[torontoraptors10Participant]

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Andrea Bargnani during his five seasons in Toronto, it might be this: The 25-year-old Raptor expresses himself in words, in both Italian and English, in the same way as he plays defence and rebounds. That is, reluctantly and sparingly.

So the beleaguered fan base of Canada’s 22-win NBA team should sympathize with the lot of Italy’s hoop supporters.

This past weekend, the colour commentary of the Italian feed of a Western Conference final game was provided by, yes, Bargnani.

The Raptor’s counterintuitive turn at the microphone, mind you, did produce at least a couple of notes of interest.

Asked in a feature interview where he’d like to play if he could rub a magic lamp and transport himself to another NBA city, Bargnani told Italy’s Sky Sports: “I want to stay in Toronto, at least this is the politically correct answer. If (I am) to go somewhere else, I’d like a warm climate city and a team where I can actually play in my role.”

Bargnani spoke those sentiments in Italian; the translation was provided by a trusted source, fluent in both Italian and English, and confirmed as accurate by the journalist who conducted the interview, Alessandro Mamoli.

In the wake of a season in which the Raptors quietly opened the door to the possibility of trading Bargnani, perhaps Bargnani can be forgiven for musing about the idea of leaving town.

Still, blue-skying sunnier climes, no matter the intention, isn’t exactly a recipe for Hogtown popularity.

And exactly where the shot-happy Roman would find a more desirable role than he currently enjoys — the Raptors, don’t forget, allowed him to jack up 17.8 field-goal attempts a game this past season, second-most among NBA players who haven’t made an all-star team — is anyone’s guess.

While Mamoli said he doesn’ believe Bargnani’s comments should be interpreted as a hint that he wants out of Toronto — and while NBA sources say no trade request has been made — those words weren’t Bargnani’s only eyebrow-raising utterance of the past week.

Asked on the Sky Sports broadcast about Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo’s post-season assessment of his work, Bargnani replied: “(Colangelo) had some unfortunate and not very courageous comments about me … The facts are there for everybody to see and judge.”

There’ve been other recent reports in the Italian press in which Bargnani has called Colangelo’s words “uncourageous” — if the 25-year-old was any kind of broadcast analyst, he might have leaned toward “dead-on” or “about time.”

Indeed, while the GM labelled the Italian “the enigma of enigmas,” the essence of his April call-out of the Raptors’ leading scorer didn’t exactly qualify as inflammatory.

As critiques go, it was about as innocuous as a Bargnani box-out (although it was more barbed than anything the GM had ever previously said about the player he selected No. 1 overall in the 2006 draft).

“I don’t know if he’s ever going to be a better defensive player than he is. Can he be a better rebounder? Absolutely,” the GM said of Bargnani at his season-wrapping press conference.

“We know he can rebound, but he doesn’t focus on it … That’s a desire thing. And that’s something he’s going to have to come to grips with.”

Bargnani, who is currently on vacation, was unavailable for comment. Colangelo, who said he has yet to discuss the matter with his 7-footer, said he blames the Italian media for turning his postseason comments “into a firestorm.”

“The way the Italian media portrayed my comments, I think, was completely out of context … That’s what I call unfortunate,” Colangelo said Tuesday. “I didn’t say anything derogatory. I said in order for Andrea to get to the next level, he needs to focus on certain things and he needs to improve in certain areas.”

Indeed, there are signs that message appears to be getting through. Mamoli said Bargnani spent some of the Sky Sports interview offering a humble and honest examination of his game.

“(Bargnani) said, ‘I understand what Bryan Colangelo said.’ He said, ‘I need to improve. I know that I have to improve.’ He wasn’t happy about Colangelo’s comments, but he understands these comments, because he knows he’s a young player and he knows he has to improve in his game,” Mamoli said in a phone interview.

“I spent 25 minutes with him and he does not have any problem with Toronto or with Bryan’s comments. He didn’t seem angry. He understands and he accepts what his general manager had to say.”

As for the Roman’s accumen as a broadcaster, it was posed to an Italian TV journalist that Bargnani might be an unnatural choice for media row.

“He’s not known as a great talker in Italian, also,” Mamoli said. “But he has improved. He’s twice the talker he was when he was a rookie … He actually has some intelligent insight into the game.”

Via Toronto Star

Could Bargnani be affected by the Chris Bosh syndrome? Could that little seed be planted in his head and eventually grow, which will lead him to demand a trade to a warmer climate? Seems like the media is ruining the relationship between Colangelo and Bargnani.

What do you guys think of this?

[jdstormParticipant]

Toronto should send Bargnani, and Calderon to chicago 

Chicago sends Boozer away to some TBD third team and a combination of acceptable draft picks to toronto

TBD 3rd team sends Carlos Boozers’s value in players and picks to toronto

 

thoughts

[Scottoant93Participant]

As a fellow Italian, I will put this out there:Alot of us like to start drama, and run our mouths(If you were to meet me in person im the opposite, despite what I post on this site sometimes), So this could be the italian media seeing everyone "attacking" bargs, and they are defending thier own, and trying to speak for him. What I can see Bargs wants to stay in toronto, He signed a decent contract extenstion and has always stated the enjoys the culture and fans of toronto,despite raps fans getting on him sometimes. If he stays or leaves will be up to BC and what he thinks is best for the team not because Bargs wants out

[torontoraptors10Participant]

I grew up with a lot of Italians in my neighbourhood, especially in elementary and high school (probably the worst area to be in during World Cup because they’re going crazy after barely beating a third world country like Angola 2-1 and rioting around the school screaming "Italia, Italia" ) You guys are always using your hands to convey some kind of message and you’re loud and like to talk a lot (like you’ve said above, not trying to sound disrespectful, but it’s true)

[Scottoant93Participant]

haha Trust me I know Im a full blooded italian, I was born in Naples,Italy We talk with our hands to express ourselves alot, and we do get loud. Soccer is a big thing in Italy, and we go nuts over anything involving it(Im not much of a soccer fan though haha). Also, your comments dont come off as disrespectful at all, Im a really calm person and dont really get offended easily, even though I have my moments, and Trust I can tell you this, I even as an Italian am ashamed sometimes to be one when people start drama,over react and try to interfere into things they have business in such as The italian media-bargs-BC case, because not all of us are like that dispite it be reflected in movies and news

[EuroBallParticipant]

How would the combo of him and Dwight Howard plan out because was saying I want to go to some warm weather area where I can play my right position. Also, what about Charlotte for Boris Diaw and the Nineth pick.  Ed Davis is the future Power forward for the Raptors and get a guy like Bismack Biyombo at five would be good for this team. 

[Scottoant93Participant]

I like the magic for him, Also the bucks with Bogut(dont know how it is Wisconsin though), but if bargs would be traded expect on a team with a legit center, and them player a inside out game

[jdstormParticipant]

 To everyone who gave my previous comment minus points, 

How does Bargnani fit into the future plans of the raptors? 

And If he doesn’t fit what type of compensation do you think he should bring back in a trade. 

[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

I mean this is the player Orlando is desperately looking for. He would complement perfectly Howard with his outside game and I think he could even be motivated enough to improve his defense and his rebounding (Am I dreaming?). The arrival of Bargnani would incline Howard to stay.

However, I can’t think of an easy way of acquiring him, maybe the Magic should get rid of players like Nelson, Redick, Bass/Anderson or Orton and draft picks in order to acquire Bargnani + Calderon and any other player to make this trade possible… Difficult  job for Otis Smith in perspective if he wants Bargnani.

[jdstormParticipant]

 Pheonix 

Why Warm climate, gets to play PF next to Gortat, Toronto could get a lesser version of the same guy back in channing frye. 

Key Return piece: Bargnani would be a key piece in a trade that bought Steve Nash back to canada. 

San Antonio

7ft length,  would hopefully keep the title window open for another shot or two.  

Key Return piece: Tiago splitter, 

Chicago: mentioned above

Orlando: have no real assets left to trade

Milwaukee: possible but don’t have any great assets. could be a good 3rd team in boozer trade

New Orleans, Have a toronto future 1st, jaret jack trade. made aron grey relevant defensively, 

Key Return piece: david west,  good solid vet, better contract

[Pro 1Participant]

I hope BC trades Bargnani (& Jose) this off season as he represents all that is wrong with the Rap’s- all offense no defense plus he doesn’t rebound well nor hustles hard.

I would like to see the Rap’s trade:

 Bargnani (as soon as his BYC contract tag expires June 30th) for Raymond Felton & Denver’s 2012 1st round draft pick or:

Bargnani, Barbosa & Alabi (Nuggets GM Masia Uriji brought Alabi to the Rap’s when he was the Rap’s Assistant GM) for Felton, Chandler (S&T) & Denver’s 2012 1st round draft pick.

Denver could pair Italian National Team players Gallinari & Bargnani up front next to Nene & use Nene’s Brazilian National teammate Barbosa off of the bench as their 6th man.

C: Nene 

PF: Bargnani

SF: Gallinari

SG: JR Smith

PG: Lawson 

6th Man: Barbosa  

 

[jdstormParticipant]

 why would denver do that?

Gallinari is about as bad defensivly as Hedo,  and everyone saw how well that worked

[esperanzafleet69Participant]

^^^^ u kidding? gallo is an above average defender… last season he almost average a block+stl per.. hes not bad at all defensively..

[Scottoant93Participant]

I think your looking at the knicks playing, you do know he plays for denver and showing what kind of player he really is, not just a spot up shooter Dantonti wanted him to be, Next year with Denver we will see what kind of player he truly is. His defense is above average as esperanzafleet69 said

[jdstormParticipant]

i haven’t seen much of Gallo playing for the nuggets, so if you say he is an improved defender there i can accept that. Denver had some good defensive pieces in martin, and affalo. but their team is in such a state of transition now that i just don’t think bargs works there

Though i’m not a huge fan of nene’s game, and think that for a team with nene to win the PF has to be all world

[aamir543Participant]

If I were the Raptors, what I do is I let my young players develop, but I also let Bargnani take 20 shots a game, and tell him to exert all his effort on offense, and play even worse defense. This would result in the worst defensive performance known to man but also, he would average about 25-26 points a game. His value woudl be at an absolute high. You then trade him to David Kahn for a lottery pick in a potentially strong draft, and get a piece or two along with the pick. Now, the trade would not necesarily be to David Kahn, but you know what I mean. A realistic situation would be bargnani for the TWolves no. 1 that the Clippers own. The CLips would wnat an established offensive player, adn raps would get another high lottery pick along wiht their own. That gives you either Vesly, maybe Valanciunas, Kemba, possibly Donatas, or Biyombo this year, plus a possible duo of Barnes/Sullinger/Perry Jones/Anthony Davis/James Mc Adoo/and Austin Rivers. While Blake Griffin will dunk on Bargnani 43,243 times during practice that season.(After knowing what it feels like to dunk on a soft player, Blake would want Pau Gasol to become his best friend.) Bargnani will then become exposed, as a guy whose number were inflated by more than 60%. That my friends, is what the Raptors should do with Bargnani. 

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