A day after winning the top pick in the draft lottery, the Toronto Raptors dispatched coach Sam Mitchell and senior adviser Wayne Embry to Italy to scout forward Andrea Bargnani.
General Manager Bryan Colangelo and team owner Larry Tanenbaum have already scouted Bargnani, a 7-footer who plays for Benetton Treviso.
Colangelo also mentioned Texas center LaMarcus Aldridge, Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison, Washington guard Brandon Roy, Connecticut forward Rudy Gay and LSU forward Tyrus Thomas as candidates for the No. 1 pick.
But he's clearly high on Bargnani and is even considering hiring Benetton GM Maurizio Gherardini as Toronto's new assistant GM.
Bargnani averaged 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in his first 22 games in Italian league play. The 20-year-old often gets compared to Dirk Nowitzki because of his versatility and smooth jumper.
Kings' coach search
Although the Sacramento Kings are profoundly tightlipped about the process, a list of contenders is emerging for the NBA's only coaching vacancy.
Two leading candidates – Memphis assistant Eric Musselman, the Warriors' head coach for two seasons, and Golden State assistant Mario Elie were scheduled to spend last night in Las Vegas interviewing for the job.
Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo and John Whisenant, who coached the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs to last season's league title, are also expected to get interviews.
Around the league
RATINGS: Helped by a pair of Game 7s on Monday night, TNT's ratings for its second-round playoff games rose 22 percent over last year. The networks' 3.0 national rating for its conference semifinals coverage was up from a 2.4 in 2005.
NBA: The league set an attendance record of more than 23 million fans for the regular season and playoffs, with two postseason rounds remaining. The record marks the third straight season the league reached new attendance highs.
BOBCATS: Ed Tapscott, the first employee hired when the NBA gave Charlotte the expansion Bobcats, stepped down as president and CEO of the second-year team. No reason for the move was given.
