- season.

“ It’s going to take some growing pains ( but) I feel very confident I’m the guy,” said Mitchell. “ The organization has said to me I’m the guy, I trust them and I think they trust what I’m going to do.”

After the 2006-07 season, barring any significant trades in between, Babcock will watch the contracts of Jalen Rose ($ 16.9 million), Morris Peterson ($ 4.6 million), Eric Williams ($4.2 million), Mike James ($ 3.7 million), Matt Bonner ($ 2 million) and Rafael Araujo ($ 2.4 million) all expire. While some of them may re-sign, and the Raptors will be able to sign Chris Bosh to a contract extension worth more than $ 10 million a year after this season, Babcock will have unimaginable riches to spend.

“ I’ve made a commitment to the organization where I feel I’m the guy to weather the storm and get us past this until those days come where everyone is going to be happy with where we are and . . . we have a chance to compete and stay in power for six, seven, eight years,” said Mitchell. “That’s our goal.” The relationship between Mitchell and Babcock is like the elephant sitting in the corner of the Raptor locker room — everyone wonders about it but no one wants to discuss it too publicly. But both profess they get along.

“ Sam and I certainly had our ups and downs but we’ve learned from that,” the general manager said last week. “ We’re all moving forward and on the same page.”

Mitchell, who still conducts many of the team’s practices with the general manager watching intently from the sidelines, is of the same mind.

“ It’s actually pretty good,” he said of the relationship. “ We’ve been talking a lot, listening to each other. He knows my concerns.” The concern, of course, is that Mitchell has a roster that he can’t possibly win with consistently. Having three rookies and two players in their second year among the top eight on the team, with two more first round picks coming next June may bode well for the future but it does nothing for the present.

“ You sign up to coach the team and this is the team we have,” said Mitchell.