This interview is a week or so old, but Raúl Ruscitti did us a great favour in translating this interview…
In an interview with a basketball radio show in Argentina, Carlos Delfino talked about the possibility of returning to the NBA, his right shoulder injury that limited his participation last season, and his decision of leaving Toronto for the Russian powerhouse Khimky.
About his contract situation and the possibility of playing in the NBA next year:
“This year I watched very little NBA action in general, I tried to focus in some teams that play the style of basketball I like, the Knicks, the Raptors, of course, among others, teams that play a very European type of basketball. I think I can fit better in those types of teams.”
“Right now (for Monday) I have to wait until Wednesday to see how things work out. Toronto has my rights and they showed interest in trying to bring me back. There have been negotiations because that’s what this time is about. But, apparently, since the signing of Turkoglu for about 53 million dollars, the “poor” guys (laughs) like Parker, Delfino, and Humphries (Editors note: he means Graham, Humphries is not a free agent this year) loose all our rights. Right now I’m waiting for what will happen, how the market is going to move because I could change from being a restricted free agent to an unrestricted free agent, which means I could negotiate with any other team.”
“Today I’m a Khimky player, because that’s what I actually am, I’ve got a contract signed for two more years [...] but there’s a buy out clause in my contract in case some NBA team is interested in me. If something interesting suddenly comes to bring me back to the NBA where I’ve already played and where I’ve always dreamt to be, I’ll evaluate it and I’ll take the decision I have to take. But for now, I just have to keep waiting.”
“At a same financial situation in Russia and in Toronto or some other team, I’ll for sure be coming back to the NBA. I’ll return even losing money if it’s a good situation for me basketball wise. I won’t come to be the 12th guy on the bench or in the injury list. But I’m willing to lose money if I’m going to be in the coach’s rotation.”
About his decision of the NBA for Russia last year:
“Zero, I mean, zero regrets for it [...]. Last year I wanted to sign a contract quickly so I could play with the National Team without other preoccupations and win a medal in the Olympics. Luckily it all came down great. In the moment I signed, the team that moved faster than any other was Khimky with a very good offer. If maybe I had waited to sign with a NBA team, I wouldn’t have been able to play with the National Team.”
“It was a very good experience for me. I also grew up and learned a lot as a person. I’m really happy because I grew up a lot the last year. It was really hard because the injuries. Beside me, Garbajosa was injured too. For a while, we had seven players injured at the same time and there weren’t even enough players to practice.”
“Even tough we didn’t win any title last year; we made it to the finals in the EuroCup and in the Russian league, losing 3-1 to maybe the best team in Europe, CSKA. We qualify to the Euroleague which was one of our main objectives.”
About his right shoulder injury:
“I’m not a hundred percent right now. Even tough I didn’t start to practice hard yet I’m still doing rehab. When I went to shoot some baskets, I moved a little and it sore and it bothered me, something that I wasn’t expecting.”
“One doctor that gave me details about the exact type of the injury and what I should do was Mario Mouche (a well know doctor in Argentina that focus on basketball) [...]. He told me that this type of injury could heal in one month or in six, there’s not a special quantity of time to recover. He told me that I have to keep working even tough I feel that it’s healing”
8 Raps
Well that injury part blows! I had no clue about that….
Great find (Thanks for the translation Raul), and unfortunately, we learn that Delfino has a shoulder injury that could take him into the NBA season to heal completely. I imagine the Raptors will have a full medical done on him before an offer is tendered, or it would be conditional on him passing a physical. Could this injury be the reason why Carlos has not been signed yet? The Raptors for sure have been following Carlos on the court this past year, although they pretty much know what they are getting with him.
Given the # of positions Carlos can play, how his style and toughness and brashness is needed on our team, I welcome him back, but he needs to be healthy from the get go, meaning when training camp starts. Otherwise, I would pass, because I want a full roster from Day 1, not having to integrate player(s) in if we do not have to.
I feel the same way…. if Delfino isn’t 100%, BC should be looking elsewhere. I like the guy (even though I’ve always felt he shoots more than necessary) and the # of positions he can play. But I’d rather have a player that can and will contribute over one we hope can and will.
New from overseas, Giorgios Printezis signed yesterday a three year deal with the Unicaja Malaga (Walter Herrmann’s last team in Europe). I know he was a long shot to make the raptors roster this year, but there was a rumor that he could be signed this year and after all, the raps still hold his rights.
Unicaja is one of the best teams in spain (behind Barcelona, Tau Ceramina and this year, Real Madrid) which always ends up playing in the quarter finals of the EuroLeague. His last team was the Olympiacos which is one of the best teams in europe with a lot of talent in every position. In Malaga, he will have a bigger role and could play more minutes. That will help the development of the 24 year old foward.
Unicaja Malaga was a team that also had Garbo putting his footprint on that team as well.
Gracias Raúl! Kudos to you for taking the time to translate this and provide it to this great site.
Arsenalist – is Raúl the first Raptors Republic International Corespondent? :))
Colangelo was negotiating with Delfino’s agent when negotiating with Marion, but when that fell through and Turkaglu became an option, Delfino was not an option, until THE TRADE brought back the bird rights and FA exceptions into the picture. Sice then presumably they will talk again about signing Delfino.
Just to clarify – Delfino can be an unrestricted FA and we can still have his Bird rights ie go over the cap to sign him. Right?
If the Raps let him play another year in Russia to heal that shoulder, which is what they sould do, would his Bird rights laps with the the Raps?