DOES JULY 31 EXPIRATION DATE MEAN RAPTORS DEAL WILL GO SOUR?

          In Toronto, there is "every likelihood" that with a
     July 31 "do-or-die date less than a week away," Raptors
     Owner Allan Slaight and GM Isiah Thomas "are not going to do
     their deal" of selling the team to Thomas, according to
     Craig Daniels in the TORONTO SUN.  Daniels writes that the
     deal "won't be called off, necessarily, but it certainly
     appears Thomas' letter of intent to purchase and Slaight's
     letter of intent to sell will expire."  The "key issue" is
     not "over a lack of money, as some have incorrectly
     guessed," but over "certain conditions."  A source tells
     Daniels that "if Thomas doesn't do a joint arena deal" with
     the Maple Leafs, he pays Slaight a set price.  But "if at a
     later date the Leafs and Thomas-led Raptors do come to an
     arena agreement, then the price rises significantly." 
     Daniels writes that a "best scenario ... is that new letters
     of intent are written, effectively putting the sale back
     into a state of limbo for some months" (TORONTO SUN, 7/25).