Mind-set of Hedo Turkoglu, 2009 unrestricted free agent
This evening’s game between Toronto [11-16/.407, 2nd Atlantic] and Orlando [18-6/.750, 1st Southeast] marks the first occasion for the “Turkish Michael Jordan” to make a return visit to his old haunt in the Magic Kingdom.
As the former “go-to, clutch time” performer for last season’s squad in Orlando, which played its way to the NBA Finals …
What did it really say about Hedo Turkoglu [at 30 years of age] that he was actually willing to forego the opportunity to win a NBA championship with the Magic this season, in order to sign a $50.0 M contract to play the next 5 seasons for the Toronto Raptors?
Perhaps, that he really does care more about being content and comfortable in his own personal life than he cares about doing what’s necessary to win a NBA championship.
Doing what’s necessary to win a NBA championship?
For example:
* Getting back in defensive transition to prevent easy opposition baskets.
* Defending one’s individual check with consistent tenacity.
* Defending, in a half-court team context, with thorough responsibility.
* Rebounding with an absolute commitment to recover the ball.
* Discriminating readily between an open and a contested shot attempt.
* Physically standing up for a fallen/vulnerable teammate, when need be.
* A willingness to play within an assigned role for the good of the team.
* A willingness to sacrifice oneself [i.e. the physical body, as well as, personal wants and desires] for the benefit of the team.
In their 16 losses this year, Bryan Colangelo’s Raptors have succumbed by margins of:
|
OCTOBER |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
MARGIN |
|
Fri 30 |
@ Memphis |
L 107-115 |
-8 |
|
NOVEMBER |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
MARGIN |
|
Sun 01 |
vs Orlando |
L 116-125 |
-9 |
|
Sat 07 |
@ Dallas |
L 101-129 |
-8 |
|
Mon 09 |
@ San Antonio |
L 124-131 |
-7 |
|
Sun 15 |
@ Phoenix |
L 100-101 |
-1 |
|
Tue 17 |
@ Denver |
L 112-130 |
-18 |
|
Wed 18 |
@ Utah |
L 91-104 |
-13 |
|
Sun 22 |
vs Orlando |
L 96-104 |
-8 |
|
Wed 25 |
@ Charlotte |
L 81-116 |
-15 |
|
Fri 27 |
@ Boston |
L 103-116 |
-13 |
|
Sun 29 |
vs Phoenix |
L 94-113 |
-19 |
|
DECEMBER |
OPPONENT |
RESULT |
MARGIN |
|
Tue 01 |
vs Washington |
L 102-106 |
-4 |
|
Wed 02 |
@ Atlanta |
L 115-146 |
-31 |
|
Wed 09 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 95-117 |
-22 |
|
Fri 11 |
vs Atlanta |
L 89-111 |
-22 |
|
Tue 15 |
@ Miami |
L 95-115 |
-20 |
|
Legend: Red Text – Away Game. |
|||
Considering that the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu/SF:
was one of the two major personnel moves made by the Raptors this past summer …
along with the $50.0 M, 5-yr extension of the ‘rookie contract’ for former No. 1 [overall] Draft Pick, Andrea Bargnani/C:
it should be of little wonder to the Raptors faithful that Toronto is mired in the lower half of the Eastern Conference, in a quest for the last playoff position.
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|
ORLANDO MAGIC 2009-2010? |
TORONTO RAPTORS 2009-2010 |
|
|
STARTERS |
|||
|
|
Jameer Nelson, PG |
Jose Calderon, PG |
√ |
|
√ |
Vince Carter, OG |
DeMar DeRozan, OG |
|
|
|
Hedo Turkoglu, SF |
Hedo Turkoglu, SF |
|
|
|
Rashard Lewis, PF |
Chris Bosh, PF |
√ |
|
√ |
Dwight Howard, C |
Andrea Bargnani, C |
|
|
KEY SUBS |
|||
|
- |
Anthony Johnson, PG |
Jarrett Jack, PG |
- |
|
√ |
JJ Redick, OG |
Marco Belinelli, OG |
|
|
√ |
Mickael Pietrus, OG-SF |
Antoine Wright, SF |
|
|
√ |
Ryan Anderson, PF |
Reggie Evans, PF |
|
|
√ |
Marcin Gortat, C |
Rasho Nesterovic, C |
|
|
RESERVES/EXTRAS |
|||
|
√ |
Jason Williams, PG |
Marcus Banks, PG |
|
|
- |
Matt Barnes, SF |
Sonny Weems, OG-SF |
- |
|
|
Adonal Foyle, C |
Amir Johnson, PF |
√ |
|
|
Pops Mensah-Bonsu, PF |
|
|
|
|
Patrick O’Bryant, C |
|
|
Shame on those who actually thought that Otis Smith [GM, Orlando Magic] may not have known exactly what he was talking about …
Orlando Magic GM dissing Hedo Turkoglu?
in his alleged conversations with Kevin Pritchard [GM, Portland Trail Blazers], in the aftermath of Mr. Turkoglu’s decision to sign on with the Raptors, and that Hedo Turkoglu’s priorities might actually include winning a NBA title.
Caveat Emptor!
Tags: Adonal Foyle, Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Johnson, Antoine Wright, Bryan Colangelo, Chris Bosh, Demar DeRozan, Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, Jarrett Jack, Jason Williams, JJ Redick, Jose Calderon, Kevin Pritchard, Marcin Gortat, Marco Belinelli, Marcus Banks, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Orlando Magic, Otis Smith, Patrick O'Bryant, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Portland Trail Blazers, Rashard Lewis, Rasho Nesterovic, Reggie Evans, Ryan Anderson, Sonny Weems, Toronto Raptors, Vince Carter
December 16th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Portland should be one of the choices in teams he should have signed with.
December 16th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
RF - Agreed!
Khan — I think it’s unfair to say it reflects poorly on the character of Hedo that he chose a 50M/5y deal over a 24M/3y deal. At bottom, professional basketball is a job, and I don’t think you can fault a guy for looking out for himself, particularly when odds were slim to none that Hedo would ever have the chance to sign the kind of deal that POR and TOR were offering. Maybe you can make that argument if the deals are more comparable (e.g. in the decision to spurn POR for TOR, as RF mentions above), but these deals weren’t even close.
Personally, I don’t think a lot of the things you listed above were EVER consistent strengths of Hedo’s… the guy made his name making tough shots late in games on a big stage, and I think it is the fault of others who failed to see that reality if they’re disappointed by what we’ve seen from him this year.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Raps Fan,
I left Portland out of the equation on purpose.
IMO, if Hedo was someone who truly valued winning above all else, as a professional athlete in a team sport, then, he SHOULD have:
#1. Re-upped with Orlando.
#2. Signed with Portland.
#3. Signed with several other teams other than the Raptors.
#4. Signed with Toronto, given the Raptors’ current circumstances.
Hedo Turkoglu plays a highly intelligent game of basketball … because Hedo Turkoglu is a highly intelligent person.
Hedo Turkoglu knew exactly what he was doing when he signed on with the Raptors this past summer, and his intent had nothing whatsoever to do with possibly winning a NBA Title, while in Toronto.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Scott G.,
I did not say that it reflects poorly on Hedo Turkoglu that he chose “the money, honey” … over a legitimate chance to win it all, as a professional athlete [mercenary?].
What I said is, “Shame on those who might have thought that Hedo’s priorities might well have been something other than that”, when he blatantly chose to forego the opportunity to “win it all” with the Magic, in order to seek out more money someplace else.
That is simply what’s referred to as, “Calling a spade a spade.”
PS. If you’re not “really trying to win”, in the first place, then how much pressure is there actually associated with taking and sometimes making a “clutch” shot? You’re absolutely correct. Hedo Turkoglu has made his rep by making the occasional “clutch” shot … and, IMO, by being a highly intelligent basketball player.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:48 am
LOL — so I guess our point is the same: that nobody should have been under any illusion as to what exactly we were acquiring this summer! I wonder what BC thought…
December 17th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Scott G.,
Although I can’t tell you what exactly Bryan Colangelo was thinking this past summer …
- when he signed Hedo Turkoglu
- extended the contract of Andrea Bargnani
- drafted DeMar DeRozan, in the No. 9 [overall] slot
- signed Jarrett Jack
- traded for Reggie Evans
- traded for Marco Belinelli
- traded for Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems
- re-signed Rasho Nesterovic
I can tell you straight-up what he SHOULD have been thinking, without any difficulty, whatsoever.
Which is:
————————————————-
If ‘khandor’ is the first to say that this is NOT what I should be doing this summer with my team’s personnel …
and, then,
David Berri says that this series of moves might not work out very well for Toronto next season …
and, then,
John Hollinger [3rd] and Kevin Pelton [4th] each say that this version of the Raptors might well turn out to be one of the historically bad defensive teams in the annals of the NBA …
then, perhaps … just, perhaps, mind you … what I SHOULD really be doing is re-thinking my entire Basketball Philosophy, which has been at the heart of creating this current mess with the Raptors, beneath the level of the dastardly ownership group, which is ultimately responsible [and to blame] for the present situation.
————————————————–
If Bryan Colangelo wants to get himself and, therefore, the Raptors, out of this current nightmare, there are different ways to go about it … but listening to and then implementing the specific and collective ideas of Mr. Fruitman, and Mr. Gherardini, and Mr. Eversley, and Mr. Ujiri, etc., are not included amongst them.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
STOP! it hurts! Stop! lol…
Quibble - you think Barnes and Weems are equals? I’d give the nod to Barnes, if not for any reason other than his toughness. I do like Weems, though, and I think if he can learn how to (i) only take good shots, (ii) never turn the ball over, and (iii) be tough as nails, I think he can be a very serviceable NBA player.
But really… their roster is better than ours from top to bottom. The only checks in our column are even fairly close calls… ugh.