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Thursday April 16 2009 - 11:05am Eastern (Toronto, ON)

RE:  This team post-All Star break:

“I like to think that if we had this group that we had at the end of the year, we’d maybe be talking post-season right now.”

“I think we finally came together at the end.  We bought into the system - both offensively and defensively.”

RE:  Thinking about coming back next year:

“I’ve expressed my desire to come back as a Raptor (but) a lot of factors come into that.”

RE:  Assessing his season:

“It had good parts and it had bad parts.  There was certainly a lot I could have done better … and that’s not the kind of player I want to be.”

RE:  Realistically, what he’d be looking for in his next contract:

“I definitely have two more years at the level I’m playing at.  I’m healthy and still have a lot left.  After that?  Who knows.  I still love the game.”

RE:  What this team could use to take it to the next level: 

“… A dominant perimeter player.  But how many Dwyane Wade’s or LeBron’s are there out there.  But where do you get a player like that?

I think Shawn (Marion) helped us out a lot.”

RE:  How good this team could be with a few tweaks:

“I put us up there with Chicago … with Philly … with Miami - in that range somewhere.  It also depends on other teams and what they do.”

RE:  If he’d come back to T.O. even if he wasn’t going to be a starter: 

“For sure.  I don’t have an Allen Iverson career; I haven’t been an all star.  So it’s a little bit easier to swallow.  At some point - if you play long enough - that’s something you have to do.  It’d require some re-programming, but it’s something I could quickly adapt to.”

RE:  Thoughts on Jay Triano taking over as head coach:

“I bought into everything Jay was trying to implement.  Offensively (and) defensively it seemed to work.  I don’t know how many practices we had in his first month or two … so it’s hard without a training camp … ”

RE:  Whether or not he’d consider signing a contract in Europe again - not the NBA:

“Everything is on the table.  This - in all likelihood - could be my last contract.  It comes down to taking care of my family.”

RE:  Thoughts on Jay Triano coming back next year or not

“He has my vote.  I’d be excited to see what he can do with a team - starting with a training camp.”

E. Smith

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