Andrea Bargnani has spent his whole career with the Toronto Raptors. Since being selected with the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, he’s continued to improve year after year. He’s had his injury issues, but the fact that his stats kept getting up had to be encouraging.
But his scoring numbers peaked in the 2010-11 season where he averaged 21.4 points per game. This season he’s scoring only 16.8 points per game and shooting just under 40% from the field. He’s a 7-footer, and although not a traditional center, he hasn’t had double figure rebounds in any game this season.
The Raptors are sitting at 4-17 and although Bargnani isn’t the only problem with the team, he’s taking a lot of the blame. His attitude, which he describes as “even-keeled” is being viewed by some as lethargic and lazy.
Bargnani’s recent performance has some people saying that he might be traded, something he now has to deal with on a nightly basis.
“Of course I hear the trade rumors,” Bargnani said. “But trades are part of the job. Since the first day I joined this team seven years ago, I knew I could be traded. That’s the reality. From Day 1 you know that can happen at any time… Maybe you have more chance of being traded when you’re playing good, right? Because your value is up … I don’t panic, honestly. So all these rumors and the talking? What does thinking about rumors get you at the end of the day?”
Bargnani is right that his trade stock isn’t too high right now. The Raptors probably wouldn’t be able to get the value they want for him at this point. He’s got the ability and some talented teammates to help turn things around. The Raptors are on the list of biggest NBA disappointments this year because they’re not nearly as bad as their record shows. The Toronto fans have to be hoping for a big 180 from their big guy and their team.
Image: Yahoo Sports
