To say that the Toronto Raptors went through a difficult season would be a vast understatement. Starting with the loss of Chris Bosh, who took his talents to South Beach, they staggered to a 22-60 record – the third-worst record in the NBA.
Now, Andrea Bargnani is hinting that his time in Toronto may not be long, either.
According to the Toronto Star, Bargnani, who speaks both English and Italian, was asked a “hypothetical” question about where he might like to play.
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, who is working as an analyst with Italy’s Sky Sports this offseason, also had some comments about his GM, Bryan Colangelo, who was sharply critical of Bargnani’s lack of desire to rebound during his postseason assessment of his team.
Bargnani told Sky Sports:
“(Colangelo) had some unfortunate and not very courageous comments about me … The facts are there for everybody to see and judge.”
Colangelo specifically made these comments regarding Bargnani at the end of the season:
“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 has been the subject of trade rumors in the past, and his latest comments could once again stoke the trade talks in Toronto.
Follow Doug Mead on Twitter @Sports_A_Holic.
Source: http://www.athline.com/1749/andrea-bargnani-hints-at-desire-to-leave-toronto/
