From the moment the Raptors selected Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, he's been second-guessed and labeled a bust. He showed the occasional flash of potential his first couple of years, but not nearly enough to justify being drafted over the likes of fellow top-10 picks Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge or Rudy Gay or late-round gems Rajon Rondo or Paul Millsap.And then, things started to click: when Jermaine O'Neal went down late last month, Bargnani has picked up the slack and then some, averaging 22.1 points per game sidelined since New Year's Eve, Bargnani has flourished in the starting lineup, averaging a surprising 22.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in eight starts.
He's still not the dominating low-post presence Sam Mitchell tried to force him to become, but now that Jay Triano has allowed him to play his game on the perimeter -- he's averaging nearly five three-point attempts (and shooting 57.7 percent!) since moving back to the starting lineup -- he finally looks like a player who deserved to be a top-5 pick.
So what's the problem? Well, the only reason he got another chance to start was because O'Neal's right knee started acting up. O'Neal is just about ready to return, so what happens now? Would Triano, a rookie head coach, risk losing the locker room by allowing a six-time All-Star to lose his starting job due to injury? Things could get ugly fast ... right?
Fortunately, it doesn't look like it'll come to that, not after O'Neal stepped forward and volunteered to take a spot on the bench. "I have no ego about that," O'Neal told Michael Grange of the Globe and Mail. In fact, O'Neal admitted he wouldn't harbor any ill feelings should the Raptors try to trade him, as well.
You just don't see that type of accommodating attitude from most NBA players, especially from established All-Stars. I can't imagine the Raptors are in a hurry to trade him -- his contract expires in 2010, just in time to sign Chris Bosh -- but it has to be reassuring for Colangelo to know that he can shop him without worrying about any backlash should the word get out."If I was to get traded, God bless 'em," O'Neal said after practice yesterday. "I have a really good agent in Arn Tellum and he keeps me aware of what teams are trying to acquire me. ... And [Raptors president] Bryan Colangelo? He's my man. We have a very friendly relationship and I respect his view."
