Friday, June 30, 2006

Andrea Bargnani IS #1 NBA Draft Pick by Raptors, First from Europe

The ANNOTICO Report

 

OK, I warned you on June 25th that Andrea Bargnani might be the #1 NBA Draft Pick, and low and behold, so he IS!!!!

 

There were clues. Bryan Colangelo is the Toronto Raptors GM, and just last week he hired Maurizio Gherardini, as the Raptor's vice president and assistant general manager, who was one of the most respected GMs in Europe, with Benetton Treviso, and Bargnani's former team. 

 

Since USA players have indicated a reluctance to go north of the border, it is thought that Toronto will look more toward Europe' s talent pool. Gherardini would be an excellent European ambassador, and give reassurance to concerned European prospects.

 

Toronto's large Italian community is Ecstatic about Bargnani, and is expected to provide tremendous crowd support.

Bargnani is the FIRST Ever European picked in the Draft. Not Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, from Germany, or Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlys from Spain were picked #1. Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets was the First #1 pick from Asia, at 7'6, 310 lbs in 2002.

 

Like most European big men, Bargnani is a good shooter from the perimeter, but what makes him stand out is an ability and a desire to put the ball onto the floor and attack with a city kid's nose for the basket.

 

In Italy, they call Andrea Bargnani "Il Mago"  (the Magician). The 20year old, 7-foot, 225-pound Bargnani has long arms and excellent footwork and carries a small forward's skills on the still-growing frame of a center.

Regarded as the best young player on the Continent, Bargnani won the Euroleague's Rising Star Trophy for the just-completed 2005-06 season in which he played a key role as Benetton won an Italian championship.

 

NO TRANSLATION NECESSARY

 

No need for Andrea Bargnani to work on his English; the Raptors No. 1 pick will do his talking on the floor.

 

Sports Net, Canada

Paul Jones

June 30, 2006

 

The poker hand is over and the Raptors can't say they didn't win at least part of the pot as they got their man. Andrea Bargnani was selected with the top pick and made history as the first European player ever chosen first overall.

Some questions have been answered but there are still plenty of questions that will be asked. No, Bryan Colangelo was not bluffing with his interest in the 7'0 Italian big man. But some still wonder if the Toronto general manager could have traded down to get him. If you listen to Colangelo, the answer was a definitive no. The interest that may have come from the Chicago Bulls, who scouted Bargnani more than any other team except Toronto, might have been enough for Colangelo to make Bargnani the top pick and not take any chances. Hey, if that's the guy Toronto wanted, then why take a chance? Just pick him.

There were trade talks with other teams as Toronto looked into the possibility of acquiring another pi! ck but in the end, the price -- trading Charlie Villanueva -- was too high. Is it possible that Toronto's thinking is Villanueva was too lofty a price to pay for another pick? And if you are going to trade him, you should try to fill the most pressing need right now and acquire a point guard. Perhaps Villanueva or even Morris Peterson will be traded to acquire a top flight floor general. You have to think that Colangelo has a plan to acquire a point guard with the free agent window just a couple of days away as Toronto can't enter the season with such a glaring weakness at the point.

As for Bargnani, this is the perfect situation for an international player entering the NBA. Toronto management has tried to alleviate some of the pressure by using the prevailing attitude that many observers hailed prior to the draft. Since there was no consensus top pick, Bargnani won't be any more under the microscope than the other player picked behind him. He will most likely come off ! the bench with Chris Bosh, Rasho Nesterovic, and Villanueva comprising the starting front line early in the season. His former GM is part of the Raptor braintrust. You could see the comfort level between Bargnani and Maurizio Gherardini in the introductory news conference. Gherardini translated for Bargnani and gave him English words to help him finish his thoughts. The city's large Italian community will also provide tremendous support.

A top draft choice always has a target on his back but Bargnani's will be even bigger as a European. People have stereotypes about international players and Bargnani has to prove himself. Raptor fans will start to watch Bargnani's progress right away in summer league action that starts in early July and may get a chance to get another look at him if he decides to play for the Italian National Team. There was also a hint that he may not play with the Italian National team -- thanks in part to the long season he played in Europe -- so he! can be ready for the rigors of an NBA campaign.

The biggest question is just how good is this guy? There has been plenty of talk about his skills and now he will have his chance to prove it. Bargnani regularly apologizes for his English which is really not that bad. I just remind myself that a guy with an accent speaks one more language than me.

But as Gherardini put it, "Andrea will answer on the floor."

Raptor fans hope his game will speak volumes about his skill.

 

 

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