The Toronto Raptors are looking at 24-year-old Kristof Lavrinovic, a 6'10" center who has served prison time for his involvement in a gang rape.

The Lithuanian has already told two European media outlets that the Raptors are prepared to offer him a contract when the NBA's signing period begins July 14.

"Toronto presented me with a contract," Lavrinovic told a Russian sports Web site, a claim he reiterated in a Lithuanian newspaper. "But according to NBA rules I can't sign until (July 14)."

Raptors interim general manager Jack McCloskey said that, while the Raptors are among a number of NBA clubs who "have some interest" in Lavrinovic, they have yet to make him an offer.

"He's getting ahead of himself," McCloskey said by phone from his home at Skidaway Island, Ga. "We can't (sign him right now) and we're not sure we're going to."

"(The rape conviction) concerns me enough that we're going to investigate," McCloskey said. "That's one of the things we'd certainly have to look at and consider ... (but) if he's paid his debt to society. ... Once we talk to him face-to-face that's an opportunity to evaluate (his character) even more."

Said Jim Kelly, the Raptors' director of scouting: "There has been no proposal on our part. (Lavrinovic) has got some background issues.

"We'll have to look at the whole picture. ... But we don't have a general manager."

The Toronto Raptors have the 8th pick of the draft but still no GM. Vince Carter on the other hand is attempting to help speed of the process by dropping Julias Ervings name into the hat.

"If they feel that (Erving's) not the one, well then he's not the one. But I think now it's time to really buckle down and find somebody. Because this affects the whole summer. Without having a GM in place, or a coach, or both ... you need to collaborate on who we're drafting, what we're going after, free agents ? you don't really have anybody to go after these guys."

Carter was asked how he came to be in touch with Erving, with whom he has spoken about the GM job. At first he said, "I don't have the slightest idea."

Then he laughed.

"My mom just said, `Hey, here's Dr. J's number ? give him a call.' I was like, `Who? Yeah, sounds good to me.'"

It was former Raptors tough guy Charles Oakley who once said of Michelle Carter, "Vince's mom runs the team ? she's the GM."

If Erving does get to be the next Raptors GM it just solidifes Michelle Carter's posiition as the woman calling all the shots in Toronto.

Brigham Young University?s Rafael Araujo has seen a big jump in his stock with NBA general managers over the last few weeks.

The scouts are mightily impressed after several individual workouts.  

?They always say you do really well,? the center said. "Who knows what they're really thinking. That's all just talk. I'll believe it June 24.?

Araujo will work out wit the Jazz today and will then will leave tonight to do the same for the Lakers and Raptors.      

At 6'11" and 296 pounds, Araujo was slated as a possible first-round selection but he's displayed excellent skill in workout drills.

The Toronto Raptors have contacted Utah Jazz assistant Phil Johnson about their head coaching job and he is interested but wants to see who they hire as their general manager.

"I have talked to them," Johnson said Saturday, "and that's where it's at right now. I told them I wouldn't go any farther until they hired a GM. I just felt that was the right way to go. . . . I don't know if you can succeed if you don't have a good working relationship with the people around you."

Their is a possibility the Raptors will re-open their gm search which would put off a potential interview for Johnson.

Other canadiates mentioned for the head coaching vacancy include outgoing Denver assistant John MacLeod and Dallas assistant Del Harris.

Johnson is a former NBA coach of the year with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings back during the 1974-75 season and has been Jerry Sloan's top assistant coach in Utah for the past 16 seasons.

The 19-year-old, 7-fee-tall Russian, Ivan Chiriaev, has opted to play in Europe and wait on the NBA.  

"At this time, it is better for Ivan to play in a developmental situation ? probably in Europe," his agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports said.

The Toronto Star evaluates Chiriaev this way:  "With passable ball-handling and shooting skills but not nearly the overall skills necessary to even hope for an NBA tryout right now, Chiriaev is free to catch on with any team in any European league."

"Ivan is a young man with an excellent future because of his size and skills," Duffy said.  "He is, however, not physically ready to compete at the NBA level."

The Toronto Raptors brass will be spending the weekend discussing their general manager vacancy and hope to make a decision next week.

"The GM short list is comprised of Jeff Weltman, the assistant general manager with the Denver Nuggets, and Rob Babcock, the vice-president of player personnel with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both Weltman and Babcock were granted second interviews this week."

Their is also a possibility that a last-second canadiate will emerge but it appears they don't want to go back to the drawing board.

Jack McCosky has been the team's interim GM since Glen Grunwald was fired on April 1.

It appears the Toronto Raptors are no closer to naming a general manager then they were back on April 1 when they fired Glen Grunwald.

Apparently, the Raptors are unsatisfied with the two finalists, Nuggets assistant general manager Jeff Weltman and Rob Babcock of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

So, according to league sources, the Raptors are considering other canadiates including Pistons vice-president of basketball operations John Hammond.

"Hammond was high on the Raptor list initially but withdrew from consideration shortly after the search began because he said he was happy working for Joe Dumars. However, if the Raptors find Weltman and Babcock lacking, there are indications from league sources they will sweeten their offer to Hammond in hopes he has a change of mind."

New Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is not wasting anytime in trying to put his staff together.

Canadiates include "former Toronto lead assistant Tony Brown, Memphis assistant Lionel Hollins, former Orlando assistants Dave Wohl, Paul Pressey, and Mark Hughes, former NBA assistant Jim Brewer, former Philadelphia coach Randy Ayers, and Boston assistant Paul Cormier."

I've talked to both guys [Brown and Hollins] about the job," said Rivers. "I've also talked to about five other guys. Tony Brown is the only guy I've given a financial offer to. I think he would be a terrific addition to our staff. Verbally, if Lionel and I can come to an agreement, he would be a terrific addition, too."

Nuggets assistant general manager Jeff Weltman had a second interview in Toronto yesterday for the vacant general manager position, this according to the Toronto Sun.

"Weltman is considered a finalist for the job. One of his competitors for the position, Minnesota player personnel director Rob Babcock, is scheduled for his second interview today, the Sun reported."

Jack McClosky is the Raptors current interim general manager, he took over for Glen Grunwald, who was fired on April 1.