Why I Don't Like the Hedo Turkoglu Decision

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

As a basketball player in the NBA, Hedo Turkoglu has done many things.

He's been the first Turkish-born player in NBA history.

He's been a scrub at the end of the bench in Sacramento.

He's been a role player off the bench for those very same Kings.

He's been a role player as a starter in San Antonio.

He's been a main man on a championship-contending team in Orlando, and one of the more ridiculous All-Star snubs of the decade.

But in my opinion, he has just taken a major step backwards.

On Friday it was reported that Hedo has verbally accepted a five-year, $53 million deal to play for the Toronto Raptors next year. After it was revealed that Hedo would opt-out of his contract with the Orlando Magic, it was highly suspected that he would sign with the Portland TrailBlazers, but in the end, his destination was up north.

So Turkoglu has gone from being arguably the second-most important player on a Finals team from being the arguably the second most important player on a team that didn't make the playoffs last year.

Understand, I'm not criticizing Turkoglu on his decision...after all, it's his career, he can do with it what he wishes. I'm just saying, personally, I don't like it.

Turkoglu is one of the more underrated players in the league. I find it unbelievable he wasn't named an All Star.

He is one of the biggest matchup problems you'll find, he is an excellent shooter, great at getting to the rim, has incredibly undervalued passing and ball-handling skills, and although he won't be making any All-Defensive teams, he doesn't slouch on that side of the ball either.

Hence, why I think it's a shame that he has made this choice.

He was just three wins away from winning an NBA Championship this year. He was such a major piece of the puzzle for the Magic, and its almost impossible to imagine them getting past the second round without him.

So why did Turkoglu decide to walk away from one of the top teams in the league? An opportunity none too many would miss out on, especially when he is 30 years old.

Was it because Orlando signed Vince Carter and therefore made Turkoglu felt snubbed?

Perhaps it was. After all they do play roughly the same position (technically you could put either one at the shooting guard and the other at the small forward, but you get the idea). This of course also severely cut into the money the Magic could have offered, so maybe it was a financial decision?

With Carter playing on the Magic, they would have had yet another potential All-Star on the roster, and it would be almost unavoidable that Turkoglu would have had to taken on a slightly lesser role and a decrease in numbers.

His role in Toronto will undoubtedly be larger, his numbers will probably go up and maybe he'll get the respect he deserves. But on a team like the Raptors, will anyone really care?

In Orlando he had a chance to be one of the main guys on the big stage...that same chance will be hard to come by in Canada.

I don't see them going anywhere soon. Though they have talent on the roster, that has been true for the last few years, and they haven't been able to translate this into anything more than a division title.

Perhaps it would have been understandable if he had gone to Portland. Is any team scarier to envision in three-five years than the Blazers? They are up-and-coming, and have potential to spare.

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