The Associated Press

TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors fired first-year coach Kevin O'Neill on Friday, a day after he questioned the team's commitment to winning.

The Raptors were 33-49 this season and missed the playoffs a second straight year. They fired general manager Glen Grunwald April 1 after a rift between O'Neill and Grunwald became public.

Interim GM Jack McCloskey told O'Neill of the decision Friday.

"He said 'You know, Jack, I screwed up yesterday. You told me to play things cool. I made a mistake,' " McCloskey said.

O'Neill said Thursday the franchise is more excited about just being part of the NBA than winning.

On Friday, O'Neill tried to explain his comments.

"Some of my comments yesterday were out of frustration," he said. "I'm not for everybody. I'm not a guy that walks down the hallway and is warm and fuzzy.

"If being dedicated to winning is abrasive, I'm abrasive."

The team also fired assistant coaches Tony Brown, Bob Beyer, Jim Sann and Ron Oliver.

DRAFT ORDER: Having the best record in the league this season at 61-21 means the Pacers will pick last in the June 24 draft.

A lottery on May 26 will determine the order for the first three picks; the expansion Charlotte Bobcats will pick fourth, and the remaining lottery teams will select in positions 5 through 14 in inverse order of their season records.

SUNS: Real estate and banking executive Robert Sarver is heading an ownership group that plans to buy the team for $401 million. The amount is a record for an NBA franchise, the Suns said.

Former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Sean Elliott will be among about a dozen others who will own a share of the Suns, as well as the WNBA Mercury and the Arena Football League Rattlers.