spurscenter
04-30-2008, 04:06 AM
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/NBA/article/419455
ORLANDO, Fla.–T.J. Ford watched the Raptor season end from a seat on the bench, the player once thought to be an integral part of the franchise's long-term future reduced to being a spectator.
It may have been a moment of foreboding, or it may have been nothing more than a decision by coach Sam Mitchell to let Jose Calderon try to steal a victory. It apparently did nothing to make Ford think his future is anywhere but in a Raptor uniform.
"I want to be back," said Ford, who played 24 minutes of Toronto's season-ending 102-92 loss to the Magic here last night. "I never said anything about wanting to leave."
But Ford's future has to be somewhat cloudy. Calderon is a restricted free agent this summer but general manager Bryan Colangelo is on the record as saying he'll do whatever it takes to bring the Spaniard back.
It's conceivable that Calderon could return to be a backup but that seems far-fetched and Mitchell's decision to use him instead of Ford to finish every significant game of the last month cannot be ignored.
"It's really out of our control," said Ford, who had 14 points and six assists last night. "That's up to Bryan Colangelo to make those decisions, what guys will be back and what guys he wants to change.
"As players, we just do the things we're supposed to do this summer and whatever happens be ready for next year."
Ford's season, and perhaps his Toronto future, went off the rails when he was injured in a December game in Atlanta.
He missed 24 games with a neck and back injury after that fall, came back to struggle in a backup role and got his starting job back only when Calderon went to Mitchell and suggested the shift.
Still, for all he went through, Ford said the season ended with a large measure of personal satisfaction.
"It was a tough stretch, me being in the media mostly on a negative thing but I think I showed my professionalism," he said. "I didn't let it upset me and affect my play. I think I just fought through it and I'm pretty happy with the way I ended up performing this season."
Ford, Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani, all 25 or under and under contract for at least the next two seasons, were widely held to be the anchors of the franchise moving forward. But with Ford in the situation he is in, and Bargnani suffering through a season of regression, the core may not be what it was thought to be.
"You've got to get better," said coach Mitchell.
"We won 41 games and we're not overly thrilled about that and having to start the playoffs on the road."
ORLANDO, Fla.–T.J. Ford watched the Raptor season end from a seat on the bench, the player once thought to be an integral part of the franchise's long-term future reduced to being a spectator.
It may have been a moment of foreboding, or it may have been nothing more than a decision by coach Sam Mitchell to let Jose Calderon try to steal a victory. It apparently did nothing to make Ford think his future is anywhere but in a Raptor uniform.
"I want to be back," said Ford, who played 24 minutes of Toronto's season-ending 102-92 loss to the Magic here last night. "I never said anything about wanting to leave."
But Ford's future has to be somewhat cloudy. Calderon is a restricted free agent this summer but general manager Bryan Colangelo is on the record as saying he'll do whatever it takes to bring the Spaniard back.
It's conceivable that Calderon could return to be a backup but that seems far-fetched and Mitchell's decision to use him instead of Ford to finish every significant game of the last month cannot be ignored.
"It's really out of our control," said Ford, who had 14 points and six assists last night. "That's up to Bryan Colangelo to make those decisions, what guys will be back and what guys he wants to change.
"As players, we just do the things we're supposed to do this summer and whatever happens be ready for next year."
Ford's season, and perhaps his Toronto future, went off the rails when he was injured in a December game in Atlanta.
He missed 24 games with a neck and back injury after that fall, came back to struggle in a backup role and got his starting job back only when Calderon went to Mitchell and suggested the shift.
Still, for all he went through, Ford said the season ended with a large measure of personal satisfaction.
"It was a tough stretch, me being in the media mostly on a negative thing but I think I showed my professionalism," he said. "I didn't let it upset me and affect my play. I think I just fought through it and I'm pretty happy with the way I ended up performing this season."
Ford, Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani, all 25 or under and under contract for at least the next two seasons, were widely held to be the anchors of the franchise moving forward. But with Ford in the situation he is in, and Bargnani suffering through a season of regression, the core may not be what it was thought to be.
"You've got to get better," said coach Mitchell.
"We won 41 games and we're not overly thrilled about that and having to start the playoffs on the road."