RealGM: Turkoglu, Toronto will regret marriage.

Dark Knight · 07-05-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Hedo Turkoglu was three wins away from securing a championship ring less than one month ago.

Now, he's headed to a team that won only 33 games last season. A team that is in jeopardy of losing their franchise player, Chris Bosh, one year from now. A team that has failed to win a playoff series since 2001.

On Friday, Turkoglu agreed to terms with the Toronto Raptors, a move he will surely regret at some point over the next five years. Trading away the chance to play alongside four potential All-Stars and contend for the rest of his career, Turkoglu took Toronto's offer of $53 million over five years and ran with it.

But was the extra $8 million dollars really worth it?

When you factor in that the state of Florida has no income tax, plus all of the excess money that players make in the playoffs and Finals, the financial differences between the Raptors' contract and Orlando's $45 million offer are next to nothing.

But the same cannot be said for what Turkoglu is leaving behind. Things like friendships, most notably with Dwight Howard. The familiarity that comes with being on the same team, in the same city, with many of the same players for five years. The fan base that supported Turkoglu for so long, through the good times and bad. The $2 million home that Turkoglu owns in Isleworth.

But most importantly, the chance to compete for a title.

The addition of Turkoglu may give the Raptors a versatile scorer that can contribute right away, but outside of Bosh, the team still has many holes that could grow even larger with Shawn Marion and Anthony Parker likely on their way out. If Bosh does indeed leave next summer as reports indicate, Turkoglu will be forced to spend the next five years of his career, and prime, with a perennial cellar dweller.

At least Portland made sense.

RealGM Orlando Magic Front Office

Seems like we aren't the only ones doubting this signing...

bladeraptor · 07-05-2009, 08:17 AM

his wife is insanely hot. she made him make the move or he would get frozen out of the sack forever. i still think we'll come good with him. bc is not done yet.

bjjs · 07-05-2009, 08:31 AM

I don't think Turkoglu had much of a friendship with Dwight Howard.

Maybe I'm wrong, but from just reading the way those guys interacted on the court, they didn't show each other a lot of love.

**Belsius** · 07-05-2009, 08:42 AM

apparently Howard called Turkoglu to try to convince him to stay. I supose they did get along. Who knows.

Dark Knight · 07-05-2009, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belsius

apparently Howard called Turkoglu to try to convince him to stay. I supose they did get along. Who knows.

Then Turk called Bosh to tell him to stay in TO

jeffb · 07-05-2009, 08:57 AM

How does he know that Bosh leaves next summer, and if he does how does he know that we'll be parenial cellar dwellars. Bosh leves we'll either S&T him or have 16Mil to spend in the 2010 market. This guy needs to get a grip.

It is very possible that Turkoglu just didn't like playing in Orlando and/or didn't like playing for Van Gundy.

bjjs · 07-05-2009, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belsius

apparently Howard called Turkoglu to try to convince him to stay. I supose they did get along. Who knows.

Like I said, I'm just going by what I saw on the court. Their are usually quite a few high-fives and smiles during the course of the game, and I don't think I ever saw one between Turkoglu and Howard.

Maybe they just had such high expectations of themselves and eachother, so their was never any need for a "nice pass", or a butt slap, it was just implied with a quick emotionless glance.

I think the article actually makes a good point about the money not being that big of a difference. He takes a few million more to not only leave Orlando, but then he signs with a conference rival with whom they met in the playoffs two years ago, one of the other up and coming young teams in the East.

You read between the lines and you got to think that maybe he didn't like playing in Orlando all that much. Or at least that he felt he wasn't getting as much credit as he should of been getting for their success.

If you take him off that Orlando squad, running the pick and roll and hitting dagger threes in the last two minutes of every game, they don't have anyone who can facilitate the offense like he can with the game on the line. You can't be throwing the ball into Dwight when you're down 3 with a minute left in the game expecting to get a quality post up, and Lewis can't create off the dribble and pass like Hedo can.

I think what it boils down to is that Hedo doesn't want to be getting the 3rd or 4th biggest paycheck on a team where he feels like he's the man down the stretch of games.

bjjs · 07-05-2009, 09:08 AM

Furthermore, he's leaving beautiful sunny weather to go to our frigid winters for 10.6 mil a year instead of 9.

If Hedo really liked Dwight, and enjoyed playing basketball with that team, their is no way he leaves for Toronto.

babyface · 07-05-2009, 09:28 AM

Yeah why the hell does Hedo want to play for the Raps??? Suspicious... very suspicious

MetaLRasaM · 07-05-2009, 09:31 AM

hahahahahaha...somebody's not happy about Toronto being a better city huh?

bjjs · 07-05-2009, 09:40 AM

jeffb · 07-05-2009, 10:02 AM

Don't know if this was already posted, but....

YouTube - Hedo Turkoglu Accepts Deal With Raptors

Torontosaurus · 07-05-2009, 10:07 AM

He had the chance to win in his prime with a championship team like Orlando and now he will regret this decision to make more money... Things are not always so black and white as this writer has indicated and I'm sure he's never been in Turkoglu's shoes. There were likely many different variables, not just his wife's preferred destination that could have factored into his decision. We may never know unless he tells us. And if he didn't get along with D.Howard, he will likely never tell.

Also, I don't like the insinuation that Toronto is a perennial cellar dweller when we just missed the playoffs for 1 year and it was not so long ago that Orlando was a perennial cellar dweller, but things can change in a hurry.

Ok rant over.

Windex · 07-05-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffb

Don't know if this was already posted, but....

YouTube - Hedo Turkoglu Accepts Deal With Raptors

I saw it 3 days ago when they first broke the news

it was linked with the ESPN page

Torontosaurus · 07-05-2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

At least Portland made sense.

Actually the Turk to Portland idea made little sense to add Hedo with all the young guys there who have yet to enter or are just entering their prime. What makes sense to me is that the writer is likely a Portland fan.

**fancylad** · 07-05-2009, 10:17 AM

so the main reason why he chose toronto was because he preferred the city?

awesome!

Windex · 07-05-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fancylad

so the main reason why he chose toronto was because he preferred the city?

awesome!

the wife preferred the city

**fancylad** · 07-05-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windex

the wife preferred the city

cool. she is clearly a rational woman.

Anyways, this must be the first time that a high status free agent has signed for Toronto OVER another team on the basis of the city alone. We who live here all know how good Toronto is, but usually the exact opposite happens when it comes to NBA players.

It's especially strange comparing the blazers and Raptors teams. Surely the Blazers are a better team to step into.

yep. this is a first.

Mr4thQuarter · 07-05-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjjs

I think the article actually makes a good point about the money not being that big of a difference. He takes a few million more to not only leave Orlando, but then he signs with a conference rival with whom they met in the playoffs two years ago, one of the other up and coming young teams in the East.

You read between the lines and you got to think that maybe he didn't like playing in Orlando all that much. Or at least that he felt he wasn't getting as much credit as he should of been getting for their success.

...

I think what it boils down to is that Hedo doesn't want to be getting the 3rd or 4th biggest paycheck on a team where he feels like he's the man down the stretch of games.

I agree. I don't think it's got anything to do with Dwight Howard but much more with Rashard Lewis. Not that Hedo hates him, but the difference in paychecks is huge and that does mean something to players when it comes to feeling appreciated. I guess Ben Gordon somewhat felt the same about the Bulls and their offer. Maybe the same even can be said about Trevor Ariza, whose move surprised me much more than Turkoglu's.

moremilk · 07-05-2009, 11:19 AM

I think some people should take losing with more dignity ...
If 8 mils is not that much, maybe orlando should have offered him that. Or maybe they shouldn't have hugely overpaid for lewis.

And Florida might not have an income tax, but they do tax foreigners very heavily, that's how they compensate.

07-05-2009, 08:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
jeffb is raptors next gm Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: YO MAMMA Posts: 57,174 Representing:	How does he know that Bosh leaves next summer, and if he does how does he know that we'll be parenial cellar dwellars. Bosh leves we'll either S&T him or have 16Mil to spend in the 2010 market. This guy needs to get a grip. It is very possible that Turkoglu just didn't like playing in Orlando and/or didn't like playing for Van Gundy. Last edited by jeffb; 07-05-2009 at 09:00 AM.

07-05-2009, 09:40 AM	#11 (permalink)
bjjs is a baller Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,478 Representing:	nm. Last edited by bjjs; 07-05-2009 at 10:26 AM.

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07-05-2009, 08:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
bladeraptor is neither hither nor thither the big raptus Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 224 Representing:	his wife is insanely hot. she made him make the move or he would get frozen out of the sack forever. i still think we'll come good with him. bc is not done yet.

07-05-2009, 08:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
bjjs is a baller Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,478 Representing:	I don't think Turkoglu had much of a friendship with Dwight Howard. Maybe I'm wrong, but from just reading the way those guys interacted on the court, they didn't show each other a lot of love.

07-05-2009, 08:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Belsius is a paranoid android My name is Iñigo Montoya Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,489 Representing:	apparently Howard called Turkoglu to try to convince him to stay. I supose they did get along. Who knows.

07-05-2009, 09:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
bjjs is a baller Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,478 Representing:	Furthermore, he's leaving beautiful sunny weather to go to our frigid winters for 10.6 mil a year instead of 9. If Hedo really liked Dwight, and enjoyed playing basketball with that team, their is no way he leaves for Toronto.

07-05-2009, 09:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
babyface is mooing Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5,102 Representing:	Yeah why the hell does Hedo want to play for the Raps??? Suspicious... very suspicious

07-05-2009, 09:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
MetaLRasaM is grown, and now everything is logical. Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 532 Representing:	hahahahahaha...somebody's not happy about Toronto being a better city huh?

07-05-2009, 10:07 AM	#13 (permalink)
Torontosaurus is watch out your bias is showing on ihateus Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Victoria, home of the Nash-ites Posts: 3,338 Representing:	He had the chance to win in his prime with a championship team like Orlando and now he will regret this decision to make more money... Things are not always so black and white as this writer has indicated and I'm sure he's never been in Turkoglu's shoes. There were likely many different variables, not just his wife's preferred destination that could have factored into his decision. We may never know unless he tells us. And if he didn't get along with D.Howard, he will likely never tell. Also, I don't like the insinuation that Toronto is a perennial cellar dweller when we just missed the playoffs for 1 year and it was not so long ago that Orlando was a perennial cellar dweller, but things can change in a hurry. Ok rant over.

07-05-2009, 10:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
fancylad is travis pickin' nosce te ipsum Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: east side. Posts: 13,806 Representing:	so the main reason why he chose toronto was because he preferred the city? awesome!

07-05-2009, 11:19 AM	#20 (permalink)
moremilk is whatever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: toronto Posts: 7,082 Representing:	I think some people should take losing with more dignity ... If 8 mils is not that much, maybe orlando should have offered him that. Or maybe they shouldn't have hugely overpaid for lewis. And Florida might not have an income tax, but they do tax foreigners very heavily, that's how they compensate.