General Manager of The Raptors
Babcock left Minnesota to accept the Raptors' GM position. Raptors star Vince Carter had preferred Julius Erving as General Manager instead. Despite Carter's personal friendship with MLSE Chairman Larry Tanenbaum, the Raptors decided to hire Babcock instead. (Erving has never held any coaching or managerial position with an NBA team.)
Babcock's first move as GM was drafting center Rafael Araujo 8th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, a widely criticized move from the onset, considering highly touted swingman Andre Iguodala was drafted with the next pick. Araujo's disappointing play fuelled criticism of Babcock. As well, prior to the 2004-05 season, Babcock signed mercurial point guard Rafer Alston to a 5 year deal. The move backfired, with Alston reportedly threatening to retire after repeated altercations with rookie head coach Sam Mitchell.
Babcock's best move may have come through free agency when, in the summer of 2005, he made the move to sign Spanish point guard Jose Calderon. During the 2007-08 season, Calderon was the second most consistent player for the Raptors next to Chris Bosh, averaging over 8 assists and leading the league in assist/turnover ratio. Babcock also signed center Matt Bonner.
On December 17, 2004 Babcock traded disgruntled star Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets in exchange for Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, Eric Williams and two first round draft picks. He came under fire from many Raptor fans who described the trade as lopsided. Mourning would never play a game for the Raptors, and shortly after the trade his contract was bought by the Raptors, supposedly due to a career-threatening injury. However, Mourning would later sign with the Miami Heat and subsequently played a major role in their NBA Championship in 2006. The two Williams players, played limited minutes for the Raptors prior to being traded in separate deals in 2006. Toronto's record did improve to an almost 50 winning percentage after the trade. However, the departure of Carter from Toronto opened the door for emerging star Chris Bosh to take the leadership role of the team. As well, trading Carter away removed a large long-term contract (around $15 million per season)). Babcock's successor as Toronto's GM, Bryan Colangelo, took full advantage of the new salary cap room after the 2005-06 season to sign free agents Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbajosa, and Fred Jones.
Another Babcock pick, Joey Graham, who was drafted with one of the picks acquired from the trade with New Jersey, had a minor role on the Raptors as a bench player before leaving the team to join the Denver Nuggets in 2009. Roko Ukic was picked in the second round of the same year, and served as the primary backup behind Jose Calderon in 2008-2009.
Wayne Embry had originally been hired for the 2004-05 season as the Senior Basketball Advisor to Babcock. With MLSE citing a lack of confidence in Babcock's abilities, Embry was elevated to Senior Advisor to MLSE President and CEO Richard Peddie, bypassing Babcock in the chain of command.
In the 2005 NBA Draft, Babcock again defied experts by drafting Charlie Villanueva with the 7th overall pick, a move roundly criticized by analysts. However, prior to being traded to Milwaukee in July 2006, Villanueva played well, if inconsistently, for the Raptors in his rookie season. He earned NBA Rookie of the Month honors in December 2005, scored a rookie-season-high 48 points in March 2006 against the Milwaukee Bucks, and finished as runner-up in the rookie of the year award. Villanueva is currently averaging 16.7ppg and 6.9 rpg with the Bucks in the 2008-2009 season.
Babcock made one other contentious move which would later earn him praise. This was the trading of Alston to the Houston Rockets for point guard Mike James on October 4, 2005. James, who left the Raptors after the 2005-06 season, was widely seen as a selfish point guard, but was nonetheless a significant upgrade over the temperamental Alston.
At the opening of the season, a report suggested Babcock claiming that the team would be worse this year than the last. The Raptors began the 2005-06 season losing their first 9 games and 15 out of their first 16. The team improved in December, but continued to struggle in January.
On January 26, 2006, just a year and a half after being hired, Babcock was fired as the General Manager of the team by Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Richard Peddie. Wayne Embry was named GM for the interim, and Bryan Colangelo, the ex-GM of the Phoenix Suns, was later appointed as Babcock's permanent successor.
Shortly afterwards, Babcock returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves organization as a consultant. On September 14, 2006, Babcock along with Fred Hoiberg were both hired as assistant general managers for the Timberwolves.
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