There isn’t anything more annoying than a pouting professional athlete making an eight figure salary.
And what Hedo did by giving that recent interview was to act like a 19 year-old kid whose feelings got hurt. At 31, it’s time to grow up.
Maybe Turkoglu can grow up in time for next season. But he has to know that after complaining about the Raptors’ management, city, and fans, he’ll be in for a rough ride come preseason at the ACC.
Turkoglu does have an easy out in Toronto. All he has to do to win back the fans is come to training camp ready to play and when the season starts, play well. Then it won’t be long before last season is forgotten.
So despite all the bad press, there is no assurance that Hedo Turkoglu will not be back in a Raptors uniform next fall. But for the moment, that scenario appears to be unlikely.
What can Bryan Colangelo get for his last big free agent signing if things can’t be worked out between now and later this summer?
Despite all the moaning and complaints from fans about Hedo’s less than decent season in Toronto. A bad season does not equal a bad player!
Turkoglu was a key starter in the Orlando Magic’s drive to the NBA Finals last season. And one can only wonder at just how much Hedo’s loss was the determining factor in coming up short during the Eastern Conference Finals this season.
Hedo Turkoglu will tell you he plays best with the ball in his hands. He is a creator and facilitator who does not play well without the ball.
And this was obvious in Toronto when he shared the court with Jose Calderon. Calderon is a traditional pass first point guard who needs the ball to be effective. Turkoglu played much better with Jarrett Jack.
So who are the teams most likely to be interested in Turkoglu’s services?
1. Toronto Raptors.
Surprised, one shouldn’t be. If Toronto moves Jose Calderon in the off season, Turkoglu is just the player the Raptors need at small forward to facilitate their offense.
2. Orlando Magic
Nothing hurts worse than not meeting expectations. Vince Carter couldn’t provide what Hedo Turkoglu did for them last season. If the Magic are willing to spend over their mistakes, they will trade to get Turkoglu back.
Gortat and Barnes or Pietrus and Bass are possible trades for Turkoglu.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Another team that didn’t live up to expectations. The Cavaliers have needed another facilitator to play with James and create offense when LeBron comes off the floor. And Turkoglu could have been the player who kept Cleveland’s offense from stalling every time James sat down.
Any deals done by the Cavaliers this off season will be done with James’ blessings. Unless of course James’ blessings are required anymore.
Who Cleveland wants to move this off season is still somewhat of a mystery, but possible deals include: Williams for Turkoglu or possibly West, Gibson, and Parker. (Assuming the reported $500,000 buy out of West’s contract is accurate.)
4. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are looking to be contenders next season and the one player they have signed to a long term deal hasn’t lived up to earlier expectations.
Luol Deng has four years and $51 million left on his contract and has yet to get back to the statistics that earned him that deal four seasons ago. But at just 25-years-old, Deng still has the potential to earn his contract.
Could a straight swap of Turkoglu for Deng improve both teams fortunes?
5. Philadelphia 76ers
When Philadelphia let Andre Miller slip away to free agency last season, they lost their best (and only) play-maker. A team with playoff potential became an also-ran overnight.
Toronto has been looking for an effective shot-blocking defensive center. Samuel Dalembert is in the final year of that bad contract.
Turkoglu for Dalembert, straight up.
6. Detroit Pistons
After last season, the Pistons are amiable to trades. And there are a lot of possibilities for both teams to consider.
The Pistons need a facilitator like Turkoglu. Without a traditional point guard anymore, the Pistons offense is suspect.
Tayshaun Prince is in the final year of his deal and may be the Piston’s best trade asset.
Prince for Turkoglu, straight up.
7. Portland Trailblazers
Portland wanted Turkoglu last season and he was probably a better fit with that roster than the one in Toronto. And next season, assuming everyone is healthy, the Trailblazers have more big man returning than they have places to fill.
Again assuming Joel Przybilla picks up his player option, one would have to believe that he is available in trade. But the career reserve center probably may not be considered adequate compensation? At least his salary is lower and Portland is beneath the cap.
Przybilla for Turkoglu.
8. Miami Heat
The Heat are well below the salary cap and are looking to add free agents. But they are also looking to add veterans to play with those free agents and at least provide the appearance of having a “team” for them to play with.
It could also be safe to say that Dwyane Wade has had it with making up excuses for Michael Beasley.
Beasley just makes half of what Turkoglu makes, but because the Heat are under the cap, that is not an impediment to a trade.
Turkoglu for Beasley. The Heat get a proven veteran, the Raptors get a young prospect.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
If one listens to the noises coming out the frozen “North” (yes Minnesota is well north of Toronto), one might be lead to believe there is a playoff team here, just over the horizon.
But if one listens carefully, the T-wolves star player, Al Jefferson may not be in the team’s long term plans. And if the team drafts DeMarcus Cousins as some predict, Jefferson is likely on the way out.
The Wolves are young, have a very young (potential) star point guard and are without any true veteran leadership. Hedo Turkoglu could fill that void and make the team significantly more competitive next season.
But the Wolves should be able to get more than Turkoglu for Jefferson and they need help at both wing positions. The Raptors may have to part with their prized rookie to get this deal done.
Turkoglu and DeRozan for Al Jefferson.
10. San Antonio Spurs
Last season the Spurs picked up Richard Jefferson in an attempt to bolster their line-up. Jefferson promptly had his worst season since his rookie campaign. It was apparent that Richard Jefferson was not a good fit on the Spurs.
Jefferson is coming into the final season of his contract that will pay him $15 million next year. Jefferson hasn’t lost his shot and if his ankle problems have been resolved, he is a very good defender.
A lot would depend on a medical assessment of Jefferson. But if he checks out, he would be worth the risk. The Spurs first round draft pick would have to come in any trade to off set that risk however.
Turkoglu and Banks for Jefferson and the Spurs first round pick (20).
There are a lot of teams that could use the services of a playoff proven veteran like Hedo Turkoglu.
At just 31 years-old, Turkoglu has several good seasons left in him. Last season’s personal problems and bizarre injuries should not deter anyone from taking a hard look at what Turkoglu could do for them.
And depending on what Bryan Colangelo does with the rest of the Raptors roster, trading Turkoglu might not even be considered after July.
0 of those 10 options will happen. Nobody will take a cancer with 4 years left on contract.
Hedo does not have a history of being a cancer.
He didn’t suddenly become one in Toronto at age 30.
He has become a cancer now, Stephon Marbury became one later in his career, so did Allen Iverson.
It’s possible, but I don’t see it – yet.
I don’t believe most Toronto fans are being totally objective in their dislike of Hedo. Or cutting him any slack for everything he went through in the 2nd half of the season.
Maybe you did not understand the content of the interview. It is quite easy to see the logic in what Hedo did: he announced that the Raptors organization /Colangelo lied about him, a false story was fabricated abt him that put him into an unacceptable situation in front of the fans, “been thrown to the lions”, he can’t accept that attitude. He challenged Colangelo saying he will tear his contract with no monetary obligation to Raptor if his facts can be proven wrong. Simple message. For exact details of what Hedo said in the enterview in Turkish, you can go to NBA forums discussion
http://my.nba.com/go/thread/view/81689/24907349/Turkoglu_blames_Raptors_Organisation
The situation is rather disgraceful for the Raptors organisation. Playing tricks on players does not represent Toronto well.
Hedo knew (or should have known – he is not a rookie) that he would face some kind of reprimand for his actions.
Regardless of what his agent did for him or said to him, after his agent presented Hedo’s case to the Raptors, the Raptors had a right, if not an obligation, to implement some kind of punishment. They had no obligation to make that decision in front of his agent.
That is not a trick – that’s real life, something Hedo apparently has not had to face a lot of.
Hedo needs to grow up.
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A lot of those trades are pipe dreams. Hedo for Prince straight up? Hedo for Dalembert? Trading Turk is going to be much more difficult than the possible trades you’ve outlined here, imo.
Trading Turk won’t be a problem. Lots of teams will be lining up to acquire him.
There’s is more risk on the Raptors side with Prince and his bad back – All Prince might be now is an expiring deal.
Dalembert is getting $12m next season and the 76ers have wanted to dump him for 3 years but the 15% trade kicker has killed any chance. Now at least the trade kicker only costs $1.8m
Love the optimism ( again ) about the Big Turk… but didn’t Philly try their darndest this past season to move a SF with a very similar deal to Turk and got nothing but expirings offered back ( Iguodala )? While they have tried desperately to move Dalembert, it was because of the multiple years on his contract ( and as I am sure you are aware, that is no longer the case ), and it’s more likely that the new ‘Dalembert’ ( guy Philly wants desperately to move ) is named Elton Brand.
Detroit and Orlando could have acquired Hedo last off-season, but didn’t. In Detroit’s case, Dumars feels his team failed because they were soft… not the kind of situation that screams ‘Hedo’.
An older team, just a couple pieces away from title contention…. that’s the only kind of team I could see having interest in Hedo ( enough to give us a piece worth keeping anyway’s )… but until he can make a comeback from last season, I can’t see their being any kind of line for his services.
Did he essentially ‘retire’ because he is on his last contract? Extreme drops in level of play that perfectly coincide with a guy’s first big pay day are kind of scary as a fan of a franchise, and would probably give me nightmares as a GM. Without RLewis beside him, making 100′s of millions, putting that chip on his shoulder…. what motivates Hedo?
Hedo’s stats were close to his last season averages before his mother had the heart attack and then he broke his orbital bone and then broke his nose. Turk is still a very serviceable player.
He has been acting like a spoiled brat but the guy has a lot of talent and on the right team – a team using a combo guard at the point – Hedo will perform at a high level.
It is apparent Hedo will not co-exist will a traditional PG like Calderon – he mopes if he doesn’t see the ball enough.
Motivation – Hedo needs to feel he’s “the man”.
There is no basis for saying Hedo needs to grow up. He says he has played for 9 years in three other franchises and he has never faced a situation like this one. A person that has never partied out a single time the whole year, spends all his time with family, and he is labeled as a partier…? He went to a cafe for 15 minutes, and that was upon request of his teammates, and left the place with them, and he was labeled as spending the night out…? How can you protect yourself agianst liers? He is openly stating his case, what else should he do? Who needs to grow up? What kind of a society is that Raptors environment?
This should be brought to the attention of the NBA administration. This can not be tolerated under the trademark of the NBA.
Interesting view of the world.
Hedo is not a child. He knew the consequences of his actions.
Who was lying about anything?
And Hedo should have known better than to have his agent try a wriggle out of a bad situation of his own creation on his behalf. A personal apology and explanation to his coach would have gone a long way to diffuse what happened instead.
Assuming Hedo is describing events straight – he could be mad at his agent for misleading him or mad at himself for not dealing with the events better. But he still shouldn’t be whining about it to the press months later in any case.
Part of growing up is making the best of bad situations – even if you don’t believe that you are totally at fault. And this situation was hardly earth shattering. Hedo is acting like a spoiled brat.