Monday, August 2nd, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  62 responses

Hedo Turkoglu Unloads on Raptors, Bryan Colangelo

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The summer has not been kind to Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo. He lost his franchise player to Miami, criticized said player after he left (and was almost universally shot down for doing so), and there’s even been some chatter about his job possibly being in danger.

To add to Bryan’s issues, another former Raptor — one who didn’t pan out at all — is letting the world know how crummy of a deal it is to play in Toronto, via FOX Sports Arizona:

“People have to realize something is wrong with that organization and nobody wants to go there any more,” he said in a phone interview from Turkey, where he is captaining the Turkish national team at the World Championships. “It’s not just the players who see this.”

Turkoglu’s remarks were sparked by Colangelo’s recent criticism of former Raptors teammate Chris Bosh. Colangelo accused Bosh of “checking out” last season while the Raptors were battling the Chicago Bulls for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot … “It’s funny that people will talk behind your back,” Turkoglu said of Colangelo.

“If he was feeling this way, why not have the guts to say it during the season? Why not say it to Chris? Now that Chris has left, it’s not nice to say those things. Chris has been a franchise player and he did a lot of good things for the Raptors,” Turkoglu added. “I don’t think Chris is the type of player to quit on his teammates.”

To his credit, Colangelo refused to engage Turkoglu in any type of war of words, and wished him well in Phoenix.

Things aren’t going to get any easier for Bryan and the Raptors, as they try to convince NBA players that Toronto is the ideal place to live and work.

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  • Jon

    Wow people not wanting to play for an NBA team? Screw them and give me the job!

  • JoeMaMa

    AllenP: As a Raptor fan, I’m going to say that Hedo should keep his fat self from saying anything bad about the Raptors. His failures were abundant, and we gave him all the time and attention he needed to flourish. I don’t care if Jose Calderon comes out and says Colangelo made a pass at him in the dressing room, Hedo needs to shut the f*ck UP!
    He has no credibility with the fans or organization. Anything he now says concerning the Raptors should be laughed at, because he was so bad that he obviously is lashing out to make his sorry year look somewhat excusable.
    Having said that, I love Bosh, I think Colangelo said what he said because he was upset, and will let it pass with a very small shake of the head. I’ll cheer Colangelo’s efforts to get us wins, I’ll cheer Bosh’s return, and I’ll throw creamy garlic pizza sauce on the floor when Hefty Turgkoglumpy visits.

  • total scrotal implosion

    jon, i doubt youre competent for the available positions

  • http://slamonline.com the underrated one

    hedo needs to really stut his mouth and be glad that another nba team took a risk on him and his contract. this guy was the most lazy, overhyped, disinterested basketball player i have ever seen take a basketball court. the guy had one good game the entire season and it was agains the friggin knicks for crissakes!! and as for bosh quitting, i think that its trrue cuz you could say the same for lebron during gm 6 against the celtics. dude looked like he was makin errand passes on purpose

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @Allenp: Bang on with your last statement. Neither Colangelo nor Gilbert would’ve said this had their guys re-signed. I agree with you, I don’t like how these two guys behaved; it’s not classy at all and makes their organizations look bad.

    Don’t want to make excuses either, but I just think Hedo should be the last one to say this.

    It was a bad contract that brought high expectations that got Hedo to town for sure, you’re right. Yet Hedo made those expectations redundant, since his behaviour last season wasn’t even that of an NBA player, it was far far below any reasonable standard you’d expect from any employee, anywhere.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @JoeMaMa: Entirely agree.

  • http://gmail dirty frank

    The Raptors have had issues even in good times. I remember an interview with TMac, (I don’t remember where), when he went to the Magic and he said it was like he’d gone to a different league because of how the team was run and the expectations on the players.

  • Ali Duyar

    Hedo said ”exactly” that, Colengelo doesn’t behaves like GM,he behaves like a ordinary fan.I am from Turkey and I watched that interview.Toronto fans arem angry with him,but think again Hedo gone,Bosh gone,Vince gone.Who has responsybility all about that?Now,who is the star of the Toronto?Andrei?

  • http://hoopistani.blogspot.com hoopistani

    Hedo was a bum all year, but he’s speaking the truth here

  • http://jayemmbee.blogspot.com/ ClutchPerformer

    BC shouldnt have said jack, cuz Bosh gave it his all, and all BC did was fill the team with euro crap, which brings us to Hedo, he shouldnt talk, i tried to like him but he did nothing, Hedo is public enemy number #2 after VC, because both of them lack effort and we dont respect that, Bosh is greatest raptor because of effort, BC has done good things for the team but also some dumb things, raps need to pull of a stellar move b4 the season starts for any saving grace to hold their heads up. but the raptors are in danger of falling in MLSE trap, the Leaf trap, put garbage on display and claim your changing but do nothing and over charge fans because you know they will keep coming and it up cuz its the only show in town, they already did it to Toronto FC, luckily they dont own the Blue Jays, not that it would work in MLB

  • truthteller

    In all fairness, Hedo may be correct but he is in no position to say those things because of his performance in Toronto. I actually forgot that he was in the NBA talk less of playing for the Raptors!

  • Migs

    I love how some of y’all are saying that they need to relocate the Raptors… as bad as the Raps have been in its 15 1/2 year existence, they’ve also managed to do well at making money. They were ranked 11th last year by Forbes in terms of team value and continue to sell tickets despite crappy post-season results.

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