The first big signing this off season for Brian Colangelo and Company isn't the Hedo Turkoglu deal. Raptors fans woke this morning to learn that their favorite Italian has reached an agreement for the next 5 years for $50 million.
Raptors fans jumped on the forum's and blogs and are chastising this move by the club as dumb and a waste of money.
My question to them is why?
What about signing a multi-skilled 7 foot big man in his early twenties to a reasonable contract makes this a bad move?
Yes Bargnani had a poor sophomore season but that had more to do with the coach than anything else. He was constantly being jerked around from center to PF,starter to bench guy. Its hard to develop if you don't know where and when your minutes are coming to you.
Bargnani flourished last season with consistent minutes at center under the tutelage of Jay Triano. His post game is ever improving and he can no longer be called a defensive liability.
I don't think its fair to judge Bargnani as a bust because he was the first overall pick in the draft. Nobody in that draft knew that Brandon Roy would be the best of that class. To label Bargnani a bust would be just wrong. He is what he is a solid solid player that is continually improving his game and as far as I'm concerned he's a relative bargain at the contract he just signed.
To prove my point look no further than Andrew Bogut. Last off season he signed a 5 year $60 million extension to stay with the bucks. 10 million more than Bargnani. And so I ask you this. Who would you rather have? Starting 7 footers aren't easy to come by in this league.
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