NBA Trade Rumors: Should the Toronto Raptors Part Ways with Andrea Bargnani?
Andrea Bargnani trade rumors have been swirling and heating up. Many analysts are claiming trades between the Cavaliers, Timberwolves and even the Grizzlies are rumored due to their sources with Toronto sending out one specific player as the main piece. This specific player is Andrea Bargnani.
“I am proud to represent Toronto and the Raptors organization. I appreciate what Bryan Colangelo and the organization has done for me during the past five years of my career. I will always continue to work to improve myself as a player in an effort to reward the organization and our fans with the best team possible.”
That is a quote Bargnani had said to the media. Clearly he wants to stay in Toronto and is willing to improve his game for himself and the team.
Should they trade him due to his lack of effort, or should they keep him in order for him to prove something?
Enjoy!
Should Reason 1: Post Presence (Defense)
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This is an image that many Raptors have seen too much. Bargnani letting the ball handler go through him and get the easy basket. Now this does not happen much, but it is something that Bargnani should work on.
He might not ever be able to increase his presence in the post, and it will allow other centers and power forwards to get an easy two points when backing down on him.
If he does not improve on this, then the Raptor's will continually get beaten down in the post.
Should Reason 2: Rebounding
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Rebounding is something that you cannot go in the gym and work on. It is something that you hustle for and something you want.
Bargnani does not seem to really go for rebounds. After the shot by the other team does not go in, he runs to the offensive end of the court, and you cannot really blame him, considering how gifted he is offensively.
Sometimes though, he needs to stay back with his team in his own end, and use his height to the advantage to get rebounds for not only himself, but for the team.
If he keeps ignoring the ball off the rim, then changes need to be made.
Should Reason 3: Partial Inconsistency
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Averaging 21.4 points per game is not something that is easy to accomplish in the league. Many players have trouble even getting 10 points on a nightly basis.
Sometimes, it seems that Bargnani just has a horrible game for a stretch of three to four games. Even if it is just a couple of games, if the Raptors want to get back into the playoffs and make a name for themselves, then Bargnani needs to be consistent every night.
He is very consistent for most of the season, but the few stretches of games that he just shuts down cannot happen.
Should Reason 4: Salary
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Bargnani is currently gaining $50 million in five years, including this season, and if he cannot live up to his expectations or his own statements, then the money will be somewhat of a negative thing for the team.
Bargnani's offensive ability is something you don't find every day, but his defense and rebounding make people believe that he is overpaid.
If he cannot improve his defense and rebounding this season and the next, then the money we could use to bring in certain players will be on Bargnani's contract.
Should Reason 5: Not Liked by Some Fans
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After talking to some Raptors fans and seeing comments around the site and other sources, it seems that most fans want Bargnani out of Toronto.
They believe that he is a waste of money on this team and he is only good for offense, which the team is good at.
if the fans begin to dog on Bargnani, then it may lead to him packing his bags.
Should Not Reason 1: Offensive Ability
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Bargnani is one of the hardest players to guard. His style of play is exactly how Dirk Nowitzki plays. Although Bargnani is not very close to Dirk, he makes space for himself and is able to shoot the ball with ease.
Bargnani does not have much of a post game, but there are times when he can still make those important post moves.
His offensive ability is something that every team would want, and keeping him on the Raptors is key to scoring points when needed.
Should Not Reason 2: Commitment to Team
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Bargnani is very committed to playing in Toronto. As read in one of his comments about playing somewhere else, he said that he loved the city of Toronto.
The day he was picked first overall back in 2006, he showed that he wanted to stay here and play for this team.
If he were to go somewhere else, even if it was a warmer place, he probably would not produce as well as he did in Toronto.
Should Not Reason 3: Claims He Will Improve His Defense and Rebounding
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Also in the quote by Bargnani, he said that he is willing to improve his game. If he does this, it will not only be for the team, but to also change the way players and fans from around the league look at him.
If he can grab more rebounds and play better defense, especially in the post, then trading him away is not an option. It will show to other teams why he was picked first overall.
He still has the potential to get better as he is only 25 years old, and if he is wiling to get better for the team, we might just be wowed.
Should Not Reason 4: Not Guaranteed Toronto Brings in Real Big Man
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If the Raptors do not get someone like Marc Gasol or Tyson Chandler (who will be hard to acquire due to their spectacular playoff runs) and if Bargnani is traded, then who plays center for the Raptors?
Even if Bargnani is not very comfortable playing center, it is better than not having someone else who isn't as tall.
Ed Davis and Amir Johnson just don't look comfortable playing the center position and would be a little undersized.
Should Not Reason 5: Can Still Develop
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Bargnani is only a young 25 years old. Although most of his potential is gone, there is still a good one or two years for Bargnani to take time and learn how to play good defense and offense down low in the paint.
He can hire someone such as Patrick Ewing or Hakeem Olajuwon to teach him how to be better down low. Dwight Howard trained with Ewing, and that is the only reason he is such a dominant player right now compared to when he was first drafted.
We just have to wait.
Conclusion
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Keep him.
No team can easily find someone with the offensive gift that Bargnani has, and although his defense and rebounding have been bad during his career, he has shown signs of improvement and wanting to change.
I personally do not want to see Bargnani gone and traded away due to how he can change a game on the offensive end and other reasons, and many fans should be happy if he is in a Raptors uniform next season.
We need to see what the future, shows, because if it does not show improvement, Bargnani might be gone by the trade deadline.
Thanks for reading!
