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Bryan Colangelo was yesterday in Rome to see the practice of Virtus. The president and GM of the Toronto Raptors talked with the three NBA prospects of Virtus at the end of practice: Gigi Datome, Gani Lawal and Jordan Taylor. Gigi Datome was the main reason of Colangelo's trip in the Italian capital. The captain of Virtus Roma could move to the NBA next season, despite one year remaining on his contract with Virtus. Sportando

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Italy, Gani Lawal, Virtus Roma, Jordan Taylor, Gigi Datome 

When the analytics team is sharing their opinion and the coaching staff is saying the opposite in the following paragraph in Lowe’s piece, that’s a less-than-optimal situation for a franchise that is in the middle of a five-year playoff drought. Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo was quick to deny any rift between the two sides. “There is absolutely no rift between the front office and coaches concerning the use of analytics,” he answered via email. “If anything, it’s more about coaches and management (the basketball guys) challenging the analytics team (the numbers guys) on the premise that you disregard or abandon pure and simple basketball ideology. Healthy debate is surely part of the process, but we are all learning and evolving in this very interesting space.” SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Colangelo wasn’t the only one deflecting attention from the differing opinions among coaching staff and the analytics team. “You have friction between yourself and players, yourself and your own coaching staff,” coach Dwane Casey told the media on Tuesday afternoon. “I think the challenge — I don’t say friction — I think the challenge is using it in the right way where it’s not the only piece, the only tool that you use. There are many tools you use to prepare your team to play. There’s not friction. There’s one piece. “Everybody wants to get their point across. Analytical people want to say, ‘This is the tool to use.’ Scouts want to say, ‘My tool is important.’ At the end of the day, the bottom line is, whether it’s (through) personnel or analytics, is winning.” SportsNet

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Bryan Colangelo 

Even if Bargnani recovers quickly, is medically cleared to play and can somehow show the mental resolve to fight through whatever discomfort remains, time becomes a factor. It’s why the likelihood of Bargnani suiting up again this season appears remote, if that. Long term, his future in Toronto is very much up in the air. Nothing in basketball, meaningful that is, gets done until the June draft, a time when deals are made, a time when Bargnani’s time in Toronto may eventually come to an end. “He’s had a horrific year as far as luck goes,’’ said GM and team president Bryan Colangelo, who used the first overall pick in the 2006 draft to select Bargnani amid much fanfare and expectation. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo 

Bargnani is neither a bad guy and nor is he a bad player. He has his deficiencies, but his skill set, an ability to make deep threes as a stretch four and being able to shoot off the dribble aren’t exactly in abundance among bigs. “Dating back to all the conversations leading up to the trade deadline, nothing has changed,’’ added Colangelo . “He’s a part of the team and until he’s not part of the team we’re going to view him as a piece who is a talented player. Again, somewhat of an enigma. And we’ll try to get the most out of.” Recently, Bargnani showed signs of finding the rhythm that went missing when he returned from his first elbow mishap. And now comes this. “It’s a shame,’’ said Colangelo. “He was just starting to find his rhythm.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo 

Bryan Colangelo: On not trading Andrea Bargnani: “Once the injury occurred, his return, as late as it was in the process, as near to the trade deadline [as it was], it probably did not leave enough runway with respect to a deal being made now. That didn’t stop us from having dialogue with other teams or teams expressing interest. I believe it did affect some of the deals that we were probably discussing in advance of the injury, and even some that we were maintaining connection or dialogue over the course of the last couple months.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

On revisiting a trade for Bargnani in the off-season: “The summer is the next potential opportunity to engage in trade discussions with respect to our entire roster. And with 27 games left in terms of us looking at where we are and how this group can come together and what the chemistry looks like. Continuity is obviously something nice to look at going forward. I think a lot of the pieces we do have in place are pieces we want to keep and hang onto and we’ll see how it all plays out.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

On whether he is concerned about negative press and boos affecting Bargnani: “Well, if you keep writing bad things about him, probably. But that’s a reality of our business. People criticize me, people criticize the coach, people criticize the players all the time. Andrea has show … he’s affected by it, obviously. I think we all are. But he’s a man and he has to strap on his shoes and play basketball. I think him just even getting the trade deadline behind him and all the uncertainty about whether he will be here or not will probably help a bit. But he’s here, he’s part of the team and we are going to try and get the most out of him.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

Bryan Colangelo: "If a trade doesn't occur before the deadline, or even this summer, maybe it's because we figured out that with the evolution of the team he is the right guy to be a part of this team. He's been through the hard part. This may be the easiest part ahead of him. USA Today Sports

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

Bryan Colangelo: "I would say (the situation) is fluid. There may have been an outright cry (to trade him) externally, whether from the media or the bloggers, to make a deal. But internally, we've always said that we recognized that a change of scenery may be helpful for him and maybe beneficial for us. But we always recognized the talent, and I believe that – in some of the trade discussions I've had – the market recognizes the talent. And we didn't want to do something just to do it. USA Today Sports

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

On Colangelo's future… "There's been no discussion (about his future since the trade). I certainly haven't brought it up. I think that we're, right now, transitioning with an ownership change of our own. The deal was announced probably a year and a half ago and it just closed this past summer, in terms of the change from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan to a new group that includes both Bell and Rogers owning 37 ½ percent each, and Larry Tanenbaum increasing his stake to 25 percent. The constant there is Larry Tanenbaum, and he maintains his role as chairman of the board. USA Today Sports

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

"I've proven that, despite all the things that have been happening with the rebuilding of this team simultaneous to the uncertainty with my contract, I always made the right long-term strategic decision with respect to the transactions that were being made or draft picks that were being made. Case in point was drafting (Jonas) Valanciunas (fifth overall in 2011) knowing that he was not going to be here for a year, and that when he did arrive that he'd be 20 and would still be considered a project. But you have to carry out your job with integrity and do the right thing for the organization. That's what I've been hired to do and that's what I'm doing. Whether or not that pays off for me long-term, with an extension or just even my option year being picked up (for the 2013-14 season), time will tell. But you can't lose sight of what the job is." USA Today Sports

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

If you believe Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo, multiple teams are keeping close tabs on Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani. Out since mid-December with a right elbow injury, he's expected back before the trade deadline. While Colangelo could be telling the truth, two league sources said they haven't heard the Wolves attached to such a scenario. One scoffed at the mere thought of Bargnani in Minnesota. The other didn't totally dismiss it. The former 2006 No. 1 overall pick has two years and $23 million left on his contract after this season. 1500 ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

Michael Grange: Interesting comment by Colangelo when asked if MLSE would be a tax team: for the right transaction, yes. Twitter @michaelgrange

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo 

Eric Koreen: Bryan Colangelo on TSN Radio saying that his young players have value, despite what "blogging community" might think Twitter @ekoreen

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

It has been obvious for some time that it is time for Bargnani to move on, for his sake and for the Raptors, and Colangelo indicated a move could happen soon, though it is not a certainty. “Andrea is a player that has definitely garnered interest. Unfortunately when he gets hurt that takes him off the market,” Colangelo explained after breaking down the Gay trade to reporters. “That’s not to say we’re going to trade Andrea … He’s a unique talent, but sometimes a change of address is not bad. 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.” Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

“Right now there’s no assurances we trade Andrea. Right now, the goal and the focus is to get him back healthy on the court and let him contribute to this team and we’ll see where things go,” Colangelo said. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Bryan Colangelo, Andrea Bargnani 

Ryan McNeill: Bryan Colangelo: "The first question Rudy (Gay) asked me is why I didn't just draft him in the first place." Twitter @ryanmcneill

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

matt (london, canada) if indeed the rumours are true of GAY for Ed Davis + Jose C somewhere why in the world would the raps do this. BC save his job? Davis has been a revelation and will never demand the 17 mill that GAY makes. Chad Ford (1:05 PM) 1. I think the "rumors" are more than rumors at this point. The two sides have been talking and have basically a rough framework for a deal dependent on them finding another team to take on Calderon. 2. The Raptors have been stuck in neutral for a while, they aren't landing a better play than Gay in free agency and while you're right Davis has been good, the Grizzlies aren't just giving Gay away for free. Grizzlies fans will argue that Memphis isn't getting enough. 3. Finally Bryan Colangelo has loved Gay since his college days. He was seriously torn between Gay and Bargnani on draft night. I think he feels like if he unites them, the Raptors instantly get better. ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Draft, Trade, Rudy Gay, Ed Davis, Bryan Colangelo 

The reason? The asking price is far too high. As I mentioned last week, the players most coveted include the likes of Jose Calderon, Terrence Ross and one of the young bigs — and I know Jonas Valanciunas’s name has come up in conversation — and I would suggest GM Bryan Colangelo should have no interest in that kind of chatter. Toronto Star

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Rudy Gay, Bryan Colangelo, Jonas Valanciunas, Terrence Ross