According to Spanish media reports Jorge Garbajosa and the Raptors have come to an agreement to terminate his contract, begging the question, why does the Spanish media know about this before the Toronto media? Details are still scant mainly because I can't read Spanish, but it seems like the agreement is a straight-up termination, as in no buy-out fee. I believe that Garbo's contract will still count against the cap, although if he agreed to pass on next season - which is his final year under contract and which would have paid him $4.35 million - the Raps will at least be spared the actual, physical cash.
While you can't view Garbajosa as particularly malevolent, you've got to view him as obstinate to the point of stupidity. He mutilates his leg contesting an Al Jefferson lay-in that even Bill Russell with a horse's lower body couldn't have blocked. Then he refuses extensive surgery so that he could spend the summer with his chums on the Spanish national basketball team (who had already qualified for the Olympics!). The Raptors ask him not to play for Spain, he does anyway, further injuring his leg. He tells the Raps he's ready to play in the regular season, but he's not. He finally agrees to - and has - further surgery, after which Bryan Colangelo sends a message to Garbo's pager: "You've had the surgery, Garbo, there's no way you're playing for Spain in the Olympics." Garbo rushes to a payphone, drops the dime, calls BC and says, "Yes I am." Buyout negotiations begin.
No one will miss his three-point shooting (career 34%) which was his only offensive "weapon", but he was tough. More importantly, though, that toughness is very replaceable, particularly now that the Raptors might not owe Garbo a penny for this season.
The only thing I'll miss is his shaggy-haired, feigned naivety. The kind that, upon discovering that he was named T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Month for December 2006, spawned the comment, "If I am the best rookie in this league, then this league is shit."
While you can't view Garbajosa as particularly malevolent, you've got to view him as obstinate to the point of stupidity. He mutilates his leg contesting an Al Jefferson lay-in that even Bill Russell with a horse's lower body couldn't have blocked. Then he refuses extensive surgery so that he could spend the summer with his chums on the Spanish national basketball team (who had already qualified for the Olympics!). The Raptors ask him not to play for Spain, he does anyway, further injuring his leg. He tells the Raps he's ready to play in the regular season, but he's not. He finally agrees to - and has - further surgery, after which Bryan Colangelo sends a message to Garbo's pager: "You've had the surgery, Garbo, there's no way you're playing for Spain in the Olympics." Garbo rushes to a payphone, drops the dime, calls BC and says, "Yes I am." Buyout negotiations begin.
No one will miss his three-point shooting (career 34%) which was his only offensive "weapon", but he was tough. More importantly, though, that toughness is very replaceable, particularly now that the Raptors might not owe Garbo a penny for this season.
The only thing I'll miss is his shaggy-haired, feigned naivety. The kind that, upon discovering that he was named T-Mobile NBA Rookie of the Month for December 2006, spawned the comment, "If I am the best rookie in this league, then this league is shit."
