In an interview with La Gazetta dello Sport from Treviso, Italy, Andrea Bargnani said he is encouraged the Raptors decided to make Jay Triano the head coach, and not too disappointed that Sam Mitchell was shown the door.

"As a coach, everyone in the team likes him, unlike Mitchell, and he earned the respect of all the players right from Day 1," Bargnani said. "That's why we asked [Raptors president Bryan Colangelo] to confirm him. And he agreed, because he's the right man to start over with."

Bargnani is worried that assistant GM Maurizio Gherardini might leave the Raptors. Gherardini is in the final year of a three-season deal with the club.

"I would be really sorry to see him go, because we've played together for seven years," Bargnani said in the interview. "I hope he doesn't leave, though I don't know what he'll decide."

Via Globe and Mail

Toronto Raptors

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