Raptors sign Bargnani to contract extension

[PLANT]

Raptors Sign Bargnani To Contract Extension



July 8, 2009

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have signed forward-centre Andrea Bargnani to a multi-year contract extension. The Raptors tipped-off a busy off-season for the club when Bargnani signed the contract at 12:01 a.m. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

“Andrea has worked very hard to establish himself as a top-flight, multi-dimensional big man in the NBA,” said Bryan Colangelo, Raptors President and General Manager. “He overcame a rough start last season to emerge as a primary scorer for us, and we anticipate quite a bit more from him in the future.”

Bargnani averaged career highs of 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.24 blocked shots and 31.4 minutes in 78 games in the 2008-09 season. He made 59 starts, averaging 17.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. He topped 20 or more points a career-best 23 times. He also scored in double figures in 41 of his final 45 starts, with 20 or more points in 24 of those contests.

Bargnani recorded a career-high 31 points January 14, 2009 versus Chicago. He also set an NBA record last season for the longest streak of consecutive games with two or more three-pointers by a starting centre with 10 consecutive games (December 31 – January 16).

The 7-foot native of Rome, Italy has posted career averages of 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 221 NBA regular season games. He has shot .831 (221-266) from the charity stripe in his three NBA seasons.

Bargnani became the first European-born player selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft when he was taken by the Raptors on June 28, 2006. During his first season in the NBA, Bargnani averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 65 games. He was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team and captured T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours in January and February.

[OchoCinco]

Hopefully he can build on what he did last year, he definetly has a lot of potential.

[Lunatic]

we've made some good moves this Summer.

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

Hopefully he can build on what he did last year, he definetly has a lot of potential.

[OchoCinco]

any news on Pops Mensah- Bonsu?, the dude singe handedly made the last couple weeks when the raps were done exciting. They need a guy like that to come off the bench to spark them .

[Lunatic]

^I guess he is still with us?

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

any news on Pops Mensah- Bonsu?, the dude singe handedly made the last couple weeks when the raps were done exciting. They need a guy like that to come off the bench to spark them .

i think they've made a qualifying offer to him.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/basketball/wires/story/1120102.html

[PLANT]

yep Im expecting to see Pops in the red white and black next season!  he was dope, like a baby kemp back in the day

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

looks like Raps will be back in the playoffs

[PLANT]

looks like Raps will be back in the playoffs

[tempo2]

the raps to me havent really addressed there biggest weaknesses from last season. if reggie evans is there answer to toughness then there in trouble. adding turkoglu to the raptors only made them worse in terms of toughness and defence. too many shooters in my opinion, the magic were the same last year but had more options and they still got torched in the finals.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

the raps to me havent really addressed there biggest weaknesses from last season. if reggie evans is there answer to toughness then there in trouble. adding turkoglu to the raptors only made them worse in terms of toughness and defence. too many shooters in my opinion, the magic were the same last year but had more options and they still got torched in the finals.

Raptors are more of an up and down team than a half court one...i think turkoglu is perfect for the system they run. that said, theyre not championship material, of course....but theyll make noise in the east and be pretty exciting to watch. a frontcourt of bosh an bargnani may not be the toughest, but it's far from the worst.

[S P I C E]

They are really improved but I'm not sure if they are a lock for the playoffs

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

They are really improved but I'm not sure if they are a lock for the playoffs

PG Jose Calderon
SG Anthony Parker
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Chris Bosh
C Andrea Bargnani



that's not a playoff team in the east? LOL

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

they won't be able to re-sign Parker apparently because they got Turkoglu.
he might be on his way to the Cavs.

and they might trade Bosh too before the deadline since he won't be signing an extension and may opt out.