Two weeks.
After nearly seven years in Toronto, that’s how long Andrea Bargnani has to prove something.
From the vantage point of this morning, he won’t know whom he’s trying to prove it to or what he hopes to gain from it. Is he staying? Or going? Or what?
If you are in Bargnani’s head as he returns from injury against the Celtics on Wednesday night, you’re going to feel a little woozy. This will be a foreign landscape.
The Italian has always felt comfortable in this city, and played comfortable as a result.
A week ago in Orlando, Bargnani was pronouncing himself “bored” after weeks of rehab and talking like he wants to stay.
“I love it. I love the city,” the Italian said after a short, heartening trip to Florida and a buzzer-beating win against the Magic.
Asked about the constant trade rumours, Bargnani shrugged: “Yes, you hear it. No, it doesn’t affect me.”
Has he ever asked for a trade?
“No.”
A lot’s happened since.
Rudy Gay’s arrival was the least of it.
In the process of welcoming Gay, Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo began gathering up Bargnani’s coat, putting a strong hand in the small of his back and pushing him toward the door.
“He’s a unique talent, but sometimes a change of address is not bad,” Colangelo said. “I’m not saying he’s asked for a trade, but he would certainly not fight or resist a situation if it was the right situation.”
Colangelo knows his man as well as anyone (which is to say, not all that well). It was an apt choice of verb. Bargnani’s never “fought” anything. His resistance is impressive, and always passive.
If he wants to move, he’ll move. If you tell him to move, he’ll stand still despite all your pushing.
But the ground is moving under him. When he left in early December, he was standing on Beringia. Gay split that continent in half. Now Bargnani is watching his only NBA team drift away.
That’s a positive step.
Everything that’s happened in the past few days has set Bargnani up with a perfect opportunity to succeed, if he wants to take it.
He finally has the “situation” he wanted right here, though he’s never asked for it and possibly never known he’s wanted it.
He’s been the second man, but he’s never been the forgotten one. That’s where he is now — rarely thought of and no longer depended on to “improve” or “show he cares.” He’s operating in the background, which is a first.
Nobody expects him to win games by himself. Consistent effort would be a start. It would also be great if he’d play defence — that would be the best way to signal a change — but this team is changing, too.
With Gay’s electric play, the focus is shifting to offence — the one phase of the game Bargnani has ever been comfortable with.
Things have sped up, which will suit him as well. With two bona fide slashers on the wing, Bargnani is now free to orbit around the basket at some distance. He need never put the ball on the floor again. Another plus.
In the past two months, Amir Johnson has . . . well, “emerged” isn’t the right word. “Taken over” is a better way to put it. He’s the focus now in the middle. Coach Dwane Casey said as much on Tuesday.
With Jose Calderon gone, Johnson is also the undisputed heartbeat of this club. He’s great friends with Bargnani. There may be room for one cold fish of a big on the floor with a newly empowered Johnson there to gently prod him.
Once he’s back, Bargnani will not feel any pressure to measure up to Ed Davis, the man who embarrassed him in absentia with his work ethic. When he left for Memphis, Davis took along with him the inevitable controversy about who deserves the starting spot once Bargnani is back to full speed.
It wouldn’t have been Bargnani’s style to show that he cared about that one way or the other. But you don’t need training in aversion therapy to understand that the best way to undermine a man is by constantly reminding him that someone else is doing his job better.
Since he plays this game, Bargnani will understand that he’s the only elite option at 4 left. They gave up Davis in part because they believed that might send some sort of signal to him.
Or maybe not. Maybe they really do want Bargnani gone. Depending on the return, it would certainly lessen the pressure on Colangelo as the cliff of year’s end approaches.
Or could this be psychology? Is Colangelo finally unfurling a red cape in front of his signature pick to see if that will make him charge? This late in the day, it’s certainly worth a shot. There’s no harm in showing Bargnani the whip to see if that motivates him in the final furlongs.
You can spin this game of “I know that you know that I know . . .” out quite a ways. What’s the Raptors’ end game here? For the first time ever in this case, that’s really difficult to see.
This tangle of interests and possible outcomes may be the biggest plus of all.
Feb. 21. That’s the trade deadline.
That’s two weeks for Bargnani to figure out what he needs to do and why.
Here’s a suggestion for a man unsuited to taking them. Just try.
If Bargnani tries, he will likely succeed, whichever uniform he ends up trying in.
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