Andrea Bargnani (left) has agreed to a five-year contract with the Toronto Raptors.MIKE CASSESE/Reuters
The Toronto Raptors will be introducing their latest signing at the Air Canada Centre, but it's not likely to be Hedo Turkoglu.
Instead Andrea Bargnani will be proudly showing off his new contract; a five-year, $50-million (US) extension that will kick in next season.
Bargnani was the first player chosen in the 2006 entry draft and played the best basketball of his career in the second-half of last season, his third in the NBA.
In 46 games beginning from January on Bargnani averaged 18.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots while shooting 46.8 per cent from the field and 43.2 per cent from the three-point line, erasing concerns from a lacklusture second season and slow start to his third. The 23-year-old Italian has averaged 12.4 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 42.4 per cent from the floor and 37.7 per cent from the three-point line for his three-year career.
The Raptors would have controlled Bargnani's rights this season and next, but by having him sign an extension the same week that Turkoglu signs his five-year, $53-million deal, the Raptors have the centre and small forward positions covered until the 2014-2015 season.