Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo made Italian star Andrea Bargnani the No. 1 overall selection in the NBA draft Wednesday night.
The seven-foot-one Bargnani emerged as one of the best players in the Italian league this season. The 20-year-old forward recently led his Benetton Treviso squad to the Lega A championship and also won the European's Rising Star Trophy.
"He's a terrific young man, he's got a great background and he's really emerging as a player right now," Colangelo said.
Italian Andrea Bargnani speaks to the press after being selected first pick overall Wednesday night by the Toronto Raptors in the NBA draft.
(Jason DeCrow/Associated Press)
Despite his immense size, scouts marvel at Bargnani's shooting ability and excellent foot work, and think his array of offensive skills rivals most small forwards.
"It's unbelievable," Bargnani said. "I feel like I'm dreaming. It's a pleasure to be here in New York and become an NBA player."
Bargnani averaged 12.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 46 per cent from the field in the regular season; he made 44 per cent of his three-point shots in the playoffs.
"I was very, very surprised," Bargnani said. "I was very anxious when I was sitting at the table and when they called my name it was an incredible feeling.
"I'm very happy to go to Toronto, it's a perfect situation. It's a very nice city, very international, there's a big Italian community."
Bargnani has drawn comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol because of his athleticism and shooting range beyond the three-point line.
However, even with his terrific offensive skills, some scouts were turned off by his lack of rebounding and defence.
While many suggested the Raptors would take the Italian months ago, speculation intensified that Colangelo would select Bargnani when the team hired Maurizio Gherardini as vice-president and assistant general manager last Thursday.
Gherardini, 51, is widely considered one of the most respected European basketball minds. As GM, Gherardini built the Benetton team into one of the continent's most successful franchises.
Colangelo said he and his staff were considering several players before selecting Bargnani.
"Everyone had strengths, weaknesses et cetera," Colangelo said.
"But at the end of the day, we felt that Andrea Bargnani was really the best pick for the future of this organization going forward. It's not about today, it's about today and tomorrow. I think he's going to become a star in this league."
The Raptors played Benetton two years ago in the pre-season game and while they won 86-83, Bargnani scored 13 points, pulled down five rebounds and blocked two shots in 22 minutes.
"He didn't quite embarrass himself and did quite well," said Colangelo, who watched the tape of the game. "And to see where he was and where he is now is quite startling to see the progress that has been made."
This is the first draft for Colangelo as the Raptors' top executive.
He spent 11 years with Phoenix, leading the Suns to nine playoff appearances, five years of 50 or more wins and was named NBA Executive of the Year for the 2004-05 season.
Colangelo's prized draft acquisitions included Shawn Marion in 1999 and the athletically gifted Amare Stoudermire in 2003.
Colangelo also signed free agent Victoria native Steve Nash, who repaid his former boss by winning the NBA's MVP award the last two years.
The Raptors finished their draft by selecting small forward P.J. Tucker of Texas (35th overall) and Edin Bavcic (56th) of Bosnia in the second round. Bavcic was later traded to Philadelphia.
At six-foot-five, 225 pounds, Tucker is a strong, physical and very athletic forward who averaged 16.1 points per game last season.
With files from Canadian Press
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